So I have thought alot about the NEW Travel Restrictions that will make us all Safer. As a Mom- I think they are more than absurd. ANY parent trying to travel with children will testify that snacks and liquids are a matter of Life and Death. And anyone flying with little people that do not have snacks and drinks to help their little eardrums cope with cabin pressure changes will testify as well. And we all know that the Airlines basically treat people like Baggage or is it Frieght at this point ? There are no drinks or peanuts/ snacks on most flights, people have been bringing their own snacks for years...since 911. And here is the thing, about those 911 Hearings - one thing was forgotten, about the Boxcutters. WHO brought them on board , well according to early articles, they were snuck on via the FOOD Service Servers, which for all of the Airlines was a Food Server named Argenbright ( okay so the spelling may be wrong). But it was a Texas based company...that George used to invest in. My Point is that there are Pieces of this Damn Puzzle that have never been properly examined and still haven't . So now it has come down to Lactation Inspection and Rediculous Restrictions. And as a woman- well, yeah, hell make the poor women throw away hundreds of dollars of toiletries, that seems somehow like something this administration would enjoy. IF this does indeed EFFECT ALL AMERICANS- fine - take away Condi's Comforts too...and Lithium Laura... ( Scary...)Hell Take Away The Kings Drinks...Let's be Patriotic...but safe ....Together. But let's not inspect what is in the Freight Section of the Plane. That would be too costly.
And my other point is that as I was traveling around the blogs on Friday I noticed alot of people said that they have not flown since 911 and I don't think that it has anything to do with BEING SCARED...I think it has to do with COST and HASSLE...
Oh, and yeah, WHY haven't I flown...cause I am on a Godamned List...cause I am an Environmental Health Advocate ( aka a mom and a nurse...and a Normal American). So I only know Bus and Train Travel....But please share with me, how many of you are traveling less and why...I bet it isn't cause you're scared of Terra.
15 comments:
Couldn't the airlines just lock the overhead compartments before takeoff and unlock them after landing?
Then if a mom wanted something from her bag for her child the stewardess could open the compartment and get it for her.
I hate flying for so many reasons and now this is just one more.
You are right about less air travel. It has nothing to do with fear of flying. In fact flying was always a great joy for me. Standing in long lines both to get off and then while waiting for checked bags on the other end, not to mention the arriving at the airport two hours before a flight inconvenience. What it now comes down to is for any distance less than 750 miles, I drive.
This administration needs fear to quiet an ever more restive public.
Helpful hint for the moms. Most flights have bottled water. Simply bring a sippy cup and a supply of Crystal Light still sealed. No sugar to get the little darlings climbing the walls, but a way to get them liquids for the trip. More expensive, but that is the other reason I'm not flying as much. Why pay to be that uncomfortable.
I don't like to fly, I never did. I travel a lot, as seen and told in my blog, and I just can't see what I need to see from an airplane.
That being said, when I do have occasion to get on a flight, and I have a few times since 9/11, it's been a royal pain in the arse and I don't care for it.
As a travel professional, I continue to fly and encourage my clients to do so as well. However - I spent the last two days telling my clients to get to the airport FOUR HOURS EARLY for international flights. That is insane. Well, all except one client in Florida that I hate, and is a big fat time waster, but that's another story.
In 1993, Delta Airlines cut commissions to travel agents; others followed; then 8 months later, they capped commissions at $50; then they ended commissions - all this was a cost-cutting measure to increase profits. I should mention that all the CEOs of the airlines were getting HUGE salaries, but nobody thought to cut those salaries. 80% of airline business came from Travel Agents, but they refused to pay us.
Next - Delta stopped putting lettuce as a garnish - I think this was 1996? Can't recall. Prior to 2001, all meals were stopped on flights less than 4 hours. I think the food for sale started after 9/11, but don't remember.
Now it is an increase in airfare due to rising fuel costs - cruise ships as well - they have added "fuel surcharges" - which is absolute horseshit.
Flying, prior to deregulation, was fun. It was a part of the travel experience. Now, post deregulation, it is as uncomfortable as Greyhound Bus. And more to the point, none of this is necessary.
I didn't know that Bush invested in the food supply company that also supplied the box cutters - have you seen "Loose Change, ed. 2" yet? You can download it off Google, it is quite disturbing.
But fly. Don't give in to fear. Stand firm, stand strong, and take back our Constitution.
POP: great idea about the overheads- too simple too practical- they never will think of it...
DIVA: wow- great information- and thanks for explaining all of that. And it isn't about fear it is about cost and inconvenience and hassle...and YES WE NEED TO TAKE BACK OUR CONSTITUTION.....and OUR Country...
Jamie:Great points and yeah, hte idea about Crystal light- wow- that is awesome...did not know the stewardesses would bring water...
Spado:I hear you.But seems like you have a workabl plan....
Same here. I don't fly and won't fly unless it's an emergency situation. I drove 1300 miles each way last year to visit my eldest - enjoyed the trip and seeing all the everyday people along the way. Traveled alone and no problem. I hate being crowded in small spaces with lots of people, so that probably has something to do with it, but I used to fly for business and it was almost pleasurable.
Well its about time you update your blog. Tired of checking it and not seeing anything new.
I don't fly, not because I'm scared of terrorist, but because I would rather be scrapped off the highway then be scattered in bits and pieces from the plane crashing or blowing up.
Last time I flew was too a funeral in Chicago. Wore my suit so it wouldn't get all wrinkled as the funeral was the next day. Only other bag was a backpack with a change of clothes and shoes for the return flight.
I had too pay cash for my ticket since it was on short notice. Not only did I get singled out at the gate going, but also on the way back.
Like I said I don't like too fly and am very nervous when on a plane. Wouldn't you know it I had to be sitting in front of some drunk jerks talking on a cell phone and swearing a lot. Also the person on the phone did not hang up when they prepared for takeoff and it was announced to shut off cell phones.
Der Fuehrer Bush don't have a clue what's going on, but most madman never do. I'd love too see him go through what the rest of the flying public has to. But we the taxpayers have to finance his free flights and protection on his private plane paid for by Americans.
Can't wait til he's removed from power and tried in the Hague for his War Crimes, then executed by public hanging when found guilty.
God Bless all.
ANON-Paranoid: I hear you loud and clear ( and not with a cellhphone;-) It sounds like everyone's stories about Flying are grueling at this point- and that is what has happened in this country..and it should not be that way. And to be honest in other countries ( from what I have heard- ie. Holland, Japan, and even France...) Secuirty has been upgraded and in such a way not to make people uncomfortable. When the money is spent properly it does not incomvenience people. And yes the End of THIS Effin regime can not come soon enough.... ( and Anon-para I will indeed try harder to keep Blog- the Cafe updated- got locked out of my own blog for four days- Thank you Blogger...) Namaste....
PEACE CHICK: yup..thanks...and see people are not traveling like they did 5-8 years ago- for fun, pleasure, adventure- it is much more a planned , dreaded ritual- and it didn't used to be...so interesting not a single person has said they fly for fun anymore...
enigma,
Just kidding about updating. And yes flying is not what it use to be. I still don't like too fly, but in todays economy a lot of folks have too. Its a shame that this is one more F**kup by Der Fuehrer Bush. One things for sure, Der Fuehrer Bush is good at one thing and that's F**king Up which he seems to have masterd well.
God Bless all.
ANON: that is okay- I had three posts already to roll- and then Blogger went down for "Maintenance"...which always means you are now srewed for the next 24 hours ( ahich inveritably turns into 3 days......grrrrr....yes, that noise is my teeth grinding...)
Enigma, I stopped flying well before 2000. Couldn't take the cattle car treatment & couldn't afford 1st class. From the huge man next to me who kept flipping his newspaper out to full-open & rattling it in my face, to the tall jerk in front of me who insisted on fully reclining so my knees ended up around his head, I'd just had it & this was before all the 911-BS. So now I drive or don't go & it's not cuz of fear of those darnterracats. hmmm, not sure how I'll handle a trip to Australia in a few yrs. That's when I'll probably find out I, too, am on that no-fly list.
Bush can't possibly know the true impact of any of this, he's never had to deal with anything himself, all his affairs are 'handled'. And yes, anon-para, his private plane & private vacations & private residence improvements & even his private rah-rah cheering oddiences (dada's word) are ALL paid for by us peons. Aren't entitlements (for the wealthy) such a wonderful way to show the world what America is all about? D.K.
Speaking of Bush and peons -- wouldn't it be fun to bust the Secret Service picking up day-laborers at the Waco Home Depot parking lot two days in advance of a W vacation? I mean, somebody is hauling all that brush up to the house for Shrub to cut up on the TV.
I'm sure they check everybody's work Visa, too.
As for flying? Who can frickin' afford it? The only time I have time off is when I get laid off, and I can assure you I'm kept too busy trying to keep the rent paid to read travel brochures. Time and money are keeping my ass grounded, not any media-driven case of the vapors.
Thank god for the telephone; at least I get to TALK to Mama.
But I'm not bitter.
I am flying today so looked at the restrictions yesterday to make sure I'd be OK. New rules: no gel-filled insoles (!!) and, more disturbing to me...no gel pacifiers.
I know most of the stuff they are confiscating is open and a bit used (not to mention tossed in the same bin as half-sipped caramel macchiato's, ick), and homeless people don't want half-used toothpaste any more than the rest of us...but it seems like a colossal and selfish waste. The end of each security line now looks like a Sav-On drugstore.
And, though I never wanted to be a flight attendant, you could not pay me to be one now...especially on long flights. 10 hours with 200 non-smoking, non-hydrated people holding babies with no pacifiers or juice boxes? Yipes.
DK: too funny..and your poor knees...and yes WHAT is America all about at this point- the 10 dollar question.NOT The Chimp pretending to be prez.
Blogsbywomen: Have a good flight, hope it is safe and not too insane. No gel ? No gel pascifier? that is nuts.....and yet people still can fly with matches and lighters- yeah that 's sane??? unreal...
MEL: I hear ya, and yeah I could not afford to fly anywhere...but I wouldn't want to..and yeah, it is why phones are invented...and yeah the Work Visa issue would sure be interesting..
Two weeks ago we returned from Florida - with our carry-on bags full of snacks and liquids.
My travel plans have not been affected in the least by world events. Not that we fly much - I'd rather drive when possible to avoid the expense. With three kids it gets very costly.
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