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It's A Little Tough To Fly Now !!!

Well I woke up this morning and heard the news about the airports check in....

this means no skin food, da vinci water, or even a scotto decant...

how many of you have to fly this week or soon ? What can you take now on your bag ?

mark tssb
 
I'm heading to California on Monday. It is a quick trip, and I was hoping not to check any luggage. There goes that idea - I can't bring my toiletry bag on the plane.
 
You can bring whatever you want in terms of shaving gear, you just can't take any of it as carry-on.

The truly scary thing is that this demonstrates that the post 9/11 security measures we've been living with for 5 years have been inadaquate.
 
I am going to Seatle soon. I usually carry on very little. Frankly, I find these giant carry ons to be silly. I like to travel light and breazy. Usually just a light brief case--tommorow, I will have a book--that's it--carried onto the plane. Anything of bulk get's checked--if it's lost so be it--I'll deal somehow!

I always find it amusing that those who carry on large bulky bags rush to get on board so there's some space in the overhead bin. I remember once when I carried on nothing more than a sportscoat and checked my luggage. The stewart asked if I would put that under the seat so someone could put their bulky bag above--hell no--I was there first and that used to be called a coat shelf not an overhead bin. I choose to travel light and checked my bag (no bigger than his) so I get to enjoy the pleasure of an unruffled coat and a small bit of leg room! In the end by the way, I agreed to allow him to put his bag up if my coat could be placed neatly on top of the bag--success.

Another peeve is preboarding. We will be "preboarding people travelling with small children and those who need extra time in boarding"-- perhaps referring to the infirmed. We will also preboard our first class and frequent travellers club members and all these robust business guys bowl over the lady in the walker to rush onto the damn plane--as if they will arrive at their destination first.

One thing I will miss is my ipod which I will not take along now. I always am calmed by music and the long lines and shuffling and herding seem so much more pleasant witha little something to listen too. I can usually just listen and watch the world go by without getting flustered--without the tunes I will not have than calming influence--will have to find my amusement elsewhere.

There's my take on it--I'll take a breather now.


MJB
 
in Britain, according to the news, you have to take a clear plastic bag and all you are allowed (though control) is passport, wallet, medicines if you need them and your glasses, not in their case. No books, drinks, ipods, newspapers etc.

What amused me is that once you are though control you can go and buy books, newspapers and so on from the duty free shops the other side!

Gareth
 
I don't see the need to leave your IPOD. Unless I missed something, I doubt they will look twice at it, and if it makes flying more peaceful....

That said, I do like to carry on, but only on direct flights. I don't really like lugging a bag through the airport on a layover. I do HATE the extra 15-20 minutes going through baggage claim adds, though. I also pack a soft bag, so it can be squished into slightly odd size spaces, make sure it is within the airline carryone regs, try to be courteous about sharing overhead space, and curbside check if needed on the little planes. Works for me.

I'm with you on the preboarding. I get it for the families with small children. And the infirm, who maybe move a little slower. Although with the later, I agree that immediately allowed annoying business men to trample them sort of defeats the purpose. I just don't understand why anyone who did not actually need extra time would want to preboard. Personally, I prefer to board as late as possible, to avoiding as much of the cattle herding aspect, and to minimize my time in that uncomfortable seat.
 
MJB,

I for one think preboarding is a good thing. Not for everyone but at least for people with handicaps. I for example have a muscle disease for which I use an active sports chair to get through my daily life. Seen the fact that I can't really walk anymore (I could when I was younger than 18), I have to go with my chair right before the plain entrance. They then "move" me over in a separate "special chair" which fits between the rows and seats and "drive" me to my plainseat. My sports chair (nor does any other type of chair) fits between the rows and seats so that's a big problem.

I fly regularely and often times it happens that the responsibles or the special chair aren't immediately available which means I have to board this way when the plain is already full.

Even though it's not a crucial problem, putting me in the special chair and putting me on my plainseat happens with some difficulties and pulling/pushing me between the seats. It's not that I can't do anything but moving in a plain is already difficult for the average person so you can guess what this means for someone with very limited muscle strength. If there's a full plain watching and staring, the whole experience is from my point of view not pleasant since you are the central point of attention during that time, and even though the majority of the people watch because they're curious, I prefer to preboard in an empty plane so that everything can be done and arranged on a calme manner instead of being the central staring point for 5 to 10 minutes.

That's my view on this of course but everybody can have his/her own opinion.
 
Benjamin,

What I had in mind at least, is that preboarding makes sense for those with difficulties boarding for whatever reason. If I read MJB's post correctly, I think he meant the same thing - that having all the "club" members and whatever go storming on at more or less the same time makes no sense....
 
moses said:
Benjamin,

What I had in mind at least, is that preboarding makes sense for those with difficulties boarding for whatever reason. If I read MJB's post correctly, I think he meant the same thing - that having all the "club" members and whatever go storming on at more or less the same time makes no sense....
My apologies for my reaction then. Sometimes it becomes hard to exactly understand what people mean in their posts because I'm a non native English speaker. :mellow:

Thanks for the clarification and MJB, please ignore my response. I didn't realize your opinion was the same as mine on that part.
 
moses said:
I don't see the need to leave your IPOD. Unless I missed something, I doubt they will look twice at it, and if it makes flying more peaceful....

That said, I do like to carry on, but only on direct flights. I don't really like lugging a bag through the airport on a layover. I do HATE the extra 15-20 minutes going through baggage claim adds, though. I also pack a soft bag, so it can be squished into slightly odd size spaces, make sure it is within the airline carryone regs, try to be courteous about sharing overhead space, and curbside check if needed on the little planes. Works for me.

I'm with you on the preboarding. I get it for the families with small children. And the infirm, who maybe move a little slower. Although with the later, I agree that immediately allowed annoying business men to trample them sort of defeats the purpose. I just don't understand why anyone who did not actually need extra time would want to preboard. Personally, I prefer to board as late as possible, to avoiding as much of the cattle herding aspect, and to minimize my time in that uncomfortable seat.

I believe that no electronic devices are allowed - I heard that they wouldn't even let people take keychains with a remote opener on them as there is concern that anything with a battery or capable of sending some sort of signal could be used as a detonator.

In Canada and the UK, people were only allowed to take essential travel documents on board in clear plastic bags - I think they didn't even allow reading material in some cases.

The only liquids allowed were baby formula - but only if a parent consumed some in front of security guards.
 
Man, soon they're going to have ankle and wrist straps attached to all the seats to ensure safety. I mean if people are immobilized in their seat no chance of causing trouble in the air, right?
 
A clever though expensive idea might be passengers on one plane and baggae on another. Sometype of cooperative effort amongst airlines might be able to make this work somehow. Carryons would need to be very limited. Build internet into the back of the seats and no need for any extra entertainment--just block out B&B and other porn. Hey, if I were president and had unlimited money we'd be in good shape!

MJB
 
So glad I'm done with my international assignment.

Most of you are probably only thinking of domestic flying.

I use to fly for 8-10 hours, layover for 4-12 hours (Depending on if I was coming or going), and then have a final 6- 8 hour flight. (Luggage is checked through).

One of the best parts of the trip was once I arrived at the layover destination, I would scrub my face real good (using Kiehls Facial Fuel Face wash which felt awesome), brush my teeth, and just generally clean up to feel 1/2-way human again. So now, I wouldn't be able to bring my toothpaste, face wash, lotion, or deoderant.

It's also hard to imagine doing without my MP3 which saved me from ulitmate boredom, mindless chatter, and helped block out the engine drone.
 
I for one have been definitely thinking of international flights. While I don't take them often (actually have only gone overseas twice, but both required 8hr flight) I couldn't image sitting in the plane and being required to check every personal item including books/magazines/ipods/etc. I mean I'm sorry but the pathetic literature provided provided on a plane doesn't keep me occupied for an hour flight and the movies on long flights, well, most of the time I'm not interested enough to watch 4 movies back to back.

I still feel sorry for anyone who has their luggage lost, I mean the old rule I always followed was one change of clothes in the carry on just in case the check got lost. Now with everything having to be checked what CAN you do when your luggage flies to Timbuktu and you land in Berlin?

Sorry, travel frustrates me more and more anymore.
 
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