i see tumbleweeds...

I like this blog post. Yoosta happen to me on the way to Denver all the time.

Posts like this remind me of how much flying now sucks. Sorry you are having to do so much, Amy. Hope it's good for your book sales, though. These tales make me very happy to work in an industry where working remotely and tele- or videoconferencing is the norm.

You're right. The terrorists have won if our response to pathetic, failed attempts to take out planes make lots of us miserable.

On 9/11, pundits said that people would be too scared to fly. I quit flying most of the time. It wasn't fear. It simply was no longer cost and time effective. Before 9/11, I get to my destination in less than two hours as opposed to a 5 1/2 hour drive. Now it takes 4 hours and I'm left without a car - if there are not delays - and I'm on their schedule. It is no longer worth it, unless the flight is long distance.

This is bad because we need a healthy airline industry. I have to go to SF for a conference soon. I'm flying there from an ev psych conference elsewhere, but Gregg's going to drive up and drive me home (he likes driving).

If we're going to spend five hours traveling, I'd like to do it in the car with him for five hours to LA instead of spending three hours getting to the airport and getting frisked by somebody wearing latex gloves, and then going through all the other unpleasantries of flying. And when you look at it, it's five hours either way, but cheaper to drive, and fun.

In olden times (2002), we were told that non-return-trip tickets were much more likely to be singled out for searches etc. Bear this in mind as you plan your arrival at the gate.

If you'll be up this way and like French food, I'd encourage you to visit Le P'tit Laurent in Glen Park. It's just an oustanding little bistrot, very reasonably priced ($21 3-course prix fixe Sunday-Thurs; entrees to the mid-20s), with delicious food and excellent and unobtrusive service. BART accessible, too!

If you can, consider flying a smaller airline. Usually the lines aren't as long as the majors. I personally like JetBlue a lot for trips to SF or NYC.

It sure is different flying within other countries.

I remember a flight in Australia where I should up early just like I should...only to find out I couldn't even get inline til 1.5 hours before the flight. So I sat and waited, the security guy interviewed me and inspected my documents. I explained I was used to having to get the airport so early, etc. He gave this look like "Stupid American, well, you are that guy for today."

In Japan, I was taking a flight and I am their waiting at the gate and only a few people. 15 minutes before the plan is take off people start showing up...I realized that in all the groups of people there before, at least one looked American. I mentioned it to my friend, and he was yeah, of people who are used to the Japanese system realize they don't need much extra time.

It is definately different flying to and from other countries. As former banker said, in Japan you don't need to arrive for your flight/ticket until half an hour before boarding. In Singapore it's an hour and in Thailand it can be as little as that if you're flying biz class.
To get from US-Canada or vice versa the best choice these days is Porter because it is 1. small 2. uses small airports.
My company (large financial firm) has stopped flying its staff to the US and uses teleconferencing instead due to the increased wait times in US airports.
THanks for the amusing post to start my day.

You're most welcome. Had a great time in Toronto (as I always do) save for the frigid weather and the fact that I just realized that somebody in airport security nabbed a half bottle of Ritalin out of my carryon. I wasn't prepared to check it -- it was in the pocket of my travel bag and at the last minute, they announced that you could only take a 12-inch purse and a small personal item on the plane. Well, somebody's getting speedy there in bag frisking!

This has nothing to do with terrorists and everything to do with
airline management. Management has decided that they save money
by not staffing at a level that will keep monster lines from
forming. They figure, usually correctly, that this money-saving
strategy will not cause you to fly a different airline next time.
This sort of business logic was clearly evident well before 9/11.

Well, you folks are scaring the hell out of me. I gotta fly out to the coast pretty soon. Anybody got any advice on what I can do to make it go any easier?

Here's the dirty little secret: I work for a company that, let's just say, is well known in the airplane industry. Our well-being depends to a considerable extent on the well-being of the airlines. But even we are discouraged from flying whenever driving is a feasible alternative.

We live about 700 miles away from most of our family. It takes about 11 hours to drive, and several times it has taken longer than that to fly, so now we just drive. It's so much more convenient to arrive on time and to have our own car.

***Well, you folks are scaring the hell out of me. I gotta fly out to the coast pretty soon. Anybody got any advice on what I can do to make it go any easier?***

Don't take any luggage? Really, I think you're just screwed. Sorry.

Well, you folks are scaring the hell out of me. I gotta fly out to the coast pretty soon. Anybody got any advice on what I can do to make it go any easier?

I've heard that sending prohibited items (such as toiletries) ahead via UPS works.

You were a great seatmate on the PHX leg Amy. Someone mentioned flying on a Japanese airline? On ANA they bow to the passengers before boarding the plane. Here, we barely got a good morning.