(posted now that I am home from con)
This is freaky weird. I am flying today. It is a holiday, Thanksgiving, when so many people travel. We have an Orange terror alert. The airlines have massive restrictions on what you can take on board. We have gotten to a point where we need identification everywhere. And I love it. It is probably one of the best airport experience I have had. Everything is so smooth and efficient. No problems, no delays, everyone is nice and working together.
One of the reasons I stopped flying a couple of years before 9-11 was how uncomfortable the experience was. The trip to and from the airport was a pain. What do you do with your car, what friends can ferry you. The time through security was necessary but tedious. Being locked in a box with my knees squished while in flight was a pain. There was nothing enjoyable about air travel.
Now, things move so smoothly getting to the gate I am all weirded out. I don’t mine the flight so much because it is only an hour to LA and uncomfortable instead of the entire experience being miserable. Even baggage claim seems easier and smoother.
Many people complain about needing IDs to fly, about the variance in what TSA will make a fuss over, about the terror alert levels. I have had good experiences every time I have been pulled aside to be checked over. I appreciate that they are looking into things like this. I don’t really think they are catching terrorists at this level but it does show that effort is being made and I think that keeps the low/mid level terrorists from going forward. The people I have dealt with have been pleasant and willing to have fun with it (within limits). I actually enjoy the interaction. I was somewhat disappointed this time that since I didn’t have a one way ticket I didn’t get pulled aside and I have figured out the system enough that I don’t dig any of the scanners anymore. I had no one to talk to and tell how impressed I am with the way people are handling all the extra stuff.
I wish more things could be treated with as much cooperative effort that I saw today at the airport on one of the highest travel days of the year.
airports
I have to agree with you Gina. Ironically enough, I have had fewer hassles with what I bring along on a plane now, than pre 9/11.
As always, great to see you.
Me, too.
I was dreading traveling on the “busiest days of the year” but it turned out to be a breeze for the most part. We had one weather delay and the security folks at Legaurdia were oddly fixated on Paul’s toothpaste, but everyone was friendly and relaxed.