Fireup2020
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2007
- Messages
- 1,250
Yet another reason to fly Space-A if eligible! It's more of a fun adventure if in the right frame of mind!
We're flying next week to the US and not looking forward to that at all. It was bad enough before. Fortunately I planned this one as a megatrip so the relatives could meet my family and we'll drive to where I grew up so I can show my wife, etc. So this should be the last US trip until perhaps the kids are teenagers.
The domestic EU flight from Tallinn to London should be fine. No added restrictions and all the wealthy terrorists fly into London so not worried about blowing up. I scheduled us a full day layover in London to break up the flying time for our 2 year old which unfortunately makes us go through security again in England, the only downside (Tallinn is a breeze as it's not busy at all in winter).
I think for the England -USA trip we'll pack our coats in checked baggage to minimize fuss in security and just layer with heavy pull over sweaters. I'll take my carry-on with a few essentials and my wife one backpack with toddler supplies for our 2 year old. I managed to get my wife and toddler their own window aisle so the wee one can move around a little without disturbing others as much as possible and curl up to sleep on the window seat. I have the seat directly across from them on the aisle where I'm sure my seatmate will be fat, stink, drunk, keep bothering me or all of the above as I'm usually that lucky.
I'll take a fanny pack where I can stuff passports, documents, cell phone, pocket camera, etc just in case for some reason they ban my carry on last minute. We're not taking any laptops this trip either to help ease going through security as well.
Not sure what else we can really do. Slip on shoes would be great for the security line but I don't own any and I'm not buying them just for this one trip. I also have travellers insurance which includes acts of terror (it was included, not an add on.)
Any other tips from recent international travellers? Something I've not thought of?
As for keeping toddlers seated for the last hour of the flight. Probably possible if everyone doesn't mind continuous screaming for the last hour too.
DD is headed to Hawaii on Friday, I am heading to Japan on Sat...then Shanghai on Tues, then back on Thurs, then Paris on next sat....and on and on. I am not looking forward to this next month at all, as I will be on an airplane every second or third day.
I just flew from England to the USA this week and all your preparations should be good. I did almost exactly the same as you, including the fanny pack where you can slip your cell phone, i-pod, wallet etc prior to going through the metal detector. Note that at the gate all the contents of your carry ons will be removed and examined and there will be a thorough pat-down - male security guards on men, females on women as your genitals are likely to be touched during the search I would prefer the body scanners now being deployed in Holland to having my private parts man handled
Remember, no liquids before the screening but you are allowed to buy and carry-on liquids purchased once you are through screening - I noticed several folks allowed to carry on bottles of water, soda etc even after the extra body search. I did have a laptop in my back pack but that was about all there was in there.
They did not enforce the extra restriction on movement an hour before landing.
Well, I was hoping there would be some valid reason for the last-hour rule, but I guess the people in charge are just stupid.
Here are some questions:
1. How many people have been caught by security, trying to bring real explosives on a plane?
2. If someone is caught, is that information released to the media?
In 1986, Anne Marie Murphy, a young Irish woman, was planning to take an El Al flight from London to Tel Aviv to meet the parents of her fiance, a Palestinian. Murphy, who was pregnant, had no idea that the man she was planning to marry had hidden plastic explosives and a detonator in one of her suitcases. Israeli profilers interviewing Murphy found out about her boyfriend, got suspicious, and then discovered the bomb before the jumbo jet took off.
I've worried for years that the terrorists might start putting explosives in their private places or where the "sun don't shine". My air travel days are over when I see the the TSA agent waving me to an exam room while pulling on one latex glove.
I've worried for years that the terrorists might start putting explosives in their private places or where the "sun don't shine". My air travel days are over when I see the the TSA agent waving me to an exam room while pulling on one latex glove.
I can't see how any system similar to the one we have could work well. The screeners are low paid employees doing an extremely monotonous job.
This current close call is probably a good thing, since it will allow the use of the X-ray vision body scanners despite objections from the prudes who are worried about airport employees seeing their "bosoms." That might also make the screeners jobs a little less monotonous.
I guess I really don't care about the body scan, even though I may be a bit prudish. I mean, it isn't like they see your boobs hanging out or something. I am sure there might be a piercing related snicker or two when some of the younger folks I know might go through the line, but no worries on my end.
Good luck to you travelers...I would dread it.
Trek, I wish you a peaceful journey and I assume you use the trick where you have a new small toy for the little one to unwrap at intervals on the trip? Matchbox cars and the like? My friend who traveled with her smalls back and forth to NZ a few times swore by this method but wouldn't ever confess to using Benadryl, though I suspected it a few times.
I've just landed from my flight back from Europe. The full body pat down was so thorough that it may have qualified as my first gay experience...