I will travel to the EU and back to the U.S. later this year. Nothing will deter free nations from keeping that freedom alive.

I will probably travel less if we are not allowed to bring on unchecked luggage. Even a regulation bag will not be able to carry on toilet supplies. Having to carry all of my medications bottles instead of the usual 7 day carriier I use for medications is impractical and means that I will have to check medications. This is risky with the poor delivery of checked bags I have experienced. There is talk about not allowing laptops to be carried on either and this will effectively kill business travel for me and most of my employees.

The Terrorists are caught. Flying become even safer. I am feeling better about travel despite the inconvenience of tighter security

Been flying 34+ years as a means to earn a living.
This is a freedom that is earned.It is an absolute nightmare now.Security/lines/checks/double checks etc
It is time that hi-tech stepped up to the plate to help us weary business travelers out.If we can replave multiple organs/fly to the moon and back we can find a way to “segragate” the travel “regulars” I will not let these diabolical monsters run my life

My mother was supposed to fly from Warsaw to NYC through Heathrow on British Airways today. Her flight was cancelled and she is now searching for a way to get home, while will most likely not happen until Sunday. My sister and I are also flying to NYC from Warsaw through Heathrow on British Monday.
If anything, I think this event has made me more confident to fly. Intelligence agencies are doing good work, as evidenced by this plot being uncovered. In addition, the extra security measures that will be in place during my flight will only serve to make me feel safer, knowing that a plot which could have very well unravelled the day of my flight on the same route I am to fly has been broken up.
We must continue with our daily lives, not letting such people scare us away from the business of our daily life.

I will probably travel a lot less by commercial airlines because of the new government mandated harrassment of passengers, time consuming searches, and the accompanying delays that will make commercial air travel unpleasant.

When I fly for business, I’ll probably go in with others and spend a little extra money to charter a General Aviation jet.

The new hassles of air travel (the implementation of which indicates that the terrorists are winning big in the so called WAR ON TERROR) will definitely hurt the airlines.

I’m a single 30 something male. About an hour ago I just purchased a plane ticket form Ft Lauderdale to Newark to help my brother in law move. I’m also planning on visiting Vancouver, BC in October. The news of a bomb plot really didn’t effect my travel plans. Tickets have been purchased and I’m ready to fly. It’s just another day. I don’t mind waiting at the airport for longer. That’s the exact reason I purchased an airport club membership. No need to bring drinks onboard when you can get loaded for free before the flight. My biggest concern remains getting my checked-in baggage back at the other end…

I try to avoid flying these days. As a young single man I am always “randomly” selected. It is such a pain that I’d rather just stay home. Don’t people realize that the point of terrorist attacks is to alter our way of life? Mission accomplished.

I’m not planning to change our travel plans in the slightest. Out of the 42,000+ flights per day in this country alone, the chance of being in either a plane crash or on a particular plane targeted by terrorists is virtually a statistical zero. I live in Colorado and am more likely to be killed by a lighting strike according to the statistics, because Colorado has the most fatalities from lightning of any state. And traveling by automobile is far more dangerous statistically than flying! My wife got on her plane as planned today, and flew to Washington, D.C. I think we’re safer today by far than we were before September 11, when we were all in a “dream world” about believing that if we played nice-nice, that nobody would ever want to kill us for no particular reason. Well, sorry but they do. But they’re not exactly succeeding at it lately, are they? When was the last successful terrorist attack on U.S. soil? Answer: 9/11/01.

I will definitely avoid air travel in near future. Not worth it, hope I have patience for my next couple of trips already planned. These measures to not allow fluids in the carry on has no effect, terrorist will try something else. What is the limit? Next time they find explosives in the clothes and we will be standing in our underwears for security checks.

Judging by the histeria generated, the terrorists will no doubt still view this as a success. I don’t think knee-jerk airport security hysteria does any good to people - the media picks up on it and has a field day, that in turn only furthers the cause of terrorists, i.e. to create a sense of fear and terror in the general population, not to mention economic stagnation. Unfortuantely zero-risk does not exists. However, it would be far better in my view to invest more money towards intelligence than placing an excessive burden on the airline industry. Economies will loose far more if travel becomes paralysed by fear.

It is easy to be flippant from the safety of our homes as we sit behind a computer screen. I am willing to say that it scares me.I find it maddening that any wicked person can pull the curtain on my life or the life of someone that I love at anytime they please. I don’t park out in the dark secluded section of a parking lot when I go shopping at night and I don’t fly as much as I used to do. I think that there is an over-reaction by the gov and airlines in the actions they take but I don’t think that changes the reality.

What is going on here? Why are these people filled with so much hatred for American citizens? Remember the perpetrators of the 911 attack were neither Afgans or Iraqi. The majority were Saudi Arabian. In this latest incident they are Pakastani and the Madrid train bombers were Moroccans. Yet Bush continues to send more troops into Iraq and is suppling rockets to Israel to crush the Lebanese. I for one am keeping my feet on terra ferma until G.W.Bush learns his Geography.

Ive been following the happenings of so called security based decisions since 9/11, and I have to say that although the intelligence organizations are doing a great job our lives and freedoms are being eroded. Whatever happened to the we will show the terrorists that our lives arent affected and continue as usual mentality?

Reading the BBC website I was stunned at the latest developments about security measures to and from London. Its obvious that the people making these decisions either fly on their own private jets or are exempt from these regulations.

I fly regularly, between Australia-UK, UK-US, UK-Europe for work I cant begin to imagine not even being able to take my walkman on the plane, let alone a book (because we all love reading the in-flight magazines they usually keep me occupied enough for a whole of 2 mins).

Our way of life is being eroded more and more every day under the guise of security and protection these are scare tactics designed to prime us for new and harsher measures in the future.

I was meant to fly to London in 2 weeks I have just gotten off the phone with the travel company and will instead fly into Paris and catch the train to London. The process will reverse on the outbound journey. If London doesnt want direct traffic, Ill be more than happy to fly through a civilized and level headed country like France.

Welcome to martial law you have no power to control your own lives any more.

The terrorists hate us for our freedom? If that’s the case, then why are neocons so enthusiastic about taking away freedoms from Americans, to please the terrorists?!

Flying has become a nightmare domestically in the US, you’re lucky to get peanuts, and a drink anymore. Now with these so-called security measures that makes every passenger basically conditioned to be treated like a prisoner before heading to their cell/plane.

I will be traveling by plane less, no question. Welcome to the 21st version of World War III — war on civilians. I no longer feel safe. Time to move to Australia!

If the USA would just drop the politically correct nonsense and profile passengers it’d be a lot safer than it is now. How many airliners has El Al lost since they started profiling? Who should screeners be checking? Little old ladies who are almost too frail to walk, or young Arab men who talk loudly into cell phones and *know* that they’re not going to get singled out for a check because it’s profiling? Get real, folks… TSA stands for Too Stupid to work at Arby’s or something.

It’s always bugged me why people need any carry-on luggage at all. I’m a frequent flyer and experience has taught me that all I need is my passport, boarding pass and wallet. EVERYTHING ELSE can be packed in my check-in baggage. The pay-back is that I breeze through security. No having to dump all my excess nonessential junk into an x-ray tray and wait for it to go through. No trying to squeeze my flight bag (red-faced) into a pile of junk in the overhead compartments. If the flight is a short one, I read the in flight magazine and have a coffee, if it’s long haul the entertainment is provided anyway. Why anyone thinks they need a bottle of shampoo, nail-clippers or a tent is beyond me. I mean honestly, how long can your nails grow during a four hour flight anyway?

The first of the year, I quit my old job which involved air travel every other week. My new job requires hardly any travel, and I haven’t been to the airport since.

I was tired of the TSA’s brainless overreaction to every threat, while doing little or nothing to actually make air travel safer. They’re still a bunch of idiots, and if I never set foot on an airliner again, it’ll be too soon.

Business travel? 90% of all business can be handled with a fax machine, a teleconference and a Webex. You don’t need to actually GO there to do WORK there.

Leisure travel? Take the kids to the local zoo, or sit in the shade by the pool with a good book. Go camping, or take a walk in the country. You don’t need to fly to have a vacation. Stay home, relax, and let United and Disney go broke in peace.

What a boon for the airlines — now they can charge $3 for a bottle of water since you can’t bring it with you. Kids are allowed carry-on juice, but not oldsters? They stock juice on board already! You can carry cell phones, ipods, and computers on domestic flights, but not international? Where’s any common sense in this? Since it already takes me 3 hours to travel to an airport, and I have to arrive 2 hours early as is, I won’t bother nearly as often — I am hassled out. PROFILE, stop hassling grandma!!!! Target terrorists, not hand lotion.

It’s just a hassle anymore. Nobody gets it straight. Why not just say “No More Carry-on’s). This way, no more long lines to wait for the bags to go through the x-ray, and make domestic flying what it is suppose to be, a faster way of transportation. Well, and maybe the airlines have to supply baby formula, and juices, which could be selected as you book your flight. Hours at the airport, not for me, I rather spend hours in the car, with a nice cup of coffe, and look at the scenery.

Well… Interesting question. If it’s inland of US than I have to be damn crazy to drive an SUV from West Coast anywhere else - gas prices will KILL me… On the other hand - I can’t have a shaver, tooth paste, mouth wash, or a damn lighter with me or God knows what else. Can I Please wear my underwear next time I fly via air? What amazes me is that airlines will suffer again from loss of revenue and our government (us - taxpayers) will pay their loss!

At any rate why not just come-up with a plan not to have any friggin carry-on (it will also free-up some space for me and those obese 65% of US population flying next to me) and invest into easy-to-track luggage service expedited on the same flight. Just think about cost savings and this total hysteria ending! Now here is the kicker - California and other states will have National Guards troops in airports dispatched! What for?! That is the question! Protect from who? From a mother with her 6-months old child and a bottle of breast milk?!

by the way… Bill Tobin, you are an idiot. Mr. President stated before quite clearly - it’s NOT a religious war…

This. Is. Ridiculous.

I bring carry on luggage because I can live out of one bag for weeks. Its always made far more sense to me to be able to carry all that I need on the plane and off the plane, circumventing many many many headaches. I’m scared and surprised nobody is yet questioning the truth behind these supposed discoveries. There is not enough evidence being shown to the public about this “discovery.” How are we to know this isnt another one of the Bush adminsitrations ways of wrapping even tighter control around us in a time of faltering hope in our president? I know you might say “Ridiculous!” but… don’t believe everything you read, and look at the past. Nothing is EVER as it seems with these things.

I Travel quite frequently on planes and to be honest if there were a terrorist attack every day i still wouldn’t mind flying in a plane. All it means is that i will get cheaper airfare. On average a person experiences a life and death situation once in thier life,iv learned to accept death as part of being born. I really couldn’t care less about terrorists if someone is trying to hi-jack a plane get out of your seat and kill them. 5 people with probably 20 bullets each against 200 unarmed will still lose the fight. Our founding fathers fought and risked their lives on multiple occasions for us, if it becomes necessary do it for your fellow passengers.

Security measures…Ha 2 months ago i did a test. i took a colt 1911 and field stripped it. then i stuck it ontop of my x-box, the only comment i got from security is, do you have halo 2 in there too? x-ray machines are worthless and searching luggage is a breach of our freedoms. hows this for an idea. passangers are allowed to bring guns on board, loaded!!! bet you terrorists will start putting chemicals to blow up your betty crocker cakes instead.

I may not directly travel less, but I will change the way I fly. In the past, I thought it was better to fly non-stop across the Atlantic and make a connection to our final destination.
Now, I think it will be better to make a connection in the U.S. to an airport where we can fly to our final destination. If there are no direct flights from a U.S. airport to Newcastle or York, then we may stop going to England. Heathrow was shutdown for air traffic control problems, then shutdown for a food service strike and now this happens. The days of
international gateway airports are over for me.

I think that if people fly less, as Pete points out, that’s a positive for the environment. I also agree with many of the comments regarding the knee-jerkness of security responses. It seems to be all about appearance, with little real substance or intelligence, and although there is probably some small deterrent factor in the mere appearance of security screening, the determination of suicide attackers is not among those deterred by such superficial tactics.

The policies of the USA are sowing Dragon’s Teeth across the Islamic world. Instead, we should be working to make the world a place in which new suicide attackers are not created. In other words, along with intelligence, and security measures based on actual intelligent thought, there should be efforts to bring the Middle East countries and peoples into the modern era, provide for basic needs and EDUCATION, especially of women– if such were the case, there would be far fewer suicide attackers, and the support for the (despicable) terrorist practices would erode.

We need another Ghandi, while we’re at it.

We understand the increased security measures. In fact, carry-on luggage has returned to an extreme, and should have been limited long ago.
However, to limit medications to what only will be required for the flights, is stupid and dangerous. Two years ago, we flew to Hawaii and the normal 12 hour trip took 27 hours due to NWA computer problems. Additionlly, the airline lost our check-in luggage for several hours. Had we not had our full supply of medications in our carry-on, we would have been in serious jeopardy.

Will we fly again? Not as long as these types of restrictions are in place. They can limit cosmetics, hair gels, drinks, etc… but not meds, and special meals for those with diagnosed dietary restrictions (which the airlines do NOT accomodate)

We are scheuled for another trip to Hawaii in September, and will certainly cancel if these restrictions remain in place. In the mean-time we will stay home and watch our economy go down the toilet. Sadly, if that continues to be the case, the terrorists win!

I think that we all need to reconsider our travel needs. I personally feel that your time is up when its up, no metter where you are or what you are doing. If flying is something that scares you…. then look at the death statistics compared to driving. I would be affraid to get behind the wheel if thats the scenario presented to me. Fly if needed… Enjoy life! You could get smacked by a bus today!

I fly several times a month and NEVER check anything. The last time I checked a bag, everything was stolen out of it by the time it reached my destination. Consequently, I’ve learned to travel light and fit everything I need into a small carry-on.

If I can’t bring my carry-on, I’ll either drive or renew my pilot’s license. I refuse to fly commercial if it means standing in slow moving ticket lines and checking my bag.

No carry on?
I won’t be flying, as I don’t check luggage, and I won’t store my clothes, iPod and laptop in checked luggage.

Easier to drive than tolerate this nonsense.
Non arab looking people aren’t doing this…take a clue TSA, from El Al.

I hated flying before, hate it even more now. Before it was just the inconvenience and hassle of the underpaid and poorly trained security, the little to no food, being packed into a cramped and uncomfortable flying cattle car, the strong probability of you making it there before your checked baggage, and the overall mismanagement, disorganization and perpetual screwups of our brilliant domestic carriers. Now this? Three hours to get on a flight? I can see it now… One more foiled plot and we all fly naked. If I can’t sail or take the train, I ain’t goin’. It’s just not worth it.

Airline stocks aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on but it doesn’t have anything to do with a terror threat.

However, if you don’t fly, they win.

Our reaction to terrorism is exactly what the terrorists want, distruption of our freedoms.
What we need is a globally funded effort similar to the US space program to invest in innovation around making our lives safer.
This is not just a technology issue, but needs to include multi-level education on a broad scale, security process re-engineering and standardization among other efforts.
All free people need to be active in this effort. Paying taxes to a government to handle this isn’t enough. We all need to be more involved to help our governments help us be safer.
In the short term this will involve a certain level of sacrifice on our part, but in the long term it will mean a greater level of freedom and peace for all of us. But it take years for this to happen.

oh no! Richard, your post scares me more than the terrorists do.

I understand your fear, but you have got to overcome it. As an American (or anyone in a “free” country), it’s your duty to stay strong. I hate to be cliche, but “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” right?

People like you add up to the terrorists winning. Look at that! They don’t even have to bomb the planes to win…

As someone said earlier, it’s statistically VERY improbable that anything will happen to you in a plane. There are THOUSANDS of flights everyday & only a handful of incidents occur ever year & only one or two may result in deaths. Even w/ a dozen planes being bombed, the statistics are STILL low. What scares all of you into the idea not to fly anymore is that it’s SENSATIONALIZED. If you heard about every single time someone died in a car crash, you’d NEVER drive.

Also, the airlines do have a duty, as well, to come up with a way to make this less harsh on passengers. If it bothers you so much, start sending them (nice) emails with suggestions on how to make this all work better. If you think you could all do a better job, start writing!! I work in customer service, and I promise you, with enough (rational and respectful) complaints and suggestions, things WILL and DO change.

Airport Threat and Security: Preparation for next elections. Scare the heck out of Americans so they will vote for Republicans to secure the country.

For my fellow Americans: Let’s tell our govt. to stop killing arabs and muslims for oil and power and they will stop hating us.

This is ridiculous. If the West were to disengage and stop meddling in the affairs of other nations, this would all eventually die down and we could return to normal lives. The gauntlet at airports is a vexing pain. I am old enough to remember when you just sauntered onto the plane. All of this is a tar baby of the West’s own making. We’ve shot our own selves in the foot and have ourselves to blame. Stop meddling and we will be left alone.

Derrill says: “Fly if needed Enjoy life! You could get smacked by a bus today!”
I add: “Or get bitten by the right ‘wrong’ mosquito. Or gunned down by the perfectly gentlemanly neighbor next door that could ‘never ever do that kind of thing.’ As Derril says, “…your time is up when its up, no [matter] where you are or what you are doing.” Live LIFE! Tommorow, like yesterday, is not valid in today’s equation. What you hand and what you will ever have is this moment and if you throw it away, you throw yourself away. Arg you garbage, or are you human. Which ever, at least act like you had good sense.

Can anyone explain to me how carrying an already-inspected book or magazine onto a flight presents some sort of security risk in the first place?

It’s not the terrorist threat that has kept me from flying since 9/11, it’s the Gestapo treatment you get from the jack-asses at the airport, like stealing anything liquid because it “might” be used to make an explosive. There are many things solid which might be used to make an explosive, so shouldn’t we be prohibiting anything solid (or gaseous), too?

In fact, to really make things safe, let’s ban passengers from the airplanes. That should keep them safe.

I don’t understand all these harse comments regarding carry on. Yes they should more strictly enforce size and weight limits, but ban them outright?

Sorry, I’ve seen to many family members have their check in luggage ‘disapear’ into thin air. Don’t even get me started on valuables missing from compartments. There is no way I’m trusting any of my expensive electronics to the baggage handlers.

How about those 10+ hour flights? Good luck staying entertained with the terrible inflight movies. And food, if you want to get violently ill be my guest and sustain yourself with inflight meals on a transatlantic flight.

People who behave like cowards and fear flying are not only being irrational, (flying is the safest mode of travel bar none) they are letting the terrorists accomplish their mission. To scare you & to change your way of life. In one year I’ll be travelling to Turkey, a Muslim Country on the border of Iraq. I’m not scared in the least, not of the terrorists anyway. The draconian and increasingly unreasonable measures taken by the airports is the only thing I’m afraid of.

This is nothing more than a plot by the nudists to force everyone to fly naked.

The airlines will more than make up for any lost revenues by dramatically speeding boarding/exiting airplanes by banning carry-on luggage. One of the most annoying things about flying is this tendency by both the Beverly Hillbillies types and the arrogant business ass types to try to carry on their entire wardrobe and “electronic office,” cluttering the aisles for 20-30 minutes as they try to cram it all in whatever space is available anywhere on the plane.
The ban MUST include laptops, which are an incredibly obvious place to hide these undetectable explosives (think about the spare battery pack) and any electronic items which could be used to spark or remotely detonate an explosive. At least getting rid of cell phones will also get rid of those annoying personal calls one is subjected to up to the last moment and beginning at the first possible moment allowed. There’s no need to call till you get to the terminal.

Mark, remember Munich’38?

Re:SavvyGirl: *Of course* let everyone carry whatever they want. Let Ramzi Yousef’s disciples carry their bottles of ‘contact lens solution’ and ‘hand soap’ so you can have a nice relaxing flight free from the unimaginable hassle of uncomfortable contact lenses and chapped hands. I wouldn’t bet on actually getting to your destination though.
Quit whining about minor discomforts. Do you think Palistinain mothers are reaching for their hand sanitizer when American made missiles are raining down upon their children?

I forgot to mention that once you get to your destination by air, you get to go to baggage claim and sweat out whether your luggage made it. I flew out of New Mexico in the late 70’s. Final destination was Virginia. Had to change flights in El Paso, TX. Lady at ticket counter in New Mexico asked me if I was going to El Paso. I said yes. THAT’S where my luggage was sent! Had to wear my sister’s clothes while on vacation in Virginia. Hey, she asked me if I was going to El Paso. I was. Besides, she HAD my ticket in her hand. Couldn’t she tell what my FINAL destination was?