Business History Books » Business Consulting » to fly or not to fly
to fly or not to fly
Question:
> and i really can’t understand people who LOVE to fly. i’d say that for the > most part, people who fear flying are very aware of the safety statistics. > doesn’t make those flights any easier for me though.
I have no love of "flying" but I do have a love of travel, and because the places I like to go (or need to go for work) usually require crossing an ocean or are >500 miles away and require being there the same day I leave, I fly. However, I’ve never had a fear of flying, I just don’t like being in a plane – I’m mildly claustrophobic (always try to get and aisle seat), I get nauseated on take-offs and landings, esp. landings (but that’s also a problem in cars, esp, around hills), and can’t sleep sitting up. So, as you can imagine, I don’t look forward to flights. But yeah, it’s safer to fly than to drive. I suspect most people with fear of flying fear the lack of control. My attitude has always been, "Well, it’s out of my control, I’ll have confidence the pilots are well trained and just hope nothing goes wrong. And if it does, so be it." Right now is probably the *safest* time to fly. The element of surprise is gone with the terrorists and security is heightened – the major problem is crowded airports. If you really want to go on your trip but can’t get over the fear, you might want to see a doc about it. I know some folks take various meds to get them through the flights (I just rely on tomato juice to settle my stomach, and lots of water). I’ve flown on 4 trips in the past 6 weeks (all pleasure travel, which is a lot for me). Three of those were before 11 Sept, but I flew domestically this weekend through 2 airports each way. Despite a security fiasco in Cleveland, it was no problem. btw – all 4 flights were *packed*, not a seat free on any of them. Kind of funny sitting in the Houston airport, wall-to-wall people (not as bad as Thanksgiving weekend but not far from it), listening to the CNN annoucer talk about "tax breaks to get people to travel again because so few people are flying". I’ll be flying in 2 weeks to Thailand via Seattle, then back again in December, then another RT trip to Thailand Jan-Feb., and probably one trip per month domestically after that. So business as usual. C – hoping that these trips mean I can start getting enough miles for upgrades, so I actually enjoy the flying part of the travel better.
Response:
>Well, given the start of bombing and the start of a holy war on >America. I think that many will reconsider our travel plans for the >coming months.
… and again, I disagree. -Kenny, who thinks those silly enough to do so are probably the ones I don’t want sitting next to me anyway — Kenneth R. Crudup Sr. SW Engineer, Scott County Consulting, Washington, D.C. Home2: 38010 Village Cmn. #217 Fremont, CA 94536-7525 (510) 745-0101 Work: 5141 California Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92612 (949) 737-6200
Response:
> > I really can’t understand the wimps who have cancelled travel plans. > There > is more chance of being killed in a car crash than in the air. > and i really can’t understand people who LOVE to fly. i’d say that for the > most part, people who fear flying are very aware of the safety statistics. > doesn’t make those flights any easier for me though.
I can’t stand eating chicken or watching football. Some understand and some think I’m just weird. I am one who loves to fly, but I understand those who don’t. As a private pilot, I try to consider the fears and feelings of those who fly with me. I don’t try to talk anyone into flying that is afraid of it. I always take care to make every flight as enjoyable as possible. My wife flys with me to get somewhere, but would never go fly just for fun. I respect that. Thousands of flights arrive safely every day and you know that, but hearing statistics doesn’t change your mindset. Dozens of people tell me about the great fried chicken they had, but it doesn’t change me. Perhaps if I ate it anyway, I might eventurally come to like it better. Maybe I’d discover a special recipe or way of preparing it that I’d like. I admire the fact that you’ll fly, even though it scares you. Think about leaving all your cares on the ground. Enjoy the peaceful drifting clouds. Look at the weird and funny people around you. Write about it. Maybe you will find something about flying that makes it more tolerable. — Gene Seibel Confessions of a Pilot – http://pad39a.com/publishing
Response:
Better stay home so you give your fellow folks a break. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > I really can’t understand the wimps who have cancelled travel plans. > There > > is more chance of being killed in a car crash than in the air. > and i really can’t understand people who LOVE to fly. i’d say that for the > most part, people who fear flying are very aware of the safety statistics. > doesn’t make those flights any easier for me though. >I can’t stand eating chicken or watching football. Some understand and >some think I’m just weird. >I am one who loves to fly, but I understand those who don’t. As a >private pilot, I try to consider the fears and feelings of those who >fly with me. I don’t try to talk anyone into flying that is afraid of >it. I always take care to make every flight as enjoyable as possible. >My wife flys with me to get somewhere, but would never go fly just for >fun. I respect that. >Thousands of flights arrive safely every day and you know that, but >hearing statistics doesn’t change your mindset. Dozens of people tell >me about the great fried chicken they had, but it doesn’t change me. >Perhaps if I ate it anyway, I might eventurally come to like it >better. Maybe I’d discover a special recipe or way of preparing it >that I’d like. >I admire the fact that you’ll fly, even though it scares you. Think >about leaving all your cares on the ground. Enjoy the peaceful >drifting clouds. Look at the weird and funny people around you. Write >about it. Maybe you will find something about flying that makes it >more tolerable. >– >Gene Seibel >Confessions of a Pilot – http://pad39a.com/publishing
Response:
> Well, given the start of bombing and the start of a holy war on America. I > think that many will reconsider our travel plans for the coming months.
What holy war? miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Response:
> > Well, given the start of bombing and the start of a holy war on America. I > think that many will reconsider our travel plans for the coming months. > What holy war?
The one declared by the Taliban after the air strikes started. It will NOT stop me from flying to SNA next weekend, or to LAS the weekend after it.
Response:
>>> Well, given the start of bombing and the start of a holy war on America. I >> think that many will reconsider our travel plans for the coming months. > What holy war? > The one declared by the Taliban after the air strikes started.
Ah, the do-it-yourself holy war. People don’t seem to get that anyone can declare one of those. It means exactly as much as there are people willing to go along with it. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Response:
> and i really can’t understand people who LOVE to fly. i’d say that for the > most part, people who fear flying are very aware of the safety statistics. > doesn’t make those flights any easier for me though.
Ok. I don’t ‘love to fly.’ The day they invent Star Trek style transporters, I’ll be first in line to buy one. But I fly because I like to travel, and would rather devote the time to enjoying my destination than to sitting in a car or bus for hours/days on end. But yeah, I always feel a twinge of nervousness when I fly. Such is life. And the twinge hasn’t gotten any bigger since 9/11. Naomi
Response:
>> and i really can’t understand people who LOVE to fly.
Pilots usually really like to fly. I think I’d love to fly if I was a pilot – perfectly understandable IMHO. >The reason I like it is because I know when I get out of the plane I’m >going to be somewhere far, far away that is hopefully quite interesting. >The alternatives: >1) Staying home: Boring. >2) The bus: slow and equally uncomfortable
My mother once characterized plane travel as a bus ride with nothing to see out the window. >3) The train: slow and expensive, though much more comfortable >4) A car: slow and more uncomfortable than flying
Uncomfortable depends on the car. An advantage of the car is that you can stop where you want and take the route that you want, so you can get to more places on the way to where you are going. Disadvantage is that it is really more dangerous than plane travel. >So flying usually wins. The fun of getting out on the other end creates >sufficient positive associations in my head to make me happy about getting >on the plane in the first place.
I’m relatively relaxed about transportation hazards, except I don’t like to drive with my mother (either as a driver or passenger). I’ve flown (always as a passenger) in a lot of situations from a 1929 Waco where the pilot had just bought the plane and had never flown it before, on up. I’d rather not crash and die of course, but I’d also rather not die because a drunk driver ran into me head on, or die of hypothermia or drown from my boat being sunk because it struck a submerged shipping container, or die because I was shot in a bank robbery. Everyone will die eventually, and you take a chance just by living. So worrying excessively about it is counterproductive. You do what you can to stay out of harms way, and enjoy life while you have it. grandma Rosalie
Response:
Well, given the start of bombing and the start of a holy war on America. I think that many will reconsider our travel plans for the coming months.
Response:
> sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT > flying because of the events on 9/11 or is it business as usual as far as > flying the (un)friendly skies? > TIA, > sheri > I really can’t understand the wimps who have cancelled travel plans. There > is more chance of being killed in a car crash than in the air.
and i really can’t understand people who LOVE to fly. i’d say that for the most part, people who fear flying are very aware of the safety statistics. doesn’t make those flights any easier for me though. — sheri
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->anyway, i’m about to take a trip across the u.s. to san jose in a few weeks >and i’m already starting to get physically ill when thinking about the >flight. it happens every time. >sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT >flying because of the events on 9/11 > I’m flying regularly at this point. However, I wasn’t a nervous flyer > before so it stands to reason that I wouldn’t be now. If you are already > becoming nauseated at the *idea* of flying in a few weeks, you should > definitely make other transportation plans. Why put yourself through that? > Donna
thanks to everyone who responded. donna, the reason why is because i’ve had this trip planned to see this benefit concert for months. it’s very important to me. i’m in south florida though and the concert is in california. driving there would eat up way too much vacation time. if things are too hairy in the world by the time i need to leave, i’ll just cancel. i’d hate to do it, but i don’t need the stress. thanks again to all. — sheri
Response:
> and i really can’t understand people who LOVE to fly.
The reason I like it is because I know when I get out of the plane I’m going to be somewhere far, far away that is hopefully quite interesting. The alternatives: 1) Staying home: Boring. 2) The bus: slow and equally uncomfortable 3) The train: slow and expensive, though much more comfortable 4) A car: slow and more uncomfortable than flying So flying usually wins. The fun of getting out on the other end creates sufficient positive associations in my head to make me happy about getting on the plane in the first place. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Response:
>> sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT > flying because of the events on 9/11 or is it business as usual as far as > flying the (un)friendly skies? > TIA, > sheri >I really can’t understand the wimps who have cancelled travel plans. There >is more chance of being killed in a car crash than in the air.
I don’t personally have any fear about flying right now. However, the company I work for has sharply curtailed business travel. Only absolutely essential trips are being allowed right now. The stated reason is that the company can no longer afford travel insurance. I hope this policy doesn’t last long. Ed Suranyi
Response:
>anyway, i’m about to take a trip across the u.s. to san jose in a few weeks >and i’m already starting to get physically ill when thinking about the >flight. it happens every time. >sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT >flying because of the events on 9/11
I’m flying regularly at this point. However, I wasn’t a nervous flyer before so it stands to reason that I wouldn’t be now. If you are already becoming nauseated at the *idea* of flying in a few weeks, you should definitely make other transportation plans. Why put yourself through that? Donna
Response:
> sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT > flying because of the events on 9/11 or is it business as usual as far as > flying the (un)friendly skies? > TIA, > sheri
I really can’t understand the wimps who have cancelled travel plans. There is more chance of being killed in a car crash than in the air.
Response:
As long as you stay out of Ukrainian airspace, especially over the Black Sea, there shouldn’t be a problem….
Response:
> hey travelers, > i lurk mainly when i’m about to take a trip and more regularly since 9/11. > here’s my problem. i’m already terrified of flying. have been for some
time, I have my private pilot license, and love to fly in any manner possible. I also sympathize that you may feel otherwise. The job of terrorists is to instill terror and disrupt freedoms and ways of life. Don’t hand one to the terrorists! Find a counselor that specializes in fear of flying- it will be money well spent. Take care; Ken Ishiguro
Response:
I should preface this by admitting that I am a private pilot and love to fly although at 6′2" I dislike very much being cramped in coach for muliple hours at a time. I don’t fly on business so my commercial flying is limited to a vacation every year or two but as a result of Sept 11th I will seek out to fly somewhere this fall or winter for the following reasons: – Airfares will be a bargain. So will resorts – In the aftermath of Sept 11th flying has never been safer – Crowds are down. Terrorists or no terrorists, I stand a better chance of marrying a super model than getting hurt or killed in a plane crash so I have no problem. Best wishes on your journey. I highly recommend seeking help to deal with your fears. I’ve heard of great programs to help people deal with the fear of flying.
Response:
> sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT > flying because of the events on 9/11 or is it business as usual as far as > flying the (un)friendly skies?
It has not affected my travel plans. All personal, non buinsees Sept/Oct schedule 9/8-9 SJC-SNA-SJC 9/22-9/23 SJC-SNA-SJC 9/28-30 MRY-LAX-LAS-STL-PIA-STL-LAS-LAX-MRY 10/13-14 SJC-SNA-SJC 10/19-21 SJC-LAS-SJC (Blackjack tournament at Venetian) 10/27-28 SJC-SNA-SJC All AA, except LAS-STL-PIA-STL-LAS on TW.. Now, AA is offering DOUBLE MILES SYSTEMWIDE on AA (and the Eagle) and TW until Nov 15. Register on the web site.. It is DBLAA. Michael
Response:
>sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT >flying because of the events on 9/11 or is it business as usual as far as >flying the (un)friendly skies?
Business as usual, and I’m actually kind of ticked that I have nowhere to go (actually, no time to go) right now when fares are low. Can’t book any future travel, either- don’t know where I’ll be. -Kenny "If we don’t fly, then binLaden wins" Crudup — Kenneth R. Crudup Sr. SW Engineer, Scott County Consulting, Washington, D.C. Home2: 38010 Village Cmn. #217 Fremont, CA 94536-7525 (510) 745-0101 Work: 5141 California Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92612 (949) 737-6200
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > hey travelers, > i lurk mainly when i’m about to take a trip and more regularly since 9/11. > here’s my problem. i’m already terrified of flying. have been for some time, > but i’ve always managed to do it. with teeth clenched and white knuckled, > but i do it. > anyway, i’m about to take a trip across the u.s. to san jose in a few weeks > and i’m already starting to get physically ill when thinking about the > flight. it happens every time. > sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT > flying because of the events on 9/11 or is it business as usual as far as > flying the (un)friendly skies? > TIA, > sheri
I took a two week vacation beginning four days after 9/11. I took seven flights on two airlines and went through (or by) seven airports. Except for the long waits in line at some airports, it was "business as usual." Linda C.
Response:
Business as usual. Had a business trip last week. Another one next week and a third the week after.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> hey travelers, > i lurk mainly when i’m about to take a trip and more regularly since 9/11. > here’s my problem. i’m already terrified of flying. have been for some time, > but i’ve always managed to do it. with teeth clenched and white knuckled, > but i do it. > anyway, i’m about to take a trip across the u.s. to san jose in a few weeks > and i’m already starting to get physically ill when thinking about the > flight. it happens every time. > sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT > flying because of the events on 9/11 or is it business as usual as far as > flying the (un)friendly skies? > TIA, > sheri
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > hey travelers, > i lurk mainly when i’m about to take a trip and more regularly since 9/11. > here’s my problem. i’m already terrified of flying. have been for some time, > but i’ve always managed to do it. with teeth clenched and white knuckled, > but i do it. > anyway, i’m about to take a trip across the u.s. to san jose in a few weeks > and i’m already starting to get physically ill when thinking about the > flight. it happens every time. > sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT > flying because of the events on 9/11 or is it business as usual as far as > flying the (un)friendly skies?
Business as usual. Flew to FRA and BRU last week. To GRU and GIG in two weeks. And a trip to Europe in December that was looming should got confirmed today.
Response:
hey travelers, i lurk mainly when i’m about to take a trip and more regularly since 9/11. here’s my problem. i’m already terrified of flying. have been for some time, but i’ve always managed to do it. with teeth clenched and white knuckled, but i do it. anyway, i’m about to take a trip across the u.s. to san jose in a few weeks and i’m already starting to get physically ill when thinking about the flight. it happens every time. sooo, my question is this (and please be honest!!) — are any of you NOT flying because of the events on 9/11 or is it business as usual as far as flying the (un)friendly skies? TIA, sheri