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re: What was air travel like before 9/11?
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:14 pm to UpToPar
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:14 pm to UpToPar
Since online check in wasn't a thing yet I remember the big hold up getting to the gate wasn't going through the security metal detectors, but waiting at your airline's desk to check in because everyone had to do it. (you could check in at the gate if you didn't have luggage though). As others have mentioned, being able to go to the gate without a ticket to say goodbye/hello to friends and family as they departed and arrived was the biggest difference that I can remember.
1
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:14 pm to UpToPar
While I'm glad that you no longer have tons of people at each gate, watching friends board and greeting them when you get off...
I miss the fact that when you had a few hours between flights in Dallas or Atlanta or wherever, you could call a friend and tell them when you were getting there. They could drive out to the airport and hang out with you between flights. Now, you have to have enough time to get out of the gate area and to the general airport, meet your friend for an hour or whatever, then go back through the security line and travel back to your gate.
I miss the fact that when you had a few hours between flights in Dallas or Atlanta or wherever, you could call a friend and tell them when you were getting there. They could drive out to the airport and hang out with you between flights. Now, you have to have enough time to get out of the gate area and to the general airport, meet your friend for an hour or whatever, then go back through the security line and travel back to your gate.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:15 pm to Kenny Wu
quote:
Since online check in wasn't a thing yet I remember the big hold up getting to the gate wasn't going through the security metal detectors, but waiting at your airline's desk to check in because everyone had to do it. (you could check in at the gate if you didn't have luggage though). As others have mentioned, being able to go to the gate without a ticket to say goodbye/hello to friends and family as they departed and arrived was the biggest difference that I can remember.
Curbside check in for the motherfricking win.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:17 pm to Y.A. Tittle
quote:
Curbside check in for the motherfricking win.
These were a life savor, but i remember a lot of times the curbsides desks weren't staffed so it was a relief when they were.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:18 pm to UpToPar
quote:
I imagine security had really ramped up on the first flights after, right? What was security like on the first flight?
Nothing was uniform yet right after. I arrived probably close to 3 hours before my first flight back home.
They were scrambling to figure it all out still. Metal detectors were turned up to maximum power and carry-on luggage was getting plenty of manual searches.
X-ray machines for checked luggage was pretty non-existent. They started randomly checking the checked bags, which required you to go to an area with them so they could go through it. At first these areas were in plain view of everyone in some airports and passers-by could see all your packed items. They then started putting up some privacy dividers.
National Guard were fully armed, but it later came out they were without ammo or firing pins. At the time we thought they were live and ready, so it was a comforting effect.
When I got the "SSSS" on my ticket it involved
1 - My checked bags were searched in front of me before I could go through security
2 - In security I would be pulled aside and given the wand, no matter what the metal detector said. Any carry-on was opened and checked. Laptop had to fully boot up.
3 - At gate was placed in a special line where they searched all bags again.
I got the extra screening more times than I should have and my wife hated to fly with me
. It was not a bunch of white males that did 9/11.Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:19 pm to UpToPar
quote:
What was air travel like before 9/11?
I carried pot, flower, in my jeans front pocket going through security without a hitch many times. Was never worried about it.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:24 pm to Y.A. Tittle
quote:
I remember coming through as a kid around 1980 with a pirate cap gun I had gotten at Disney World (sort of an old muzzle loading pistol replica) that set off the detector, and security just sort of having a chuckle and saying "let's go ahead and check that."
Last time I was at Disney, a few years ago, I bought my daughter one of those cap guns. The lady at the register basically said "whatever you do, do not put this toy in your carryon baggage." Apparently some incidents have happened because of a Disney replica muzzle loader.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:29 pm to UpToPar
Biggest thing we lost for me was being able to have a loved one greet you when you got off plane. Great feeling.
Additionly, all the concourse vendors are now getting rich because snack and water/soda connotes pass thru security. A $4 bottle of water was unheard of (cost at Love Field a couple of weeks ago).
Flying is now no fun at all.
Additionly, all the concourse vendors are now getting rich because snack and water/soda connotes pass thru security. A $4 bottle of water was unheard of (cost at Love Field a couple of weeks ago).
Flying is now no fun at all.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:32 pm to UpToPar
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:33 pm to Gondor
quote:
Flying is now no fun at all.
To say the least. Biggest stress before 9/11 was how long the line at the check-in counter was going to be.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:33 pm to UpToPar
quote:The flight attendants were fine as frogs hair and would frick the shite out you if you flirted with them.
What was air travel like before 9/11?
Now, their asses are wider than the aisle and ain't no way I'm touching that old cooter after it's been stuffed in support hose all day long.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:35 pm to UpToPar
Security was fairly minimal. You could meet your family or girlfriend as soon as you stepped off the jetway, and the they could see you off. You could also board aircraft even if you weren't a passenger. Better times.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:43 pm to GetBackToWork
It was still pretty lax in some areas in Europe for quite a while. The old Ibiza airport had an outdoor cafe right next to the pad until well into the 80s / 90s. You sat there sipping on your drink waiting for your plane. Anyone could meet you there.Like a civilized bus stop.
Major airports like heathrow, schiphol, munich, etc had tightened up in the very early 70s.
Major airports like heathrow, schiphol, munich, etc had tightened up in the very early 70s.
This post was edited on 9/11/19 at 2:44 pm
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:43 pm to Reservoir dawg
I was born on a military base overseas in '86 and my Dad got out and moved us back to the States when I was still an infant. In '98 we took a family trip back over and one of our days my Dad decides to take me to see the base and hospital where I was born. We just show up at the gate, my Dad over a decade removed from the military with zero credentials, just tells the guy the story and drops a few names and he's like eh, frick it and lets us in Free reign of the place
Free reign of the placeThis post was edited on 9/11/19 at 2:45 pm
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:46 pm to Reservoir dawg
The biggest question is “How was protocol the few weeks after 911.
- how in the world they hired and trained all the TSA agents in a two week period was impressive.
- the TSA agents were frightened to make the smallest mistake. Everyone was thoroughly scanned as was your luggage.
- lines could be up to 4 hours to get through security. Lots of folks missed their flights.
- everyone was tense. Worrying about missing your flight, being pulled aside for extra screening, not knowing what to remove or what items set off the metal detectors.
- racial profiling was at its worst. A Middle Eastern person sitting on the plane sent doubts through passengers minds.
- lots of high tension.
Ect.
- how in the world they hired and trained all the TSA agents in a two week period was impressive.
- the TSA agents were frightened to make the smallest mistake. Everyone was thoroughly scanned as was your luggage.
- lines could be up to 4 hours to get through security. Lots of folks missed their flights.
- everyone was tense. Worrying about missing your flight, being pulled aside for extra screening, not knowing what to remove or what items set off the metal detectors.
- racial profiling was at its worst. A Middle Eastern person sitting on the plane sent doubts through passengers minds.
- lots of high tension.
Ect.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 2:54 pm to UpToPar
“Flight attendants” were all female, were called stewardesses, most were hot with weight proportionate to height.
Very laid back flying on SW Airlines as someone else noted.
You could bring a drink from outside the airport on the plane and fifths of liquor in your luggage.
You could show up at the gate 15 minutes before your departure and get on the plane with no problem.
We should send Saudi Arabia a bill for the cost of TSA since its inception and bill them $10/hour for every hour a man, woman or child has stood in a security line. That could pay for the national debt.
Very laid back flying on SW Airlines as someone else noted.
You could bring a drink from outside the airport on the plane and fifths of liquor in your luggage.
You could show up at the gate 15 minutes before your departure and get on the plane with no problem.
We should send Saudi Arabia a bill for the cost of TSA since its inception and bill them $10/hour for every hour a man, woman or child has stood in a security line. That could pay for the national debt.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 3:07 pm to UpToPar
(no message)
This post was edited on 10/3/19 at 11:42 am
Posted on 9/11/19 at 3:36 pm to WallsAllAroundMe
quote:
And not too long before 9-11, you had to carry heavy arse suitcases because the wheels on the suitcases were not mainstream yet.
And we were literally stronger as a nation because of it!
Posted on 9/11/19 at 3:37 pm to montana
quote:
A Middle Eastern person sitting on the plane sent doubts through passengers minds.
Nothing has really changed.
Posted on 9/11/19 at 3:39 pm to DeltaTigerDelta
quote:
And not too long before 9-11, you had to carry heavy arse suitcases because the wheels on the suitcases were not mainstream yet.
quote:
And we were literally stronger as a nation because of it!
nah, somebody's waxing nostalgic, wimp wheels have been around since the 80s
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