I Just Remembered Why I Hate Air Travel - rant

No doubt about that. I had no concept of how slow the security line and the flight check in line would be at 5am... I totally agree that if I would have been running a bit earlier, I would have been in a better place to work around a misguided TSA agent.

It always seems that when I get to the airport 2 hours before my flight, I sit around for an hour and a half, but if I get there an hour before, I'm barely making it. Add that to why I hate air travel

tuna55 wrote:

Cotton wrote:

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Lesley wrote: I guess there's no point in asking why you packed a gun?

My point as well. I've traveled around the world a few times. Never a problem. Made platinum with united a few times. Been all over. Never a problem. Why the gun? Are you stupid?

A lot of people check firearms when they travel. it isn't uncommon at all. Generally takes just a few minutes extra, seriously it's that easy. Sounds like the OP just got a green TSA agent.

Not to get all soap-boxy, but yeah. How dare this guy exercise one of his rights while traveling! The next thing you know, he'll want to do things like speak! If you carry a gun around while at home, why do you expect that reason to disappear while traveling?

There is excercisig a right and there is being stupid. Handguns get people all freaked out. Hunting rifles not so much. Baiting the TSa with s gun is stupid.

A friend of mine wanted to make a point about guns and brought a empty shell casing into Singapore. 2 days later, his mistake was excused when he left the country and nearly got him fired.

I usually figure that it has to be about an 6 hour drive before the ROI makes sense for a flight. This is not including money considerations.

For a lot of folks, figure .5-2 hours to get to the airport, plus an hour of sitting around, plus up to an hour sitting on the runway, plus however long the flight is (we'll call it 2 hours), plus 20 minutes possibly waiting for bags, plus walking around said airport for probably 10-15 minutes (again, I'm thinking of O'Hare), plus 10 minutes getting a rental car... I'm at 3.5 to 7 hours on time investment.

I'm not interested in becoming part of a patio in sunny Florida, but my Glock travels with me very frequently and as long as the airline doesn't mistakenly hit the button on their computer telling the flight crew that I'm a leo carrying on board (happened once, but that's a different show) it's an easy, stress-free, no problem process. I certainly wouldn't try to travel like that to Chicago, most places in new England, or internationally. Heck, when I went to Singapore I quadruple-checked all my baggage to make sure I didn't have any chewing gum.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Lesley wrote: I guess there's no point in asking why you packed a gun?

My point as well. I've traveled around the world a few times. Never a problem. Made platinum with united a few times. Been all over. Never a problem. Why the gun? Are you stupid?

Maybe he was on his way to the Playa Haters Ball awards ceremony.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

tuna55 wrote:

Cotton wrote:

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Lesley wrote: I guess there's no point in asking why you packed a gun?

My point as well. I've traveled around the world a few times. Never a problem. Made platinum with united a few times. Been all over. Never a problem. Why the gun? Are you stupid?

A lot of people check firearms when they travel. it isn't uncommon at all. Generally takes just a few minutes extra, seriously it's that easy. Sounds like the OP just got a green TSA agent.

Not to get all soap-boxy, but yeah. How dare this guy exercise one of his rights while traveling! The next thing you know, he'll want to do things like speak! If you carry a gun around while at home, why do you expect that reason to disappear while traveling?

There is excercisig a right and there is being stupid. Handguns get people all freaked out. Hunting rifles not so much. Baiting the TSa with s gun is stupid. A friend of mine wanted to make a point about guns and brought a empty shell casing into Singapore. 2 days later, his mistake was excused when he left the country and nearly got him fired.

How is he baiting the tsa by checking a handgun? Again, MANY people do this...it happens ALL THE TIME.

In reply to Cotton:

If it happened ALL THE TIME, this wouldn't happen. The PEOPLE who do the TSA work are just that. They know what they know. I suspect that guns are not as often as many would like to think- to the point that a simple mistake like this still happens as they are not perfect on all the laws that they need to cover.

Many people may carry handguns, but I bet that's still a pretty small fraction of the total travlling public. Which explains the misunderstanding. At least they were nice about it.

Cotton wrote:

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

tuna55 wrote:

Cotton wrote:

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Lesley wrote: I guess there's no point in asking why you packed a gun?

My point as well. I've traveled around the world a few times. Never a problem. Made platinum with united a few times. Been all over. Never a problem. Why the gun? Are you stupid?

A lot of people check firearms when they travel. it isn't uncommon at all. Generally takes just a few minutes extra, seriously it's that easy. Sounds like the OP just got a green TSA agent.

Not to get all soap-boxy, but yeah. How dare this guy exercise one of his rights while traveling! The next thing you know, he'll want to do things like speak! If you carry a gun around while at home, why do you expect that reason to disappear while traveling?

There is excercisig a right and there is being stupid. Handguns get people all freaked out. Hunting rifles not so much. Baiting the TSa with s gun is stupid. A friend of mine wanted to make a point about guns and brought a empty shell casing into Singapore. 2 days later, his mistake was excused when he left the country and nearly got him fired.

How is he baiting the tsa by checking a handgun? Again, MANY people do this...it happens ALL THE TIME.

It's a decision that he made that he carries a gun with him, and it's well within his right to do so. We agree on that. So is taking it with him to somewhere he is traveling to automatically 'baiting'? If he drove it there would it be better? You're being silly. The TSA has a process for checking guns, he followed it, he missed his flight because they couldn't remember it.

alfadriver wrote: In reply to Cotton: If it happened ALL THE TIME, this wouldn't happen. The PEOPLE who do the TSA work are just that. They know what they know. I suspect that guns are not as often as many would like to think- to the point that a simple mistake like this still happens as they are not perfect on all the laws that they need to cover. Many people may carry handguns, but I bet that's still a pretty small fraction of the total travlling public. Which explains the misunderstanding. At least they were nice about it.

Really, so the TSA never makes a mistake as long as the action happens a lot? Like I said before I think the OP got a green TSA agent, the agent had a dim moment, or some other issue. People check handguns all the time. I'm amazed this is even being debated.

Lesley wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: My last return trip to Canada had 6 legs. I had to go through security 5 times. Argh. Canadian security is so much different, even to the point of the screeners having a sense of humour. I've never seen so many smiles around an X-ray machine, even on someone who just got tagged for extra screening. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes.

Agreed.

I did almost have my fresh, warm Montreal-style bagels confiscated because they smelled too good

Settle down on the "baiting" thing. Lesley's Canadian, she comes from a culture with a very different attitude towards firearms. I have to admit that I wouldn't consider a gun necessary if I was going to a conference in Vegas. But I have coworkers who would.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Ignorant, er fueled by caffeine, mentioned the baiting, not Lesley.

I know, I read the thread. But she was the source of the original "why" question.

Keith Tanner wrote: I know, I read the thread. But she was the source of the original "why" question.

I'm glad you read the thread. I only corrected you because I mistakenly thought that you thought people were giving Lesley a hard time for something she didn't say. She didn't say anything about baiting, didn't call people stupid multiple times, etc, which is why I felt the need to clarify where the baiting came from since you specifically mentioned it.

Cotton wrote:

alfadriver wrote: In reply to Cotton: If it happened ALL THE TIME, this wouldn't happen. The PEOPLE who do the TSA work are just that. They know what they know. I suspect that guns are not as often as many would like to think- to the point that a simple mistake like this still happens as they are not perfect on all the laws that they need to cover. Many people may carry handguns, but I bet that's still a pretty small fraction of the total travlling public. Which explains the misunderstanding. At least they were nice about it.

Really, so the TSA never makes a mistake as long as the action happens a lot? Like I said before I think the OP got a green TSA agent, the agent had a dim moment, or some other issue. People check handguns all the time. I'm amazed this is even being debated.

What I am saying is that people who deal with a common issue are more likely to know specific rules. TSA are run by people. If this was as common as you suggest, then the person would be familiar with how it works.

Again, I'm not saying that people don't check handguns, but more suggestiong that "all the time" isnt' as often as you think. Just playing the observable odds.

Just an explanation of a person being human.

Cotton wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: Ignorant, er fueled by caffeine, mentioned the baiting, not Lesley.

Handguns bait the TSA. I've got enough miles under my ass to know that.

Keith Tanner wrote: So it's not air travel you hate, it's the TSA.

the TSA is what's made me "hate" air travel .... and promise myself that I won't, as long as I can reasonably get around it

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Cotton wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: Ignorant, er fueled by caffeine, mentioned the baiting, not Lesley.

Handguns bait the TSA. I've got enough miles under my ass to know that.

There are a lot of people on this forum, like you, that travel by air a good bit. There are also a few, unlike you, that occasionally travel with handguns. I, personally, have never felt like I was baiting the TSA, never been treated negatively by the TSA, and never been held up an unusual amount of time by the TSA when checking a handgun.

I hate flying in the US because as far as I am concerned, the TSA is nothing more than the USA division of Al-Qaeda. The TSA is in charge to telling you to be afraid when you fly. If such drastic measures are required to keep the enemy at bay, then surely you are at risk the entire time you travel.In case you arr not actually freaked by the time you clear security, they will make regular announcement over the PA telling you that the security level is code yellow (whatever that means)!

By the time you get on the plane you are paranoid of any piece of luggage that does not have a human hand attached to it.

Seriously, besides being an admission that the war on terror was lost a long time ago, these TSA guys do enough of a service of driving home the fear, that Al Qaeda should be cutting them a check every month.

NOHOME wrote: I hate flying in the US because as far as I am concerned, the TSA is nothing more than the USA division of Al-Qaeda. The TSA is in charge to telling you to be afraid when you fly. If such drastic measures are required to keep the enemy at bay, then surely you are at risk the entire time you travel.In case you arr not actually freaked by the time you clear security, they will make regular announcement over the PA telling you that the security level is code yellow (whatever that means)! By the time you get on the plane you are paranoid of any piece of luggage that does not have a human hand attached to it. Seriously, besides being an admission that the war on terror was lost a long time ago, these TSA guys do enough of a service of driving home the fear, that Al Qaeda should be cutting them a check every month.

HEAR HEAR!

NOHOME wrote: I hate flying in the US because as far as I am concerned, the TSA is nothing more than the USA division of Al-Qaeda. The TSA is in charge to telling you to be afraid when you fly. If such drastic measures are required to keep the enemy at bay, then surely you are at risk the entire time you travel.In case you arr not actually freaked by the time you clear security, they will make regular announcement over the PA telling you that the security level is code yellow (whatever that means)! By the time you get on the plane you are paranoid of any piece of luggage that does not have a human hand attached to it. Seriously, besides being an admission that the war on terror was lost a long time ago, these TSA guys do enough of a service of driving home the fear, that Al Qaeda should be cutting them a check every month.

Meh, I know they are completely ineffective. Are they annoying? Yes. Do they instill the fear of terrorism on me? No. Is the US gov't going to defund them into existence? No.

Am I going to let it prevent me from traveling? Nope.

z31maniac wrote:

NOHOME wrote: I hate flying in the US because as far as I am concerned, the TSA is nothing more than the USA division of Al-Qaeda. The TSA is in charge to telling you to be afraid when you fly. If such drastic measures are required to keep the enemy at bay, then surely you are at risk the entire time you travel.In case you arr not actually freaked by the time you clear security, they will make regular announcement over the PA telling you that the security level is code yellow (whatever that means)! By the time you get on the plane you are paranoid of any piece of luggage that does not have a human hand attached to it. Seriously, besides being an admission that the war on terror was lost a long time ago, these TSA guys do enough of a service of driving home the fear, that Al Qaeda should be cutting them a check every month.

Meh, I know they are completely ineffective. Are they annoying? Yes. Do they instill the fear of terrorism on me? No. Is the US gov't going to defund them into existence? No. Am I going to let it prevent me from traveling? Nope.

Nope, I don't let it keep me from traveling at all. However,a distance extending to Minneapolis is now withing my "Drive rather than fly" radius since I seem to be able to get there just as fast by car on a more consistent and less stressed out basis. AND I get to keep my luggage!

From London Ontario I can fly the distance in 8 hours, or I can drive in 13.5.

This radius covers most of the eastern seaboard down to the Carolinas.

NOHOME wrote:

z31maniac wrote:

NOHOME wrote: I hate flying in the US because as far as I am concerned, the TSA is nothing more than the USA division of Al-Qaeda. The TSA is in charge to telling you to be afraid when you fly. If such drastic measures are required to keep the enemy at bay, then surely you are at risk the entire time you travel.In case you arr not actually freaked by the time you clear security, they will make regular announcement over the PA telling you that the security level is code yellow (whatever that means)! By the time you get on the plane you are paranoid of any piece of luggage that does not have a human hand attached to it. Seriously, besides being an admission that the war on terror was lost a long time ago, these TSA guys do enough of a service of driving home the fear, that Al Qaeda should be cutting them a check every month.

Meh, I know they are completely ineffective. Are they annoying? Yes. Do they instill the fear of terrorism on me? No. Is the US gov't going to defund them into existence? No. Am I going to let it prevent me from traveling? Nope.

Nope, I don't let it keep me from traveling at all. However,a distance extending to Minneapolis is now withing my "Drive rather than fly" radius since I seem to be able to get there just as fast by car on a more consistent and less stressed out basis. AND I get to keep my luggage! From London Ontario I can fly the distance in 8 hours, or I can drive in 13.5. This radius covers most of the eastern seaboard down to the Carolinas.

Exactly this. I won't fly by choice anywhere anymore. I am also excited because I am in his driving radius.

In reply to NOHOME:

I'm sitting at Toronto Int Airport right now waiting for a flight to Minneapolis. Walked through check in and security in about 5 minutes. Last time it took almost 2 hours and I ended up having to run to my gate. Just made it. I hate air travel but I love flying.

Without TSA harassment in this case the OP would've made his flight, gun or no gun. Let's remember where the problem is here. Remember when you could get on a plane and fly without being felt up? Remember when you could walk to the gate and meet or see off your family members or loved ones? Remember when you could take your kid to the terminal and watch planes land and take off? Remember when you could fly without being treated like a criminal?

It wasn't terrorists that took those positive experiences away from you. It's the TSA. Remember where the problem lies.

In reply to Xceler8x:

Some of the things you list in the "remember when" happened much prior to the TSA.

The TSA isn't the problem. It's the public preception that they are needed that's the problem.