gerisullivan | Air travel, 9 months later

I used to be an occasional flier. In the late 1990s, I started flying somewhat more frequently. Then a weird confluence of events led me to flying 15,000 miles between 9/11/2001 and the end of that year. Over 50K the next year, and still a good number of internal flights the year after that. Weird. NWA status was nice; I kept winning the first class upgrade sweepstakes.

Today is reminiscent of getting back on a bicycle. I haven't flown since July, 2004. Packing skills have grown lax, 'cause it's so easy to throw more stuff in the car. Etc.

All went smoothly at Bradley until I ran into their new shoe policy. They've gone "everybody's shoes off" and if you decline (i.e., opt for the more thorough screening), you *still* have to take your shoes off. The only advantage is that you get to sit down to do so. And you get the full wand treatment. Fun, fun. Joy, joy.

The weird thing is that I didn't mind the random requests to remove shoes back in the fall of 2001, or even in the early months of 2003. SFO did the random shoes-off screening more intensely than other airports I was traveling through, and I took to being sure to wear my monkey shoes when flying home from there, just for the amusement value they provided. Okay, they were easy to get on and off, too. Today, I was annoyed enough by the practice that I'm glad my next scheduled flight, in July, is out of a different airport. The screener was actually very good; excellent, even. It's the bigger question, the question

minnehaha B. addresses so well in all of his work. Let's spend our resources on activities that provide security where and as needed. Please. Now. Please.

To Bradley's credit, there's a big improvement, too. They're now offering free wireless connectivity. Yay.

Posting now, plane's about to board.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hate, hate, hate the shoe thing. As you note, it's not doing anything useful except annoying passengers. And the policy varies from airport to airport, and even person to person. At SFO before Boskone, they didn't make me take my shoes off but Stephen, who had *already gone through the machine without beeping*, was asked to come back, take off his sneakers, and then go through again! Not to mention the logistics of having to get your shoes, your separated laptop, and your carry-on stuff and rearrange all of them while other people are behind you trying to get their stuff. Hope the rest of your journey was smooth.

This recent jaunt down to Corflatch was my first flight in a couple of years. Fortunately two things worked in my favor, stupid screening techniques wise: first, SeaTac kindly provides a little looping video at the heads of the screening lines showing you what all you need to take off and put in the bins, so I had all my (pretty brief) time in line to get set up to comply, and second, I pretty much live in one of two pairs of suede GBX slip on sport moccasins these days, and they're a doddle to get in and out of. Woe be unto those wishing to travel in Doc Martins.

Hal, on the other hand, gets pulled aside every time now. What with all the metal in his leg, that's going to be the way things are until the approach to screening becomes less stupid.

I'm with

smofbabe on this. Taking off my shoes sometimes is a tremendous imposition. I've had foot problems off and on for the better part of two decades. It hasn't been bad in the past few years, but there have been times when I can't walk more than a few steps without wearing sturdy shoes laced tightly. If they want my shoes off, they need to provide me with a chair for both actions (taking them off and putting them back on again) and perhaps assistance walking without them.

I used to have arch supports in my slippers, even.

...'cuz I just know I'll mouth off to the wrong person. (Plus I have delusions that my days in ACT-UP have landed me on the "Don't let this yay-hoo fly" list...)

Air travel, 9 months later

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I don't see myself flying anytime soon...