Where is everyone?
 

Weather Channel Reporter outside ATL, moments ago - "Airport officials telling us this is one the lightest day-before-thanksgiving crowds they've seen in recent memory". Full parking lot availability in hubs like DFW. What gives?

Obviously, instead of opting out of the naked scanners at the airport checkpoint, people are opting out of flying to their destinations. Check the traffic and Amtract reports. You will probably find heavier than usual traffic conditions and increased Amtrack ridership. Americans...finally excercising some common sense. :cool:

Those with jobs can not afford to take off.

Those without jobs can not afford to travel.

Everyone else... wait, there is no one else. Carry on.

That MUST be it!!! It also completely explains why long distance trains for the holiday are sold out (as normal), despite being typically more expensive and longer to take than planes!!!!

Oh wait.

Aside from opt-outs, NOT paying absurd prices to the carriers .... way before that non-terrorism-related "warning" about (turkey) fryers, LOL.

Tele-commuting today, especially with weather in NE USA today, but, surprisingly, minimal to no major airport delays in metro NY area.

But, the lines for gas at the "petro" stations on my Main Street was something else (4x over usual) at 8:30 am after dropping DW off at the bank - and retail prices up about 20% something over last year.

Just chilling, not to mentioned that I turned off Bloomberg with the financial markets tanking again ....

WTOP reported a record number of passengers were anticipated for AMTRAK out of Union Station. I can't wait for the TSA spin on this.

absolutely. just booked a coast starlight for my kid for christmas. things is tight on amtrak. no shortage of people there, and yes, my friend, it is much more expensive than air, but it's worth it not having to go through those criminals and I enjoy withholding my support from those jerks.

let them reap what they have sowed.

Easy--

Train travel is up = Risk of train terrorism is up = TSA needs more screeners and a bigger budget.

Air travel is down = Irrelevant, still a big risk, needs more security layers = TSA needs more screeners and a bigger budget.

My husband left on the Amtrak out of Newport News headed to New York on Monday. The lone engine was pulling nine long passenger cars, and it was sold out.

He's coming home today from New York. Same story.

Wonder how long before TSA shows up and ruins our trains?

Probably: "Due to increased volumes, VIPR teams at AMTRAK stations will be out groping this holiday weekend..."


A friend of mine wanted to badly see family in FL this week, but flying was not in her budget and not enough time to drive. I decided to book her an award ticket to go. I've refused to fly since the nonsense last November, except for one work required trip, so the miles were just sitting there anyway. Never thought being nice to a friend would make me feel bad when I realized she would have to deal with TSA.

Just finished up a 685 mile drive - lots of traffic on interstates that are normally deserted. Weather wasn't great but other than that the drive was good.

Picked up someone at CRW last night - coincidentally the same time that the screeners came off shift. I counted 14 TSA employees in one shift for an airport that might handle 750 passengers a day. :mad::mad::mad:

NINE cars? Wow. I don't think the platform is anywhere close to that long, boarding must have been interesting!

I think it's normally only 5-6 cars.

They already have...

Oh, it's not the capacity cuts which have decimated dicounted fares in a tough time so that all but the wealthy can't afford to fly on Y/B fares?

You and me both. This industry sucks today.

Mike