I'm tired...
 

I'm sorry for this thread, but I have to write it.

I've grown tired of this forum. No, not because of the people in it. On the contrary, they make me smile, whether it is the TSA supporters or detractors.

I've just grown tired of reading about all the BS that is done in the name of security. At first, it made me laugh. Now, I'm angry, on the verge of seething. The confiscation of water bottles, the threats of "Do you want to fly today?," the willingness of airline crews to use security as an excuse for anything they don't feel like doing.

It's worse on the national level. Insecurity measures that are created not for the good of the traveling public but rather a front for the lack of real security. Politicians who are too afraid to point out that the emperor indeed has no clothes while allowing DHS to run roughshod over us. A lack of a public response from the airlines. Yes, I know that neither of the latter two groups has an incentive to come out in public, and the airlines are likely working behind the scenes, but enough is enough.

Travelers who put up with this crap aren't any better. Today, I watched as the woman in front of me happily handed over $24 worth of lipstick to the TSA agent in Denver (who at least had the good humor to joke, "Well, now I need to call the FBI on you."). When I asked her why she didn't just put the lipstick in her pocket, she told me that she was afraid of what would happen if she got caught. I'd hate to live in that kind of fear.

I feel helpless. The Road Warriors who travel on a daily/weekly basis are a small minority of the population. Meanwhile, the general population doesn't object. Contrary to popular opinion on this board, I think that Ma and Pa Kettle who say, "anything to make us safer" are not widespread. Rather, most people take the attitude of the woman in front of me today, feeling that they travel so infrequently that it isn't worth the trouble to complain. It's tough to figure out where to turn. Several people on this site have written to the representatives and received form letters. Gee, thanks.

So here's what I am going to do. I am going to write to the airlines that I frequent and point out what I spend and how many miles I fly per year. And then I am going to let them know that I will not be flying them in the current situation. I ask each of you to do the same. It's a five minute exercise, and if nothing else, it will be cathartic. One person can't change anything. Even if everyone on FT did it, I don't know if it would make much of a difference. But the airlines have plenty of power in Washington, and enough is enough.

Coming to this board to complain are relate stories used to be a lot of fun, but it doesn't change anything.

Oh, one more thing. To all of the TSA employees who treat passengers as customers instead of potential terrorists, thank you. We do notice it.

Mike

These days, it seems rather appropriate that the last two lines of the first stanza of the national anthem of the United States, The Star Spangled Banner......ends in a question mark.

Mike -

Perhaps you need to take a break from FlyerTalk *and* flying.

I'm no Babbit (just ask my wife about my general contempt for rules) but I'm appalled at the anti-TSA bias that some people here show. And it's not "fair and balanced" (heh) around here - the ratio of nattering nabobs of negativity to pollyannas is around 100:1. Which is undoubtedly affecting your sense of proportion - it does mine, and did today at the airport, where I was very very aware of the TSA guys.

Also, you know, flying for work is hard. In the next eight weeks I'm going to Amsterdam, Sydney, India, and Sao Paulo. I fully expect to be a sickly grumpy puffy white guy - and I'll be flying business or first (EXP permitting) and taking care to exercise. So take a break, you'll probably feel better. I find that once a year it helps me to cancel some meetings and just stay home, you know?

Yes, it has gone to far. I travel with the SAME bag thru the SAME security checkpoint in SLC on a weekly basis with the SAME screeners. Yesterday they took my bag (which yes is FULL of electronical equipment) and did a SERIOUS search and swab EVERYTHING in my bag. Both iPods, my 4 Hard drives, my earphones, my laptop, everything in and out of the bag. It latsted atleast 20mins as he just swabbed EVERYTHING. I was not happy about that, same TSA Agents everytime, they never have a problem. This is getting out of control.

Oh, and to have to check on my carry on becuase of the toothpaste, anti-persperant, soap, etc for an OVERNIGHT trip is just out of control. They are winning, TSA that is, taking away our liberties and freedoms we once enjoied.

example we all know too well:

5pm flight to east coast, arrive at 11:30p, wait for check bag (30-45mins usually)....12:15a wait in line for taxi, 15-20min taxi ride into the city (Sometimes more), go to check in at hotel (can't find res or have wrong res), 1am finally get room key, 1:16 arrive at room, not what you expected, but will settle for what you got cuz you are exhuasted and have to be awake at 6am for a 7am meeting. all to do it all over again that night.

Tired or just beaten down by it all?

When I can no longer carry my water bottle (granted it was usually full of vodka because I hated paying $5.00 a shot onboard) or my toothpaste onto an airplane in "America" one has to wonder who is winning the so called "war" on terrorism.

Sick of it and just coasting through now till I can't stand it any longer and decide stocking shelves at the local Costco offers a certain charm.

A new phrase to describe our life on the road popped into my head last week.

I now refer to myself as a "road wearier."

Not here to debate the new restrictions or inconsistent application. But I shook my head when i read an article by a local reporter who took a multi-leg trip the week of August 18th and indicated she had no problems with lengthy lines or waits for luggage. Totally clueless.

We all know it's the cumulative effect that is so wearing.

The cumulative effect of having my skin break out and look like crap because I am wearing powder makeup and using cleansing towelettes instead of my usual products. The cumulative effect of looking in the mirror and seeing my hair limp and lifeless because I couldn't bring my products. The cumulative effect of giving in and checking baggage ...only to have it lost twice in 5 weeks ..and adding an hour a day to an already long 15-16 hour days on the road between check-in and waiting at the baggage claim. The cumulative effect of too many flights with only meager water "rations" due to delays and/or weather limiting cabin service.

I'm tired too. After 20 years as a road warrior -- the past 5 weeks have turned me into a road wearier.

I am in a difficult situation now. I need 6K to maintain NWA Platinum and 25K to make *G. If I give in and quit traveling, I will miss out on maintaining status. Just imagining the thought of coming to an airport 3 hours in advance to stand in a regular queue to check in the bags and the regular slow TSA queues... is even more depressing.

I think you're dead-on about a lot of things in your post. This forum clearly isn't fair and balanced, but I'm not sure it could be, given the amount of road weariers (I like that one.) we have here.

Travel for business was never exactly fun, but it has become much tougher now. On the plus side, I don't have to fight for overhead space anymore.

I may take a break from the TS/S forum for a week or two and have eliminated all non-essential travel.

Mike

P.S., Bonus points for the Babbit comment.

I'm tired also. I have bad dental problems so am running to my dentist fairly often. I hurt and can't see straight, but I keep working. Not looking forward to flying. I used to adore travel. Now it's one more bump in the long road.

Already did that. UA said they wholeheartedly supported this madness. I said, in turn, that I wholeheartedly cannot support them. They haven't responded to that. I don't think they care though.

Call me cynical, but I think that the US carriers are publicy supporting the idiocy in anticipation of seeking governement handouts, a la post 9/11. Assuming that travel does tail off somewhat, their slim profits will disappear. Then, they can go to Congress for handouts, all the while claiming that the war on that mysterious noun is the root cause, but they are being good soldiers.

For the record, 100% of the airline employees that I have discussed the liquid ban with have agreed it is ridiculous.

That's certainly possible, but even after 9/11, there were some that didn't get handouts. UA was one of them, and they ended up in bankruptcy in 2002. So while they can hope for a handout if the time comes, they won't necessarily get it even if they are being "good" dubies.

A true mileage & points hoar would put up with these hassles for...well, uh... the points & miles :D

Yeah, TSA et al piss me off too...but I really like going to Vegas, Europe, SE Asia and other places for free. Yippeeeee! :D

So quit your whining & snivelling and bankroll some more points & miles ^ Or, if you are really going to stop flying, please transfer your miles to me :p

M8

You've got to say, 'I'm a HUMAN BEING, Goddamnit! My life has VALUE!' So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell,
[shouting]
Howard Beale: 'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!' I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell - 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad!... You've got to say, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Then we'll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it:
Howard Beale: [screaming at the top of his lungs] "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

(from Network)

To the OP.....very good writing.

EXP on AA 1996 thru 2003. YTD on AA at 2,560 miles. Holding about $1,000 in credit on SWA for unused tickets.

Long before the current BS, I was disgusted with this system and dropped out. The neat stuff that happened during the 90's is history and I'm glad to have partaken. Supporting today's air system in the USA is unamerican.