A bit bummed right now, but since I was able to get a refund on the plane ticket, I went ahead and canceled my M5 Driving Experience which was I was supposed to leave for in about 36 hours.
I just couldn't do the flight from San Jose-Chicago-Greenville and back. Call me chicken, sane, stupid, whatever.
As a consolation, BMW told me that 9 other owners had already called and cancelled for the 21-22 experience. Thats half the group!!!! We are going to be feeling the effects of these a**hole terrorists for a long time...
DH,
I guess you already realize that your canceling your trip is irrational. There has never been a safer time to fly, in the entire history of air travel. What is sad is people who are not flying are causing the airlines to layoff thousands of people all over the country (probably world) just because of people who won't risk flying. You are more likely of getting hit by lightning twice than having a plane you are on hijacked.
I would bet there won't be another sucessful hijacking, such as what happend on the 11th. The reason is now the people on the plane won't sit around thinking they are going to be alright, as soon as anything started to happen they would do everything in their power to stop it. It is quite possible that the plane will crash but I am quite sure the people wouldn't let it be another flying bomb.
It is quite tragic what happened at the WTC and the Pentagon, but canceling trips and changing your life style is the worst way of dealing with it. In fact it is exactly what the terrorist were hoping would happen.
I guess I just needed to vent, I am sorry if I sounded a little rude but I just don't want the terrorists to win.
Last edited by Carguy!; 19th September 2001 at 07:46.
Sorry to hear about that but I agree with others. You shouldn't cancel your trip because of what has happenned. it may be a little longer at the airport for security reasons but it'll be longer for a good reason.
My father is flying to Austin next week and I'm flying to Houston in two weeks and the attacks on the WTC won't stop us from flying. Although it's hard to forget about what happenned, we can't let ourself down and let Bin laden win on all of us! Fly on Air Canada if you can, I believe they have a flight to Charlotte! You can't miss the M5 driving experience!
__________________
2006 Interlagos Blue M5 - My father's
2007 VW Golf GTI - My little rocket!
Last edited by VanCooper; 19th September 2001 at 07:53.
Carguy,who knows what's rational. I think whatever decision anyone makes about flying in the immediate future is rational.
The security changes that were recently made at US airports seem mainly cosmestic.
I would fly, but I would be concerned. Remember there were people who were caught in the 1993 WTC bombing, many of these people were afraid to return to work and some quit their jobs in the WTC so they woouldn't have to enter the Towers again. Those who quit were told they were being irrational
Jamesnj,
You think not allowing any carry on item with an edge no carry on bags, only ticketed passengers allowed to the gate, no curb side baggage check, triple the security cosmetic? I would assume you haven't flown since the tragedy, because if you have you will see that they are very serious about stopping what happened on the 11th.
I believe you are comparing apples to oranges in your comparison between flying in a plane and working at a building that has been a known terrorist target. I wouldn't of called any of the people who quit their job at the WTC irrational. I also wouldn't call anyone who worked at the White house or any other high profile building irrational if they were concerned about a terrorist strike. But I still think that anyone who is so afraid to fly because they think the plane may be hijacked to be irrational.
I guess an analogy might be if in downtown Detroit you hear of many people being carjacked and killed, would you be smarter to avoid dangerous areas or never drive again? Probably both will save you from being carjacked, but one limits your freedom greatly.
The point that I was trying to express is that if we let ourselves change how we live because of fear then we are doing exactly what the terrorists want.
By the way I just read that Boeing is going to lay off up to 30,000 employees. With what has happened in the stock market since the attack I believe the terrorists must be pretty happy with what is happening to our economy. It is a shame because I believe if more people didn't panic we would be in much better shape.
All of you have valid points. All I can say is that everyone has a different situation, thus different priorities for how they carry themselves right now.
I have three (and a half!) young children which really forced me to examine the necessity of flying. My good friend, who will now accompany me in January when I attend, was showing hesitation flying this week as well. Work is, as always, hectic and it turns out to be a bad week to leave. All these factors, coupled with the NY terrorist attack made the decision to postpone an obvious one.
Originally posted by Carguy! I would assume you haven't flown since the tragedy, because if you have you will see that they are very serious about stopping what happened on the 11th.
I'm sure the measure they are putting in place will help, but a determined terrorist is going to be able to walk onto one of the planes with very little problem.
I remember one of the interviews after the WTC incident that was with a terrorist specialist. He was trained in their techniques and asked to give a talk at some meeting. I don't remember any of the details, but the essence of the interview was that he walked through the very stringent security for the meeting and when he got to the podium, he proceeded to put out three guns and a knife. All of which he easily passed through the security measures. He said he used techniques taught at the terrorist training camps.
We can put all the security we want at our airports, borders, etc., but it just means that the terrorist will find some way around it. A common security metaphor is that you can build a security wall as high as you want, but there is always some way to get over it. The answer is to have a balance approach of security, intelligence and penalties. I.e., stop what you can, know about any potential risks, and heavily penalize anyone who succeeds.
Had to cancel my M5 driving experience....
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