I don’t fly during the summer months. I travel in the off seasons. Much easier that way.

As a former road warrior, it’s hard to stomach flying nowadays. The key will be the price of gas and the length of the trip.

Better late than never, Jack.

Better to get there late and alive because everything works right than to crash and burn and never get there because someone didn’t do their job.

Why anyone flies these days is beyond me, Jack.
IF you believe the skeptics, save your money and buy the kids new shoes for the next couple of years, NOW. Stagnation, right(inflation and unemployment), will only send ticket prices skywood. I see nothing but trouble ahead for the airlines. It would also be nice if the FAA was doing its job too. Oversight my backside.

COMMENT: ABINGDON, MD.

FLY ON WHAT?

Fly? Are you frickin crazy! This ass is never going to sit itself on an airplane! All this crap about missing safety checks, pilots falling asleep, discharging their guns in the cockpit! Tell you what Jack you fly for me!

Maybe a little less likely than zero.

Jack
Are you kidding, even if I had the money to fly I would choose another mode of transportation. No one wants to wait hours at the airport to find out that their flight has been delayed or even worse cancelled. And if you are lucky enough to get on the plane, is it safe ? Then upon arrival at your destination if it was your destination the airline cant find your luggage. WHO WANTS TO FLY ?

No, since I gave up flying when I retired. I don’t trust the airplanes or wonder if the pilots are sober.

I never fly and until I win a trip I won’t and that is a fat chance so I will continue to drive myself and stop and smell the roses instead of being jammed into a glorified bus smelling some fat man in the next seat over.
Texas

I’ve been avoiding flying more and more in the past seven years. Since 9/11, the airlines treatment of customers has deteriorated. Passengers are rarely reimbursed for the losses they incur because of delays and cancelations or lost luggage. This industry is sinking because of it’s attitude toward it’s paying customers.

Hi Jack:

Knowing several airline employees and , was employed as a travel agent many years ago. And traveled by air and still do allot. What people should ask themselves is: “Would that flight crew be boarding that aircraft if they knew it was not safe?” It is highly unlikely. You are safer in a plane than the family car. The difference is, you are totally helpless if something goes wrong.

This is about politics and not safety.

Yes, I would fly to a destination rather than drive. Would it be more of an inconvenience? Yes, it is. Is it woth the inconvenience? That depends how far you are going. I think the TSA and the FAA could be doing it better. They need to: “GET IT TOGETHER” and stop hanging around at the “WATER COOLER” and start working.

Ron K. San Diego

Absolutely not. As usual, I intend to not fly whenever possible.

No way, I hated flying on a good day when you only had to show up 2-4 hours early, remove half of your clothes and try not to look like a terorist while standing in line with noisey children, argueing people and the fools with things they know can’t be taken onto the flight.

The airports are a mess and the planes are being cancelled left and right. Who would want to fly anywhere. It takes a lot of the fun and relaxation out of a vacation.

However, since I am unemployed, I have more time to drive to places instead. So if I do fly, it will be because I can’t find suitable jobs where I live.

Jack: I have been retired for almost 6 years and flew 12 to 20 business trips a year for 35 years before that. We planned a trip last fall for this coming summer to use up my remaining frequent flier miles. However, with all the problems with the airlines, the costs of renting a car and gas, as well as our reduced income resulting from the current economy; we have decided to cancel our trip. I would rather lose the mileage than go through all the turmoil of air travel.

Jim
Hoffman Estates, IL

I plan to drive this year for vacation, even thou the price of gas is high. At least I know, my car will leave on time, and not be canceled.

Steven, NJ

Jack,

I’m less like to fly or drive at these rates. I will do what comes naturally that’s walk. I have to go before they try to figure out a way to regulate that too.

Jack,
I can drive from south Florida to New Jersey in 19 hours and spend 200.00 dollars in gas. If you take in all the time wasted getting to the airport early just to be delayed after you go through 2 hours of security. When you factor in the 600.00 dollar price tag that includes headphones, food, and extra baggage you must pay for separate, the restrictions on what you can and can’t bring with you, not to mention all the stress involved with being a slave to the airline industry, it really makes no sence to put myself through the trouble. In a word, NO I will not fly.

Flight is already planned and booked for July.
That’s a no, Jack.

I will never fly again but Mom’s flying for the first time this summer and she’s scared to death — not of terrorists, not of crashing, not of long lines — but of losing her luggage at Heathrow, especially her makeup bag.

My husband and I were planning a trip to the Dakota’s and I became uncomfortable with the idea just a couple of weeks ago. I’m so glad I changed my mind. Flying became more stressful after 9/11, but what’s happening with the airlines now is OUT OF CONTROL! We’re paying to fly and they act like they’re doing US a big favor.

With this tight economy, my priority is on completing home projects and relaxing with our appreciative pets.

No Jack, I will not go anywhere this summer. Thanks to GWB’s policies…I am broke.

Jack,
I still plan to take my wife to Hawaii this summer. I would rather fly with the knowledge that the airlines have inspected and corrected any flaws in the plane we’re in. Besides, it’s a long, wet drive to get there.

Considering that gas might reach $4 this Summer, and now this airlines mess, maybe it’s time for the US to do what Europe and Asia have done forever: heavily promote train travel. The infrastructure is there, although it would need refurbishing and enhancing, but why not try it?? Americans can learn to ride trains again; they might even enjoy it!

No, I wouldn’t fly if you gave me the ticket. I would rather walk.

Sounds like a silly question….if they’re making the planes safer, we should all be MORE likely to fly thinking we’ll get there safe. I don’t think the American public should be mad about them fixing the planes, except those left stranded in an airport. Jack, get back on track, politics is much, much more funner to talk about.

who would want to fly ,at all?it’s like traveling thru nazi germany,just to get on a plane.jack?did you know they won’t even let you take your marijuana on vacation with you,if you fly,so why even go?

What I fail to understand is why American Airlines creates so much chaos by canceling flights during the day . Could they not have grounded the planes at night reducing the number of stranded passengers at airports ?

What travel plans? The Republican economic policies have have made it less likely that Americans can AFFORD to make travel plans … but maybe that’s their cockeyed way of taking care of the safety issues?

Yes jack alot less likely to fly this summer.
If you get on the plane no telling how long you might be on the runway
before you get to take off then you wonder if the plane is going to catch
on fire. Then waiting for a suit case that you will never see again,only to come the trip home and the airline you booked is shut down, overnite. Oh and by the way the fuel surcharge, unreal. So Jack I wont be flying for a long time.
Bob Camby,IN.

Jack people that want to fly and have made plans to fly will fly. Some may be inconvenienced but the world does not stop because of glitches in air travel. It just gets delayed a bit. The problem may very well be resolved by then and people don’t usually make plans for a vacation on the spur of the moment. The plans have been in the works for a while and after booking rooms flights resorts and so on it isn’t likely people will cancel plans because of what might happen. Why don’t you try being a Pollyanna for a change and look at the bright side of things once in a while. If people are going on vacation they must still have the funds to do it and that is a good thing.

Yes jack alot less likely to fly this summer.
If you get on the plane no telling how long you might be on the runway
before you get to take off then you wonder if the plane is going to catch
on fire. Then waiting for a suit case that you will never see again,only to come the trip home and the airline you booked is shut down, overnite. Oh and by the way the fuel surcharge, unreal. So Jack I wont be flying for a long time.
Bob Camby,IN.

Jack
have you ever seen an engine on an airplane? i worked on TA-4J in kingsville texas and had to do inspections daily on the planes we flew the nuts and bolts are held together with safety wire. the bolts have a hole drilled in and then the wires are threaded throw them and twisted and then to the next one all held together to keep them from loosing. lots of wire in that small engine on a TA-4J. wonder what kind of safety features are not being watched in those and who really cares cause as long as the share holders are happy whats the difference if one american or 100 die. in a flight on the battle ground whats the difference? all die for nothing except money

First of all I can’t afford to go anywhere. Second if I could and I got stranded in some airport because some airline grounded all thier flights and had to pay $25.00 or $30.00 for a meal that was worth about $12.00 I would probably commit a violent act. The TSA would take me to jail and probably label me a terrorist. I would then more than likely be taken to Guantanimo Bay without legal representation and be torchured. Nope I’ll just keep trying to pay for my responsible mortgage by myself because I didn’t buy a Mc Mansion with all the bells and wistles on an adjustible rate. Therefore I won’t be getting bailed out..

Why would I want to fly when I can pay close to $ 4.00 dollars
a gal for gas for my car. And I can bring my own water and Grandma
doesn’t have to take her sneakers off.

Jerry
Roselle, Illinois

I’m not less likely to fly; the airlines are doing what they are required to do; taking charge of their safety requirements. Today is just a small inconvenience in comparison to a possible disaster tomorrow.

The reason i will not fly this summer are more to do with the price of tickets. The hassel of getting through the check in line. Service is lousy at all airlines. The only way i will fly is have not other choice

It’s a damn shame, Jack. I’ve said it before and will never stop, $$$ Money is destroying the integrity, the safety, and our futures on a daily basis. These cheap B@^%&%**# would risk the lives of thousands to save a buck for a COE! No leadership in Washington and absolutely no integrity in the Executive offices at the Major Airlines!
And fuel is killing us! I would like to say I’ll drive this summer, but I can’t! Because when it hits $4.00 a gallon, as far as I’m concerned, it’s over!

Everyone makes excuses but the bottom line is this country has been looted by Bush, Cheney and Haliburton, KBR, Iraq!!!!!!! Bush is killing us! I can’t afford to travel this summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why aren’t these men in PRISON?

Jack, with the ridiculous hikes in oil prices, I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever be able to fly again.

Not unless I absolutely cannot avoid it. Just pile the safety concerns on top of the rude treatment, declining service and high prices. But the airline industry should not worry too much. Pretty soon China will own all our air carriers and we know what they do to people who complain. So buckle up……..its going to be a bumpy ride.

After flying to our annual vacation for the past fifteen years, this year my wife and I finally decided to give up on commercial aviation due to the many security hassles since 9/11 and the continuing issues of dealing with customer hostile airlines. We divorced our vacations from the airlines and bought an rv. We are enjoying an extended vacation currently, especially since we do not have to deal with the hassles of traveling by commercial airlines.

THE FAA IS NOT THE ONLY AGENCY.IT ALSO EPA,THE CPA AND FDA. ALL THESE AGENCY ARE SUPPOSE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC INSTEAD THEY PROTECT WHAT IS GOOD FOR BIG MONEY BUSINESS

i won’t be flying this summer or anytime i can see. i can’t afford the gas to get to the airport,can’t afford the rising ticket prices due to the cost of gas, i drive once a week due shopping and what ever i need. i pay all my bill’s on line to cut down on stamps and gas iam lucky enough to live close to a nice beer hall so that saves gas, besides i don’t drink and drive, my cable bill just went up again so i may have to cut you back jack, i wish i could go back to 1963 things were so pure and simple……………………

I don’t fly! I was in aviation when I was in the Navy and I remember the days when you just bought your ticket,got on the plane and the airlines treated you with respect. Now,with the crowded airports,incompetent guards and inspectors,surly employees and too-small seats,I wouldn’t go near an airport. I would just as soon prefer to be water-boarded!

Yes, I am less likey to fly for all the usual airport hassle reasons, flight cancellaions and airlines in default. BUT, as a person affected and disabled by Parkinson’s , I am even MORE concerned about the latest airport security technique of singling out potentially threatening passengers among the throngs based on body posture and facial expressions.

Lord knows, many of us ‘Parkies’ have already been the subject of additional scrutiny and screening at airports because of the way we move, speak, and look AND we get blank stares from security staff when we tell them about our Parkinson’s. I’m going to feel like a target with a bull’s eye on me during my next airport visit. Ah, to be twice blessed … Parkinson’s and now a target! Bon Voyage, everybody!

I’m a working stiff Jack I don’t fly. The entire industry is a taxpayer subsidized gift to the rich as far as I’m concerned. Why is our federal government so financially entangled in what is a for profit private enterprise anyway?

I’m sick of flying and traveling. I find myself staying home more often and like it that way. Our family of four will drive to MI from NC this summer prompted by a family wedding. Not only is flying not cost effective, but you are not even sure if you will make it. The 16 hours of driving will be more pleasant than the potential for 2 days in airports and at the end of the journey we will have a car to drive and not have to spend over $1000.00 on a weekly car rental like we had to do on our December vacation.

No, Jack. Unless we plan to take a cruise, there are so many places most accessible by plane, as much as I love to drive. Years ago, the biggest scare was hijacking, and we worried most when planes crashed into buildings or into the ground, piloted by terrorists.

Unfortunately, residents of our state, and Hawai, have no practical alternative tp the airlines.

I don’t think that I will be flying much this summer, if at all. Normally I travel with my wife to visit relatives and friend, however, because of the crisis with the Airline Industry and increase prices due to high fuel cost, I will be extending and “open invitation” and “open house” to one and all of my family to come and visit me.

Jack,

NO WAY! The airlines forget they are just mass transportation - nothing more! How they have convinced the American people that they must submit to every stupid search and order from anyone in an uniform, watch everything they say and do; and sit for long hours in oxygen deprived cabins without asking any questions is mindboggling.

The planes are old, their maintenance is outsourced, the service is lousy, the cost is outrageous, the FAA is lacking and the requirements to even board a plane (being questioned, patted down, searched, removing shoes, and bringing nothing personal (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.,) in my book just doesn’t make it worth it. If I can’t drive to where I would like to go, then I’m just fine staying home.

Certainly. I have absolutely no intentions of flying not knowing the state of the airplane, or which hobby the pilot chooses on the day; drinking, target practice or sleeping. The news coming out of the airline industries is so frightening that Al Queda will perhaps be too frightened to fly still we have to endure those invasive prodedures prior to boarding. If it becomes absolutely necessary that I fly, you bet that my hand luggage will be a parachute. If I consider my life precious enough to ser vice my car and take precautions I expect no less from the airlines. Until I am satisfied that the airlines consider life more precious than gambling chips, driving and Grey hound are manageable options.

With the skyrocketing gas prices, we may just remain home.

I’d suggest given our circumstances, we’re ALL less likely to fly. And I would suggest unless there are some very large fare increases the airline industry will not be recognizable in five years. A jet engine drains 15 pounds of fuel per engine per minute. The airlines are going to have to put some serious surcharges on a fare to break even. And with the FAA now willing to ground fleets of planes when wirning harness strap spacing is one quarter inch off, there may come a time when flying is only for the very wealthy. And this is the way it used to be before airports become bus stations, now that I think about it.

Jack,

No, I’m not less likely to fly…just more likely to crash.

Just a few words covers it Jack…
Special interests, lobbyists, payoffs and political appointments favoring business.

I can get in my car without taking off my shoes or passing through a metal detector. I can travel by car and have plenty of leg room. I can choose my meals, my bathrooms, heck even my route. I can even carry shampoo, nail clippers scissors for my knitting. I refuse to be treated like a petty criminal or a major threat to safety, all for the priviledge of hurtling through the air (eventually) in a flying cattle car.

Jack, this is an example of what happens when you interfere with free markets. You bring “big government ” in, and suddenly you aren’t allowed to fly planes with substandard parts. We should just trust the airlineindustry to reguate itself, like we do with healthcare, or the oil industry.

There are only two ways I will ever fly again:

1. The FAA and the airlines do a complete overhaul of their operations and prove that it’s safe in the air and on the ground, or

2. Someone’s life depends on it.

I don’t expect to see either one of these things ever happening.

I haven’t gotten on an airline since the tight regulation were imposed, and the flight delays, so my answer is “No” Jack for summer, or any other time! The question I pose to you, and your veiwers is ,”How long will it take for the government to bail out the airline (Repeat) industry”? The fleets (Airplanes) most are flying are antiquated, or in dire need of extremely high cost maintenance, which could have easily been done(preventive maintanance) ,were it not for managements exorbinate salaries!

Jack,

I’m alot less likely to fly, drive, boat or ride a train this summer thanks to Bushanomics.

Nope. I have to save as much money as I can for college. So there’s no way that I can afford a flight, let alone one that might be canceled. If only the government would hand out a few more college credits, then yes, I would be outraged. But, for the moment, I have to save my money because I’ll be paying for my education until I’m 30!

I’ll fly when airlines quit thinking they’re running bus-lines…with one leaving every hour, on the hour. The Airlines of today are their own worst enemies. Why would anyone want to patronize a business who gives third-rate service at first-rate premiums. How do their stock-holders travel?

Well Jack, it seems pretty obvious that I will skip the long delays and harassment from TSA and just travel the old fashioned way, by car. Sure gas is high but at least you can get there on time without the lost luggage.

I already have reservations to go on a trip in July. I am already trying to mentally prepare myself for the joy of waiting in the long security lines in Atlanta with a ten year old! Woo Hoo! That being said, I’d rather airlines take the time to make sure maintenance is accurate and there are no mechanical issues.

I made arrangements to fly down to Paris Island to see my grandson graduate from the Marines. It is very important to me and my wife that we go. I like to plan my trips well in advance. This time I wish I would have waited because I would have chosen to drive down instead of flying. I will not be booking any more flights this summer or in the near future. When they start solving problems of flights being canceled, airplanes unsafe for flying, and lost luggage then I will be flying again. I am retired and I do not have to fly. I feel sorry for the people that do.

Travel plans? Vacations? Jack, are you a closet NeoCon? I can not afford a vacation. I’m already at the point where I’m making a down payment on a tank full of gasoline! Flying? Not if I can avoid it! Where was the great Ralph Nader book, “Unsafe at Any Altitude?”

Flying in a plane with cracks and electrical problems is still safer then commuting amongst thousands of over-sized SUV with owners paying more attention to their text messages then the road in front of them.

I’m not sure if that’s a recommendation for flying as much as it is a condemnation of our typical drivers.

Why fly? So I can go through a demeaning search, stuffed in a hot smelly airliner full of people with bad attitudes?

More and more an airplane is just a Greyhound bus with wings.

Jack i love watching CNN, Although i don’t have any traveling plans for this summer and even if i did i would rather drive than fly. This story reminds me of the third world countries whose government does nothing to help its economy nor citizen to the point that many airlines fly broken planes risking many lives of passengers on board. but i don’t blame them i could understand why many airlines would take such risk for one they are filling bankruptcy due to high cost of jet fuel talk less of maintenance issues on the aircrafts. Jack this is just the beginning of an end of this great country called America. Everything was manageable until Bush decides to test his executive power and went to war in the wrong country and now we are all paying the price for his self interest in politics. If all that money that went into the war in Iraq was invested here in America we wouldn’t be facing economic recession, gas prices wouldn’t have hit $3.35/gal. and airlines wouldn’t risk passengers lives in broken airplanes to save money for jet fuel.
Jack i can sadly say this is all president Bush fault
Twin Cities, Minnesota

I am less likely to fly, but the aviation industry isn’t the only victim of neglect by the Bush administration. If I drive, I know that bridges have collapsed from neglect. If I take trains and public transportation, I know miles of track go without adequate inspection and maintenance. The safest sensible option looks like walking the campaign trail for Obama.

Jack, Most of the flying I do is for my work and I do a lot. I do it because I have to. So, I guess the question is will my employer ask me to fly less because they are concerned about my safety? By the way, who will wilingly want to pay money for a personal summer travel to put themselves thru’ the enjoyment of airport screening, delays, rude people, cramped seats, lost luggage, etc? The airlines see this, and that’s why many of them are cutting back on the # of flights and planes they have in operation.

Absolutely. I’m disabled and can barely make it to the grocery store. Who’s going on vacation? Rick, Yakima, Wa.

I made up my mind twelve years ago not to set foot on another airplane as long as I lived, and I’ve stood up to that. The rude treatment at that time was unbelieveable, can’t imagine what it’s like now with the TSA thrown into the mix. No thanks, I’ll ride a horse!

Not without a parachute!

I am flying to Nevada (from Indiana) in August. I am leaving for the airport now. Will send a post card when and if I arrive.

As a frequent flier for the past 21 years (at 21 years old) I don’t see this affecting my flying habits at all. The fact is that we’ve been flying on these planes this whole time and nothing has gone wrong. Does that mean nothing will go wrong? no. But It does mean they have been safe thus far. You are more likely to be in a car accident than a plane accident. Pilots train for years before they get their certification, and now that they’ve increased safety inspections, this should make us feel safer, not worried about these airlines.

In June my family, and by family I mean my wife and our two kids (3 years and 10 months), her parents, her sister and her husband and their 6 month old, and her grandmother who is celebrating her 90th birthday the day before we depart, are traveling to Maui on Hawaiian Air. From what I know, Hawaiian Air has a great safety and on-time reputation. I’m hoping the same stays true for us. I’m also hoping I survive the family time.

I am already booked to fly to Turkey via England in June on AA. (I hope they sort out everything by then).

Though flying can be a hassle and I have more horror stories then happy stories, the fact is that I live in New York and the rest of my family lives in Hong Kong. If either of us wants to see each other, then SOMEONE has to be willing to fly. Either way, I’m trying not to fly any American carriers. Foreign airline companies still know how to treat people!

Jack,
I normally do not fly, but we have a vacation to Orlando scheduled in 2 weeks. With 3 kids ages 8 and under, a 2.5 hour plane ride and going through security sounds great compared to 18 hours in the car! I can deal with a bit of inconvienence, at least I won’t hear, “are we there yet? and stop staring at me!”.

I actually am booked on a flight in late June. If something goes awry, I’ll gladly switch back to my old tried & true - road trip! I used to like flying, but in the last 12 years or so it’s become such a hassle, I much prefer driving.

I fly several times a year for business and will be taking a trip by plane for pleasure this summer. In the last two years I haven’t had a flight delay of more than 25 minutes; haven’t had a flight cancelled or a bag lost (knocking on wood).

The key is to book times carefully, and be prepared.

When you factor in the price of gas and the cost of my time, flying is definitely a better deal than driving for long trips.

You owe 1.3 Billion Chinese people an APOLOGY!!!
Your comment on China yesterday is an assault to all Chinese. It only shows your prejudice and ignorance.

I understand your are powerless and desperate when you face a strong China and the fearless Chinese people. But behave yourself; don’t make a fool of yourself. The world is watching you!!!

Jack, I will be flying as I always do every summer, I will make sure to check the type of aircraft use to the destination so is not one of those being inspected.

Driving a car is sooo safe.

I’ve always look at flying as an aberation…a means of getting around that humans really shouldn’t be doing anyway and therefore inherently risky. In that spirit, whenever I fly, I always expect the worst. So what the heck, if the price is right, I’ll fly, delays or no delays. Besides, with all the fearmongering going on in this country right now, I’m more afraid to walk across the room. Might have a stroke or a runaway car driven by a superannuated fumicant might just plow through my living room.

I have to fly for business. And by fly I mean fly a lot. Everything about traveling in this country wears me slick. Long security lines, delayed and canceled flights, overbooked flights, scaled-back services, expensive tickets, fewer flights. I’ve been on flights that have had to make emergency landings, flights that have all kinds of problems, but yet I don’t have an option to not give these corporate dinosaurs my business because I have to make a living. I ‘d love to be part of a class action suit against the airlines for impeding commerce. Every time they jerk us around and make us miss flights and meetings and events, they cost us money. And they strip away my sanity.

I have no choice, as I am studying abroad this summer in Italy. My only hope is that I can get there and back with no problem, as my student visa is only valid for a set amount of time.

Absolutely. I’ll fly during non-peak times.

Am I safe? Yes, safer than if I get in my car and drive somewhere.

I would rather not fly at all, ever. I hate it. But, would you rather take a 6 hour flight, or a 24-48 hour drive? And looks like I have to travel by air coming up in June for work. Blech.

hi jack
I dont think I will fly until next year,or at least until I see if any flights fall from the sky in the next few months, I cancealed my trip from Florida to Virginia<Ill pay for gas and drive

No, but I believe the planes are safe. I just don’t want to wait in long lines, risk getting stranded or have my luggage lost…

With the escalating price of gas and food who can afford to plan a vacation this summer?

I’ve been in two near-death experiences this morning just commuting on the Loop 101 to Scottsdale. Everybody is coming online with a “The Sky Is Falling” attitude, yet thousands of motorists die every year.

I make it a point that any trip I take over 500 miles will be in the air, and yes, I will be flying this summer. Even though the FAA hasn’t been as stringent as they need to be on airplane maintenance, it’s still safer than driving next to the car with the balding tires.

southeastern Michigan

I have a business trip this summer to Minneapolis and if I thought I could get away with driving from NH to MN, I would. I’ve got a comfy car and a good map, but I’m also on a tight time schedule, thanks to a child care issue, so unless the magic daycare fairy shows up on my door, I’m gonna be at the airport, praying that my flight isn’t cancelled because of bad parts or not enough flying hours left in the month (like last summer).

I smell FEAR!
Ya’ll would believe anything, bunch a no backbone yello belly cowards. Thats right stay at home with your mountain dew and dancin with the idol makeover. If they told you that terrorist were in your toilet you’d probably hold it till you’d explode.

I fly from NY to Los Angeles and back every week (for 2 years now) First off for those that are worried, I’m still alive…. My biggest issue is the stupid FAA rules. Why does my seat have to be up when I take off? Does this prevent terrorism? Why can’t I listen to my ipod and fall asleep? Somehow I think my music does not interfere with anybody’s safety. Can somebody please fire the people that make our lives more difficult without resonable justification. It’s our tax dollars, why can’t we vote to fire them?

Jack em I less likley to Fly . Jack I can not afford the parking at the Air port So How and why would I want to try to fly any where . I mean I have not had a job in well over a year and what little I have is going to have to last me unlike the goverment I have to live on a budget.
To bad it dose not.

We live in a global world. The Airlines Industry is having to adapt to increased demand for international and domestic travel as the need for more global connectivity increases. Huge problems have popped up in the last few weeks for them, and it will only get worse if they don’t get their act together before summer time. Globalization won’t wait for the airlines to do their inspections on time. And neither will we.

Some of these comments are pure stupidity. I dont mind going through security measures. People forget that terrorists dont bomb busses or people’s cars here, they go after planes. We vacation in the Caribbean every year and there are no short cuts to make sure my family is safe, sorry about your convienence

I dont mind going through inconvienence to make sure my plane is sound mechanically and some nuthead isnt going to bomb it. Its the world we live in, wake up.

Only for work. I’ll drive my non-guzzler for vacations. Air travel has become too unreliable and too stressful for me. Cabin service has become grudging to non-existent on some American carriers. Foreign-flag carriers generally provide better service all around. Too bad, I’d rather spend my dollars with our airlines.

Jack - We will be flying ( in country ). Who can afford to fly outside of the US. We are on a driving trip right now across the United States. What a great country - when you see the “amber waves of grain”, keep in mind that they are being exported out for profit, and subsidized to do so.

And we love the roads in most states except our own. California now has the worst roads (Bush didn’t visit here much). Texas now has the best roads - I wonder why? Louisiana where we are now has good roads - they ( the government ) promised to rebuild their homes here in the Gulf States - I guess the roads were easier to rebuild?

My Alaska vacation is scheduled in late May using AA frequently flyer tickets. 12 nights of hotel accomodations and several tours are prepaid with only medical insurance for cancellations. If the flight were to be canceled, I would literally be sick.

Of course I’ll fly! It’s still safer than driving.

Why weren’t the airlines taking responsibility in the first place to ensure air travel safety??? Regular scheduled maintenance checks should have been tracked all along! And if they hadn’t been done, fines should have already been imposed. What took them so long????

I don’t see what kind of choice I have. With the dwindling economy, I save my money so that I can “get away from it all” and go on vacation or take a long weekend to see friends. As inconvenient as it is these days to get a plane ticket for a decent price and actually get to my destination in decent time, it’s still my only real option. Train travel is simply not going to happen. Drivng is expensive enough with sky-high gas prices to travel across a small state like Connecticut, but to drive as far as Detroit (where I’m planning my next trip) is not monetarily feasible in the least. As far as safety goes, I agree with Mr. Kepics’s comment: if the airline employees believe it’s safe enough to fly, then it’s good enough for me. It’s still much safer than driving on I-95 any day.

Worst case scenario (other than a plane crash, which is still extremely unlikely): my flight gets delayed or canceled. Luckily I have a good chunk of vacation days I can afford to use in an emergency. And then I also get some kind of voucher from the airline plus some kind of reimbursement for the flight. Sounds like a deal to me. But who knows… the hassle may make me regret those words.

Who’s up for a cruise??

This past Christmas it took me 24 hours to travel via the airplane from Charlotte, NC to Oshkosh, WI due to “supposed” weather delays and to top it all off, my luggage was lost too! My journey could have been compared to “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”.

I’m planning another visit to Wisconsin this summer and the last thing I’ll be doing is traveling via the airplane. Ticket prices have more than doubled and chances are pretty good that I’d get to experience part 2 of “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”. No thank you, I won’t be flying! I’ll drive my own car so that I will be in control of my arrival and departure times and I’m pretty sure I won’t lose my luggage either.

I wish it was so easy. My friends are getting married in the Dominican Republic. The prices are ridiculous and than the service stinks. But what options do I have?

Last November I traveled abroad via United. They cancelled my flight from Dullas to Newark. They said they owed us nothing since it was weather related. There were no flights until morning, they wouldn’t put us up in hotels, or pay for a train. I called to complain and was told I’d get a $75 travel voucher. Never saw it.

I should say, I find American based airlines are the big offenders. Sad but true.

In one word: No!!

Good luck Jennifer! On my flight from London to DFW last December, the American Airlines cabin crew was at war with the passengers! In fifty years of flying, I’d never seen anything like the unprompted rudeness and insults from attendants. I was spared, but an Asian couple behind me were ridiculed repeatedly because their elocution didn’t suit the crew!

YES, I Will. In fact I have tickets for the whole family for next month. I have more concerns with the road conditions, drunk drivers, road rage and truck drivers who are too tired. I still believe my odds are better in the air than on a long road trip.
However, I do wish the FAA had done a better job of monitoring and regulating the airlines so it was not such a huge impact.

Until the United States can deploy high-speed trains from coast to coast, I’ll fly to visit my family - and they’ll fly to visit me.

I frequently fly, Southwest, from Kansas City to Los Angeles. Inspections or not, the flight is much safer than navigating a southern California freeway.

I stopped flying more than 10 years ago when it quit being fun, moved into major hassle and then bottomed out somewhere close to the third ring of Dante’s hell.

There is no power on earth that can get me onto a airplane now. Crap service, crap attitude, the very real potential of being held hostage BY the airline for hours on a hot tarmac , screaming babies , nah, notsomuch.

Every single story about the horrid conditions confirms my decision that the airlines really don’t want my business enough to get any of my precious money or time.

Of course I’ll fly. People who say they won’t “ever again” are just kidding themselves. People need to quit acting so victimized by this. Experienced travelers learn to just roll with the punches. My flight for tomorrow was cancelled, American refunded my money and I booked on another airline. End of story. People also need to remember that it is NOT the gate agent’s fault or the ticket counter employee’s fault. Check your attitude along with your luggage and be nice. It helps.

I cut air travel long ago. Too much disgust for the TSA

also, $1200 for a transatlantic roundtrip in the summer is fairly expensive. thanks to our governemt for the dollar falling under enormous spending

Reality is air travel is not going to be replaced with anything better in our lifetimes. Deal with it.

Our travel plans in May have been scrapped. Who wants the kind of headache the airlines are dishing out right now? We’ll stay home and make the best of it.

I only flew for family emergencies, thanks to the stupidity of TSA & Fatherland Security. Now I won’t fly at all.

Regardless of the normal media hype on a slow news day, commercial flying is safer than walking across your street or driving your car to the grocery store.

I Fly Constantly And Depend on the different American Airlines SInce most of my Business is done in the States i cant Use the Canadian Jets to Certain Locations. If it affects my travelling i can Certainly say they will Lose my Companies Business if they are unable to provide my flights.

Fly are you crazy Jack?Have you seen all the regulations and passengers lack of rights?I’ll stay home and be abused by my wife,kids and dogs.At least I don’t have to pay for the abuse.

I have no choice but to fly, however, if I am on a plane and it’s going down … I hope that someone from Capitol Hill is flying first class along with me!!!

P.S. party nor state matters as far as I am concerned.

I don’t think so Jack. I have flown with so many airlines in my life, I know which ones to avoid. Although gas prices are getting even higher and traveling by air is getting much more hectic, sometimes flying is just unavoidable.

Penfield, New York

Jack, Based on the responses I read below I am glad to see the amatures are staying home this summer, my wife and I will have a great time in Miami, Chicago and Nappa. I fly every other week from Dallas to Minneapolis, my next two trips are $107.00 round trip the car service to the airport is $60.00. Yes the system is strained and disruptions like the saftey checks throw it into chaos but by and large it is a safe, reliable, and competatively priced mode of transport, let’s try to keep it that way. Hopefully all the amatures will stay home, complain about falling real estate prices and enjoy there backyard outdoor kitchen that they sacrificed 30K in home equity to build. Leave the sky’s to the pro’s.

Some of you must be full of crap, because it can’t be that no one is going to be flying anywhere this summer. Get real. I will probably fly somewhere this summer…not sure when I have ever gone over 4 months without needing to fly somewhere. Unless a 17 hour roadtrip sounds appealing, which apparently it does for most of the people who post on here…

No, I won’t be flying anywhere this summer. I lost my job a couple of months ago, and don’t have the money to pay for a $450 round-tripper. The economy is bad, real bad, and most of us just don’t have the money for flying this year.

the more they look at the planes the better I fell about flying

Living in Hawaii I HAVE to fly to see my family. What is really crazy is the airlines charge people in Hawaii more to fly to the mainland than tourists to fly to Hawaii.

I stopped flying, much to the chagrin of my family on the east coast and Florida, when the government decided it could search me and my property without cause. The rest of you “free” americans ought to take a close look at the police state you live in; when we stop allowing our freedoms to be taken, perhaps - just perhaps - they will no longer be taken. But when we look the other way all of the time, pretty soon there won’t be any freedoms left. Not that there really are any freedoms left…

As a Canadian, ive stopped flying entirely as i find the safety of both Canadian and American airlines suspect and security outdated and window dressing at best. Last flight to vegas in 2002 was my last flight, i gave up as it took 4 hours to get on a plane and then 3 hours in delays. Mind you with the ridiculous gas prices i wont be travelling anywhere this year except to the bank to get a loan to buy a tank of gas.

I love your Cafferty file reporting because are always on point. I live in San Diego, Cailfornia. We have a Newpaper here called Voice & Viepoint and today I was reading about Hillary”s pastor. She said that ,she would have left the church if her pastor said such things, but her same pastor, Rev. Dean Snyder, a white senior pastor of the Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington. Rev. Snyder said that Rev. Wright is an outstanding church leader, whom he had heard speak a number of times. My point is when she ( Hillary’s) lived in Ark. her pastor there said things like REv. Wright or worst.

Get real. Of course we will all fly. Read the stats, that even despite the lack of safety inspections, its still the safest form of transportation around. Airline accidents make good headlines and sell advertising dollars. Is it just me or are the comments listed in the blog really that primative? Get out of the dark ages…

With the way things are headed and ticket prices soaring, there is no way that I will travel by air this summer. My do a road trip if I rented a Prius, but that is about it. There is lots of things to do in Seattle in the summer anyway.

Flying???? By the way it sounds with all the canceled flights no one will be. I’d like to since I haven’t had a vacation in three years but it isn’t looking too promising. I should have been a politician, they seem to spend more time vacationing than working. Then again, considering the way they’re screwing the middle class maybe they should take more time off.

My favorite vacation destination is Hawaii and that is too far to paddle. That said, the airlines have a lot of work to do to restore faith in their system.

We have a flight booked and paid for from Chicago to Washington D.C. the first week of May. It’s only a four day “mini-vacation” to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. What happens if any time is lost waiting to rebook? I hope not. No more plane trips this year! We’ll take the camper! My husband is a German-born “war baby.” He and his parents came over on a “prop” jet 60 years ago. It was probably better maintained.

Fly this summer? Sure I will. This mess will have most likely settled down by then and perhaps the prices, too. It’s too convenient for trips more than 4+ hours. By the way, I have been cutting down on my driving. Haven’t you?

With grandchildren all over the planet and minimal vacation time, I have no choice but to fly to the important events. This summer holds includes a baptism in Houston, Texas, and a reunion in Portland, Oregon. I must say, though, I have always been treated extremely well by Southwest and have zero complaints about their service or attitudes.

I don’t trust the airlines and the FAA. Lets face it. Its all about money. With rising fuel cost it was just a matter of time before all these botched safety inspections were uncovered. Airlines care about one thing and one thing only. MONEY. Passanger safety was never their priority and it will never be their priority. Wouldn’t it be just great if every airplane in every airline was as well inspected and well built and safe like AIR FORCE ONE. LOL. fat chance of that happening.

No, as a matter of fact our summer vacation was completely canceled due the economy. We cannot afford to fly and I think that is the case with most people I know. Flying used to be fun. Now its just a damn shame the state air travel has come to.

This summer, I think I’ll be driving for my summer trip home to see my family in North Carolina. I live in Tulsa, and it’s about a 14-hour drive each way if I push it. Over the past few years the price of airline tickets have steadily risen, while customer service has become non-existent. It’s gotten to the point that I’ve decided that I’ll spend the extra two days of vacation and drive home.

As if the security, delays, cancelled flights were not enough, the snotty and often times down right rudeness of airline personnel make it a no for me. Of course if management cut my pay in half as most of the airlines have done to their employees, I would probably be sporting a snotty rude “tude” as well….

My biggest concern will be the trip where I need to fly, but won’t be able to afford anymore. Am I looking at a summer without family reunions or vacations more than a 1/2 day’s drive away?

You bet I will be traveling this summer. With the rising costs of fuel, if you want to travel (esp overseas), you better do it soon, or you will never see another country again.

I’ve never been paid enough to take a vacation much less pay even more to fly somewhere. I would love to be the one to get up and do something that would make this country better. There is a problem though even as I type only those with a name, money, or power have n any say in this country. Everyone else is to distracted by greed, what they are going to do this weekend,or what new oppiate they can afford (on credit) to give a damn!

I have to travel a lot for business puposes, and travel on vacation if that’s the best time/distance/cost option. I now try to limit travel as much as I can — not because of this most recent AA situation and not because of the long security lines. It’s because prices are climbing while service continues to decline. Increasingly I feel like I’m being treated as a commodity. That applies to US airlines by the way. I often travel to Asia via BA and Luftansa and come away from those trips feeling like I’m appreciated as a customer, and that my return business is wanted.

This is not an indictment of most airline employees either — they are overworked and do not appear to be valued by their employer either. It’s a management and corporate leadership failure.

Final comment — as a business traveler for over 35 years, I can’t help but observe that the quality of airline service began to decline in earnest with the advent of all of the discount airlines — the Southwest copycats. As the mainstream airlines felt that they had to compete with these new entrants, (they really didn’t) the quality of care and service started down a slippery slope from which it’s not yet recovered.

Flying???? By the way it sounds with all the canceled flights no one will be. I’d like to since I haven’t had a vacation in three years but it isn’t looking too promising. I should have been a politician, they seem to spend more time vacationing than working. Then again, considering the way they’re screwing the middle class, animals, and the environment maybe they should take more time off.

Jack, we were tricked into believeing there were weapons of mass destruction. The Bush Administration went after Iraq’s oil. The plan backfired. As a result, $4.00/gallon with no real time table for withdraw. The next President, if Democrat, will have to make the best of a bad situation in withdrawing the troops. We should have left Iraq right after we liberated their country and allowed the secterian violence to sort itself out making this Syria and Saudi Arabia problem, not ours.

I absolutely must fly. Living in San Francisco means no car for me, and going home to see my Midwestern family and attend two weddings in May and June is not a question. I hope it all gets straightened out before then. Either that, or I find myself a tiny, cheap yet reliable old car!

With the airlines it seems I have two options:

1. Fly in an unsafe jet on time.
2. Sit stranded at the airport a couple of days.

Maybe next year, this year I’m driving

i just booked a july-august flight on American thinking (now I feel stupid for this) that it held the most stability of all the major carriers. I even rejected ‘trip insurance’. how foolish have I been!?

After having travelled by TGV train in France, it’s hard to understand why people take trips of less than a thousand miles by airplane. We were traveling 194 miles per hour. It was simple, on time and there were not delays. I don’t believe you could beat a high speed train city center to city center with a distance of under 1000 miles. I understand the US is far behind in train transportation, but surely someone understands our over reliance on air transportation will make us less competitive.

We’ll probably fly this summer, but a TGV across the continent would only take about 20 to 25 hours and you could see the landscape.

It will take 20 years or more to build a high speed rail system in the US. We need to get started.

So much emotion, so few facts.

Unsafe? Flying is the safest mode of travel in the U.S. and gets safer every year.

Rampant cancellations? I fly on business2-4 times per month (including an American MD-80 flight just this morning) and in ten years have been stuck overnight once. Once.

Inconvenient? I never get to the airport more than 90 minutes in advance and I only very rarely need more than 20-30 minutes to get through security.

A four-hour delay? That sure beats a 19-hour drive up I-95, Of course, 19 hours assumes no wrecks (mine or someone else’s) along the way.

Will I fly this summer? You bet I will.

Jack - if only all airlines were like Midwest. Flew them twice in past 8 months. On time, no hassles with luggage and an all around good experience (freshly baked chocolate chip cookes too). Generally don’t like flying but they make it tolerable.

I’ll fly in August. I won’t like it, but it’s still the fastest way to get from coast to coast. Air lines have made no customer related improvements in the last 50 years.

Bill Slaon, Sunnyvale, CA

I am so tired of everyone sitting around on their asses waiting for the “government” to bail them out. You can sit there and complain about the rising fuel costs, but that won’t help. You can sit there and complain about Exxon making $40b a year, that won’t help either. You cna sit there and complain about the housing situation, but again, that won’t help. You can point the finger at our President, the “wealthy”, Wall St, or whoever else you want to balme, but perhaps you should be blaming yourself. Alter your spending and saving habits, cut back on things that aren’t necessities, don’t have 6 kids if you didn’t go to college and can’t afford even 1, don’t complain that you have a job where you don’t get paid enough because you majored in some useless subject or dropped out of high school, and don’t buy a house you can’t afford with a sub-prime mortgage or with an adjustable rate. Take responsibility for all the bad decisions YOU made in YOUR OWN life and quit waiting for someone else to bail you out. Is it really that difficult?

Flying used to be pleasant, but now it is disgusting. I am not worried about safety at all: enhanced airport security and wiring harnesses a little out of tolerance are political issues. What is disgusting about flying is the level of service, and I used that term very lightly. If I am not in a big hurry I will take Amtrak. The government hasn’t managed to ruin that yet.

Mr Cafferty

Why does everything in this country have to cause a panic. Are we that paranoid that almost everything has to stop due to a faulty wire? Too much overregulation is bad as no regulation at all.

I retired, finally, mid 2006. Up to then I had been flying to all over Asia, and to Europe with my job. Over the final 12 years, the travel became harder, less comfortable, and a tremendous amount of hassle, and that was even with frequent flier miles. Since I retired, I have flown once, domestically, and am very glad that I don’t have to fly anywhere, anymore.

I sit back and watch the problems with flying these days, and I’m so glad that flying is no longer in my life. I saw this coming a decade ago and all the problems have seemed to escalated, and can only get worse.

Hmmm….Pay $4 bucks a gallon for gas to haul my family across the country to visit grandma or pay $1500 bucks for four airline tickets that may not even be good when I get to the airport…How are Amtraks’ fares looking these days?

America’s oil production peaked in 1971, and has been in steady decline for nearly 4 decades. Unless we want to continue importing more oil from volitile regions of the world, we must decrease consumption. I will do my part by avoiding air travel whenever I can. I will not be flying this summer.

I will avoid it like the plague. The airlines are a mess and their attitude towards the public is outrageous. Even w/gas being what it is, I’d rather drive than risk a)being treated like a criminal, b)having my flight cancelled, c)kicked off the plan