Seasoned Travelers After 9/11

Carla Hall’s Dec. 15 Column One on frequent fliers crystallized a few thoughts, since my husband and I have also gotten back in the air (11 flights domestically and abroad since Sept. 11). We do now, indeed, find the trek through the airport more tiresome than the flight itself, which makes me chuckle; and we feel a bond with other passengers, which warms my heart.

All varieties of passengers seem alert and ready to act [to thwart terrorists]. As San Francisco lawyer Peter Van Zandt said, “I’m sure there would be five other people in line ahead of me ready to do the same.” I frequently overhear conversations on the plane and almost always someone verbalizes a willingness to stand up and do something. Two men behind me on a flight to D.C. talked of it at length. One even added, “I’m just past the age to be called to military service, but if they want me I’ll be there in a heartbeat.”

Most passengers mention they are watchful. As Peter Logan was quoted as saying, “I don’t know what I’m looking for,” but we are all scanning for anything quirky. My husband and I would be willing to help other passengers, by choosing to remain calm and to channel our adrenaline--not into heroics, but in a communal effort. There is definitely a bond between passengers now, in all cabins.

Sherry Barber

Whittier

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Thanks so much for Hall’s perceptive Column One. As a now-retired frequent flier, I am sympathetic to the plight of the business flier after Sept. 11. I, too, never feared the flight but absolutely dreaded the airport. I’m not surprised business travelers found creative ways to solve their airport problems. That’s what they do professionally--solve problems.

We are now leisure travelers but have found airline travel pleasant if you maintain a good mood. We flew from LAX to Boston in September/November and also enjoyed the less-full aircraft almost guiltily. The great reassurance was that the flight felt normal. Our outbound pilot only briefly requested that passengers not linger near the cockpit door in-flight “for obvious reasons.” Our inbound pilot said nothing above the usual security announcements and did provide a pleasant tourist commentary as we flew. It was a beautiful day across the country. We solved our LAX access/parking problem by staying at a nearby hotel, parking the car there and taking its shuttle. It was the least hassle I’ve had with LAX in 20 years of flying.

Diane Thompson

Ridgecrest

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“A 55-minute flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco still wins out over the 10-hour nightmare of a train ride,” according to Hall. Having taken that “10-hour trip” innumerable times, I say it’s a dream compared to slogging to LAX over congested streets and freeways; finding parking; high-tailing it to the terminal; waiting in long lines to check tickets and baggage; finding a place to sit in the terminal and having the gate change every 10 minutes to someplace as far away as possible; being prodded like cattle on some airlines; trying to find overhead space after people have filled all the bins with heavily laden duffel bags; maybe getting a few peanuts and a half a can of soda; not to mention what’s at the end of the flight or half-way between. I have spent 10 hours waiting for a flight to San Francisco that was delayed three times--mechanical troubles twice and finally a whole change of flight crew since the original crew’s work day was finished.

I’ll take the train any day. You go to a peaceful station like the one in Oxnard, find a seat and wait. Could be a while, but it’s pleasant enough. Then you board the train. Comfortable seats, lots of leg room, a snack bar, a full dining car (on the Coast Starlight), even the chance for small rooms with beds and a place to stretch out. Plenty of room for bags and parcels; a chance to read, dream and look out the window at incredible coastal and mountain scenery. So there are delays? So what, if you have a book, a view and other travelers to talk with. Sometimes there’s even a strolling player or a magician. When you add getting to the airport and all that follows, taking the train isn’t always that much more time, and you arrive refreshed.

Luckily, I’m not frantic to get to a business appointment, so I’m free to take the train. More folks should.

Mary I. Purucker

Malibu