My first flight after 9/11 was probably in October, as I was flying to visit my son in college for the parent weekend.
As I said above, as a former airline employee I understand security and have zero respect for the TSA. I have flown maybe ten times since then. I try to avoid flying, again because I don't want to put up with the bullshit of the TSA. I'm willing to drive a very long distance, and as it happens, since I live in Santa Fe, NM, it's highly inconvenient to fly a medium distance. Such as when I visit family in the Kansas City area. It would probably take me nearly as long to fly, what with a connection and the need to get to the airport ludicrously early, than it is to drive. When I'm going to Kansas City from here, I could do it in one long day of driving, but since I'm retired and have more time, I prefer to break up the trip and spend the night in a motel en route. Plus, I have my car with me when I arrive. Win win, I think.
My other somewhat dirty dark secret is that I almost always book first class when I'm flying. I've learned that if I book far enough ahead I can get what I consider a decent price, one that I'm willing to pay. No, it's not as cheap as coach, but I get priority boarding, my luggage gets to baggage claim faster, and I'm not crammed into a middle seat in the cattle car. I also get the bypass, or whatever it's called that allows me to skip part of the security thing. I don't have to take off my shoes (really, what is THAT about?) and I make it through security very quickly. Plus, as a consumer of alcohol, I do quite well.
Several years ago I was flying back from Portland, OR and had booked a coach seat. At the boarding gate, shortly before the flight was to be boarded, the gate agent said there was a first class seat available for a mere fifty bucks. I immediately went to the agent and said, I'll take that seat. It was well worth it. And since then, when I've flown, which isn't all that often, I book first class. I've decided that I'm not flying that often, so I can afford it.
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