Considering driving instead of flying because of TSA

[Sadiebird]

I have a trip to WDW planned for May 2011. I've already purchased my flights, but I'm seriously considering requesting a refund based on all the stories I've been reading about the invasive security procedures being used by the TSA. I don't have a problem going through a metal detector or having my bag searched. I don't even have a problem with a standard pat down. But I do have a problem with being strip searched by a machine. And if I choose to opt out of that, I also have a problem with a pat down that involves touching my private areas. I don't want to subject myself or my 5 year old son to these things so that we can get on a plane and fly to Disney World. I'd rather drive 17 hours in a car. My husband has convinced me to wait until closer to our trip to get a refund on the plane tickets, just in case the TSA decides to back down on their procedures. I'm just wondering if anyone else is feeling this way. I can't believe this is the direction our country is heading.

 

[wendysue]

I agree. I have not purchased plane tickets for next years trip. We will drive instead. Actually, that works out better, as we can take our own food and lots of other stuff that you cannot take on the plane.

 

[rsoxguy]

It can be said that forced nudity is a form of human degradation that brings an individual to the lowest point of submission. I fully understand that many people have no inhibitions regarding public nudity, but those who do have a problem with public nudity and pat-down fondling certainly have the right feel a strong sense of personal violation when subjected to TSA screenings at airports. My best advise is for you to weigh the cost of personal privacy and rights against the inconvenience of traveling by land. You will be the one living with the consequences of your decisions. Best wishes.

 

[Master Yoda]

I can't say that I really blame you. Flying has become so much of a hassle these days that it is almost not worth it. I could really care less about them seeing a monochrome image of my junk but all of the delays, cancellations, poor service and changes really make the idea of flying unappealing. I do not know if I would make a 17 hour drive vs. a couple hour flight but if time is not an issue and you can stretch the drive out to a couple of days, see a few sights along the way, and not a 17 hour marathon it could be fun.

 

[Sadiebird]

I'm glad to hear these responses. I was a little nervous to post this, because I was afraid I might be flamed.

I wonder how difficult it will be to get a refund on my tickets. I know none of this is the airline's fault, but when I purchased my tickets, none of the news stories had come out yet. I never would have bought the tickets if I had known the security was going to be like this.

 

[Mouse Man]

The DWF and I drive down every year from Mount Laurel NJ to WDW in FLA yearly. We enjoy the drive and love to see a few things along the way. Just give yourself enough time and plan to stop over night. We leave at 6:30 AM on Friday and arrive to WDW at 5:00 PM on Saturday. It could be faster, but we stop off at the Chesapeak bay bridge for lunch, and the outlet stores in Santee. I know you have a 5 year old, but if you leave erly in the AM he will be sleeping and you can put some good miles befind you. Make sure you bring some fun activites for him to do with your wife and you while you guys take turns driving. Plan to make some stops and stretch those legs. Driving at least for my family is the way to go.

 

[Sadiebird]

I can't say that I really blame you. Flying has become so much of a hassle these days that it is almost not worth it. I could really care less about them seeing a monochrome image of my junk but all of the delays, cancellations, poor service and changes really make the idea of flying unappealing. I do not know if I would make a 17 hour drive vs. a couple hour flight but if time is not an issue and you can stretch the drive out to a couple of days, see a few sights along the way, and not a 17 hour marathon it could be fun.

My husband just mapped it and it turns out it's 15 hours. We just moved and it had always come up as 17 hours from our old home. I just shaved 2 hours off my drive!

 

[Sadiebird]

This support is wonderful. Thanks so much!! Nothing is going to keep me from the mouse!!

 

[wendysue]

Also, for anyone flying on Nov. 24, there could possibly be a boycott of the scanners at many airports, with many people opting for the pat down. Be aware of the possible delays and long lines if it happens.

 

[Master Yoda]

I'm glad to hear these responses. I was a little nervous to post this, because I was afraid I might be flamed.

I wonder how difficult it will be to get a refund on my tickets. I know none of this is the airline's fault, but when I purchased my tickets, none of the news stories had come out yet. I never would have bought the tickets if I had known the security was going to be like this.

It will depend on what you purchased. If you purchased non-refundable tickets you are pretty much stuck with them. Never hurts to ask though. I would check through the fine print on your tickets and see if there is a loop hole you might be able to use.

 

[Sadiebird]

It will depend on what you purchased. If you purchased non-refundable tickets you are pretty much stuck with them. Never hurts to ask though. I would check through the fine print on your tickets and see if there is a loop hole you might be able to use.

They were definitely non-refundable, but I'm certainly going to try for a refund. Worst case scenario, I could have a credit applied to my account in hopes that the security procedures will change in the future. But I'd have to use the credit by next fall. I'm pretty good at getting credits from companies though, so I plan on working my way up the managerial ladder until I get someone with the authority to refund my ticket.

 

[Master Yoda]

They were definitely non-refundable, but I'm certainly going to try for a refund. Worst case scenario, I could have a credit applied to my account in hopes that the security procedures will change in the future. But I'd have to use the credit by next fall. I'm pretty good at getting credits from companies though, so I plan on working my way up the managerial ladder until I get someone with the authority to refund my ticket.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[Atomicmickey]

With all due respect, does this mean you'll never fly anywhere, ever again?

Seems to me like this is the new reality. Doesn't bother me at all.

Note that this isn't a flame or attack, just curious. If I lived 15
hours, I might drive as well--not because of TSA, just because it's
"relatively close".

It's a three day drive for us, and that's way too much vacation time to
take away from time in WDW, even though I love driving across country--more than most!

 

[wdwmagic]

I went through one of the new scanners in London. I got to see the imagery from it, and very impressive it was. If we could get everyone through one of these they could give almost 100% guarantee of nothing getting on a plane on a person's body. Would certainly make for safer skies.

 

[Sadiebird]

With all due respect, does this mean you'll never fly anywhere, ever again?

Seems to me like this is the new reality. Doesn't bother me at all.

Note that this isn't a flame or attack, just curious. If I lived 15
hours, I might drive as well--not because of TSA, just because it's
"relatively close".

It's a three day drive for us, and that's way too much vacation time to
take away from time in WDW, even though I love driving across country--more than most!

I'm not a big flyer. We fly to Orlando every year in the spring for our annual trip to WDW, and that's about it. I don't have much of an interest in going anywhere else. May sound boring, but I'm good with it.

This new reality is too invasive for me. I refuse to accept it and I hope I'm not the only one and I hope that this new change isn't permanent. I'm all for security. I just moved from New York, so I was there during September 11th. I know several people who died. But there has to be another way.

 

[bamillerpa]

Because of an assault from earlier in my life, I cannot put myself through something as invasive as these scanners or a pat own so I will not fly anymore. We drive to Disney every time and even though my husband would rather fly he sucks it up and drives to Disney with me. I saw you were from Quakertown which really isn't all that far from me in Bloomsburg. The drive isn't horrible. I'm sure the scanners can and will help but I also think that anyone that really wants to do harm will find a way to do it regardless. I'm going to save myself the panic attack and stay in my car.

 

[loveofamouse]

We drive. Flying has lost most of its appeal for me. Besides the skyrocketing prices, the baggage limits and fees, security crap, delays, rude people (both employee and passengers) and all around greed of airlines, I'd rather drive. We are a family of 5. It would cost serious dough for us to fly. It's a 12hr drive for us. 2hrs from my home city. I have no problems driving. My kids enjoy it and it gives us freedom while we are there. If someone forgets something, I can easily drive to Walmart or target and get a cheap replacement. If we decide to eat out in town, no problems. We can bring whatever we want, including case of water to save funds in the parks. We can buy whatever souviner we want since the airline won't restrict, take, or break anything

 

[Monty]

I'm in the "doesn't bother me at all" camp.

I doubt the security measures will be going away any time soon. Governments around the world have invested significant amounts of money to purchase equipment to meet U.S. requirements. Security measures are fine by me. Given the choice of being "exposed" to some poor schmuck who has to view an awful lot of not particularly attractive body shapes to possibly get his or her jollies out of an occasional pleasant outline of a relatively pleasant body shape [which is the best they're likely to see] or being unfortunate enough to be on the aircraft blown out of the sky by some moron that thinks they'll be a martyr, I'll choose the former.

Since the new scanners have been in place at airports I travel through regularly, I've been scanned only once out of dozens of flights. It's not that big a deal to me. Honestly? It speeds the screening process for everybody if people cooperate. Individuals who refuse are probably causing longer processing times.

99% of the population who have nothing to hide worry too much about privacy in my opinion. I really could care less if various Government agencies hold information about me. If they abuse anything they have, then I'll take issue with the abuse. Having it is not in and of itself abuse and I truly don't care.

 

[zurgandfriend]

I thought about driving, but according to map quest it’s a 22+ hour drive from our home in the Boston area to the Magic Kingdom. DW and I just could not drive that long straight through which means a 2 day trip each way for us, which is just not worth it.
IMHO a TSA search is a slight inconvenience, as long as we arrive safely I’ll put up with it. Airline inefficiency and ineptitude are of course different matters. There are some carriers I will no longer fly due their inadequacies.

 

[Phonedave]

Put me in the "I will keep flying camp"

As long as things like scanning and such are voluntary (and they are, you choose to fly or not to fly) then I don't consider it invasive. If it because something that is required in everyday life, then we can have a discussion about violation of rights.

So it basicly becomes a questions of do I mind the screening procedures. No, I don't. I understand how for some people it is uncomfortable or downright stressful. For me, it does not bother me.

I have said before that air travel is no longer what it used to be, and has been reduced to basicly the level of an airborn bus. But that flying bus still gets me there a LOT faster, so I continue to put up with it.


-dave