The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
Posts: 7,175
Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Jan 24, 2019 18:29:49 GMT
I flew last week and I felt perfectly safe.
The TSA agents were all very professional and everything went off without a hitch.
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MaryMary
Pearl Clutcher
Lazy
Posts: 2,975
Jun 25, 2014 21:56:13 GMT
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Post by MaryMary on Jan 24, 2019 18:31:59 GMT
I hope so. I flew to Maui on Monday and have to get back in a few days. 😬
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jan 24, 2019 19:05:40 GMT
I hope so. I flew to Maui on Monday and have to get back in a few days. 😬 Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll go on strike and you'll be stuck in Maui. A few of my colleagues were flying back from Asia on 9/11 and were diverted to Hawaii and stuck there for a week - maybe two(?).
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 24, 2019 19:09:51 GMT
We have a vacation coming up soon and I’ll admit that it does have me concerned.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jan 24, 2019 19:14:24 GMT
No I don’t think it’s safe. Of course, I never feel safe while flying. But given the current climate I think it is even less safe than normal. People are not going to be at their best performance wise when they know they will not be compensated for doing their jobs. What’s the reinforcer for working hard in this situation? That is a very interesting perspective. I can totally be on board that financial stress, exhaustion, and fatigue are inevitable and not in any way a good thing. Anyone that will reduce their performance based on compensation? They need to leave those critical roles, shutdown or no shutdown. I worked through shutdowns, I didn't get paid. I never once compromised the quality of my work that I know of. People's lives depend on it. I agree. I don’t think it’s likely that someone would purposely slack on their job when lives are on the line. But I do think that they are under more stress and the worried and thoughts about how to pay bills could be distracting from their performance and ultimately lead to problems.
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used2scrap
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,036
Jan 29, 2016 3:02:55 GMT
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Post by used2scrap on Jan 24, 2019 19:43:27 GMT
That is a very interesting perspective. I can totally be on board that financial stress, exhaustion, and fatigue are inevitable and not in any way a good thing. Anyone that will reduce their performance based on compensation? They need to leave those critical roles, shutdown or no shutdown. I worked through shutdowns, I didn't get paid. I never once compromised the quality of my work that I know of. People's lives depend on it. I agree. I don’t think it’s likely that someone would purposely slack on their job when lives are on the line. But I do think that they are under more stress and the worried and thoughts about how to pay bills could be distracting from their performance and ultimately lead to problems. Those that are working new second jobs to make ends meet are also likely to be far behind on sleep.
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580
Location: In the leaves and rain.
Jun 25, 2014 19:57:33 GMT
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Post by stittsygirl on Jan 24, 2019 19:53:58 GMT
Close to our destination (Florida) and so far so good. It was also my experience today that the TSA professionals were very accommodating and friendly. I love that I can Pea from 33,000 feet .
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jan 24, 2019 19:57:05 GMT
I don't think any air traffic controllers would intentionally slack on their jobs... that's ridiculous. Or 'reduce their performance based on compensation' as someone put it. But things called *accidents* could still happen, and I would think, under the added stress the air traffic controllers are under due to the [totally manufactured and unnecessaryinmyopinion] shutdown, the likelihood of some sort of incident happening- however remote- could go up.
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Post by katlaw on Jan 24, 2019 20:02:46 GMT
They are asking people to do their jobs under the added pressure of wondering how they are going to buy food to eat, put gas in their car, pay their daycare who cannot afford to just not get paid either, pay their bills or take a day off work. The agents that are working without pay are doing the best they can. Short staffed. Tired. Frustrated. Being held hostage. I think it is dangerous because there is another "Timothy McVeigh" out there. Someone who is waiting for the right moment. And the added pressure of being short staffed, working extra shifts, not knowing how you are going to pay your bills is going to give someone evil that right moment. It only takes a chance at a moment of inattention.
Do I think it is safe to fly right now? I would like to say no. That is first word that came to mind when I read the OP. But that is not completely true. I think in general it is safe to fly. Am I booking a flight anytime soon? Heck no. I think it is only a matter of time before something goes wrong.
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Post by supersoda on Jan 24, 2019 21:14:07 GMT
Trying not to think about it, but to the extent I have, I think flying is still a lot safer than driving.
I’m flying early next week and have 2 college trips with the kids planned in the next month or so. All to big cities with busy airports.
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Post by eversograceful1 on Jan 24, 2019 22:14:06 GMT
So, this week my plane had an “aborted” landing, almost a touch-and-go, because another plane was landing at the same time. The pilot said he had to abort the landing because we weren’t going to make it in time 😳 my first thought was exhausted air traffic control staff.
I fly home tomorrow 😬
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TheOtherMeg
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,541
Jun 25, 2014 20:58:14 GMT
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Post by TheOtherMeg on Jan 24, 2019 23:07:31 GMT
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Post by pattyraindrops on Jan 24, 2019 23:32:03 GMT
I do think it is safe to fly. Less safe than it was before the shutdown, but still very well in safe territory.
I get nervous about turbulance and not having enough room, but flying doesn't bother me in general, just like driving in a snowstorm doesn't bother me unless it gets bad.
That isn't to say that I am ok with the shutdown by any means. DH has gone a few times working without pay (not government) and it is no fun at all and we don't wish that on others. Just not worried about safety.
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Post by 2peafaithful on Jan 24, 2019 23:36:53 GMT
I have flown 3 times in the last week. I never thought about not traveling. I expected longer lines and didn't encounter that or any delays.
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Post by gritzi on Jan 25, 2019 0:08:58 GMT
This is the longest shutdown on record. We've never had two full pay periods with $0 on our pay stubs! The $0 pay periods could be much longer because both sides are to blame & refuse to work together. TSA isn't the only agency affected. There are thousands of Air Traffic Control/FAA employees working without pay, plus IRS agents and many others.
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Jan 25, 2019 0:12:23 GMT
Given how ineffective the TSA actually is, I wouldn't worry about that aspect, but...the air traffic controllers? That's the one that would concern me.
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,685
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
Jul 22, 2017 4:59:41 GMT
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Post by luckyjune on Jan 25, 2019 0:48:12 GMT
I hope so. My parents flew from WA to Florida this morning. DH flies from WA to WA DC in three weeks. Maybe this mess will be over by then...
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kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
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Post by kibblesandbits on Jan 25, 2019 1:25:59 GMT
Considering we are still doing way more than before 9/11, I feel safe. Will there be longer waits, some slip ups etc? Sure. But all in all, I think they are still doing a good job considering the circumstances. But what about the inspections of and maintenance of the planes? What about the actual directing of the planes in flight so that there aren’t collisions? Terrorism isn’t a blip on my radar, but failing aircraft are. In these crucial areas that keep those who fly safe in the air, we certainly are not doing more now than we did before 9/11. I am flying with my family in just a few weeks and am praying that the shutdown ends before then, because I really am afraid of flying now. Maintenance and inspection of airplanes has NOTHING to do with the government shut down.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on Jan 25, 2019 1:33:32 GMT
Close to our destination (Florida) and so far so good. It was also my experience today that the TSA professionals were very accommodating and friendly. I love that I can Pea from 33,000 feet . I am in the airport in Florida and I agree. The TSA agents were all particularly pleasant here today a as it was the same in Philly when I left. They were all far more personable than usual too. My flight home is delayed a few hours. I am hoping it is resolved by the time I fly next month.. All these people without pay checks and the "let them eat cake" attitude in DC. SMH
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,020
Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on Jan 25, 2019 1:41:09 GMT
I flew a couple of weeks ago. I was very aware of the TSA not being paid, but I agree that everyone was kind.
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Post by elaine on Jan 25, 2019 2:22:56 GMT
But what about the inspections of and maintenance of the planes? What about the actual directing of the planes in flight so that there aren’t collisions? Terrorism isn’t a blip on my radar, but failing aircraft are. In these crucial areas that keep those who fly safe in the air, we certainly are not doing more now than we did before 9/11. I am flying with my family in just a few weeks and am praying that the shutdown ends before then, because I really am afraid of flying now. Maintenance and inspection of airplanes has NOTHING to do with the government shut down. Huh. The FAA says otherwise, but what do they know? www.faa.gov/about/safety_efficiency/
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kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
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Post by kibblesandbits on Jan 25, 2019 12:21:41 GMT
Well, PARDON ME. (sez Steve Martin) Airlines are responsible for their own maintenance and flight inspections - meaning that the employees are paid by the airlines. It could be that we are both right?
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Post by elaine on Jan 25, 2019 12:28:34 GMT
Well, PARDON ME. (sez Steve Martin) Airlines are responsible for their own maintenance and flight inspections - meaning that the employees are paid by the airlines. It could be that we are both right? Yes. The FAA sets the standards and schedules for airplane maintenance and oversee them to ensure they are met (just like the FDA does for food safety), and that isn’t happening during the shutdown. Just like the shutdown is making food less safe because of the FDA workers not being paid, air travel/planes are less safe because of the FAA workers not being paid. I’m a little surprised how many people aren’t aware of this - you weren’t the only one to make the claim on this thread.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 10:41:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2019 15:24:43 GMT
Losing more inertia:
It's a temporary halt. But it will get worse. Every day. Inertia only will carry the car so far after you put on the brakes.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jan 25, 2019 15:41:42 GMT
and today is only a Friday... just wait until next Monday, or a much higher-volume business travel day!
and the Superbowl is what- only two weeks away, basically? LOTS of potential for a HUGE travel $$$ loss THERE, for sure.
from the linked Bloomberg article "The FAA halt of flights into LaGuardia confirms rising risks for U.S. airlines' 1Q results. Flight and security delays will reduce demand for air travel, and that's going to require discounts to attract passengers. Profit and margin pain will follow."
^^^ THAT will very quickly start to affect the airlines' bottom lines- which should (hopefully) start something that Congress (Mitch McConnell, I'm looking at you! safely tucked away in your turtle shell...) can't ignore. Since the threat of lost campaign money is apparently the only thing Congressional Republicans will listen to.
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