Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 Dear Bonnie, As I told you last night my husband flies on Monday too, and he flies all the time, and he's a little aprehensive, which surprised me. He's mostly concerned about delays, since he too has multiple flights to get to New Orleans.I think this trip under good circumstances could be rough on you, so I think good planning must be done if you want to proceed. First call your airline, and get all the necessary help you need to get to the flight. To get through security might be a long wait, might consider a folding stool to sit so you aren't standing, especially for your San Fran part of the journey on the way back, they can check it at the gate like they do baby strollers. You can get drinks once you are past security, and keep it with you till you board, just not bottled ones, from what I understand in cups like from Mc s. You'll probably have to pitch that when boarding but inform the stewardess you have medical issues and need water for med's once you are up. Boy this brings back memories, I had to plan this all out when I couldn't walk far, and the Denver airport means walking, walking, walking! Also know that the security machines will be more sensitive with the heightened terror level, so be sure to bring your card saying you have surgically inplanted metal, I always set the machine off at the higher terror level, so add a half hour onto security, since they will have to wand you. Also remember my hardware is Stainless Steel, and if you have titanium, you might not set it off, but I sure do at the higher terror levels. Hope hubby is going with you too, would be really hard by yourself. I look at Carla going home ten days after surgery by herself and with a six year old and a layover, and she did it. You just have to decide if the trip is worth the added planning or if waiting would be better, and it's a personal choice. I doubt the terror level will go down soon, probably will be this way until after 9/11. And I think these resrictions on fluids on a plane will be with us forever. Such is the world we live in. P.S. If you go soak in some of that California sun for me, I miss my home state, and when I went out in February for my Grandmothers funeral it rained the whole time!! [ ] travel Hi Everyone, I need advice. I am going nuts trying to decide whether to keep my travel plans. I am way post revision, with severe piriformis and SI Joint problems, aches, burning, etc, on cymbalta, oxycontin and ambien and I normally keep a bottle of water with me at all times. We are supposed to leave home next Tuesday, 2 hour drive to Raleigh, NC, stay overnight, get to the airport by 8:30 am, fly out 10:00 am EDT, to Chicago, 2 hour layover and then fly from there to San Francisco, arriving 3 pm, which is 6 pm EDT. A very, very long day, even without flight delays. Now, with the terror mess and advice to get to the airport earlier, long delays and who knows what would happen by our return date of Aug 29th, if you were me would you go? This is a family visit trip. Thank you. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 Hi Bonnie, I work for an airline in Charlotte NC and I go through the TSA security check point every day. Here are some of the things I can think of that you might need to know -You will have to remove your shoes even if they are thin flip flops. What a great reason to go and get a pedicure! TSA was really making a point of telling everyone this. I wear sneakers to work but since I am an employee, I never had to take my shoes off before. That all changed on Thursday. Employees now have to take off their shoes too. I saw an elderly woman with slippers on and she had to take them off, so wear shoes that are easy for you to take on and off quickly because no one is happy about the extra time this is all taking and you might have some stupid people grumbling or worse, pushing past you. -You will not be allowed to take water or liquids either in an unopened bottle or cup through security. If you purchase anything to drink once you get through to what is called the sterile area, you must either finish it or ditch it before you board. You will not be allowed to bring it on with you. But that is an easy fix just like said. Just tell the flight attendant that you need water for medical reasons and tell her how much you will need. Don't be shy. It is your right as a passenger to ask for water and it is their job to help you out to the best of their ability. Believe me there is always plenty of bottled water onboard. -My rod and hardware is stainless, and I do not set off any alarms at any security level. I never have. Never really thought about it either since it's never happened I guess. That is usually the one question folks ask me too. " do you set off the alarms at the airport? " I don't have a card, but maybe I should. Thanks for saying that. I would never have thought about it. So as far as alarms go, I guess it's whatever your experiences have been. If you do get pulled aside for additional screening, be calm and explain your situation and be sure to communicate that you will comply with their requests to the best of your physical ablilty. I have found TSA to be understanding of medical situations. Their attitude towards people is usually related to how you treat them. Smiles work wonders when everyone is stressesd out. -Give your carry-on and purse the once over for liquids and gels. TSA will take them and they make sure everyone sees them taking things away from passengers. I saw toothpaste, creams, lotions, some sort of spray bottle with water(?) in it, hand sanitizer, massage oil, make-up, perfume, shaving cream, mouthwash and some other things like that in buckets at the TSA security check point. So a quick check of your things will not only spare you having to give up something, but it will speed up the whole experience too. I agree with about having some sort of travel chair so that you can rest when and where you want to. The airports are even more crowded than ususal because passengers are getting to the airport earlier and earlier thinking the lines for security will be very long. So clogs form in lines and once through security, seating is hit or miss in some places. It's time for college students to get back to school and the loads are heavy this time of year. Plus youth truely is wasted on the young and students just don't seem to think of airline travel as something you have to plan. They miss their flights most of the time and end up hanging around the airport waiting for the next available to their destination. In my experience that means plenty of 20 somethings sleeping across rows of chairs or on the floor in front of a row of empty chairs. Ah yes, there is our future! LOL!! They are just kids and don't think about things. You might have to walk a long distance to your gate too. At check in if you would like, request an electric cart to get you there. I am pretty sure they have them in Raliegh and I am certain that O'Hare and San Fran has them too. Just ask the agent at check in or even at the gate to put it in your record that you will need assistance all the way through and back again. Some airlines give you a sticker to wear. You do not have to wear it if you do not want to. Some folks like to wear it because they feel that they will not be forgotten about and others do not want to wear it because of the attention it draws. Do not let them tell you that you have to wear it if you don't want to. It is against the law for them to do so. Now of course if you do not need or want the assistance that is ok too. Whatever you feel comfortable with. Just wanted to pass along insider information that might be helpful as it were. Anyway Bonnie, I hope your trip is a good one and I look forward to hearing all about it when you get home. -Joanie > > Hi Everyone, > > I need advice. > > I am going nuts trying to decide whether to keep my travel plans. I am way post revision, with severe piriformis and SI Joint problems, aches, burning, etc, on cymbalta, oxycontin and ambien and I normally keep a bottle of water with me at all times. We are supposed to leave home next Tuesday, 2 hour drive to Raleigh, NC, stay overnight, get to the airport by 8:30 am, fly out 10:00 am EDT, to Chicago, 2 hour layover and then fly from there to San Francisco, arriving 3 pm, which is 6 pm EDT. A very, very long day, even without flight delays. Now, with the terror mess and advice to get to the airport earlier, long delays and who knows what would happen by our return date of Aug 29th, if you were me would you go? This is a family visit trip. > > Thank you. > > Bonnie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 I would go. I went to Chicago over this past weekend and didn't have any problems at all with the airports or security!Bonnie <bonnie@...> wrote: Hi Everyone, I need advice. I am going nuts trying to decide whether to keep my travel plans. I am way post revision, with severe piriformis and SI Joint problems, aches, burning, etc, on cymbalta, oxycontin and ambien and I normally keep a bottle of water with me at all times. We are supposed to leave home next Tuesday, 2 hour drive to Raleigh, NC, stay overnight, get to the airport by 8:30 am, fly out 10:00 am EDT, to Chicago, 2 hour layover and then fly from there to San Francisco, arriving 3 pm, which is 6 pm EDT. A very, very long day, even without flight delays. Now, with the terror mess and advice to get to the airport earlier, long delays and who knows what would happen by our return date of Aug 29th, if you were me would you go? This is a family visit trip. Thank you. Bonnie Stay in the know. Pulse on the new .com. Check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 My family is horrified that we may be taking a trip to Costa Rica, without being vaccinated. Any comments? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 What are they horrified for, you are the ones traveling :-O Just kidding. Anyway, my daughter went to Mexico, and we checked into tetanus for her. Back then, I wasn't too concerned about the others, but was still under the influence of the tetanus fear mongers. So, we asked a friend who also had a daughter going on the trip and was a physician. He wasn't concerned that she needed one, and his wife, the nurse, told me because of the shortage of vaccine, only those at high risk were even being given it. Basically, if you are healthy and clean your chances of catching anything are pretty slim. And, if you are vaccinated (as I stated in a previous post) you are more at risk. It was because we contracted a disease we were supposedly vaccinated against, that we started investigating the necessity of vaccination in the first place. P. Arias wrote: > > My family is horrified that we may be taking a trip to Costa Rica, > without being vaccinated. Any comments? Thanks, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 I don't think Illinois has yellow fever, right? What precautions for Hep A? On Sep 30, 2008, at 11:33 AM, happietrout wrote: > If you're coming from an area in the Americas that has yellow fever, > that vaccine is required in order to be allowed entrance into Costa > Rica. Otherwise, it's completely up to you. I only know one person who > contracted uncomplicated malaria while travelling, and they recovered. > But most travelers I know got the recommended jabs. I think typhoid is > caused by salmonella, so as long as you take all the right > precautions, that shouldn't be a worry. Hep A... again, precautions. > There's just not as much you can do to prevent malaria, but I don't > know what the risk level is in Costa Rica. What are the disease rates > and risks? > > > > > > My family is horrified that we may be taking a trip to Costa Rica, > > without being vaccinated. Any comments? Thanks, > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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