Frightened for my son who is flying home on the holidays

[erinlough]

I can't believe I'm worried about this. He is coming home on the 23rd and with this shooting and the change in procedures on the 22nd I have called him to talk about how to act on an American airplane so he doesn't get shot or arrested. Some of the things I have told him: pull your hair back so they don't get nervous because it is long, don't crack jokes (as you are prone to do) because flying is no longer a joking matter, cover your tatoos because they might single you out for them, don't fight with your partner in the line or on the plane as it might get you killed, and try to look short and small because a 230lb 6'6" tatooed man might be reason for the air marshalls to fire. Shit what a world we live in now.

[malaise]

1. If as it is rumoured that the man

was indeed bipolar, should mentally ill persons on medication stay away from aircraft. By the time these lunatics are finished no one will travel anywhere.

[Ilsa]

2. Wear conservative clothing.

Answer every question with "mam" or "sir" or other respectful language.

My SO shaved off his beard after he had to start travelling again after 9-11.

[catmother]

3. i think your advice is good. you can't be too careful. n/t

[LisaM]

4. What change in procedures?

I'm flying on the 22nd.

[erinlough]

5. NPR reported that .....

scissors and some tools will be allowed and that random searches will be conducted rather than everyone (taking their shoes off for instance) and that padding down will be done on the full body if you are searched, this is the part I warned him about. Previously they only padded down the torso and now it will be legs and crotch and arms as well. I didn't want him to protest the full body padding.

[HEyHEY]

6. You're never gonna see him again

Chances are he's gonna be hauled of to Gitmo as soon as they lay eyes on him. Then.... THEY'RE COMING AFTER YOU!!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

8. Not funny!

It's a parent's job to worry!

[erinlough]

20. Somewhat funny......

that you should mention them coming after me I always wonder if I will be on the no-fly list because of activism and letters I write to my congressmen.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

7. You know, I wouldn't worry too much

(as a mother I know that is useless to tell you)

But I don't think tattoos are part of the profiling they are looking for. Not for problems on an airliner. Now, just general harassment at the mall, yeah. My son in law has a lot of tattoos.

[erinlough]

21. I hate the tats, but came to the realization that it's his body.....

and he hasn't changed because of them. I just don't think I will ever understand the desire to get them. Thanks for the support.

[bammertheblue]

9. Every time I enter an airport

I have this insane dialogue in my head that says, "Don't say anything bad, don't say anything bad". So last time I was in one, what did I say? "I have to pee so bad I think I'm going to explode!" Luckily I wasn't loud, because that's not the type of thing I like to announce in public, but my boyfriend turned to me and said "Maybe you shouldn't say explode in the airport". How silly it is that we can't even talk normally in airports anymore.

[ucmike]

10. don't be worried.

one air marshal shot one possibly deranged and threatening man. have you ever heard of an air marshal shooting anyone else for any reason? by your line of thinking, we are all at risk, because regular police shoot people every day for any assortment of reasons legit or otherwise.

this is an isolated incident, not a pattern, not a new policy, not some dark machination of the bush admin.

100,000's of flyers made it home today without being irrationally gunned down by trigger happy, maniacal air marshals, looking to gun down long hairs or tattooed people.

he shouldn't crack jokes, but that was in effect before today, and anyone with any common sense should be aware that no one is kidding about airline security anymore.

i would personally be more worried about being killed in the parking lot of our regional airport by criminals trying to steal my car than by the thousands of air marshals who apparently fly everyday without incident. in fact, no one even seems to know they're there.

what i got from this incident is that there are actual trained law enforcement officers working to protect plane loads of people from lunatics on their flights. first time in a while that i was reassured about a security situation in this country.

[erinlough]

19. I'm glad you have so much confidence...

I however have a drunk of a brother-in-law who thinks he personally keeps the local airport safe. He got hired in the change after 911 and he is a zero who had little training to be security at that airport and certainly never had an alcohol check. In a perfect world, yes, all the air marshalls would have good judgement. I am not confident that is the case.

My son won't cause any problem that should be trouble, it is not in him. I think it is a fallacy that the shooting of a mentally ill man makes me more safe, but we can disagree.

:)

[dolo amber]

11. As long as he doesn't shout "I've got a bomb!!"

then ignore the Air Marshalls' orders, I think he should be fine...

:eyes:

[asthmaticeog]

12. Of course, if he HAS one, he should probably keep that info to himself.

:freak:

[Fenris]

13. Does your son usually shout things and behave erratically on planes?

If so, he might consider taking the short airplane.

[dolo amber]

15. !!

:spray:

[erinlough]

22. Nice snarky comment. nt

[Ioo]

14. Relax, a million people fly a day... he will be fine...

[NVMojo]

16. good advice. I just flew on Delta and almost got my fecking head ripped

off by two stewardesses who got pissed at me for having my Ipod on before takeoff. Seems I had an issue with understanding that my Ipod is an electronic device that can interfere with the plane. I'm still wondering why and how come I got singled out and yelled at because they saw my earplugs in?? Ipods, like my mini, are battery powered and don't send out wireless electronic waves.

So much for trying to tune out the idiots and their stupid crap demonstration in case of crash ...

So be careful, you can be totally innocent and these bankrupt airlines are desperate right now...

[alarimer]

17. That is a stupid rule anyway

I've never understood it. I think they just like to fuck with people (the passengers). Airlines and their personnel treat passengers like shit. I fucking hate flying for that reason alone- snotty airline personnel.

[Lex]

18. Most importantly tell him not to joke about or mention WEAPONS

in any way. Bombs, guns, knives, etc.

That's more important than covering tattoos, imho.

[SPKrazy]

23. You should worry more about him driving home from work!

For God's sake

Is the OP serious?

[erinlough]

24. Welcome southpawkicker

I'm not kidding, just expressing an opinion. That's what we do here.