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I am curious about FReepers and people in general who have stopped flying after 9-11. I wonder what percentage of them flew very often (if at all) before 9-11. I really hate the security hassle, but I find myself flying still 5 or 6 times a year.

Did you fly a lot before 9-11? I can't drive to all the places I want to go, and even with video conferencing I still have to fly business once or twice. Plus the reserves will send me some where at least once.

I was not a frequent flyer, maybe once or twice a year or so.

For someone like me, who doesn't fly often, the added indignity, time, and waving my right to being free of random searches just isn't worth it.

The extra hours of thumb twiddling at the airport translate directly into added range in driving. Plus, if I drive I have wheels at the other end!

My drive has never been delayed. And my car has never lied to me about a delay. It doesn't treat me like an inconvenience. I can get out and walk around any time, the seat is big enough, and it fully reclines. I get better food, and have a wide varity of places to eat. I don't have to pay for headphones to listen to music, I can pick from scores of stations, or listen to any tape I choose. I don't have to turn off my cell phone.

And it's cheaper!

Initially I flew a lot less since 9/11. In fact, I drove to Alabama (from Massachusetts) a couple years ago to avoid it. But about a year ago, I discovered the airport in Manchester, NH which is much closer to my house than Logan in Boston. That airport is a breeze to use, in and out with no hassle, and Southwest operates out of there, which is even a bigger plus.

I used to hate flying 737s (that Southwest uses) but since 9/11, I would be more nervous getting on a widebody. This 7E7 looks like a real nice plane though. I'm planning a trip to Hawaii in 2009 and maybe I'll take my inaugural flight on one of these then.

BTW, as a sidebar, some might wonder why I am choosing 2009 to fly to Hawaii. Well, ever since the first state quarter came out in 1999, I have been hoarding them. I vowed back then that I would save every state quarter I come across and by the time the last one came out in 2009 (which happens to be Hawaii), I would have enough to take my wife there on a two-week vacation. Everybody laughed at first, but I already have nearly $2,000 in state quarters saved up. So it looks like we'll going first class.