Hi kimmij, welcome aboard!
It is very easy for those of us that have been passengers for 35 years (and enjoy it!) to say, "Don't worry". If only it were that easy!
Last weekend, a woman expressed concern about flying and only social protocol at the time prevented me from saying, "You want to lower your mortality risk? Stop travelling in motor cars, either as a passenger or driver."
One example, if an airline has had a crash - then it is probably the BEST time to fly with them, as everyone is going to be on their toes!
With regards to kerb side check-in. That is, in my opinion, going to have very little saftey implication at all.
My personal view is this: Since no one thought of this idea before (using the plane as a flying bomb) it is unlikely that anybody else is planning it right now. If they start planning it, they will have to be even more careful than the first lot and it will take them well over a year to be ready.
IF this mob had more pilots ready - I think that they would have deployed them on the day, as the reaction of the USA was predictible.
THEREFORE, no problem to fly!
Lastly, in those 35 years and nearly 1,000 sectors (eg Phili to London non-stop is one sector) I have NEVER had an emergency.
NEVER had an aborted take off.
NEVER had an aborted landing (a Go Round).
NEVER had the captain tell us of a single problem (i.e. might have had them but none that they had to bother us with!)
NEVER lost cabin pressure.
NEVER had to divert to another airport because of a technical problem.
etcetera!!
Do ask any other questions that you might have!
[ 01 October 2001: Message edited by: PAXboy ]