Today marks 24 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a day that changed not just the United States but global aviation forever. For those of us who travel frequently, the impact remains visible every time we step into an airport.
Before 9/11, flying was a very different experience. Family members could walk with you to the gate, security was quick and relatively unobtrusive, and the notion of fortified cockpit doors or removing shoes at screening was unheard of. Air travel felt more open, almost casual, compared to the highly regulated, security-heavy environment we now take for granted.
I was young when 9/11 happened, but I still remember the eerie silence of the skies in the days that followed and the shift in how we thought about flying. The innocence of boarding a plane without much worry never really returned. For the traveling public, that sense of freedom has been replaced with a permanent sense of fear.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
