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Posted
4 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

If I saw those lines at the airport, I would turn around and go home. If it was a work trip, I would tell everyone involved that the airport is essentially close and let's schedule a online meeting.

Clients have cancelled all travel. Smart move. 

Posted

I was supposed to travel on Wed to be at a wedding.  My daughter was going to be the flower girl, and one of my boys was going to come with us.   I am hovering over the cancel button.  This fucking sucks.   I can't drive 18 hours straight anymore and even if I could, that wouldn't fucking work for this shitshow.   I know once I cancel it, TACO will fold.  But if I don't.....  

Posted
1 minute ago, Nivek said:

I was supposed to travel on Wed to be at a wedding.  My daughter was going to be the flower girl, and one of my boys was going to come with us.   I am hovering over the cancel button.  This fucking sucks.   I can't drive 18 hours straight anymore and even if I could, that wouldn't fucking work for this shitshow.   I know once I cancel it, TACO will fold.  But if I don't.....  

Go to the airport Tuesday? I kid, sort of. 

Posted
2 hours ago, Tuco said:

I'm flying SeaTac to a small city in Texas, connecting DEN on the way there and DFW on the way back.  I'm bringing lots of snacks, a bottle to fill with water, dressing in layers, etc..  Calling it an adventure.  (And I've told my wife that I plan on working until I'm 78, in case that comes up in a damages calculation...worst case scenario.) 

Flying SEA-ORD Friday, ORD-SAN Monday; no news on any abnormal delays yet. Still planning on going but definitely paying close attention. 

Posted
16 minutes ago, Nivek said:

I was supposed to travel on Wed to be at a wedding.  My daughter was going to be the flower girl, and one of my boys was going to come with us.   I am hovering over the cancel button.  This fucking sucks.   I can't drive 18 hours straight anymore and even if I could, that wouldn't fucking work for this shitshow.   I know once I cancel it, TACO will fold.  But if I don't.....  

What's the next closest airport? Depending on where someone is in Houston, maybe it could be faster to catch the flight out of Beaumont or BCS, and have the return flight back into Houston. 

For those with Clear, there's an additional service called Clear Concierge. It's listed as meeting you at the curb and walking you through security. I wonder if they even bypass the normal Clear line, or just walk you to the back of the line. I wouldn't normally buy this, but $100 might be worth it.

Posted
4 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

What's the next closest airport? Depending on where someone is in Houston, maybe it could be faster to catch the flight out of Beaumont or BCS, and have the return flight back into Houston. 

For those with Clear, there's an additional service called Clear Concierge. It's listed as meeting you at the curb and walking you through security. I wonder if they even bypass the normal Clear line, or just walk you to the back of the line. I wouldn't normally buy this, but $100 might be worth it.

IAH and my return is from Ft. Lauderdale.  to MIA and PBI were alternatives but I cannot imagine any of them being less of a shitshow.  PBI would be the better alternative but for old people.  

Posted (edited)

for you folks flying out of Houston IAH, here's thread on Reddit with updates. Looks like the shitshow has diminished, mostly?. 

 
 

Update 11/3 12 pm

Just went through security at terminal E. Precheck line took about 25-30 minutes all in. Regular line looked to be 2-2.5 hours. It was snaked all the way to close to the entrance but it didn't go outside. I gave myself way more time than needed but I would rather chill in the terminal than miss my flight.

 

 
 

I just got through the general boarding line in less than 10 minutes at 12:30. Don’t know why there was no line today? Yesterday I was in the line for 1.5 hours at 5pm and didn’t even get close to the checkpoint, missed my flight

Edited by crash_davis
Posted

Just got a call from a rep who works on my team, hes stuck in a long TSA line and is now renting car to drive the 6 hours to Jackson,MS to work for a couple days.

 

Incidentally, I flew out of Austin yesterday morning to New Orleans.  My flight was 8:55AM.  My spidey senses were peaked with the govt shutdown and i was anticipating problems.  With the time change, i was up at 5AM (one reason i like 11am games) and decided to Uber to the airport before 6AM.

Of course, no issues at all when you have time!?  As it turns out there was a 6:30 AM to New Orleans so i hopped on the early flight.  There were literally 10 other passengers on the SW flight.  Travel Gods were with me this time.  Thank goodness.  

 

Hope they get this mess cleaned up soon.

Posted

CNN reporting Austin is short staffed. Glad my brother flew out at 5:15 this AM. Of course his flight got delayed in Miami heading south. Oh well, he gets 45 days in the Caribbean so he is good. 

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, InkaUtexas said:

CNN reporting Austin is short staffed. Glad my brother flew out at 5:15 this AM. Of course his flight got delayed in Miami heading south. Oh well, he gets 45 days in the Caribbean so he is good. 

I had three friends flying out of Austin---two on Sunday around 11 a.m., and the other at 1 p.m.  No delays or SNAFUs reported for these three going to New York, Chicago, and Denver on Delta, American, and SW respectively. 

Edited by dcbc
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Posted (edited)
5 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

Well, I was figuring there are directs from FRA and LHR to CDMX.  But yeah, even a connection from there to Monterrey gets em pretty close.  The other challenge is finding flights that don't transit through the US.

That's right.  Need to look at travel that takes us to and from more stable, functional countries.  Like Mexico.

We are rapidly becoming a fascist failed state.

We flew from CDMX to Barcelona and back a few weeks ago.  Was easy peasy.  Getting to and from the CDMX airport, OTOH, is not for the faint of heart.

Edited by Chewbacca
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Posted
2 hours ago, crash_davis said:

for you folks flying out of Houston IAH, here's thread on Reddit with updates. Looks like the shitshow has diminished, mostly?. 

 
 

Update 11/3 12 pm

Just went through security at terminal E. Precheck line took about 25-30 minutes all in. Regular line looked to be 2-2.5 hours. It was snaked all the way to close to the entrance but it didn't go outside. I gave myself way more time than needed but I would rather chill in the terminal than miss my flight.

 

 
 

I just got through the general boarding line in less than 10 minutes at 12:30. Don’t know why there was no line today? Yesterday I was in the line for 1.5 hours at 5pm and didn’t even get close to the checkpoint, missed my flight

Literally zoomed through security in 3 minutes with clear. Feels like it was overblown but whatever. I’m driving to Houston next week, just to be safe.

Posted
Just now, Vegas64 said:

Literally zoomed through security in 3 minutes with clear. Feels like it was overblown but whatever. I’m driving to Houston next week, just to be safe.

There are videos of probably a thousand people in TSA line but sure, it's overblow. Just be thankful you went through a day after the shitshow.

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Posted
5 hours ago, South Austin said:

Fucking hell.  I don't have to fly until an El Paso work trip in mid-December.  Hope this fuckery is finished by then.  I don't want to drive 8+ hours to El Paso.

FWIW, we made the drive from Houston this summer for a road trip to California. Not sure if you've ever made it before, but I hadn't. At least big chunks of it are scenic. I'd absolutely take a bus. 

Posted
4 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

FWIW, we made the drive from Houston this summer for a road trip to California. Not sure if you've ever made it before, but I hadn't. At least big chunks of it are scenic. I'd absolutely take a bus. 

Hell, no. Houston to El Paso in a bus is ~14 hours... on a bus.

Posted
3 minutes ago, South Austin said:

That sounds awful.

There are plenty of luxury buses out there. I've never been on one, and have no idea if they travel to El Paso. But they exist. Tornados seem not bad.

I'd rather read a book all day and look out the window than drive myself. YMMV. 

1 minute ago, Slacks said:

Hell, no. Houston to El Paso in a bus is ~14 hours... on a bus.

Well, for starter's, he's in Austin. It says it's 9 hours on the one bus site I looked up. 

Posted

When my wife was a poor college student, she used to take the bus to go back home to visit her parents and friends.  From her terrible stories, you couldn't pay me to take one.  I can't imagine they've gotten any better over the last 20 years.

Posted
20 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

There are plenty of luxury buses out there. I've never been on one, and have no idea if they travel to El Paso. But they exist. Tornados seem not bad.

I'd rather read a book all day and look out the window than drive myself. YMMV. 

Well, for starter's, he's in Austin. It says it's 9 hours on the one bus site I looked up. 

Marty Robbins woulda taken the bus to El Paso.  Wasn't till later on that he took a plane and wrote El Paso City.

What the FUCK do you have against Marty Robbins, motherfuckers?

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Posted (edited)
3 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Marty Robbins woulda taken the bus to El Paso.  Wasn't till later on that he took a plane and wrote El Paso City.

What the FUCK do you have against Marty Robbins, motherfuckers?

Nothing. I don't even know who the fuck that guy is/was...related to Tony Robbins?

Edited by SydneyCarton
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Posted

I took turimex from oak cliff to Monterrey 2 times a month for 8 months back in the day. Not bad at all unless it’s holiday time at the border 

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Posted
13 minutes ago, Zepol87 said:

I took turimex from oak cliff to Monterrey 2 times a month for 8 months back in the day. Not bad at all unless it’s holiday time at the border 

Yep, Turimex ain't greyhound. 

 

Posted
1 hour ago, SydneyCarton said:

At least big chunks of it are scenic.

What parts are those, the one gas station with the combo Taco Bell/KFC in Ft Stockton?

Posted

I will just add that Austin to El Paso is the singularly worst drive I've ever done in my life, bar none. There's stretches of 10 that are so flat, straight and literally nothing but tumbleweed and rocks that it feels like you aren't moving, the hands on your watch are just spinning around while you sit in place. 

Posted (edited)

Folks on my team are telling me great things about the Vonlane bus to go from Austin to Houston. If airports stay snafu’ed.

Edited by Vegas64
Posted
3 minutes ago, G650 said:

What parts are those, the one gas station with the combo Taco Bell/KFC in Ft Stockton?

I meant the mountains, my man. The towns/stops are truly dreadful. But the mountains are pretty, especially if you're usually driving from Houston to anywhere.  

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Posted
7 minutes ago, G650 said:

I will just add that Austin to El Paso is the singularly worst drive I've ever done in my life, bar none. There's stretches of 10 that are so flat, straight and literally nothing but tumbleweed and rocks that it feels like you aren't moving, the hands on your watch are just spinning around while you sit in place. 

Agreed. Nine hours in the car vs. a direct flight that lands before it took off with the time zone change is a no brainer. 

Posted (edited)
10 minutes ago, G650 said:

I will just add that Austin to El Paso is the singularly worst drive I've ever done in my life, bar none. There's stretches of 10 that are so flat, straight and literally nothing but tumbleweed and rocks that it feels like you aren't moving, the hands on your watch are just spinning around while you sit in place. 

Yeah....so.....grew up with a family ranch in the Chihuahuan desert (mexican side).  I find that country really pretty, and incredibly zen.  My wife is more of a green forest in the mountains girl.  I can walk the desert with a rifle in my hands, just scanning and watching where I step, and I'm at peace.  So, I kinda dig that drive.  It's also conducive to some great playlists, with few hazards to interrupt your reverie. 

But yeah, when I gotta go to EP for work, I fly.

Edited by Brisketexan
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Posted
11 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

It's also conducive to some great playlists, with few hazards to interrupt your reverie. 

You forgot to mention it's 9 fucking hours.

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Posted
10 minutes ago, G650 said:

You forgot to mention it's 9 fucking hours.

I got that.  But see, here's the thing: I'm a Texan, not a pussy.  It was a 14 hour drive to my grandfather's ranch.  9 hours is a pleasant day's journey.  Esp. when it's a straight-shot, most of it with the cruise control pegged at 85+.

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, SydneyCarton said:

FWIW, we made the drive from Houston this summer for a road trip to California. Not sure if you've ever made it before, but I hadn't. At least big chunks of it are scenic. I'd absolutely take a bus. 

 

1 hour ago, South Austin said:

That sounds awful.

 

1 hour ago, Brisketexan said:

Marty Robbins woulda taken the bus to El Paso.  Wasn't till later on that he took a plane and wrote El Paso City.

What the FUCK do you have against Marty Robbins, motherfuckers?

I've done the Vonlane from Dallas to Austin.  Pretty nice way to go, actually (as long as you're not looking at how scary the traffic on 35 is).  WiFi, drinks, leather seats with tons of legroom, etc.  By the time you factor in getting through parking, security, etc. it's not that much different time wise and you get dropped off at the Hyatt downtown.

Edited by DDD Dad
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Posted (edited)
9 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

9 hours is a pleasant day's journey.  Esp. when it's a straight-shot, most of it with the cruise control pegged at 85+.

See, these two sentences can't coexist to me.

 

I mean, I did it as part of driving across the entire United States, and it was singularly memorable for it's awfulness, to this day, 25 years later. For what it's worth I drove 25 hours the day before, Virginia Beach, Virginia, straight to Austin. Left at 9 on a Friday night, got into town 9 on a Saturday. Showered, hit 6th, had my buddy get called a pussy by the hottest bartender I have ever seen for asking for lime with his tequila, sleep a few hours and off to Vegas. So driving many hours doesn't bother me. It was the nature of that area. I'd say it was basically Mars, except for that stretch of Arizona from Kingman on up to the Hoover Dam, which literally looks like Mars and I'm fairly certain the people are actual fucking Martians. 

 

ETA:Also, driving 25 hours. Jesus. Oh to be young again.

Edited by G650
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Posted
10 hours ago, Biff Tannen said:

Ok, you can take the B or the F and switch for the N at Broadway Lafayette, or you can go over the bridge to DeKalb and catch the Q to Atlantic Avenue, then switch to the IRT 2, 3, 4 or 5, but don't get on the G. See that's very tempting, but you wind up on Smith and 9th street, then you got to get on the R.

image.jpeg.2e3b1f6d7136867ca597eb732128c80d.jpeg

 

 

Posted
7 minutes ago, G650 said:

See, these two sentences can't coexist to me.

 

I mean, I did it as part of driving across the entire United States, and it was singularly memorable for it's awfulness, to this day, 25 years later. For what it's worth I drove 25 hours the day before, Virginia Beach, Virginia, straight to Austin. Left at 9 on a Friday night, got into town 9 on a Saturday. Showered, hit 6th, had my buddy get called a pussy by the hottest bartender I have ever seen for asking for lime with his tequila, sleep a few hours and off to Vegas. So driving many hours doesn't bother me. It was the nature of that area. I'd say it was basically Mars, except for that stretch of Arizona from Kingman on up to the Hoover Dam, which literally looks like Mars and I'm fairly certain the people are actual fucking Martians. 

 

ETA:Also, driving 25 hours. Jesus. Oh to be young again.

Yeah, worst drive I ever made included the stretch of I-10 through the Florida panhandle at night.  Pine trees right up to the road, like you're driving through a tunnel the whole way.  Nothing to see, nothing to break things up.  Even the roadside stuff is back in the trees, so you can't even see an occasional yellow glow of a Waffle House sign.  Give me the wide open spaces and desert sky all day long.

And 9 hours of classic country on my playlist, taking me through moods ranging from wanting to get drunk and fight, to tear-filled eyes thinking about my parents, to high-energy Texas swing.  That's the good shit.

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Posted

I20 from Texas to Alabama is another terrible drive.  Nothing but pine trees for a few hundred miles.  We did that one during the height of covid to avoid flying.

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Posted

I know it is the daily mail, but.... 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced new ground delays at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and Dallas Love Field.

The delays are set to last until at least 9pm ET, potentially affecting hundreds of flights at the three airports.

Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) is one of the nation's busiest airports, serving approximately 1,800 flights and connecting over 200 domestic and international destinations.

The ground delay at the major travel hub is set to begin at 6pm and will last until at least 10pm. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15254811/Airports-Texas-travel-nightmare-government-shutdown.html

 

Posted
2 hours ago, Vegas64 said:

Folks on my team are telling me great things about the Vonlane bus to go from Austin to Houston. If airports stay snafu’ed.

Vonlane fucks. 

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