Charter Flight Websites / Services?

X86Daddy asks: "TSA's latest announcement banning all fluids (toothpaste even) from carry-on luggage is the icing on a very sour cake. Many passengers are growing tired of the invasive security screenings, the increasing prices, lost and stolen luggage, and the decreasing quality of service with commercial flights in the United States. However, given the geographical size of this country and the lack of rail options, flight remains the only practical method of travel for most destinations. Can anyone suggest alternative flight services? Are there websites that connect Cessna or other small scale air charter services with interested passengers? I've found CharterX and CharterHub but they seem more geared toward executives looking for jets. Does anyone have experience traveling this way? Is the price point a lot higher, making this a dumb idea (just resign myself to buying toiletries at every destination and prepare for the mandatory anal probes in '07)?"

Somewhere somehow...

[clear_thought_05]

... I know that B.A. Baracus is happy.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Ummmm

[guisar]

Doesn't the Government work for us? (Rhetorical question). It was interesting to hear our Attorney General at the press conference- the ernest docent, trying to convince us they were doing their very best to keep us informed and that all of this was for our safety. It's ridiculous.

I wonder if who's going to test suckling womens brests?

Re:Reactionary much?

[WilliamSChips]

You never actually get to see the G-man for more than a few seconds except at the end of the game.

Standard TSA question

[eclectro]

Are you glad to see me or is that a tube of toothpaste in your pocket that you're gonna use to blow the plane??

Re:Impressive FAA stupidity.

[Digital_Quartz]

It's a little known fact that 4 out of 5 people killed with nail scissors in the U.S. are killed not by someone else's nail scissors, but by their own [google.ca].

The problem is, of course, that people are not properly trained in nail scissor use. People think that carrying nail scissors is a way to protect their nails, but they don't understand that those same nail scissors can be turned against them, if they are not prepared to use them when a dreaded hang-nail rears its ugly head.

Re:I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

[LindseyJ]

Next attack attempt: regular old martial arts Response: Seats eliminated; all passengers shall be assigned a sealed 3' x 3' x 8' pen and will be locked in for duration of flight.

Woah... my own personal sealed space where I don't have to sit next to the 500lb ape who has never heard of deoderant, and I don't have to listen to some jackass's brat screaming the whole way there?

Count me in!

Re:Or...

[punkass]

Wow, what do you do when they say they're going to take a shit, Semantics Man?

Re:Why you need to join AOPA if you're a pilot

[Eric Smith]

They've been a constant voice against GA (General Aviation) paranoia (ie "someone's going to steal a Cessna and smash it into a Nu-cle-ar power plant!")

You spelled that wrong. They say it "nuc-you-lar". (I'm not making this up.)

Re:Which side are you on?

[pipingguy]

Someone save us. Please. 2/3ds of American citizens need your help.

We have like 28 tanks and 431 snowmobiles ready to rush across the border at various points. Please pull the power plugs from your military bases and all will go OK, eh. Can you wait until there is a good snow pack before we proceed?

Re:The future of air travel in the US

[rubycodez]

I've seen a guy like that getting on Air Force One, maybe they better check him out

Wrong perspective

[slidersv]

You just don't see their point of view. Remember how in doom in case of death you appeared at the beginning of the level with just the basic weapons? It was really pain in the behind if it was something like that "spider/fiery fat guys" square level, because you didn't have anything to find with. In the near future flights will be something like loosing your life in doom, only ADVANCED: In every single place (level) you woud have to get completely new identity: new wife, new job, new kids, new college degree etc.

Re:Which side are you on?

[Anonymous Coward]

That's an idiotic approach to security. As Bruce Schneier pointed out, "be glad that Richard Reid wasn't known as the 'Underwear Bomber'."

I know, I know, you'll say, "there is no right to wear underwear on an airplane."

Re:Or...

[k_187]

I ask where they're taking it and tell them to use gloves.

Re:Which side are you on?

[idontgno]

My mistake, I had confused freedom of travel as being about direct or indirect prohibitions on travelling. I had not appreicated the necessary connection with access to personal hygiene and grooming products.

That doesn't speak well of the value you put on personal hygiene, then, does it?