Has anyone flown since the attempted terrorist attack?

Ive heard on the news that there are all kinds of new restrictions until they sort this all out.  On some flights passengers were told they could not leave their seats for the last hour of their flight.  I have trouble enough flying and that includes a bathroom break right before landing and take off.  I also take immodium to fly but that makes me peeeeeeeee a ton which still involves getting up.  I have had really good luck w/ just letting flight attendants know my condition and that I might have to get up even if the seat belt sign is on.  I then sit near the bathroom too.  But, I don't know what discretion they have once it is a TSA mandate and if I could get in serious trouble for actually getting up in that so called critical hour.  I have heard rumors that it is just on incoming international flights but that really doesn't make sense either.

After 9/11 I was on one flight to DC that required us to remain seated the last half hour before landing.  I was nervous but did it ok.  An hour is a whole other ball of wax.  I am flying cross country again in February and really hope this is all worked out by then.  I am going to call and ask the airline right before and ask the gate agent if I can speak to the flight crew before the flight.  However, that alone may look suspicious.  As a blue eyed blonde it looks a little less suspicious in person but I would hate to be flagged for extra screening based on the phone call alone.  Ugh.

I would have thought the "Can't Wait" card would do in this situation wouldn't it? Or maybe a doctors not confirming urgent need for toilet, no harm in asking beforehand I wouldn't have thought. I'm sure they'd be confident they could keep an eye on one exceptional case having to stand and move during that final hour.

Oh boy. Now I'm freaking out. I'm flying in just under 2 weeks. Two very long flights. Now I'm going to be nervous until I land for my vacation, but on a positive for you Fitzy, I can tell you how things go before your flight!

In addition to checking with the airline, you might consider calling the TSA just before your trip. I had to do this once when I lost my photo ID while on a business trip. They were helpful in figuring out what I could use to identify myself and be allowed through the screening.

I'd suggest you not assume that explaining to the attendant why you have to get up during the restricted time will be okay. Some of them can be very rigid in how they enforce the rules, and if you argue with them you can be arrested - even if you're in the right!

I am negative :-(
This rule is evidently designed for security. If anything from doctors can be a permit to bathroom, then not only UC patients but others can get it, which means the rule does nothing... I have ever taken a 12-hour flight with moderate flare (6-8 times bathroom a day). What I did was to have more food the day before flight and less food on the day flight. This can reduce some 'solid' stool. I went to restroom whenever possible/ready at airport and on plane. Also, I put toilet paper in underwear. I saw some posts here saying nappy/sanitary towel is good as well. But I like toilet paper because it does not draw attention. Can you imagine a guy taking sanitary towel to restroom several times

Take 'enough' underwears and pants; make your package as small as possible so that you can run. Do not make your transition tight so as to change underwears if necessary. Last but not least, I often train/tell myself to not feel shy with wet pants no matter how others look at me...

Is it even really legal to tell somebody that they cannot use the bathroom?

If you gotta go, you GOTTA go. And forcing those of us with illness to poop in our pants is an outrage. They should put a guard by the toilet and treat us like humans.

I wrote the TSA today. I will let you know the response.

Dear TSA:

I am writing you today to ask that you have provisions in place to accommodate passengers with digestive disorders or other conditions that require urgent use of a restroom. After the attempted terrorist attack on 12/25, I heard that passengers on incoming flights were prohibited from getting out of their seats during the last hour of the flight. According to FAA regulations, once a flight lands, a passenger can not leave their seat until the plane has safely "parked" at the gate. This could mean passengers are not allowed out of their seat for an hour and a half to two hours in some cases.

I have Crohn's disease which is a painful digestive disorder that causes urgent and at times frequent trips to the restroom. When I fly I take medication to minimize the chance of flaring in flight. However, that medication has the side effect of causing frequent urination. Many people suffer from a variety of maladies that would prohibit them from sitting for an hour without using the restroom. Even if they experience this problem only occasionally, they will certainly face high anxiety in a situation such as this. It is hard enough for people with these conditions to wait in line for security screenings. I have had to ask someone to hold my place in line while I step out to use the restroom.

I visited your website and your section on disabilities to see if there were any accommodations for this situation in flight. I did not see any. Digestive disorders are afforded protection under the ADA as controlling one's bladder and bowels is considered a major life function. People with such conditions often have cards from support organizations or from doctors identifying their need to use a bathroom urgently. Please write your policies in such a way so that this need will be respected and that airline staff will have discretion to allow a passenger to use the restroom if they urgently need to do so regardless of where they are in flight. No one wants to sit next to a passenger who has had an accident and no passenger wants to be put in the position where they may be forced to go to the bathroom in their pants.

On all my flights I have encountered excellent flight attendants who allowed me to use the restroom as needed, even if the seatbelt sign was on. This, however, was due to turbulence and not security mandates. Please advise me how people in my situation will be treated under the current mandates and please advise me what if anything I need to bring on a trip to prove my medical need.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

XXXXXXX
PS: For more information on Crohn's and colitis, please see www.ccfa.org.

Brilliant, Fitzy! You're wonderful. I'm so glad you did this.

I wonder if you should also forward a copy to your CCFA? I really am surprised that they didn't immediately speak up about this. Aren't they supposed to act as advocates for people with IBD?

I have an international flight coming up in March. I did the same thing as the previous post--emailed TSA about the new regulations. Although, my email was not as eloquent as the one here--I feel we should bombard them with emails stating our concerns. This is the only way we'll get the proper care on a flight.

I took your advice and sent a copy to the CCFA.  Zanne, the CCFA gives out cards with memberships and also gives out cards when trying to get people to renew their membership.  I bet if you call the CCFA they could hook you up quickly.  That said, I don't know if the card would hold much weight at all.  Most people have never heard of them.  I'm sure you would still have to explain yourself but that might just give you a little more credence.

Excellent Fitzy - thank you for representing all of us.

j_web said...
Excellent Fitzy - thank you for representing all of us.

+1 :)

Thanks Brit Tuck. Hong Kong! That sounds fun. What were you doing there? Are you still in law school?

I received a response from the CCFA but none from the TSA. The CCFA basically restated what was on their webpage and then said that their mission is to raise funds for research and to find a cure. They will do advocacy to help IBD patients get access to healthcare and regarding insurance issues and access to medication but at this time they can not spend resources on this issue and they are relying on individuals to write letters to bring awareness. They also recommended writing our legislatures but I'm not sure how much that would actually help.