The unprecedented "ground stop" on the morning of September 11 stranded hundreds of thousands of passengers across the U.S. and around the world. Inbound aircraft were diverted to airports -- in Canada; thousands more were idled in the U.S. It was clear that the impact on traveler perceptions would bring a wave of cancellations, lost business and travelers making different decisions about how and when they will travel.

Though the airlines were the hardest hit, no segment of this industry has been immune: hotels, resorts, restaurants, attractions, travel technology firms, car rental companies, tour operators, cruise lines and travel management companies. The ripple effects extend to the eateries and shops at airports, the florists who provide cut flowers to hotel lobbies and cab drivers. The reality after September 11 was people were staying home.

Airlines announced layoffs and reduced scheduled service. Cruise lines repositioned their fleets; eliminating Asian and European itineraries and bringing their ships to North American ports that formerly were not fashionable for cruise departures. All this was done in the interest of safety, hoping that Americans would consider traveling to destinations where they feel safe.

The rash of sales by the airlines after September 11 has even fearful fliers plotting their return to the skies. The best recommendation when considering an airfare sale is to call your professional travel consultant. Many of these promotions are merely smoke and mirrors. Industry analysts who track airfares have regarded these fares as deceptive. Often the sale prices are at higher levels than the prices the week before. In many cases, the deepest discounts are limited to certain routes and specific days and times.

Still, there are plenty of deals out there, if you know where to look. Trying to find the lowest airfare at time of booking is like trying to time the stock market. It is impossible to do in the first place and next to impossible after turmoil strikes. With so many promotions going on as the airlines try to woo you back on board, you could find yourself buying a ticket and later find a fare that is even cheaper.

Do not kick yourself. Airlines work on a yield management system and adjust prices several times throughout the day. When you find a price that you consider fair, buy the ticket. It's better than not getting on the flight of your choice. These days there is more to consider when picking flights than just the fare. Security is creating delay. You will want to select a time and an airport that offers the optimum convenience. For most airports, especially hubs, the obvious times to avoid are peak business travel times -- Monday mornings and Thursday, Friday and Sunday and late afternoons and evenings. Vacation destination airports have their own peak times, on the weekend. Florida hot spots like Fort Lauderdale or Miami can be especially slammed on Saturdays, with travelers leaving on or returning from weeklong vacations or cruises.

For early 2002, expect airlines to get more creative when it comes to frequent-flier programs. Make sure you open and read your statements. You can expect to find such promotions as "fly three, get one free." These promotions are similar to those popular after the Gulf War. The best news is that when redeeming miles, you should be able to find seats more easily. Now's the best time in the last five or six years to redeem awards. That is because fewer people are flying, leaving open more award seats. Even so, do not be too quick to throw away your hard-earned miles while domestic travel is cheap. They will go further on international flights or upgrades to first-class seats, which are generally still expensive.

With airlines claiming to be losing millions of dollars per day, what happens to your frequent flyer miles if an airline goes out of business? Usually when an airline goes out of business, another carrier acquires its assets, including its frequent-flyer program. This was the case when American Airlines took over TWA. If you have at least 100,000 miles in your bank, you can purchase mileage insurance through a company called AwardGuard. The program carries an annual premium of around $100. Airlines have already reduced most flight schedules, but if you find that you are a victim of a flight cancellation, check the terms and conditions or contract of carriage of the airline. Generally, airlines are required to book you on the next available flight. That does not mean the next flight. If the next flight is sold out, the airlines will not bump confirmed passengers of that flight for you.

Do I check my bags? You are probably grappling with that question. Carrying your bags could slow you down at security or at the gate, but checking them could put on the brakes at the ticket counter. A solution is to pack a bag that can either be carried on or checked. If the ticket counter is light, check them if you prefer. If it is heavy, proceed to the gate.

Airlines are requiring passengers to arrive for flight check-in up to two hours in advance. If you breeze through security and still have time, you may check to see if you can stand by for an earlier flight. Remember you can only stand by if you have your bags with you. Once you have checked your bag, you are required to fly on the same flight as your luggage.

Don’t put anything that might set off the metal detector in your carry-on before you pass through security. That includes watches, jewelry and other metallic objects. If you do set off the alarm (and the threshold has been lowered since 9-11-01), you will not be allowed to go back through the detector but instead will be will be taken aside and searched by a detection wand and "pat down."

Bearing gifts? Wrap them after you arrive at your destination or risk having to unwrap them at security.

Wait until you clear security to buy food and beverages - unless, of course, the line is long enough that you'll have ample time to down that latte and scone before you get to the checkpoint.

Where To Meet?
This question is puzzling meeters and greeters at the airport now that only ticketed passengers are allowed past the security checkpoints into the gate area. You can no longer meet Aunt Mary at her gate, so where to connect? The best place is the baggage claim area where the luggage for your traveler's flight is being delivered. Waiting on the main terminal side of the security checkpoints is often not practical; the lines can be so long there's literally no place for non-passengers to stand and you could miss your traveler in the crowd.

Travel will never be the same. It will require more patience and flexibility. Gone are the days when you could run to the gate and immediately board a plane. Travel introduces you to new adventures and takes you out of your familiar space. For the business traveler, it is often necessary and is still the best relationship builder. Teleconferencing, email or telephones will never replace a warm handshake and smile.