Questions about flying on airplanes

[SarahC]

Ok, I am going to CA in less than a month, and I am flying.

Only ever flew 2 other times and I don't know what to do.

 

Firstly, do I check luggage or do carry-ons? I think I can fit 5 days worth of crap in a carry on.

Secondly, what is the best way to not get lost in an airport.

 

Thanks! Any other tips/advice is appreciated!

[gogo]

Sarah, the main thing with doing only a carry-on is to be sure to follow the TSA regulations about liquids: you get one quart-sized ziploc bag, with containers of no more than 3 ounces, and the containers actually have to fit into the bag so that the bag zips securely.

 

http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/311/index.shtm

 

If you don't do this, you'll be subject to someone like me behind you in line at the security gate acting snarky and making rude faces. This includes bottles of water, too, so if you want one for the plane, you'll need to buy it at the airport after you get through security. Speaking of which, yes, drink plenty of water. Flying will dehydrate you, so anytime they offer you water on a plane, take it.

 

Also, fitting everything into a carry-on is great, but be sure you can lift and carry it easily. Even if it wheels, if you have to put it in an overhead compartment, it'll be a pain if it's really heavy. And remember you get your carry-on luggage, plus you can bring a small backpack or something, too. So put magazines and your CD or ipod or whatever you'll want to entertain yourself on the plane in that, then you can keep that at your feet.

 

The best way to not get lost in an airport is to ask someone! Anyone in a uniform should be able to point you in the general direction you'll need to go. And I find (Heathrow notwithstanding) that most airports are marked pretty clearly.

[OOO]

I try to do carry on's only as much as I can because there's no chance that the bags end up at a different city, and also because i don't like waiting forever after the flight (when my ride has already arrived) at the carousels for my luggage, which naturally always comes out last.

 

[a.miller]

Ok, I am going to CA in less than a month, and I am flying.

Only ever flew 2 other times and I don't know what to do.

 

Firstly, do I check luggage or do carry-ons? I think I can fit 5 days worth of crap in a carry on.

Secondly, what is the best way to not get lost in an airport.

 

Thanks! Any other tips/advice is appreciated!

I recently started flying frequently for work (after not flying for ~10 yrs) and here are some tips I have found:

 

-- Your chances of losing bags go up exponetially for every time you change flights, and way less if flying direct. So, if you check a bag, make sure you can get by with whatever you have in your carry on

 

-- I think you are allowed to check 2 bags, neither over 50 pounds or you have to pay. I just went on a long trip, 54lb. bag, 3lbs over -- $25, so watch it.

 

-- You can carry a bag on, but it must go in the bin above the seats or under the seat in front of you. Your airline's website has all the bag dimensions for each scenario.

 

-- You can usually print your boarding pass (e-ticket) from your airline's website --> this will save you a TON of time, so you don't have to check in (stand in line). You can simply scan your printout and select how many bags you are checking (if any). The scanning devices are located by the desk for whatever airline you are flying. If you have connecting flights, you can print all your stuff for each flight and your return trip

 

-- Many large airports have multiple terminals, which host/house the different airlines. It's best to have your friend or taxi drop you off at the one for your airline so you don't have to walk across the entire airport.

 

-- Everything is labeled prettly clearly in the airport. You go to your airline's terminal and there will be a big TV screen with all the flights (and times) on it, and your flight's gate number will be there. The gate is where you physically get on the plane.

 

-- When you go thru security you will have to take off your shoes, belt and anything else that is metal. So, plan on wearing some shoes that are quick to get on and off

 

-- Also at security, if you are carrying a computer they make you take it out of the bag/case it is in

 

-- If you check your bags, they automatically get sent to Baggage Claim when you get to where you're going --> Baggage Claim is (almost always) by flight number

 

-- Don't leave your bags unattended --> they can be stolen or security will take them

 

-- If you have a couple drinks before the flight (which I do ), don't get drunk -- flight attendants can stop you from boarding, and sobriety IS pretty subjective sometimes and it's their word over yours.

 

-- Bring your iPod, book, magazine...to pass time on the flight. If you have to go to the bathroom a lot, I might suggest seeing if someone will trade you an aisle seat so you're not crawling over people all the time.

 

-- Most importantly HAVE FUN!! Traveling is awesome and flying is the safest way to do it.

[isadorah]

a trick i like to use for the carry on limit (one bag and one personal item). if you carry a pocketbook, but can't fit everything else you need into your main carry on bag, bring a backpack and tuck the purse into the top of that along with whatever else wouldn't fit in the main bag. then you'll have your main bag, a back pack for extra stuff, and your pocket book for when you arrive at your next destination. it gives you more packing room and still fits the rules. otherwise the pocketbook counts as a bag and they'll make you check something.

[froggie]

when i flew to sydney in april, the damn airport had 2 female toilets next to eachother. i saw the picture of a lady of a lady on one door, so i went into the other one. it was completely empty. imagine my embarrassment when i was leaving and 5 or 6 ladies were queued up outside... to make it worse, they were on the same flight as me

[a.miller]

when i flew to sydney in april, the damn airport had 2 female toilets next to eachother. i saw the picture of a lady of a lady on one door, so i went into the other one. it was completely empty. imagine my embarrassment when i was leaving and 5 or 6 ladies were queued up outside... to make it worse, they were on the same flight as me

Pervert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kidsmoke]

Sarah, one trick I do (for my own peace of mind) is, if I have both carryon and a checked bag, I always put one complete change of clothes into my carryon. That way, should my checked bag be lost, I would still have the set of clothes I'm wearing, and a backup set. Usually if I'm on a rock tourism jaunt, I carryon one of the outfits I intended to wear to the concert.

 

Checked bags really aren't lost very often, but knowing you have a full spare set of clothes can let you relax about the possibility. I also have a policy of putting nothing into a checked bag that I'd be devastated to lose....so, no sentimental favorite bracelet, no big-ticket camera, etc. That stuff stays with me in my carryon. I also side-step the current zip-baggie thing of "3-ounces-or-less-liquids in carryon" by simply packing all my toiletries (where the liquids tend to be....shampoos etc.) as well as any other necessary liquids like maybe cough syrup (airline air tends to give me a cough) into my checked bag. My reasoning is that 1.) I don't have to mess with the zip-baggie examination, and 2.) If the checked bag were lost, these toiletries would be easily and cheaply replaced virtually anywhere. Just be sure that you bag the liquids up in maybe a zippered case as well as a freezer-weight plastic zip-bag, so you won't wind up with anything leaking. Checked bags are sometimes not treated as gently as one might wish.

 

I love all these great travel tips you're getting! (Full disclosure: when I flew home from Northern CA 2 weeks ago, I went through the security checkpoint with a big, 3/4ths full bottle of water that we'd taken on the airporter bus, tucked right into my carryon backpack. Felt like quite the idjit.)

 

Can't wait to meet you in person, Sarah!!!

[Alisa]

Make sure you eat a nice lunch before you go. You can buy food to eat but it is expensive and not filling. Make sure you can take off your shoes on and off quick when you go in to security . Take a jacket just in case because it might get cold.

[M. (hristine]

kidsmoke has to be the most organized traveller I have ever met.

 

One extra tip...unless you have crazy unique luggage, put some brightly colored yarn or other demarcation on your checked luggage for easy ID on the carousel. That way you won't be at your guest's house 2 1/2 hours away from the airport and open nearly identical luggage to get your jammies out only to discover you have someone else's bag.

 

PS Have an awesome time, Sarah!

[jenbobblehead]

here's what i carry on (if i'm checking a bag and i'm not sure i get thru five days without checking a bag but i'm a clothing whore)

 

iPod

book

magazine

medications

lip balm

tiny bottle of lotion

blackberry

charger

laptop.

 

The key here is MEDICATION. if you take any, make sure you keep it with you at all times. Just throw it in your quart sized ziplock baggie with your other little toiletries. I basically throw everything i'm carrying on into that zip lock bag so as not to cause trouble at the checkpoint. I wear layers on the plane because you cannot ever be sure what the temp is going to be on the plane. The trip from California it was easily 45 degrees F.

 

I figure if my checked luggage gets lost i can buy a change of clothes if necessary until my bag comes. Because i'm still walking with a cane i don't like to drag too much stuff around with me if possible.

[kidsmoke]

Oh, I totally agree about the medications! Any necessary meds go carryon. Can't have those lost!

[theashtraysays]

If you go with the one full carry-on, plan to end up with two bags on the way back. It just works that way. Your stuff isn't packed as neatly, and you buy stuff wherever you go. So if you take one of those little duffel bags that fold up and collapse real tiny with you, then you can put all your dirty clothes and stuff in that on the way back and check it. You can put your important stuff & whatever you bought in the carry on without it getting all overstuffed. And you can always just buy a little duffel in LA or wherever you're going too. But stuff swells.... I've been in China for 3 weeks now (going home Sat - yeah!) and I came with 2 and going home with 3 bags... happens every time.

 

And when the little voice in the airport says we're at defcon orange from the Homeland Security guys, don't panic. We're always at orange.

[alison the wilca]

and i agree about the jacket. chances are, you'll get all hot running around the airport and lifting luggage, etc. however, its a different story once you're on the plane. i was once on a plane like lysistrata... FREEZING. seriously, it felt like i was outside in winter for 4 hours. and there were only a couple blankets that had already been snatched up. it was horrible and there was some kind of problem where they couldn't get the plane any warmer. so, yeah, layers.

[kidsmoke]

If you go with the one full carry-on, plan to end up with two bags on the way back. It just works that way. Your stuff isn't packed as neatly, and you buy stuff wherever you go. So if you take one of those little duffel bags that fold up and collapse real tiny with you, then you can put all your dirty clothes and stuff in that on the way back and check it. You can put your important stuff & whatever you bought in the carry on without it getting all overstuffed. And you can always just buy a little duffel in LA or wherever you're going too. But stuff swells.... I've been in China for 3 weeks now (going home Sat - yeah!) and I came with 2 and going home with 3 bags... happens every time.

 

And when the little voice in the airport says we're at defcon orange from the Homeland Security guys, don't panic. We're always at orange.

 

This is excellent advice and oh so true! Those little collapsible bags are a godsend.....I always throw one into my luggage, and very often wind up needing it on the return trip!

 

Another thing I just thought of, Sarah....if you think you might buy a poster at one of the shows, it can be handy to have along one of those mailable poster tubes. They are inexpensive and you can just toss it into your bag & know that your poster will make it home unscathed & uncrushed.

 

And yes, a jacket! I've also had one of those freezing trips Alison describes. Wear layers so you can add or subtract as necessary.

 

I think we should all get together and publish "The Via Chicago Guide to Rock Tourism". We're good at this advice-giving.

[LouieB]

Carrying on is okay, but frankly if you are going direct, check bags, they rarely are misplaced and trying to shlep bags onto a crowded flight is a pain in the ass. Seats on most planes are very close together and sometimes finding a place for a large carry-on can be tough. Take what you absolutely need such as meds, books, etc. and get rid of the rest.

 

LouieB

[wheelco]

just watch out for the snakes

[SarahC]

Thanks for all the lovely advice!

 

I am not flying direct (boy i wish I was!) have to change planes 2 times going and coming from CA. I even switch airlines which is going to be a pain if I had to check something, because then wouldn't I have to do security again to get it to the other airline?

 

Dad says he's got a not-too-big and not-too-small carry on bag for me to use that he used on business trips all the time. he also used to bring home some of those airplane blankets and pillows. i need to dig one of those blankets out, they're warm as all get out.

 

I will def. look for a collapsable bag. good thinking (and the poster tube too, because i know i am going to get one, i'm starting a collection!)thought of another space saving thing, instead of folding socks and undies, i am just gonna buy new ones and not take them out of the packaging. plus you can never have too many socks.

 

t-minus 27 days and counting!!

 

just watch out for the snakes

already been bitten twice by a corn snake this summer at work!

[jenbobblehead]

once you go thru security at one airport, you don't need to go thru security at any other airport unless you leave the airport. So you only need to do it once on the way out and once on the way back.

 

I say check a bag. Knock on wood, i've been flying since i was 20 and always take a cheap flight so it means changing planes and terminals etc and have never had a bag lost or even delayed.

[caliber66]

Sarah - do you change airlines like United to US Air (in the same network) or United to American (completely separate)? If you're changing within a network, it should be very smooth, but if you're changing networks, definitely make sure you tell them when you check in when you start out. It should take care of itself (as long as you notify them), but if the first airline doesn't know to transfer your bags to the second airline, they won't.

[IATTBYB]

Once you are on the plane, DON'T start mumbling under your breath that Bernoulli was wrong.

[jenbobblehead]

Sarah, if you do decide to carry on all your stuff, make sure you tell the person at the gate desk (where you'll board the plane) that you'll need to board with the first wave (people who need extra help or time getting down the jetway, first class etc) because you'll want to make sure you get your seat and your bag safely tucked above you. People start lining up early for whatever reason and if you're not careful you end up being the last one on the plane and there's no room for your bag.

[gogo]

Not plane-related, but the same advice given above applies to the Berkeley show, too: wear layers. This is always true in the Bay Area, but at the Greek Theater specifically, I've been there on really lovely, pleasant nights, and also on chilly nights when we all bundled up in scarves and mittens. You probably won't need mittens in August, but there's no guarantee!

 

And Ben's advice about checking your bag is so true, make sure you let them know your final destination, and show them all of your tickets, when you check your bag. There is a system in place for transferring your bag onto all the same planes that you'll be on, but that all has to go onto the tag that they put on your bag at the first airport.

[SarahC]

Yeah, I transfer airlines in Phoenix, and I go from Delta to US Airways.

 

As far a boarding, I may even be able to get early boarding because of my disability. I'll def ask.

[jff]

Yeah, I transfer airlines in Phoenix, and I go from Delta to US Airways.

 

As far a boarding, I may even be able to get early boarding because of my disability. I'll def ask.

 

I don't know what your disability is, and it's none of my business, but I'm pretty sure they'll let you board early. In my experience there's always someone more than happy to help people get their bag into the overhead bin, typically this will be a fellow passenger as the flight attendants are really busy while the plane is being boarded.

 

Since you're changing not just planes, but airlines, in Phoenix I would stick to carry on bags. Otherwise you'll have to go to the Delta baggage claim, get your bags and re-check them with US Airways. That's a pain and can be very time consuming. If your disability makes handling your luggage difficult there are people working at the airport that can assist you. They can drive you and your stuff around in one of those carts beeping at everyone to get the hell out of the way.

 

Most of all, don't worry and have fun. Also, bring chewing gum in case you get pressure in your ears.