Catch Me Up on This Flying Thing...

NOHOME wrote:

alfadriver wrote:

oldsaw wrote: Emergency trips suck....

That they do. Am in Puerto Rico for an emergency trip. Got the tickets Tuesday to fly Friday. Goes with the roaches rant.

Sorry if it is family bad news, but I have a hard time passing up any opportunity to go to PR in winter.

Thanks. Turning out ok. Sick mom had finally lead to answering very hard questions.

Most react like you, but I have to translate it to going to Columbus in the middle of summer. Aka not glamorous what so ever.

In reply to old-saw: If the bag is taken at the counter, it's with the main luggage, if it's taken at the door usually means you pick it back up at the door.

Still, we carry EVERYTHING on. We've learned to live for 2 weeks with very little.

T.J. wrote: I wish I could go nearly a decade between flights. Good for you. 3 ounces or less for anything that is a liquid or gel in your carry on and have them in a 1 quart zip lock bag packed where you can easily pull it out at the checkpoint.

late '70's the last time I had to fly

I pity you all having to fly at all. I haven't flown commercial since August 2001. I guess eventually I will have to get on an airliner.

By the end of the month I will have done three roundtrips. Some advice:

Get to the airport early. Personally, there's not much more stressful than rushing to the airport, through security, etc.

Unless you get the nod, yes, laptop out of the bag and all metal objects out of your pockets. Drink your drink before security, too. Wrist watches don't seem to trigger the machines.

They're not really going to feed you in flight, so come prepared.

Everyone there--TSA, flight attendants, etc.--is just doing their job. Generally if you're nice to them, they're nice back.

When flying through Atlanta, there's a good chance you'll run into Ed Senf, dyno tuner to the stars.

Try to have a routine so you're not looking for stuff. I always keep my boarding pass in my right-rear pocket.

I love picking my seat before the flight. I'm a fan of the aisle. Bonus points for an exit row and/or bulkhead. Of course I get my free bumps to first class right before the end of the year, and come January 1 that privilege is gone.

If it's late and everyone around me is sleeping, I don't turn on the overhead lamp. Call it a general courtesy.

I try to time my pee break before we begin our initial descent so I don't have to go while we're stuck on the tarmac.

Headphones--even $30 ones--plus an iPod can make the time melt away.

I once helped Brian Redman put his bag in the overhead compartment. "Thanks for helping an old man with his bags," he said.

Also, I fly Delta a lot. Their Amex card gets me free checked bags on every flight. I travel with a backpack and a camera bag, so I'm usually checking my clothes. Knock on wood, it's been a long time since I have had a bag issue.

• Install the airline's app on your smartphone and you can check in and download your boarding pass and avoid dicking around in your hotel's "business center" printing your return pass 24 hours before coming back.

• When boarding as you walk down the aisle at a glacial pace while every single person takes forever to take their seats, stuff your bag in the first available overhead bin you see and don't be shy about rotating 2 bags that are facing the wrong way to make room for yours. It's easier to get out of your seat and on the way out ~then~ grab your bag on the way by while deplaning.

• Alaska Airlines 737s are awesome. And the go coast-coast non-stop now from smaller airports, so I can take Metro to DCA and get a non-stop to LAX.

• Bring snacks, bring stuff to read, bring music. It makes me nervous seeing someone sit for 5 hours staring at a seatback with nothing to do.

Gate checks depend-- sometimes they are put below in the hold, then sent through to baggage claim when you arrive. On the smaller commuter-type planes (Embraer, United Express, American Eagle) the overheads are very small and they make you gate-check everything larger than a woman's purse, but the bags are put into the jetway when you arrive, so you have to walk out of the plane into the jetway and wait for the bags. Good news is that is still much faster than baggage claim.

MAKE SURE YOU DON'T LEAVE ANY WEAPONS OR AMMUNITION IN YOUR BAGS!! This happens a lot. Have a friend that is looking at a $10,000 fine for forgetting a bullet in a bag.

I'm scared of dying on an airplane not because of the airplane, but because it'd be such a crappy way to die.

At least in a car, motorcycle, train, or any other ground transportation I have some room for my last breath. I feel a steer crammed into a trailer on my way to slaughter house.

Luckily on the other end, however, is happiness. The only things makes me do it.

Somewhat related; I have not been on an airplane since 2000.

Where is the best place to buy tickets? Priceline? Kayak? Airline themselves? Also, when is the best time to buy?

David S. Wallens wrote: Headphones--even $30 ones--plus an iPod can make the time melt away.

And if you decide not to listen to music, bring earplugs. Getting rid of the constant drone of the engines helps enormously with fatigue, in my experience.

Oh, and United or American?

How early do I need to show up if I am literally bringing only a grocery bag of clothes and toothbrush?

mtn wrote: Oh, and United or American? How early do I need to show up if I am literally bringing only a grocery bag of clothes and toothbrush?

In most cases, the correct answer is AA. For your second question...I show up to my local airport 45 minutes before departure, and amble through security to my gate. However, my local airport is relatively small, and I wouldn't dream of trying that someplace a lot bigger like one of the DC-area airports.

mtn wrote: Oh, and United or American? How early do I need to show up if I am literally bringing only a grocery bag of clothes and toothbrush?

Just remember, if you are not there 30 min before (might be some variation, but I think that is the standard) they can give your seat away. Planes can be crowded these days, so it can happen.

O'Hare airport in Chicago. So probably about top 5 busiest in the world.

Will getting there (to the gate) 60 minutes early be enough, or should I budget for even more than that?

Don't even dream of less than 60 minutes at the airport terminal. A busy airport has check in lines that can be that long.

Our local airport closes the check in 45 minutes before the flight since the same crew has to lead you on to the plane at the gate.

I'll plan to arrive 1.5 to 2 hours early.

mtn wrote: Somewhat related; I have not been on an airplane since 2000. Where is the best place to buy tickets? Priceline? Kayak? Airline themselves? Also, when is the best time to buy?

I love ita matrix. Can't book thru the website, but it's a no b.s. way to look up flights. Find your flight, go to airline website and book. And book on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

O'hare is typically pretty good about security lines. 1.5 hrs is plenty unless it's a holiday/super busy time for flying.

In reply to Datsun1500:

I flew out of Killeen and got there a half hour early with no checked bags. I got up to the security checkpoint line and was about the eightieth person in line. They moved maybe fifteen people through in a half hour. The last call for my flight went out and I had to skip all those people, get yield at by everyone and be humiliated. If I fly again I'll be there much earlier.

Count me in the "arrive super early" camp; parking 2 hours prior to departure is my target. There are so many variables that can cause delays; traffic near the airport (always), trouble finding a parking spot or shuttle delays, check in or security delays...

I like to