Traveling and flying for the first time and I could use some help/tips - Page 3

I find it hilarious that Big Bad Rambo has never flown on a plane before. With that said, dont say Bomb and dont carry on Listerine.

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Edited by harvey_birdman - 11/2/11 at 7:06am

I gave you good advice. Pack extra underwear. Also, bring immodium.

Immodium not necessary, they sell booze on AA flights.

not immodium based, but $20 worth of vacuum pack bags from Target are very valuable for traveling.

Quote:

 

Were you raised by badgers?

 

You're asking questions that an 11 year old could suss out by themselves in about three minutes.  My first thought was to suggest you ask your mom to pin a note to your coat reading, "Hello, my name is Bo. I'm going to New York! Please be gentle with me."  

 

Less time on SF asking your efriends to hold your hand; more time looking at your airline/hotel sites and figuring it out for yourself.  Come back when you have specific questions.

 

Call it another lesson on the road to manhood.

 

lefty

 

 

 

 

Hence one of my protips: find a 2 oz bottle designed to hold food and fill that with your own. I use a used bottle from one of those energy shots. Tastes a little off the first time, but I probably didn't rinse as well as I should have. And then, you have your own choice of booze to add to whatever complimentary drink you want.

Another: in the security line, put all your stuff in the bag, especally things like watches. Nice watches set in the trays have been known to be pilfered (TSA agents get what, $8 an hour?), and it speeds up the process. While you're waiting in line, take all electronics, belts, watches, and shove it in your laptop bag (as a sidenote, be ready to take the laptop out and put it in a separate tray). I typically wear loafers and have a shoehorn in an outside pocket on my bag. Pop off right before the x-ray, pop right back on as soon as I can get both them and my bag.

Other things: get to your gate early. Sprinting for international flights that you have friends literally holding at the gate for you is not recommended. Know where it is and what the flight status is before heading to the airport bar. Remember, boarding is a half hour before you take off. Don't miss it. Don't be afraid to ask questions of the people at the counters- whether it's something about what your next step is, or just how long until boarding if your flight is delayed, they're there to help. And run passenger manifests.

A laptop bag is a personal item, a carry on is a typical rolling suitcase. These days, those usually are checked at the gate. You get a tag that you put on the bag, and you leave it on the jetway or on a cart at the tarmac. Don't count on having access to it. If you think you're going to want something during the flight (books, booze, laptop), put it in the laptop bag/backpack.

Be patient getting on and off the plane. It's irritating for everyone, and trying to make it go faster just pisses people off and doesn't get you there any faster.

Have your ticket stuff printed out and handy. Confirmation e-mails and all. An extra copy of the boarding pass if you check in online isn't a bad idea, put it in your bag in case that gets lost. Or in case you need the documents later. Make sure you have phone numbers for whoever's responsible for your flight. Travelocity, the airline, ect. Fuckups do occur.

Planes can be chilly. Even if the weather that day doesn't warrant it, wear or bring a sweater. I also find a shirt pocket really helps when I'm flying. Only time I ever put something in shirt pockets, but they're damn handy for boarding passes.

Oh, and absolutely, absolutely remember your phone charger.

All that and I'm probably forgetting something really obvious. But have a nice flight. Seriously. If you've done it before, the hassle of the airport can be tiresome, but you're still going 500 miles an hour 30,000 feet above the earth. For your first flight, you absolutely need a window seat. It's spectacular out there. Don't worry if you don't have one now, you can change when you check in.

Check in early and ask for an exit row (they have more legroom) near the middle of the plane.
Call in advance if you have special meal requirements.
Don't make bomb jokes or look too "ethnic" (shave body and facial hair, etc. specially if you are dark skinned).

Don't be jerks. Travelling can be fun and exciting when it's the first time you've done it.

Anyway, here are some tips, some of which have already been brought up.
1) Check in early - it's yout first time. Give yourself 2 hours. Make sure that you have all of your documents on your body. Wear a jacket with and internal pocket.
2) Try to contain yourself to carryon only. I always bring workout clothes. If you pack efficiently, you can get everything you will need for about 5 days in the maximum carryon, which is 20". If you want to be cool, carry a duffle. If you want to be comfortable, carry a small trolley bag. I suggest the latter.
3) Always carry your toiletries in your laptop bag. That way, you only have to open one bag to get everything out at security. Make sure they are in a ziplock to compy with TSA regulations. Nothing more that 3 ounces. No sharps, except for things like sewing needles. No adhesives.
4) Shoes that are easy to put on and take off. Same with belts. Stow your watch in your carryon. Also, your keys. You are not going to need them until you get home.
5) Best way to refresh is to brush your teeth and wash your face. Recycled air sucks, and even if it's just an hour's flight, you'll feel gross. But, freshen up, and you can hit a meeting 1/2 hour after landing, if your life ever sucks like that.
6) On the same note. Do not wear contacts on a flight. I used to out of vanity, but it sucks. You can change into them after you land.
7) Except in LA, where cabs will run you $80-$100 to get from LAX anywhere, I try to take a cab, or better yet, car service, which is flat rate, and often just as cheap. It's a $10-$20 difference from Supershuttle, but it will save you about 1 hour of wait time.
8) I can get all of this into a carryon bag, so can you:
a) 5 pairs of underwear
b) 5 tshirts/undershirts, 5 pairs of socks.
c) 2 sweaters - at least one dark colored
d) 2 other pullovers
e) 2 extra pairs of pants (for me, inevitably 2 pairs of jeans, unless I am doing a presentation for the queen, but ymmv)
f) extra pair of street shoes (stuff your socks into them.)
g) Extra jacket
h) gym clothes and shoes (underarmour compression shirt, overshirt, gym shorts, running socks and shoes, a jockstrap and training gloves if I need them) You can stuff most of your gym crap into your shoes
i) Oh, right, extra belts, just because I love belts.
j)nylon bag for dirly laundry, Protip - fold your dirly laundry. Yes, it will save space.

Done and done.

Flying in Asia is so much easier without the TSA and all of their idiotic protocol.
On Friday I left for the airport in Seoul in rush hour, just absolutely crushing traffic at 6:17pm, got to the airport at 7:25pm, got my boarding pass and went through security and immigration, and ended up waiting 20 minutes to board an 8:10. I was at my house in Tokyo with the key in the door by 10:45, with two cartons of duty free Davidoffs I picked up on the way.

This is making you soft. You are going to miss your flights when you get back here, for holidays or whatever.

it really is man, I finished work at 6pm, told my friends we'd have a beer before I departed at our favorite pub and I was standing there with a beer and a smoke in my hand, as if I didn't have anywhere to go. 6:15 strikes, a little moving, and then I'm in a different country. Way too easy.

I think I've been on 25 flights this year, it's getting to me. Have not been late for any of them, but United lost my luggage out of O'Hare, and I could tell they were going to, just not enough time between flights for me to get there, let alone my luggage. This was confirmed when I went to claim lost baggage and there were about 30 people in line at this tiny regional airport. Other than that, it's been pretty good. I often waited til check-in on the day of, and then bumped to biz or first class for the fee when I could. First class on American domestic flights is really dismal too, but it's priceless to not be having to sit in the 3-row of an MD80 between the guy trying to pound out a report on his laptop in an hr, and the asshole who brings a whole pepperoni pizza from the food court on board.

If there's any one thing that would make my travels better, it'd be getting a MacBook Air 11 incher. My MBP 15" is just way too big, way too heavy, and I try to carry it in a duffle.
I don't even carry real clothes with me anymore, let alone toiletries - I just need my cell phone, passport, and my computer, but I need the bag to carry the chargers, a pen and a moleskine - it adds up, unfortunately. I use hotel toiletries, get hotel laundry service, and buy what I need as I go - sometimes that means Uniqlo or Hanes tees all day, or if I go somewhere fun I can get better clothes. Doesn't really bother me at this point, I am not a business traveler.

You pay to bump yourself up on domestic flights in the US? I want your baller status.

@Rambo: Look around on the TSA's page blog.tsa.gov , they have general tips there on packing etc if you're still iffy. Expect to have to tell some moron with a single-digit IQ why you need your labeled prescription bottle for twenty minutes and how it's not secretly anthrax or some stupid shit. Not that that's happened to me before.....