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Post by gale w on Jun 26, 2014 16:46:10 GMT
I haven't flown in almost 20 yrs and clearly forgot all about what it's like to plan for it. For example, I had no idea you could get park and sleep packages at a hotel and they would shuttle you to the airport (dh found out that one this morning when he ran into my old boss and told him about our plans). I know that we can take along two bags each plus a carry on but I need to do some research to find out how big a carry on can be and does a purse count as a carry on? My daughter has metal in her arm-do I need to get a note for that?
So if you have any tips or hints for me as far as airport strategies, packing, etc please share.
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Post by BeckyTech on Jun 26, 2014 17:33:59 GMT
I used to fly frequently for business. The only thing that kept me sane was headphones/personal music. Almost worse than the crying babies are the people within earshot who know everything about everything.
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Post by lovemybabes on Jun 26, 2014 17:41:35 GMT
I will be watching this...I have never flown in my life. LOL!!  |
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Post by gale w on Jun 26, 2014 18:19:31 GMT
We will be flying southwest. I'm glad they allow 2 bags because my sister paid a lot for bags back and forth to and from Alaska.
Does anyone use packing cubes? I'll be sure everyone has earbuds and their ipods. There will be 5 of us so I'm assuming we'll take up 2 rows but I guess it depends on the plane. Do they show seating charts when you book?
This will be our first time since my oldest was a baby. She has nut allergies so it's going to be anxiety inducing but I know that thousands of people with allergies fly every day and southwest is good about being allergy-aware (they will serve pretzels on flights with peanut allergic people). We're also going to take the first nonstop flight of the day so that is supposed to help.
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smginaz Suzy
Pearl Clutcher
Je suis desole.
Posts: 2,606
Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Jun 26, 2014 18:49:23 GMT
Southwest has open seating so there are no seating assignments. When you check in, you are assigned your boarding #. To get a higher boarding number, pay the fee for Early Bird check in. It's first on, first choice, and you are not supposed to "hold" seats for others, although I fly all the time and see it done all the time. But I would not attempt to hold 2 rows of seats unless you are a glutton for punihsment.
Peanut butter is a "gel", so when I pack my JIF to go, I put them in my ziploc 3-1-1 and have only ever had one TSA agent try to tell me that it was not allowed. My flying compation showed the agent the regs, showed that it was permitted as long as it complied with 3-1-1 rules, it was allowed and after a brief escalation to the agent's boss, I was permitted to pass with my darned peanut butter. I would not generally get into it with TSA, but this one was a beast and I had a great time proving her wrong. (After she denied me the peanut butter, she could not help loudly explaining to everyone within earshot that I was an idiot for trying to get it past her. Good grief. so after her boss overruled her and me and my peanut butter were safely through security, it was all I could do to not stick out my tongue at her and exclaim neener neener neener. But she was already visibly annoyed that she had been overruled.)
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Post by gale w on Jun 26, 2014 19:49:44 GMT
With dd's allergy we'll get early boarding automatically to wipe down seats and trays. We should be able to board after wheelchairs and before everyone else. So that will help with the seating.
I'll check out the packing cubes. My biggest pet peeve about going on vacation is the mess the suitcases get into when looking for a certain item of clothing.
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Post by Sam on Jun 26, 2014 20:21:09 GMT
My daughter has metal in her arm-do I need to get a note for that? I would - OH has a fistula (joining of an artery and vein to provide high pressure blood for dialysis) and gets stopped at the airport...no metal and they still question him. |
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Deleted
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Nov 23, 2024 2:29:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2014 21:37:48 GMT
Packing cubes? I see what they are, but what is the advantage of using them?
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Post by ChicagoKTS on Jun 26, 2014 21:43:51 GMT
I love packing cubes and use them for every trip. I put tops in one, bottoms in another, etc. I like to use one for all the chargers for all the electronics.
Here's my best tip - take along a power strip especially if you have several phones, cameras, etc. it saves trying to find every outlet in your room to plug in things. I have one that has regular plugs along with a couple of USB ports. It sure makes charging on the go so easy.
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Deleted
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Nov 23, 2024 2:29:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2014 21:48:35 GMT
gale: being prepared is your best plan of action. here's some things I can think of offhand: In terms of carry on: this depends a lot on the people in charge of boarding your plane. Some will allow a person to have a purse, a backpack and a separate small piece of luggage, even when they say "two carry-on items per person". I typically am a rule follower. So I stick with the two-per rule by carrying a small purse which can easily and quickly stuffed into my backpack, thus reducing my "carry on" to two items. IF I'm checking bags, I can avoid the purse stuffing route. I carry in my backpack whatever I might need if my luggage were lost and I had to get buy for a bit. Depending on where you're going and why, it's just as easy to hit a local Walmark or Target. Pack as light as you can. It just makes life easier both at the airport and elsewhere. Give yourself PLENTY of time to get through security. Depending on what airport you're flying out of and what time, it could be an easy peasy process or a royal PITA. Examples? Colorado Springs is a dream to fly out of because it's small. Even at busy times, it's easy to get through their TSA screening lines. Chicago O'Hare? Not so much! Though I have to admit it's always amazing to me just how quickly they do run people through. And I've actually had some of the nicest TSA officers at O'Hare. BE READY! when you are in line. Make sure everyone in your party is ready. Have you're jewelry off and stowed away in your carry on. Do the same with anything in your pockets. When approaching the checker person who's going to look at your license/ID and your ticket, get those things out and ready to hand over. Pay attention if there is more than one checker so you're ready to go to whoever motions you forward. Once through that check, get your shoes off, your carry on liquids and laptops ready to put in bins. Speaking of laptops. If you have a sleeve you can put yours in, use it. It can remain in the sleeve but not inside a traditional laptop bag or back pack. Items like tablets, phones, small DVD players, etc. do not have to be pulled out. If possible, take the tablet and leave the laptop at home. Once you're thru TSA, take a deep breath and relax! You've made it through the worst part |
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Post by gale w on Jun 26, 2014 22:10:57 GMT
interesting about the laptops. Both of my girls want to take theirs, of course. So a laptop has to be in a sleeve or nothing for security only right? After that it can be put into a carry on bag?
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Deleted
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Nov 23, 2024 2:29:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2014 22:31:41 GMT
Right. You have to have it out of the bag and in a separate bin all by itself. Two laptops, two bins.
Once you're through security, you put it away wherever you want it in your carry on. If you want to use it on the plane, you'll want to be sure not to put in a bag going in the overhead compartments. It's a pain when people dig around in those during the flight. I have whatever I want to use during the flight in my backpack that I put under the seat in front of me.
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Post by gale w on Jun 26, 2014 22:35:22 GMT
thanks! It's only a 4 hour flight so I'll make sure we don't have to get into the overhead compartment. My kids will all just use their ipods on the plane which can be kept in a purse or pocket. The only other thing we really need to keep on hand is ID and dd's medicine and maybe some gum.  |
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Post by Anna*Banana on Jun 26, 2014 22:54:18 GMT
You can bring your own food too. Well, you can bring some of your own food to eat. I just cannot handle the foods at airports, plus they tack on about a jillion dollars to the greasy pizza slice... My flights are about 5-6 hours plus one very short transfer so I like to eat on the plane. I'll bring a sandwich, cookies, and carrots and celery. I've absolutely never had an issue and I fly a lot.
I let them pony up the pop or the coffee. ;-)
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smginaz Suzy
Pearl Clutcher
Je suis desole.
Posts: 2,606
Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Jun 26, 2014 23:34:24 GMT
With dd's allergy we'll get early boarding automatically to wipe down seats and trays. We should be able to board after wheelchairs and before everyone else. So that will help with the seating. Just keep in mind that with a blue medical pre-board, generally that person can only take one other person on early with them. So if you are traveling with a party of 5, 3 other people will board with their regular number assignment. So you and DD could pre-board, but your other DD and whomever the other 2 are will board based on your boarding pass assignment. Unless you luck into a gate agent who lets you all on together, which would not be common. |
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Post by gale w on Jun 27, 2014 0:14:40 GMT
Good to know! Thanks! We will be at the gate an hour early so hopefully that'll work in our favor?
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Post by gale w on Jun 27, 2014 2:28:00 GMT
ok I'm pretty sure this is the stupidest question ever. I booked the flights. When/where do I get the tickets? At the gate? Do I take my printed email confirmation?
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Deleted
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Nov 23, 2024 2:29:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2014 2:45:43 GMT
ok I'm pretty sure this is the stupidest question ever. I booked the flights. When/where do I get the tickets? At the gate? Do I take my printed email confirmation? With southwest you can check in online 24 hours before your flight and get your boarding passes, the quicker you check in the earlier the group you get. |
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Post by ntsf on Jun 27, 2014 3:14:12 GMT
southwest loads premier first, then people needing special help, then everyone else. allergy doesn't mean auto first served....
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Post by gale w on Jun 27, 2014 4:59:11 GMT
It probably varies but from what I'm told (by people who have kids with peanut allergies and have flown southwest) they boarded right after people in wheelchairs. So far no one has had a different experience (as far as boarding early). Again, though, I'm sure it varies by the crew.
eta: typically the whole party doesn't board early. Only the person with the allergy and one other. If we don't end up sitting together it's not a big deal. DH will be with the younger two and I'll be with the oldest.
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Post by Memo on Jun 27, 2014 5:13:05 GMT
I switched to them a couple of years ago and love them! They really appeal to the OCD side of me.  It is just so much easier to find things while traveling, as well as to repack when it is time to go home. Mine are by Eagle Creek, but eBags makes them as well. Oh, I like packing cubes. They appeal to my OCD side and the fact that I like to pack like I'm playing Tetris! |
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smginaz Suzy
Pearl Clutcher
Je suis desole.
Posts: 2,606
Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Jun 27, 2014 13:37:21 GMT
Getting to the gate early has no bearing on when you will board. Boarding passes as assigned as you check in, which is why so many travelers will set their clocks to check in online exactly 24 hours ahead of time, or pay the fee for Early Bird check-in.
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Post by gale w on Jun 27, 2014 15:36:39 GMT
ok thanks. I downloaded the app so I can check in easily and I'll set my alarm.
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Post by coaliesquirrel on Jun 29, 2014 0:27:56 GMT
Also, remember that when you check in 24hrs before you leave, it's only for THAT stretch of flight(s). I like to fly Southwest for the bag allowance, but if I don't put a calendar reminder in my phone, I always forget to check in 24hrs before our flight HOME. It's made for some less-than-pleasant trips, now that planes seem to almost always be nearly if not totally full.
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Post by txdancermom on Jun 29, 2014 0:53:43 GMT
You can either print your boarding passes at home, when you check in on line (do it as soon as you can for southwest) or print them at the airport. if you are checking luggage you can print them then.
liquids/gels have to be in containers that are 3 oz or less, not just 3 oz or less in the container - have seen TSA make people throw away a container with just a smidge of stuff in it, because the container was bigger than 3 oz. if the liquids are in your checked bag - those can be any size.
don't pack any meds in checked luggage - if it gets lost, so do the meds.
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bandjmom
Full Member
Posts: 198
Jun 25, 2014 23:28:19 GMT
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Post by bandjmom on Jun 29, 2014 2:10:34 GMT
Wear socks! Taking off shoes and walking through security grosses me out. I don't even want to know what kind of liquid I stepped in at LAX a few weeks ago. Yuck!
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Post by cynipidae17 on Jun 29, 2014 2:25:10 GMT
Wear pants that don't requires belt to stay up, I hate my pants drooping as I try to put my shoes on  |
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Post by Miss Lerins Momma on Jun 29, 2014 2:40:35 GMT
We try to wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off, to get through security faster.
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