flying on a plane ( I need advice)

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Ack! That's a looooong flight. I've flown from Los Angeles to Auckland and nearly died from boredom.

Walk every chance you get, it really helps with the feet swelling and just how the bod feels in general.

Hope you've got some good DVDs to watch or something.

Ravenclawgirl,

DON'T depend on ANYONE to answer your questions. Even if they WERE telling the truth, were helpful, and TRYING(which is DOUBTFUL), you are BOUND to find MANY trying to ask questions. If you are in a hurry, FORGET IT!

MOST airlines, in the US, have a magazine in the holder in the seat in front of you that shows the airport. Remember where the concourses are. Within about 100feet of any gate, they have monitors that show the flights by number, city, and time. Look for the city you are going to, in DEPARTURES, and VALIDATE the flight number. MANY companies "code share", and those flights USUALLY have at least the last 3 numbers match, so DL5376 ahd CO1376 may be the same flight. Just working for two different airlines.

If you have bags, you are allowed to carry 2 SMALL bags, perhaps more, on to the plane. You can also GATE check 1, perhaps more. You can also CHECK a bag.

Carrying bags may be the fastest, but YOU have to care for it the whole way. Gate Checking may be the next fastest, but you must take the bag from one plane to the other. CHECKING means it will be dumped on a belt at the destination. They generally let it go around 3 times. If YOU fail to pick it up, THEY do.

CHECKED luggage(aka baggage claim), ground transportation, exit.

That is all generally at the same location and may be a long walk from the gate. Follow the signs/people. and/or ask. THEN you will likely have time to ask and wait.

BTW check security requrements. In ths US, THESE are the BASIC requirements!

1. NO contraband from the 1990s and earlier. That means no knives, guns(unless declared and in FULLY CHECKED baggage! NO arasole, oxygen(SOME exceptions), matches, explosives, etc....
2. Only up to TWO lithium batteries for a laptop. One separate etc,,,
3. NO liquids unless in a 3ml or smaller container, and stored in a one quart bag,
4. Laptop must be alone on the security belt,
5. shoes must be off and on the belt WITHOUT a container.
6. The have you go through a metal detector, nad the other stuff go through an xray. They MAY inspect the stuff, or check for explosive residue. YOU might be searched,

THOSE "WEIRD FLUID RULES" STILL APPLY!! !

Maximum 100ml (3ml? What are you smoking? ) per container packed into clear bag with a capacity of 1liter...

Most perfume sprays are under 100ml and you can buy "travel sizes" of hair sprays, toothpaste etc, also, if clear 100ml bottles to decant other products into are available easily here (Ireland), they must be even easier to get in US.

Not sure what a clear "1 liter" bag looks like, but, if in doubt, buy one at the airport, they are ALWAYS on sale.

I try to keep everything I can in checked in baggage (undue faith in baggage handlers perhaps?) except my laptop and hair straightners (or is it just a weird sense of priorities?).

You WILL be expected to remove laptop from your carry on, take off your coat (if you wear one) and may have to remove shoes with solid heels, while your carry on is x rayed. You will also have to walk through a metal detector. Don't be alarmed if it goes off. Cargo pants with zips, jewellry and hair ornaments can all set it off, as well as other things I haven't worn yet.

Try not to wear any unusual metal (I think the machines are calibrated some way to allow for skirt and pant zips), unless you want to be patted down.

You aren't supposed to carry on sharp objects either, but they seem to ignore nail clippers, tweezers and nail files, UNLESS YOU CARRY TOO MANY, in which case you might be body searched.

Remember YOU CANNOT CARRY SOFT DRINKS FROM OUTSIDE INTO THE PLANE (fluids) but you can buy (usually overpriced) ones in the airport.

Also remember, all this searching is a stressful bl**dy nuisance for an Aspie, but the are actually doing it for your safety, so it is nice to be pleasant to them.

I see LOADS of people, like me, plump for a window seat and the view, which is heavenly, so much so that even being scared can seem worth it.

Seats are far more comfortable these days, nothing like in a 'bus...but avoid the ones near emergency exits because in one row the seats are fixed and cannot be reclined and that means you could be caught with the passenger in front fully reclined into your lap and no way to lean back! For four hours? I DON'T THINK SO.

Try to be among the first to board so you can pick your seat (I'll be going for "before the wings" in future myself, thank you for posting that, I'd never have though of it!).

Remember it is an air conditioned, smoke free environment that is specifically designed to try and avoid any sense of claustrophobia...MUCH more pleasant and airy than any 'bus I was ever on, and 'buses can be pretty civilised these days. You will have your own light above you and your own air vent if it gets stuffy...

Bring a good book and an Ipod or MP3 player (which I always forget), and remember to put your overcoat (if you have one) into the overhead lockers with your carry on if you can, it stays very warm on a plane...

Most of all...HAVE A GREAT TIME....flying is FUN.

Here in the States (aka the colonies, across the pond), it's 3 ounce bottles in a quart bag...
Most Airline sites have a page where current TSA requirements are posted. It's worth looking at if you're not sure what you can and cannot take on a domestic flight.

International flights may be different, so look into that if it applies.

I usually check my bag, and have only had it re-rerouted once, during a massive central computer crash that got me re-routed as well. Both my bag and I made it to San Francisco, just by different routes, and the airlines hand-delivered the bag to my door... albeit in the middle of the night, but really a fairly minor inconvenience for me that time.

Seems to be a general consensus forming around a window seat, a good book, and tunes.

Next week, I will be flying non-stop from Cleveland to Seattle. This will be my first time flying! I believe the flight is supposed to be over 5 hours long. I noticed it was mentioned in this thread that you should try to get on the plane early to pick your seats. Are they not already designated when you purchase your ticket? My ticket has a seat location. I am curious, because my best friend is also going, but she is seated elsewhere. I would definitely like to sit next to her to create a more relaxed setting.

whenever i am on a plane i always make sure i get a window seat just in front of the wing on the non sunny side, or choose the scenic side if it is better. (you can choose your seat by arriving at the airport very early).

i look at all the terrain that passes underneath for the whole trip. it is fascinating.
you will be traveling at over 800 kph (500 mph) and if you look at the tiny roads down there, and look at the wing edge to measure your speed along those roads, it is amazing how fast you cover territory.
also, i look as forwardly through my window as i can, and i note distant hills and mountains, and i see that i am perceptibly moving toward them.

if you were traveling at the speed of a car up there, then the movement of the scenery would be as slow as an hour hand on a clock which is not noticeable.
but the distant mountains are moving toward you at a perceivable rate.
i watch distant points approaching in an almost hypnotic state (hypnotic state referring to me and not the distant points), and it is both calming and it also makes the time go by rapidly. (fly)

that is all i can contribute sorry.