First time flying

upnover

upnover

Grumpy, decrepit Old Man
Moderator
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Morganton NC
I am leaving Wednesday heading to Mississippi to move my Future daughter n law up here. I will be flying down, renting a Uhaul and a trailer. I will load up all her stuff and her car, and her 5 yr old angel of a daughter and head back this way via directions from the GPS my son has bought me for the trip.

Any helpful hints on the flying experience will be appreciated, as said, this is my first time flying.

I will only be taking a couple changes of cloths, ciggs and lighter or matches which ever is allowed. Oh and the GPS, and cell phone.

Toiletries, they say 3oz or less in a zip lock bag.

What else should I know
 
Leave the lighter/matches and don't bring any knife or multitool. The liquids have to be in separate 3oz bottles in a zip lock. None of this matters if you check the back underneath, but that now costs at least $15 on every carrier that flies out of clt afaik. Wear shoes that are easy to take off. Don't wear a turban.
 
wear flip flops. leave the belt in the luggage. no baggy clothing...that gets you searched.
 
Yeah, no matches or lighter, they will take it from you if you have it on your person or in your carry on. X2 on flip flops, makes it much easier to take off. Be prepared to emplty all of your pockets before you walk through the metal detectors. Brings lots of patience just in case it is a busy day at the airport.
 
If you have ear issues going up I77, you're gonna wanna chew gum. Bring a book/books/your kindle this is all about hurry up and wait.

Don't bring anything controversial, don't wear anything controversial, shave, don't eat gassy foods (unless you're evil), bring a portable mp3 player w/ soundproof headphones (and music or an audiobook loaded).

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes you can skin in an out of quickly (you'll be checked we all are).

-- Go buy 30 minutes of lesson time sometime. It's cheaper than you'd expect and you'll enjoy it much more than you will this flight.
J
 
Safe trip chip.
 
Don't plan on eating at the airport either. unless you are independantly wealthy.
 
Bring a good book or some good magazine's to read. Flying is very boring without them.
 
upnover said:
I work the night before, so I figure I may catch a wink or two
Click to expand...

Yeah - good luck w/ that. I know you're not a big guy but even for us skinny folks plane seats are the most uncomfortable in the world.

IMO if you don't have any headphoens for an MP3 player etc, are are planning to get some - I HIGHLY reccomend spendin ga little extra $$ and get soem w/ active noise cancellation. You can get them for $60 or less these days. The backgroudn noise drum of airplanes is very loud, and the active phones do a fantastic job of silencing it. I don't travel w/o them anymore.

The 1 thing I hate most about flying is not bein gable to travel w/ my pocketknife. I avoid checking bags at all costs, things get lost/broken all the time.
 
Thanks again dad for doing this. And dont be scared its not all that bad and it will be over with before you know it.
 
Try for zero metal on you. Wear shoes with no metal shank, no steel toes, etc. Wear a belt with plastic buckle. Goal is to not blip the metal dectector when you walk thru. Have the absolute minimum in your pockets, and keep it all in one pocket so it's easy to empty into the bin. You're not gonna need your car keys and house key, so leave them at home. For a trip like that, everything in a carry on bag. Be prepared to turn on your GPS, cell phone, other electronics to prove that they are what they are. Don't make any cracks or jokes about bombs, guns, muslims, etc.

Oh, and quit smoking. ;)
 
Last time I flew out of Charlotte they didnt check the carry on for the 3 oz. bottle stuff.

Didnt check it in Baltimore on the way back either. I didnt even bother putting the liquids in there, but most where under 3 oz. anyways.

I brought everything in one of by backpacking packs, which apparently made the TSA guy in Baltimore upset, for some reason he thought back packs were not able to be checked :shaking:

The flying will be the easiest part. Driving back in a Uhaul with 3 people will suck.
 
wear a flannel or seomthing warm, i find the airplanes are cold during the flight when the HVAC is operating. It will not be operating when you board the plane, and (if you're lucky) you will only be sitting there for 10mins or so. Keep the flannel with you, don't stow it in the overhead compartments thinking you won't need it.

Bring snacks with you, they are allowed in your carry-on.

At the pre-check, be sure your drivers license is readily available, you'll need to show that in addition to your boarding pass. As mentioned before, minimize the crap in your pockets, cuz its all coming out at the X-ray machine. It can be hard to keep track of your crap at this point, the less you have the easier it will be. Try to find a carryone bag that has a decent pocket for a magazine. this is where I stash my boarding pass paperwork, that will need to be readily available a the X-ray screening too.

You're shoes are coming off at the X-ray...don't wear nasty socks with holes in them.
 
You can quick check in at the auto terminals and move your seat often. If you are in a center seat move it.

As said, be prepared to drop shoes quickly, dont have a pocket knife etc.

If you have never flown before, check the website and find the dimensions for max carry on bag. Do not try to check a bag for this flight. When you hear about lost luggage it is exclusively from checked bags, you will not lose a carry on. Plus claiming check bags will cost you an hour by the time you walk to baggage check wait on the slow ass baggage bus etc. With carry on you grab and go when you land.
 
hobie said:
don't eat gassy foods (unless you're evil)
J
Click to expand...

Hell no, load up on broccoli, pickled eggs, sweet potatoes, red meat, beans, mexican food, cabbage, beer and let it rip.

If there are any empty seats you'll have plenty of room for yourself to stretch out.
 
hey Chip, I have heard that if you wear panty hose you wont get jet leg. How about trying it & let us know?:lol:
 
rbo1577186 said:
Hell no, load up on broccoli, pickled eggs, sweet potatoes, red meat, beans, mexican food, cabbage, beer and let it rip.
If there are any empty seats you'll have plenty of room for yourself to stretch out.
Click to expand...

Was going for "Do as I say, not as I do..."

-- Besides Chip's too nice a guy
J
 
Good God, you people make it seem like he's going around the world in 80 days. It's a hour and 15 minute flight, with 1.5-2 hours BS added to airport time.

Chip, It's not that big a deal. take as little as you can and carry it on. hell with flip flops, you'll freeze your toes off. how long does it really take you to lace up your shoes? not like you got much else to do but sit around. ya, pack your toothpaste, shampoo and whatever Travel product size toiletries in a ziplock. that's just so they don't go all over your stuff when they bust. other than that, it's like a car trip, but much more convenient.
 
mbalbritton said:
Good God, you people make it seem like he's going around the world in 80 days. It's a hour and 15 minute flight, with 1.5-2 hours BS added to airport time.

Chip, It's not that big a deal. take as little as you can and carry it on. hell with flip flops, you'll freeze your toes off. how long does it really take you to lace up your shoes? not like you got much else to do but sit around. ya, pack your toothpaste, shampoo and whatever Travel product size toiletries in a ziplock. that's just so they don't go all over your stuff when they bust. other than that, it's like a car trip, but much more convenient.
Click to expand...

Agree w/ Brent here, eveyrbody is making it sound liek thsi is a super huge big deal. It's not, really.

The one thing that always gets me is !@#$ing toothpaste. It's easy to not think about it and just throw in the toothpaste tube you have at home. Wrong! Even if it it like 90% gone, too bad, it's over the 3oz limit, you have to get one of those tiny annoying-ass-not-ever-enough travel paste tubes.
Twice I've had the farking TSA guys throw away my damn toothpaste tube.
but in your case, you're flying to see family, so unless they're REAL backwoods folks I'd bet they'll have some at the house, lol.
 
You can print your boarding pass 24hrs prior to your flight at home and change your seat assignment as well if available. (Window seat is good for sleeping). If you are not checking any baggage this will save you a bunch of time as you can go straight to the security check. Make sure you use a quart ziplock baggie. they are sticklers on that :shaking: Like the rest said, no knifes,matches,ect. you will have to take your shoes off and everything out of your pockects to put through the scanner along with your carry on. Don't try to sneak something. Not sure about cigs though? Being your first time, give yourself an hour and a half to get through the check point. Depending on what going on it can take 5 minutes to over an hour. It is actually a piece of cake once you do it once.
Have a safe trip back!
 
What about a camera?

Will also be leaving my car there, how expensive is that? Monday morning till probably Friday morning
 
Back
Top