First time Flying

[Sailahína]

try to get an aisle seat.
I went on a plane when I was 10 and I liked it. I don't think commercial jets are all that bad. I had to sit by myself because my grandma and I were flying standby and on the way the guy sitting next to me wasn't all that friendly and on the way back the old lady sitting next to me wouldn't stop talking and sharing her craft magazines with me
But anywayz...I have flown in a 2 seater before. That's scary. It was fun but at the same time scary...lol.

[rkwright]

My first flight was when I was 10 days old... and I'm still here! I end up flying a lot to travel home for breaks.

That canadian regional is going to be small plane, so if you have bumps it'll be on that one (not counting storms or anything). Enjoy it!

[azaelia]

I had never flown before I met phatcatholic...now it's a common occurence. Basically just pack as light as possible or make sure to cram really well so you don't have to check baggage. When you take off, either be chewing on gum or sucking hard candy so your ears will be less likely to pop. When you hit turbulence, it will feel alot like a bumpy road, so just think of it that way and it will seem less frightening. Make sure you keep your ID handy for security check and in case they want an ID when you board. Everything else is pretty self-explanatory.

[Era Might]

[img]http://otherstuff.laurelandhardycentral.com/pixm/planes.jpg[/img]

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Great movie.

[stbernardLT]

If you were asking God to bring you closer to Him, he just answered your prayers, because if you are like me when the plane took off that is the hardest I ever prayed in me life.

[Ash Wednesday]

Yeah... Planes Trains and Automobiles is HILARIOUS.....

I like the part where they are driving in that torched out car.....or when Kevin Bacon's character says "Train don't go outta Wichita..unless you're a hog".....

[jmjtina]

honestly, I almost threw up on the 50 passenger plane and did fine on the bigger plane of 10 hours (to Lisbon, Portugal)

I wasn't scared, just hoping my stomach would cooperate with me.

[dUSt]

The 50 psgr regional jets are great. Just as fast as the big jets, quiet, never a middle seat, and easy in and out without the long lines down the aisle. They do go up and down more than the big jets but they're not that bad at all. They avoid turbulence better because of this.

I usually fly about 2-3 times a month, usually twice in the same day back and forth between Dallas and Atlanta.

Try to fit everything into a carry-on bag (the smaller sized rollerboard cases are best). With the 50 psgr jets you'll probably check them in at the plane so no need to worry about fitting them in an overhead compartment. Put the bare essentials in a purse, including a book. Take as little onto the plane as possible. If you're going to get on a bigger jet at any point and are checking in luggage, make sure you at least have one change of clothes and your essentials in a carry-on bag just in case your luggage is delayed or lost.

Also, bring some earplugs if you want to sleep. I wear earplugs even when I don't sleep because it's just more pleasant. Don't worry about bringing a pillow unless you have one of those cool mushy neck pillows--just ask for an extra blanket and just fold it up. The less you bring on the easier it'll be to get on and off.

Don't freak out when they start going over all the emergeny procedures because it's pretty doom and gloom, but an FAA requirement. A good pilot will avoid turbulence, but it's no big deal if you hit some. The "rough" ride is caused by pockets of hot air and cold air in the atmosphere--kinda like potholes in the sky.

Have fun. Nice knowin ya.

[djc08]

Chew gum. It helps a lot to stop your ears from pumping so hard. And a a bit of advice. Don't fall asleep wih 10 other kids layed out about 4 chairs each in an airport at 4:00 in the morning and wake up a few hours later to get on another plane because your gonna really make all the people who didn't get chairs mad.

[Socrates]

Make fists with your toes.

(from [i]Die Hard[/i])

[HisChild]

Dust, I'm sure the 'nice knowing ya' helped out a LOT

Uh, everyone covered it really well. Except, if you are a serious caffeine drinker, and have a micro bladder (like me) you might want to hold back a wee bit before the plane ride, otherwise you'll be up and down to the 'loo as much as the plane in the 'pot holes in the sky'

:

You will do fine. Planes are safer than ground transport. God bless you.

[dUSt]

Oh, and another thing. Don't worry about any possible delays do to "mechanical failure". [b]Every[/b] plane has [b]something[/b] wrong with it. I've talked to enough airplane mechanics to know that, and it's something you just have to accept. Just hope that the pilot doesn't tell you about the mechanical failure until you're up in the air, which has happened to me several times. hahaha

But yeah. Planes are safe. And those 50 passenger jets could almost glide to the ground without any engines at all, so no worries.

[journeyman]

It's been over a year since I last flew - the best advice I can think of other than what has already been given . . . get there early (on time used to mean more than 1 hour before your flight is scheduled to leave) . . . don't carry a pocket knife, bic lighter, or anything else on the confiscation list . . . swap out your metal jewelry, rosary, medals for something non-metallic

[dUSt]

Good point about the metal objects. If you have any, put them all in your purse before you get in the security line so you don't have to be all unorganized while people behind you are waiting to go through the metal detector.

[Azriel]

Thanks a bunch for all the additional replies....I'll check back in with more specific thanks later .... but, yeah, the nice knowin you part helped out a lot dUSty - Thanks!

Since I own Planes, Trains and Automobiles, I think I deserve to watch that before Monday...

I just keep telling myself that when I finally make it to Washington, I get to stay at a Hilton for free. .... With no 2 year old! Potty time to myself!!!