Getting On A Plane

[Brother Adam]

So any tips for a first time flier? I have to get on a plane monday morning The one thing that has me really flabergasted is that the airport web site is telling me I should arrive 2 hours early for a 7am flight. That means I would want to be at the airport at 5am, so I would have to leave my house at 4:30am, and get up at about 3am. Seems like a crazy amount of time to have to get there early. Other numbers say that the security checkpoint is running at less than 10 minutes and check in is running at about 30 minutes. So why 2 hours early?

Also, this is what I have packed in my carry on, is this okay? Should I bring anything else? Less?

Backpack with:
Gum
Portfolio (binder with all of my work in it)
Bible
2 books
pad of paper
2 pens
cell phone

Also, the only metal I will have on me at the security checkpoint is my belt, will they make me take it off?

Can you wear sandals on a plane?

[dUSt]

An hour early should be fine.

A backpack with those items is fine. I'd also put in one change of clothes just in case they lose your luggage or it gets delayed--especially if you will be making a connection through another city.

Make sure your cell phone is off or you can easily get to it to turn it off. It's not allowed to be on during flight.

Sandals are fine. They will make you take off your belt and shoes through security. Keep your boarding pass and ID on you at all times--don't put either in your backpack.

I'd get some of those little foam earplugs. Planes are loud. They make the trip more pleasant.

If you don't mind me asking, which airline, and what kind of plane?

[Brother Adam]

It's Continental Airlines
There is a layover in Houston, TX. The first plane I am getting on is a Boeing 737
Then I am getting on a Embraer RJ135-145 to Gulfport, MS

[Brother Adam]

What is the best spot to sit on an airplane? Front, middle, back? Window or aisle? Orbitz.com let's me change seats. I'm halfway between the middle and back on a window seat on every flight right now.

[Dave]

As for seats, window seats make it so you can look out the window and see all the scenery from thousands of feet up in the air, which is pretty neat. But aisle seats make it so much more convenient to get out of your seat without having to climb all over others.

So what's the purpose of your trip? Who are you going to visit?

[Era Might]

The last time I flew (a few months ago) they were taking lotions out of the bags and wouldn't allow them on. I don't know if it was only those airports, but just a heads up if you pack lotion. If your suitcase isn't too big, you might want to take it on board with you so you don't have to wait for your luggage after you arrive. They also open up your luggage at random, and put a little slip in there to let you know it was opened and checked. I think you can bring one small suitcase and one small bag on board, so long as they fit in the bin and under the seat. I don't think you'll need two books and all that, the flight is usually pretty quick, I usually read a little and listen to music for the rest of the flight. The best seat is either the aisle or the window. The aisle is good if you have to get up, you don't have to disturb your neighbors, but if your neighbors get up, they'll disturb you. I get there 2-2.5 hours early, just in case. If you have to wait around, it's no big deal. It's better to get there early and wait than to have something happen and be late. There may be long lines to check in.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Pitt won't be that busy at 7 am. I wouldn't worry about being there two hours early. An hour would be sufficient, but since it's your first time, you might want more time to get into the swing of things (it gets much more natural once you're used to finding your way around a terminal).

Typically, my carry-on has:

Pens
Pencil (on some occasions, pens are nasty things to have in planes because of air pressure, though I've never personally had problems)
Paper
Resume
Portfolio
Reading material
A watch (you can't have your cell phone on during flight, so if you don't have a watch with you, you won't really know the time)
Bible
Catechism
Crossword or something like that to keep you occupied

In my other bag, I usually have:

Changes of clothes
Travel sized hygienic stuff (if you carry-on your main bag, which you can do if it's small enough, you can only use travel-sized containers for liquids and gels, and they have to be in a ziplock bag)
Bed clothes
Trimmer/shaver

Yes, you can wear sandals on a plane.

As for the seat selection, check to see if the seat is over the wing. If it is, you can't see much scenery. If it's in the emergency exit row, you'll have extra leg room. Other than that, just try not to be right across from the restroom, unless you like lots of unpleasant smells and want people bumping into you constantly.

God bless,

Micah

PS-Don't know how much luggage you have, but you can always borrow some of mine. I have plenty.

[AlterDominicus]

[quote name='Brother Adam' post='1264945' date='May 5 2007, 10:18 AM']So any tips for a first time flier? I have to get on a plane monday morning The one thing that has me really flabergasted is that the airport web site is telling me I should arrive 2 hours early for a 7am flight. That means I would want to be at the airport at 5am, so I would have to leave my house at 4:30am, and get up at about 3am. Seems like a crazy amount of time to have to get there early. Other numbers say that the security checkpoint is running at less than 10 minutes and check in is running at about 30 minutes. So why 2 hours early?

Also, this is what I have packed in my carry on, is this okay? Should I bring anything else? Less?

Backpack with:
Gum
Portfolio (binder with all of my work in it)
Bible
2 books
pad of paper
2 pens
cell phone

Also, the only metal I will have on me at the security checkpoint is my belt, will they make me take it off?

Can you wear sandals on a plane?[/quote]


It was my first time flying in Febuary, and it was great - I did non stop through to Detroit then I had a van of Sisters pick me up.

[Sojourner]

I like to sit closer to the front so you get off quicker. Sitting on the aisle is nice if you have to go to the bathroom, but you get bumped by carts sometimes. The other advantage of sitting closer to the front is you don't have as much engine noise ... but if you do the earplug thing that should help.

I used to never check luggage but the last several times I've flown I've checked it and it's come through fine. I usually have the essentials (medications, glasses/contact stuff) in my carry-on. I usually don't take a change of clothes ... but then the last couple of times I've flown I've had my laptop and books and stuff so there just wasn't room unless I wanted to be wrangling a bunch of bags.

An hour for a 7 a.m. flight is probably OK ... security probably won't be too bad to get through at that time. Don't cut it any shorter, though, in case the line to get through security is long. I would check online or call before you leave to see if your flight is on time. Last time I flew, my flight out of Phoenix was delayed for 6 hours. Thankfully the airport had free public wi-fi or I would have gone insane. Would have been SO much better to call ahead.

[homeschoolmom]

Take an aisle seat... you don't want to spend the whole time looking out the window looking for gremlins.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1265010' date='May 5 2007, 11:10 AM']Take an aisle seat... you don't want to spend the whole time looking out the window looking for gremlins.[/quote]
um ... who does that?

I look at the clouds and sunshine

[homeschoolmom]

William Shatner... and... uh... other fliers.

[Aloysius]

Eat breakfast at Obrien's Pub!

[Mercy me]

Two hours early for a 7am might get you there before the airport opens. An our at that time should be fine but just in case check [url="http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html"]this website[/url]

[homeschoolmom]

Airports close?