Getting On A Plane

[Old_Joe]

St. Joseph of Cupertino is the Patron Saint of air travellers.

[bonoducchi]

You might run into some congestion at the airport because business travelers typically take the early flights, but it depends on your particular airport and city.

I usually take my PDA (with media player but with the wireless antennae turned off), breviary (I typically pray the Office of Readings in flight), journals and magazines I need to catch up on, and my personal necessities (clothes and toiletries).

If you can at all avoid it, don't check any baggage. Its lovely to just land and walk straight out of the airport to your rental car or other mode of transportation. Also, take the smallest tube of toothpaste you can find and don't take any more than 1 oz. of any liquid, or they will confiscate it at the security checkpoint, and put all toiletries in a clear plastic bag. They will take your toothpaste if there is too much!

I always like to sit over the wing - its the least bumpy place on the plane. If you can pick your seat, I always try to find an empty row so I can spread out and not worry about people crawling over me or me crawling over others.

And if you ever fly into or out of Reagan National, don't get out of your seat 30 minutes before landing or after takeoff. They get real cranky!

Don't be scared of rhythmic, repetetive sounds - its the sounds that are just horrible noise that are problems.

[Brother Adam]

Does anyone know how big a bag can be to take it on board? I'm taking only one bag, its about 2 feet long, by 6 inches, by 6 inches. I can't find it on TSA, the airports website, or the airlines website at all.

[dUSt]

[url="http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/carry-on.aspx"]http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/conte...e/carry-on.aspx[/url]

[Tony]

don't forget your guardian angel is there talk to him.

[dUSt]

I've been on over 100 flights. Slept straight through most of them. The best thing to do on a plane is sleep.

The 737 is bigger than the Embraer so will be a smoother ride. Expect turbulence because it's normal, especially when the temperature is changing.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='dUSt' post='1265685' date='May 5 2007, 10:11 PM']I've been on over 100 flights. Slept straight through most of them. The best thing to do on a plane is sleep.

The 737 is bigger than the Embraer so will be a smoother ride. Expect turbulence because it's normal, especially when the temperature is changing.[/quote]
I usually do the same thing. I bring my iPod to drown out the other noisy passengers and sleep like a baby.

[Aloysius]

since when does the Pittsburgh Airport close? I am 95% sure that it does not and I've been there at all hours of the night and day that I can think of, it'd be a pretty odd coincidence that I never noticed it being closed.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1265724' date='May 6 2007, 12:47 AM'] since when does the Pittsburgh Airport close? I am 95% sure that it does not and I've been there at all hours of the night and day that I can think of, it'd be a pretty odd coincidence that I never noticed it being closed.[/quote]
Yeah, I thinking the same thing. I haven't been to the Pittsburgh Airport, but unless it's a tiny airport (why would Pittsburgh have a tiny airport?) they stay open.

[desertwoman]

I've been on a plane twice, and its always been those small ones. Not a private jet (I don't make that kinda dough..yet ) but the small Delta that looks like a Greyhound bus inside. Just two rows of seats.

[Jaime]

I fly just about every week so here's some tips. (some are for your comfort and some of them are for the other passengers)


Only wear sandals if you never ever ever have a foot odor problem. If its ever crossed your mind, socks.


When going through security, be mindful that there will be people behind you who are running late. Have your ID and boarding pass together in a pocket. have everything metal in your carryon PRIOR to getting in the line. (Glasses will not set off the metal detector, nor will the cross around your neck.)

Unless you have a trial sized tube of toothpaste, don't pack it. Same goes for any hair product. You'll lose them. If you do have trial sized, put them in a plastic bag prior to getting to the airport and have at the top of your bag in the line.

Keep your boarding pass and ID in your front pocket after the initial security check. They'll ask for the boarding pass again.

When you're unfamiliar with the airport, be conscious of where you stand when trying to figure out where your gate is. Most non travelers don't realize that they're standing in everyone's way when they're trying to figure out if they need to go left or right. If you want to meander, feel free but don't meander in the middle.

After you get through security, buy a small bottle of water. Its easy to get dehydrated on a plane.


Try to pee before you get on the plane. Preferably use a bathroom


If you want to put both your backpack and carryon in the overhead, have what you want out of the backpack PRIOR to boarding the plane(if its more than a book, just keep the backpack under the seat). You want to be able to put the bags away as quickly as possible and sit down. There will be a hundred people standing behind you while you rummage through your bag. (This is forgotten by every single person who does this. Then they look up and say "Oh are you waiting for me?" At that point I make sure that my briefcase brushes against their head as i pass)

As you board, when you pass by the people in first class, do not look them directly in their eyes. They are better than you.

If you're in an aisle or middle seat, don't buckle up until the boarding door is shut (They'll announce it). You'll probably have to get up again.

After the Continental video is shown with safety instructions, stand up and shout "ITS OK EVERYBODY!! I'M CATHOLIC AND PRAYING FOR A SAFE FLIGHT!!" This will immediately put the rest of the passengers at ease.

Don't use the call flight attendant button unless the person sitting next to you is bleeding out profusely. You will only get glared at


As for where to sit, that's a personal preference. I prefer the aisle. There is nothing to see out the window. Most the time, I have work to do on my computer so I'll make the window guy shut his shade.

I generally wait to break out my rosary until after the beverage service AND they have gone through to collect garbage. I find that there are less interruptions at that point. Also people have the opportunity to ask you about it when you're done.

OK that's about it!

[Norseman82]

The first time I flew, I read the book of Tobit during the flight.

And when landing, I heard a major crashing noise and thought that the landing gear gaave out. What really happened was that a flight attendant did not secure the food trays in the compartment and they were flying through the galley compartment.

[Norseman82]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1265368' date='May 5 2007, 05:45 PM']Well, except we don't want the restroom to be made out of clear plexiglass... [/quote]

I did see a picture somewhere of a public restroom that had see-through mirrors - you could see the passersby while doing your business but they could not see you.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='hot stuff' post='1265848' date='May 6 2007, 10:03 AM']Only wear sandals if you never ever ever have a foot odor problem. If its ever crossed your mind, socks.[/quote]
But don't wear socks WITH sandals. If you do, I will mock you. It doesn't matter that I won't be in the airport or on the plane, just know that I will be mocking you.

[quote name='hot stuff' post='1265848' date='May 6 2007, 10:03 AM']After you get through security, buy a small bottle of water. Its easy to get dehydrated on a plane.[/quote]
yes I always do this as well. It is a tricky balance though because I hate peeing on the plane (slightly claustrophobic) so I try to drink enough that I am not dehydrated but not so much that I will have to pee on the plane.

[quote name='hot stuff' post='1265848' date='May 6 2007, 10:03 AM']Try to pee before you get on the plane. Preferably use a bathroom[/quote]
on both counts.

I always wait until they start boarding to pee then do it really quick. In a bathroom.

[quote name='hot stuff' post='1265848' date='May 6 2007, 10:03 AM']As you board, when you pass by the people in first class, do not look them directly in their eyes. They are better than you.[/quote]


[quote name='hot stuff' post='1265848' date='May 6 2007, 10:03 AM']After the Continental video is shown with safety instructions, stand up and shout "ITS OK EVERYBODY!! I'M CATHOLIC AND PRAYING FOR A SAFE FLIGHT!!" This will immediately put the rest of the passengers at ease.[/quote]


ahahahaha! Although seriously there were actually some Muslims removed from a flight out of MN recently for praying really loudly before the flight took off, and after they'd been denouncing Bush and his war policies.

Edited May 6, 2007 by Terra Firma

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Norseman82' post='1265877' date='May 6 2007, 10:28 AM']I did see a picture somewhere of a public restroom that had see-through mirrors - you could see the passersby while doing your business but they could not see you.[/quote]
ugh ... I don't think I'd be comfortable with that.