Flying on a plane? Advice?

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NOLA guy

Join the frequent flier program for the airline you will use. Joining is free and you can do it online.

Call the airline before your flight date if you want to request a seat. You should request a window seat since it is your first-ever flight. It is OK to tell the reservations agent it is your first-ever flight. Some airlines donâ€™t do advance seat selection and others charge a fee. The reservations agent will tell you if there are restrictions. Go to www.seatguru.com for info on seating arrangements in airlines.

Call the airline the day before your flight and the morning before your flight to make sure there are no schedule changes. You can also check flight status online.

Pack almost everything in a suitcase that you will give to the airline to "check". The suitcase has to weigh 50 pounds or less.

All liquids & gels in containers over 3 ounces and anything that might even LOOK like a weapon (nail file, scissors, etc.) should go in your checked bag. Go to www.tsa.gov for more info on prohibited items.

Mark or tag all checked luggage with something that makes them more distinct. An example would be to attach a strip of colored tape to each side of the bag. It reduces the chance someone might pick up your bag by mistake at baggage claim (there are millions of black suitcases). Also clearly tag ALL bags >>> inside and outside <<< with your name and a good phone number + e-mail address (but not your home address). The free tags from the check-in counter are OK.

You are allowed two carryon bags, but they have to be not larger than a small backpack. One carryon is better.

Take some things to do or read. If it is a long flight (over 6 hours), also pack basic toiletries and one change of clothing in the carryon bag. You are allowed to pack "travel size" liquids & gels in your carryon bag, but the items have to go in their own clear plastic bag and scanned separately when you get to security.

Dress in shoes & clothing that are comfortable and not tight, but also not overly casual. Avoid clothing with metal attached (ex. jeans with studs).

Make sure you have your ID, frequent flier number, and ticket (or flight information if it's an e-ticket) on you before leaving home.

Get to the airport two hours before your flight. Really. It is MUCH better to have an hour to wait than to arrive later and have a problem.

Go to the airline counter and give the agent your ID, FF number, and flight info or ticket. Tell them how many bags you want to "check". You can request a window seat at check-in if you didn't already do so. The agent will put destination tags on your checked luggage and give you a Boarding Pass. They will then either take your checked bag(s) or tell you to carry it/them to the big x-ray machine.

The "Gate" for your flight will be on the boarding pass (example E-17). Follow the signs toward your gate. Ask an airline or airport employee for directions if you are not sure.

At some point you will have to go through security. There will be a stack of plastic bins - place your shoes, carryon bag, the clear plastic bag containing any liquids or gels, sweater/jacket, and anything metal (including cellphone) in the bin. Keep your ID and boarding pass in your hand. Follow the instructions of the security personnel - they will have you place the bin on the X-ray conveyer belt and you will walk through the metal detector. Once through you collect the bin and put everything back where it belongs.

Then go to the gate. Check to make sure there has not been a gate change - most airports have TV-type monitors with the info. If not sure, ask an airline or airport employee.

Try to wait near your gate. If you want to wander off, be back 30 minutes before your flight is scheduled to depart. Follow the instructions of the ground staff when boarding starts. Your seat number will be on your boarding pass; The numbers increase toward the back of the airplane and the letters go from left to right >> as you face the front of the plane << (Seat 1A is at the front on the left and seat 22 F would be towards the rear + probably on the right). .

Once you find your seat, take out whatever you want for entertainment (book, etc.) and put your carryon bag either in the overhead storage compartment or under the seat in front of you.

Follow the instructions of the flight crew.

The aircraft is a machine and has a lot of moving parts that make noise. There will be sounds like "Thunk" when taking off and landing as the landing gear is retracted (after take-off) and lowered (for landing). The pilots also adjust parts of the wings during the flight and that sometimes causes noise.

The flight attendants will serve drinks and snacks once the plane is at "cruising altitude". Meals are only served on long distance flights (more than 5 hours). Long distance flights also usually offer entertainment, like movies.

There are restrooms on airplanes. Be sure to latch the door to let others know itâ€™s occupied, and latching the door also turns on the light.

When the flight is almost over, the crew will instruct the passengers to put everything away and fasten seatbelts. Follow their instructions.

Once the plane has landed it will taxi to the airport terminal. Stay in your seat with the seatbelt fastened until the crew tells you it is OK to exit the aircraft. It will be obvious when you can do so.

Make sure you collect everything you brought with you. CHECK the pocket in back of the seat in front of you to make sure you aren't leaving something you put there.

You may have to change planes somewhere. If so, you will get a boarding pass for the connecting flight when you check-in at your home airport. Once off the plane just follow the signs to the gate for the next flight. You may have to go through security again. Your checked bags will be automatically transferred to the connecting flight by the airline.

At your final destination, exit the aircraft and follow the signs to Baggage Claim once you are off the plane. Most airports have multiple baggage carousels (conveyer belts) and there is usually a sign or TV-type monitor that indicates which carousel your flight's bags will go on. Ask an airline or airport employee if you are not sure.

Collect your bag(s) and exit the terminal (usually by going out the doors marked "Ground Transportation").

Hope you have a good trip!

babbles

Bring your laptop, iPod or a good magazine or book and you won't be bored. Who knows, the person next to you might enjoy talking to you and by the time you get a drink, and maybe some food, and then they take it away...you might be landing. How long of a trip? If it's long, they'll have a movie for you to watch. What's it like? It's like sitting on a couch, crowded with a bunch of people you don't know. i.e. Try not to get a middle seat. If you get real bored...go to sleep. You'll be fine, it'll be over before you know it.

Yello

The plane has kind of a musky smell. The seats are semi-comfortable if you're in Economy, nice and comfy if you're in First Class. Bring stuff like books, laptop (to play non-online games on or to work), iPod, handheld games, etc. Your ears will probably pop during the flight, because of the altitude change. Most airlines will give out free non-alcoholic beverages and pretzels, but you will have to pay extra for alcohol. Depending on the duration of the flight, there may be an inflight move.

deejay

flying on a plane is a great experience you can enjoy the view of the sky and the service provided by the airline, the only thing is depending on how long your flight might be you could get restless, so i advise that you bring with you something to stimulate your mind for instance a book ,mp3 player or even a laptop

Bethany D

Well i hated it, my ears killed like anything when we took off, but that may just be me. Most people think it's fun, so i hope you enjoy it! bring a puzzle book off crosswords and word searches etc...if you have a laptop, bring that. Bring lots of good books as well!
i hope you have fun, take care

qwq

you can have TV or music options on bigger plains ,but take a good book with you

Kevin

Depending on how long your flight is (!), you might want to check out the movies shown on flight, or buy a book or a Sudoku booklet to keep you busy. Alternatively you may also play the computer games available on most flights.

Also if it is a long flight, make sure you walk every once in a while.

But if it is less than 2 hours, don't bother. It will be over before you realize! trust me, I fly very frequently.

á¹‰Ã¯ÑÃ¸lÎµ[loves silliman& redbull!]

Its actually pretty cool. At least for me. You won't be that bored. If its a pretty long flight, they'll give you a movie to watch. They'll most likely give you something to drink. Bring something that you like on the plane. I'm pretty sure planes have Internet access. I bought a coloring book (Weird hearing this from a 13 year old right?) the last time I went on a plane. If you like word searches, they have these big books with them at stores...I really enjoyed it.

dance2disco

It's horrible. At least to me anyway. Bring a laptop or video games, reading materials, and some music. Music really helps the time go by much faster. If it's a long time, bring a sleeping mask and ear plugs. They help shut out distractions that make it impossible for me to sleep on the plane.

the first things I would do is check with http://www.tsa.com to make sure you can get through security. Make sure to show up at least an hour ahead of flight time I would recommend two for domestic and three for intrnational. I would also check with http://www.seatguru.com thell tell you any pros or cons of your seat what kind of food weather you'll get just a snack or wheather you'll get a meal and what kind of intertainment such as seatback TVs take gum to chew on for take off that takes care of the aching ears that a lot of people complain about

Jill S

Make sure you know before if they will feed you - some don't, take food you like as it's unlikely (unless you eat everything) that they will have stuff to suit you.
Take something to do - download a book onto your iPod or take one to read. Drink plenty of non alcoholic stuff (alcohol makes you more dehydrated as does flying)
Get a window seat if possible (not over the wing) so you can look out at the fantastic views.
If your ears start to go funny, hold your nose, close your mouth and breathe out into your closed mouth to decompress (this really works better than boiled sweets and chewing gum!)
A little advice from Victoria Wood - Dont sit in the front in case it flys into a mountain - don't sit in the back in case it reverses into the terminal and don't sit near the wing in case a man climbs up on it and pulls faces at you through the window.
ENJOY!!

criss_in_da_house

Ooooh, its so cool, the best part is taking off and landing lol...i flew on Malaysian Airlines in economy class and they had TV's on the back of the seat in front of you and you could either, play games, watch new movies, listen to music...i think you could surf the net too?? (not sure)...Dont look forward to the food though, sorry but thats the truth.....and you generally tend to sleep alot so boredom is minimal...thats what i remember anyway lol.

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