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Air Travel questions

pontifex

pontifex

Lifer
I might be flying from PA to CA for work for a week. I've never flown before.

The local airport has the following airlines, which one is best or can someone point me to a site with reviews to help me choose?
Delta, Air Tran, US Airways, United, and American Eagle

Besides the TSA or the actual airline's sites, any good sites for planning or other info?
 
I flew for my first time a few years ago, and it was painless. Though it was in Canada, so they don't do the full body cavity searches here, random arrests etc so that part was a brease. Though we did have to go through a metal detector, so do avoid anything in metal on you. Don't bring computers and any other electronic devices either. From what I hear they make you turn them on and search the drives etc. Not only will this delay you but it's a total breach of privacy. Really, there's no reason to bring some of the things people bring. Have a single suitcase with clothes and toiletry stuff, and maybe a carry on with some food or something. If it's your first time, try to get a window seat. My face was glued to the window the whole time. The sight is incredible. I guess it gets old for people who fly a lot, but I sure did not care about bringing a book or anything. Some of the bigger planes also have TVs onboard and stuff.
 
Red Squirrel said:
I flew for my first time a few years ago, and it was painless. Though it was in Canada, so they don't do the full body cavity searches here, random arrests etc so that part was a brease. Though we did have to go through a metal detector, so do avoid anything in metal on you. Don't bring computers and any other electronic devices either. From what I hear they make you turn them on and search the drives etc. Not only will this delay you but it's a total breach of privacy. Really, there's no reason to bring some of the things people bring. Have a single suitcase with clothes and toiletry stuff, and maybe a carry on with some food or something. If it's your first time, try to get a window seat. My face was glued to the window the whole time. The sight is incredible. I guess it gets old for people who fly a lot, but I sure did not care about bringing a book or anything. Some of the bigger planes also have TVs onboard and stuff.
Click to expand...

Going through US security isn't all that much worse. They ARE more paranoid, and it's obvious, but it's not crazy like you seem to think. Yes they may ask you to turn on electronic devices, though in my case they didn't with my laptop. I remember them doing so going through Canadian security some years back. They may also get swabs from electronics and put it through a trace detector for explosives. You will also have to take your shoes off both here and in the US and put then through the X-Ray machine.
 
I don't recall having to take my shoes off, guess it depends on the airport. I do remember seeing signs in Halifax saying not to talk or make jokes about terrorism. I thought that was kind of funny. There was also a sign saying no toy guns/weapons. I can totally picture a bunch of out of control kids playing indians vs cowboys in the airport lobby with everyone freaking out. 😀
 
The best advice that I can give you is that your fellow passengers and crew LOVE it when you make jokes about hijacking and bombs when the plane is the air. It's a great ice breaker. Bonus points if you are brown skinned and mix in some Arabic.

Also feel free to walk up to the cockpit in the middle of the flight to ask the pilot any questions you might have. It's loud in the there so you will have to pound on the door really hard so he can hear you.
 
Red Squirrel said:
I don't recall having to take my shoes off, guess it depends on the airport. I do remember seeing signs in Halifax saying not to talk or make jokes about terrorism. I thought that was kind of funny. There was also a sign saying no toy guns/weapons. I can totally picture a bunch of out of control kids playing indians vs cowboys in the airport lobby with everyone freaking out. 😀
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I've had to take my shoes off at every NA airport. Maybe some of the smaller cities they don't make you?

I remember seeing a sign at an airport in Hawaii telling people that guns, real ones, were not allowed in your carry on luggage. Gives you some idea of the cultural differences down south, lol.
 
the DRIZZLE said:
Also feel free to walk up to the cockpit in the middle of the flight to ask the pilot any questions you might have. It's loud in the there so you will have to pound on the door really hard so he can hear you.
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Amazing how only 10+ years ago you actually could walk up to the cock pit and talk with the pilot on a regular basis.
 
Locut0s said:
Amazing how only 10+ years ago you actually could walk up to the cock pit and talk with the pilot on a regular basis.
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For sure. They used to let young kids in all the time. It's depressing as hell when I think about how much shittier this country is after 9/11. Some of it is a reasonable response to reality (like security for the cockpit) but most of it is just paranoid nonsense.
 
OP, if you are traveling for work won't your company make your travel plans? If not then recommend using KAYAK.com to pick your flights. I travel from Fl to SoCal every few months (I just got back) and I can honestly say to expect delays of some sort traveling out. My last trip took 14 hours because of weather and de-icng the plane. I never seem to be delayed flying back east.

If you have never flown before you might prepare yourself ... it is definitely NOT what it used to be. What used to be a chore (to fly) is now utterly ridiculous. I could go on but I'll hold my tongue ...
 
My company got my tickets for me so I didn't have a choice of airline (not that I'd care anyway, I would've gotten the cheapest tickets).

I last flew in 2008 but at that time the security wasn't bad. Put all your shit into a plastic bin, including shoes, go through metal detector, pick up your shit. They never turned on or touched either of the two laptops I had. It was always a smooth process and no delays. I flew to/from Texas/Michigan.
 
I don't know how it works with my company. I assumed I purchased everything with the company credit card...

Not sure if I need to take my laptop along or not. I assume there should be PCs available for me at the office I am going to though.
 
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i usually fly a couple times a year and have been for the past 6 or 7 years, and i have never ever been asked to turn any electronics on so they can check it out. and i always travel w/my laptop. no clue wtf red squirrel is talking about.

i also don't get people saying "expect delays" i rarely run into delays.
 
pontifex said:
I might be flying from PA to CA for work for a week. I've never flown before.

The local airport has the following airlines, which one is best or can someone point me to a site with reviews to help me choose?
Delta, Air Tran, US Airways, United, and American Eagle

Besides the TSA or the actual airline's sites, any good sites for planning or other info?
Click to expand...

Generally, most domestic airlines are pretty much equivalent. The only one I can think of that's noticeably different is southwest, the seats are a bit bigger and there's more legroom. Generally I just go with what is cheapest or has the better schedule.

Also, just so you know American Eagle is connected with American Airlines. Typically, you'd fly on American Eagle from a small airport to a larger one on a small plane. You'd then get on a larger plane and fly cross country. Personally, I prefer to avoid the smaller planes if I can. They are more cramped and often don't have large enough over head bins for larger carry on luggage. If possible, I avoid the smaller planes because the larger ones are more comfortable.
 
purbeast0 said:
i usually fly a couple times a year and have been for the past 6 or 7 years, and i have never ever been asked to turn any electronics on so they can check it out. and i always travel w/my laptop. no clue wtf red squirrel is talking about.

i also don't get people saying "expect delays" i rarely run into delays.
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You only run into delays when you can't afford to be delayed. 😉

Also, it really depends on when and where you fly. In the northeast during a bad winter you're probably going to run into delays. Flying in good weather in places with less crowded airspace is much less likely to have delays.
 
pontifex said:
I might be flying from PA to CA for work for a week. I've never flown before.

The local airport has the following airlines, which one is best or can someone point me to a site with reviews to help me choose?
Delta, Air Tran, US Airways, United, and American Eagle

Besides the TSA or the actual airline's sites, any good sites for planning or other info?
Click to expand...

if you are flying out of Philly, you WILL have delays, god damn that airport sucks
 
pontifex said:
I might be flying from PA to CA for work for a week. I've never flown before.

The local airport has the following airlines, which one is best or can someone point me to a site with reviews to help me choose?
Delta, Air Tran, US Airways, United, and American Eagle

Besides the TSA or the actual airline's sites, any good sites for planning or other info?
Click to expand...
http://www.seatguru.com/
Plan where you want to seat before picking your assigned seat.
 
for domestic, i consider jetblue and virgin america to be slightly ahead of the competition, but overall i will almost always make my decision based on schedule (stops, flight times) and price instead of brand
 
Whenever possible, I drive. When that is not possible, my priorities are nonstop and SouthWest. I've had good experiences with AirTran. Though, I haven't flown them often.

One thing that you can do is to check the ontime status of your flight for the week prior to your trip. My experience is that some flights tend to run late...

There is a wide variation in the TSA people from airport to airport.For a creative look at TSA security, you might want to view:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC5NBGx00H4&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL61D6F6CFAD16C57D

Best of luck,
Uno
 
pontifex said:
The local airport has the following airlines, which one is best or can someone point me to a site with reviews to help me choose?
Delta, Air Tran, US Airways, United, and American Eagle
Click to expand...

They're all pretty much the same.

Do flight searches, and choose the airline that provides you with preferably a non-stop flight, else the shortest layover time.

Your choice of airlines is factored more heavily on who operates a major hub out of your local airport, and/or your destination airport.
 
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