GTaudiophile
Lifer
You are allowed one checked bag of up to 50 lbs., one carry-on up to like 10 lbs. like a laptop bag, and one "personal item" to carry on, and for women this usually means their purse.
Edit: Check your airline's website to determine that exact baggage rules. I usually check one bag and carry on my briefcase which easily weighs close to 20 pounds or more. I usually do not have a personal item.
Don't worry about checking your bag. I think it's much less of a hassle to check it and forget about it. You get to the airport, walk to the appropriate airline counter, give them your name, destination, and driver's license, and they will put a bag tag on your checked bag, and give you a boarding pass. Before they take your checked bag from you, make sure that the bag tag has the three-letter airport code of your final destination in big letters. For example, if you are flying to San Francisco, the airport code is SFO. Also remember NOT lock your checked baggage unless you are using a "TSA Approved" lock. You can buy these anywhere these days.
The agent at the counter will also give you your baggage claim receipt. It's small, adhesive, square-looking sticker that you need to keep in case your bag is lost in transit.
As for the packing itself, just pack normally, and don't pack anything suspicious. Like don't pack a motherboard and bottle of propane or something. Bad move! Of course you cannot pack or carry-on anything that is flammable or resembles a tool or weapon of any kind. Not even a pocket knife! If you do have liquids in your carry-on bag(s) you have to pack them in small 3 oz. bottles inside of one quart-sized zip lock bag. If you can put these liquids (shampoo, tooth paste, etc.) in your checked bag you will be better off. You must discard any liquids you brought up to the security checkpoint. Refer to the TSA web site as mentioned.
Edit: Typo fixed.
Once you have your boarding pass in hand, follow signs to your departure gate. Consult the screens if necessary for departure information.
At some point you will approach the security checkpoint. Just get in line and present your boarding pass and driver's license when asked. Once you get to the x-ray machines, you will need to take out your laptop from its bag if you are traveling with one. Put it in one of the provided plastic bins. Take off any coats you are wearing. Take off your shoes. Put all that in another plastic bin. Your laptop must remain in a bin by itself. Make sure to empty your pockets of any metallic items (keys, coins, wallet, etc.). All of these items must be in some sort of bin to go through the x-ray machine. You then walk through the metal detector with your boarding pass only. A guard with check it.
If the metal detector does not beep or anything, you walk straight through, put on your shoes, collect all your items, and go to your gate. If the x-ray machine finds anything suspicious or if the metal detector beeps when you walk through it, it's a different story. In the case of the former, a guard will grab all the bins that belong to you (after asking you) and he will take you to a different area. He will ask you how/where you packed your bag and about its contents. They may rub a swab of cloth around the contents and then put that cloth in a special machine to detect for any hazardous chemicals. Just give them honest, direct answers. If it is the latter, and it is the metal detector that beeps, they will pull you aside and will pat you down using a wand. If the wand beeps around your mid section it could be that your belt is too metallic. They might ask you to take it off and walk through the metal detector again. They will repeat this until there are no beeps. But if they never become satisfied, they may take it to the next level. They could take you to a separate room and conduct a strip search, but this is highly unlikely.
Once you have cleared security and gathered your belongings, proceed to your departure gate. There are lots of departure screens throughout the airport where you can check your flight number, destination, and departure time. Keep in mind that departure gates are subject to change. You will know you have arrived at the correct gate as the gate area will have a screen showing destination, departure time, etc. If you have lots of time, you can always eat lunch in the airport, but expect to pay higher prices. If you have nothing to do, just take a seat at your departure gate. Maybe they have free WiFi?
If you look at your boarding pass, you will see all sorts of information. All you need to know is your seat number (example 12A) and your boarding "zone" number (example 2). Flights are usually boarded by zones about 30 minutes prior to departure. They will start by boarding people with "special needs" like the elderly and families with young children. The next group are the "elites." These are the first class and frequent flier card holders. Then they will start with the zones. Board when your zone is called. You will get in line, walk passed the gate agent, giving him/her your boarding pass. You do not need to show your driver's license. They will scan it or tear off the necessary paperwork, but you will still have something to hold onto as you proceed into the jet ramp.
Boarding is one of the worst aspects of flying. You may have to wait in a long line to get to your seat. And once you get there, you may have limited space for your carry-on bag(s). People can be quick to get on, stow their bags, and sit down, while others can take forever (moms flying with kids). Just be patient throughout the boarding process. The flight attendants will keep you informed as to the progress. Once boarding is complete, they will shut the doors, tell everyone to turn off their cell phones and electronics, etc. Cell phones and smoking are prohibited at all times. Once the aircraft reaches 10,000 feet, they will inform you that it is safe to use certain electronic items. Before the plane pushes back, you will receive an FAA-mandated safety demonstration (example). Pay attention as this is your first flight. The most important thing to know is the location of the nearest emergency exit in relation to your seat.
Speaking of seats, you usually have the choice of window seat, middle seat, or aisle seat. The window lets you look out, but best of all gives you a wall on which you can rest your head if you want. The aisle seat gives you the freedom to get up and go to the bathroom without having to bother anyone. The middle seat is just the worst, especially if you end up being caught between two 300 lbs. individuals. Of course you want to pray that you are not stuck sitting next to the screaming baby. If you do...good luck!
Edit: If you did not select your seats online when booking your ticket, you can request a prefered type (window, aisle) at the departure gate or at the ticket counter where you checked your bag. But keep in mind that last-minute availabilty is often sparse.
Once in flight, try to sleep, drink at least one small bottle of water an hour. Try not to get too restless or get up from your seat too much. Keep your seatbelt on at all times due to unexpected turbulence.
Once you land at your final destination, just simply exit the aircraft with all of your belongings. This is the second-worst aspect of air travel. Follow signs to baggage claim. Once there, you will see screens with your arriving flight information and the corresponding baggage claim belt number. Walk to that belt, wait patiently, and pray that your bag arrived...intact. If it you wait for an hour and end up being the last man standing and the conveyor belt stops, your bag probably didn't make it. Walk to the appropriate airline baggage service office nearby and present them with your baggage claim receipt and they will begin to track your bag. They will then give you further instructions on what to do.
If your bag does arrive, simply grab it off the belt, and check it over thoroughly to make sure it's yours. So many bags look alike or are alike. Once you've got it and checked it, follow signs to the exit/taxis/rental cars/ground transportation, and exit the airport. You may throw away the remainder of your boarding pass, bag claim receipt, bag tags, etc. You're done.
Edit: Check your airline's website to determine that exact baggage rules. I usually check one bag and carry on my briefcase which easily weighs close to 20 pounds or more. I usually do not have a personal item.
Don't worry about checking your bag. I think it's much less of a hassle to check it and forget about it. You get to the airport, walk to the appropriate airline counter, give them your name, destination, and driver's license, and they will put a bag tag on your checked bag, and give you a boarding pass. Before they take your checked bag from you, make sure that the bag tag has the three-letter airport code of your final destination in big letters. For example, if you are flying to San Francisco, the airport code is SFO. Also remember NOT lock your checked baggage unless you are using a "TSA Approved" lock. You can buy these anywhere these days.
The agent at the counter will also give you your baggage claim receipt. It's small, adhesive, square-looking sticker that you need to keep in case your bag is lost in transit.
As for the packing itself, just pack normally, and don't pack anything suspicious. Like don't pack a motherboard and bottle of propane or something. Bad move! Of course you cannot pack or carry-on anything that is flammable or resembles a tool or weapon of any kind. Not even a pocket knife! If you do have liquids in your carry-on bag(s) you have to pack them in small 3 oz. bottles inside of one quart-sized zip lock bag. If you can put these liquids (shampoo, tooth paste, etc.) in your checked bag you will be better off. You must discard any liquids you brought up to the security checkpoint. Refer to the TSA web site as mentioned.
Edit: Typo fixed.
Once you have your boarding pass in hand, follow signs to your departure gate. Consult the screens if necessary for departure information.
At some point you will approach the security checkpoint. Just get in line and present your boarding pass and driver's license when asked. Once you get to the x-ray machines, you will need to take out your laptop from its bag if you are traveling with one. Put it in one of the provided plastic bins. Take off any coats you are wearing. Take off your shoes. Put all that in another plastic bin. Your laptop must remain in a bin by itself. Make sure to empty your pockets of any metallic items (keys, coins, wallet, etc.). All of these items must be in some sort of bin to go through the x-ray machine. You then walk through the metal detector with your boarding pass only. A guard with check it.
If the metal detector does not beep or anything, you walk straight through, put on your shoes, collect all your items, and go to your gate. If the x-ray machine finds anything suspicious or if the metal detector beeps when you walk through it, it's a different story. In the case of the former, a guard will grab all the bins that belong to you (after asking you) and he will take you to a different area. He will ask you how/where you packed your bag and about its contents. They may rub a swab of cloth around the contents and then put that cloth in a special machine to detect for any hazardous chemicals. Just give them honest, direct answers. If it is the latter, and it is the metal detector that beeps, they will pull you aside and will pat you down using a wand. If the wand beeps around your mid section it could be that your belt is too metallic. They might ask you to take it off and walk through the metal detector again. They will repeat this until there are no beeps. But if they never become satisfied, they may take it to the next level. They could take you to a separate room and conduct a strip search, but this is highly unlikely.
Once you have cleared security and gathered your belongings, proceed to your departure gate. There are lots of departure screens throughout the airport where you can check your flight number, destination, and departure time. Keep in mind that departure gates are subject to change. You will know you have arrived at the correct gate as the gate area will have a screen showing destination, departure time, etc. If you have lots of time, you can always eat lunch in the airport, but expect to pay higher prices. If you have nothing to do, just take a seat at your departure gate. Maybe they have free WiFi?
If you look at your boarding pass, you will see all sorts of information. All you need to know is your seat number (example 12A) and your boarding "zone" number (example 2). Flights are usually boarded by zones about 30 minutes prior to departure. They will start by boarding people with "special needs" like the elderly and families with young children. The next group are the "elites." These are the first class and frequent flier card holders. Then they will start with the zones. Board when your zone is called. You will get in line, walk passed the gate agent, giving him/her your boarding pass. You do not need to show your driver's license. They will scan it or tear off the necessary paperwork, but you will still have something to hold onto as you proceed into the jet ramp.
Boarding is one of the worst aspects of flying. You may have to wait in a long line to get to your seat. And once you get there, you may have limited space for your carry-on bag(s). People can be quick to get on, stow their bags, and sit down, while others can take forever (moms flying with kids). Just be patient throughout the boarding process. The flight attendants will keep you informed as to the progress. Once boarding is complete, they will shut the doors, tell everyone to turn off their cell phones and electronics, etc. Cell phones and smoking are prohibited at all times. Once the aircraft reaches 10,000 feet, they will inform you that it is safe to use certain electronic items. Before the plane pushes back, you will receive an FAA-mandated safety demonstration (example). Pay attention as this is your first flight. The most important thing to know is the location of the nearest emergency exit in relation to your seat.
Speaking of seats, you usually have the choice of window seat, middle seat, or aisle seat. The window lets you look out, but best of all gives you a wall on which you can rest your head if you want. The aisle seat gives you the freedom to get up and go to the bathroom without having to bother anyone. The middle seat is just the worst, especially if you end up being caught between two 300 lbs. individuals. Of course you want to pray that you are not stuck sitting next to the screaming baby. If you do...good luck!
Edit: If you did not select your seats online when booking your ticket, you can request a prefered type (window, aisle) at the departure gate or at the ticket counter where you checked your bag. But keep in mind that last-minute availabilty is often sparse.
Once in flight, try to sleep, drink at least one small bottle of water an hour. Try not to get too restless or get up from your seat too much. Keep your seatbelt on at all times due to unexpected turbulence.
Once you land at your final destination, just simply exit the aircraft with all of your belongings. This is the second-worst aspect of air travel. Follow signs to baggage claim. Once there, you will see screens with your arriving flight information and the corresponding baggage claim belt number. Walk to that belt, wait patiently, and pray that your bag arrived...intact. If it you wait for an hour and end up being the last man standing and the conveyor belt stops, your bag probably didn't make it. Walk to the appropriate airline baggage service office nearby and present them with your baggage claim receipt and they will begin to track your bag. They will then give you further instructions on what to do.
If your bag does arrive, simply grab it off the belt, and check it over thoroughly to make sure it's yours. So many bags look alike or are alike. Once you've got it and checked it, follow signs to the exit/taxis/rental cars/ground transportation, and exit the airport. You may throw away the remainder of your boarding pass, bag claim receipt, bag tags, etc. You're done.
