Sunday, July 01, 2007

Air Travel Tips Post 9-11

For those of you who may not have traveled since Sept. 11, 2001, or who have done so infrequently, I have accumulated a few travel tips for air travel.

1. Wear slip-on shoes to the plane. They WILL make you take them off and pass them through the x-ray machine.

2. Do not take any liquids or gels in carry on luggage if you can help it. If you must, they must be no more than 3 oz. and the bottles must be in a see-through plastic bag. Likewise, no knives or sharp pointy things. Those things can be put into your checked luggage.

3. When you reach security, empty pockets and take off any big, clunky jewelry and put in small bowl provided. Also you have to take off jackets, sweaters. Digital cameras are okay through X-ray but film must be handled by the security people. Let them know.

4. Even though it’s more expensive, buy a bottle of water once you get airside and take it with you. You will probably get thirsty on the plane and the beverage service isn’t speedy! Also, they don’t serve meals anymore. You will probably get peanuts and/or some sort of crackers (sometimes cookies), so if you need to eat something, bring your own.

5. You can buy anything at the airside stores to take on the plane (meals, drinks, etc.) Once you’re past security, it’s not a problem.

6. You may be offered self-service kiosks. If so, tell them you’re an infrequent flyer and you’d like to have some help. They have people for that. Usually you just need your name and flight number or final destination. You check your bags in there once you’ve gotten your boarding passes. The clerks will take the bags and put the airport tags on them.

7. You will need to show your ID at the ticket counter and at security. Going on board, you only need your boarding pass.

8. Go to your gate first to make sure there’s no change of gate or delay. You don’t need to check in with the gate.

9. When you get to your layover, always check to see where your next gate is first. Sometimes they don’t tell you on board, or have it wrong. Then go to the gate and double check.

10. You won’t need to go through security again at your layover stop unless you leave the gate area (usually no need for that!)

11. Most flights start boarding 20-30 minutes before scheduled take off.

12. Keep an eye on the restroom signs. If you are going to use the one up front, you can’t stand in front of the door and wait (by the cabin).

ENJOY THE FLIGHT!

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