Air travel questions

[SunTracker]

Man, I have alot of flying to do next weekend (22nd).  I have to fly from Louisville, to Laguardia New York, to Richmond Virginia.  Then the next day from Richmond Virginia to Charlseton South Carolina.  From South Carolina to Cozumel Mexico.  

All this flying on Jan 22nd and 23rd.

Well, I've never flown on a jet before.  So I have some questions.  I am flying with United Airlines.  

(1)  If I wear my digital cameras on my body (either on a belt clip or neckstrap), can I take them on the plane with me?

(2)  Will my airline automatically transfer my checked luggage from plane to plane when I land in New York, or do I have to pull it off the conveyor belt myself?

(3)How do I find the terminal of my flight, will they announce on the intercom (like in the movies)?

What else do I need to know?

[GtoRA2]

1.
Yes that should not be a problem.

2.  Make sure and ask when you check it at the first airport if it is going to be checked all the way through. It shouldbe but making sure wont hurt.

3. They tell you at the check in counter how to find it in most cases, if not there will be tons of signs.

[JB73]

your camera will be scrutinized by security...

speaking of, plan for at least 1.5 hours to egt through security at those larger airports minium


if you are transferring planes, dont leave the security area, otherwise to get back on the plane you have to go through the whole process again.


dont have ANYTHING in your pockets. they can find a stick of gun in foil, and will flag you to the side for a full search.

plan on taking off your shoes to have them scanned too.

[Maverick]

Try to pare down what you are taking. Make damn sure you do NOT have anything with an edge or point to it other than pens or pencils. If you are flying Continental and transfering to another airline, don't assume they will transfer your luggage. They don't seem to like it (in my experiance) when you don't fly with them exclusively on a trip.

[eskimo2]

For fun, swallow about two dozen pennies just before you arrive.

eskimo

[Chairboy]

If you can avoid wearing a belt with a metal buckle, do.  Get rid of all your change before hand.  Frisk yourself before you reach the checkpoint to make sure you know where everything with metal is.  Assume your shoes have metal in them and just put them in the x-ray tub.  Anything in your pockets, including cell phone and camera but not including your wallet and boarding pass, just put it in your carry on luggage and put it back on yourself past the checkpoint.

If you get to the airport 2 hours before the flight, you should have no stress.  I fly all the time and know my airport delays, so now I get to the airport about 1 hour before my flight at LAX or EUG and have no problems, the security lines aren't bad, but 2 hours will give you an allowance.

Bring a book to read.  The wonders of air travel and the modern airport will soon fade to boringness.  Even space travel gets boring pretty quick, I hear.

If you have a laptop and plan on watching movies, bring good headphones.  Planes are loud, and you'd be surprised how many people forget headphones.

[midnight Target]

What Chairboy said....and

If you have a laptop or DVD player bring the AC charger with you. Delays are not uncommon and you can plug in at most terminals.

Where slip on shoes and if you carry some bag on put everything from your pockets in the carryon bag.

Finding the next gate on connecting flights is usually pretty easy. IIRC United will announce the location of the connecting flights that everyone on the plane has on their ticket. Just listen for yours when they do. If you miss it ask the attendant at the desk where you enter the terminal.

[talliven]

From LGA to RIC and from RIC to CHS (charleston) your gonna be on Commuter jets, most likely they will take any large carry on items away from you as you board the aircraft (ie. roll-aboard suitcases).  Dont worry, you get it back as you get off the plane at next stop.  Do NOT forget to pick up that bag as you get off the plane.  you will get it at the bottom of the stairs or jetbridge right as you get off plane. (may have to wait a few seconds depending on how fast the ramp people can get them to jetbridge).  They do this cause the commuter jets have tiny overhead bins and larger carry ons wont fit.  If you forget to pick them up they are sent to conveyer belt so if you forget in richmond no big deal since you will be spending night there, but in Charleston it can be a real hassle to go get it from baggage claim and still make connection to mexico.

btw.  In LGA Uniteds gates are all in same terminal so it wont require leaving security.  however there is not really any decent resteraunts in that terminal if your gonna want a meal (doubt you'll get one on first flight, gauntee you wont on 2nd flight).  If your layover is more than 2 hours there is a decent food court just outside security to the left.  I usually eat at the chinese resteraunt.  just make sure you have boarding pass for 2nd flight before leaving security or you will have to go to ticket counter to get one in order to get back in.

[Jackal1]

Originally posted by Chairboy
 Frisk yourself before you reach the checkpoint  

  Or if possible get a stewardess who has arrived on an incoming flight and is going off duty to do this for you.
  It`s much more enjoyable and who knows, if it goes well you might cash in your ticket and save some money.

[Lizking]

Here are my travel trips:

Check everything except for your electronics, a toothbrush, a couple of pairs of underwear and socks, a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.

Travel clothing:
Long pants, kahkis or slacks, NOT jeans. Slip on shoes, not tennis shoes.  A long sleeve shirt with at least one pocket.

How to get through security (I do a lot of travel, and also in and out of security to smoke, and have never once been pulled aside):

Empty your pockets into your carry-on bag, and I mean everything.  All pockets empty.  Remove your belt, your shoes(place them in a bin by themselves), and outer-wear like jackets or sweaters.  If you have piercings, remove them into your carryon, as well as rings and watches.  Take your electronics out of the carryon and place them in a seperate bin.

After you pass the detector, gather your crap up in a pile and move past the checkpoint to put yourself back together, PLEASE!.

Don't worry about the transfer of your luggage, it will either make it or not, but there is nothing you can do about it other than be there early so that they have plenty of time for the routing.

To find your terminal, ask the people wearing uniforms and follow the signs and the arrival/departure monitors.

Don't forget that if you smoke, lighters are no longer allowed through security, so bring (1) pack of paper matches in your carryon and check your lighter.

[Habu]

Last time I was in Europe on business BA lost a bag of mine that contained all my cloths. I had to survive for 3 days with one pair of shorts and 2 shirts and 2 pairns of socks and underwear.

Always pack spare cloths in your carry on bag.

You don't know how a dweeb feels until you are the only guy in a huge German tradeshow walking around in short pants.

[Lizking]

You would have looked (and smelt) even worse wearing the same clothes for  3 days.

[capt. apathy]

can you use a laptop in-flight or is it restricted?  IIRC cels were out in-flight last time I flew but I don't remember if laptops had restrictions.  not that it would have done me much good to remember, it's been 2 1/2 years and the rules seem to change daily.

[Habu]

The hotel washed them each night so I was ok (and it only  (sarcasim) cost like 15 euros to get laundered).

[Lizking]

Sure you can.  I always bring a DVD and headphones if I don't have work to do.