Any tips for the infrequent flyer?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m flying to Germany on Monday to visit my dad and would be interested in any great travel tips my fellow Dopers might have. I’m planning on getting to the airport (Harrisburg Int’l, if it matters) 2-3 hours ahead of my departure time to accomodate for checking in and getting through security.

I’ve compiled a list of things to include in my carry on, such as water, snack, reading material, etc. but other than that, I’d like to hear what other flight preparations are recomended.

Thanks for the replies

2

As someone who’s done a few long hauls from the U.S. to Australia, I’d suggest getting a packet of baby wipes to take. They come in travel packs that fit easily into a carry on bag. You can use them to freshen yourself up during the flight. If you feel really grotty, you can essentially give yourself a total-body freshen up (I’d suggest doing this in the bathroom :slight_smile: ).

I’m not sure how long that flight is going to be, but anything over about 12 hours, I’d bring an extra pair of underwear and probably a complete change of clothes.

Wear clean socks and easily removable/re-tieable shoes.

Pack your carry on in a way that’s easily searchable. You don’t want to have a small bag that’s crammed tight with stuff that will be hard to get back in while you’re in a rush to get through the line.

That’s what I can think of right now.

3

Are there direct flights from Harrisburg to Germany, or are you connecting? The trans-Atlantic flight is going to be about 7-8 hours from there, so it’s a long flight. I’ll assume you are in coach, so unless you’re pretty small you won’t have much room. If you can get some sleep on the flight that will help a lot. Since this is offseason you might be able to find three seats (or more on a bigger plane) to stretch across. Buckle the seatbelt outside of your blanket so the flight attendants don’t bother you. If you have trouble sleeping in strange or cramped places you might be able to get a prescription for one or two Ambien pills. These are good for getting sleep but should only be taken if you can sleep about 7-8 hours or more, so if you get them take it about 1 hour before the flight starts. Once in Germany I like to get a one hour nap in the morning, just after I arrive, then make myself stay up until 10 pm or later. This way I acclimate very quickly (the first day sucks). YMMV. Maybe do leg stretchs before and after the flight, or during if you can’t sleep for whatever reason. Drink lots of water and you’re supposed to avoid alcohol (I don’t).

On the return flight you pretty much have to stay awake. Always be nice and polite to the flight attendants, it might pay some dividends and is anyway the decent thing to do. If you’re flying into Frankfurt you can usually get away with going through the EU customs line instead of the one for Auslaender, especially if it’s not full. Just look like you’ve been there before. Oh, and the baggage carts in most European airports can go up and down escalators, which is pretty cool the first time you see it.

4

C3’s post reminds me – always carry on your toiletries. A change of close is good, too, in case your checked bags get lost. If you’re awake you can wash your face, brush your teeth and shave just before you land and it will make you feel a bit human again. Wear comfortable clothes on the flight, but try not to look like a slob when you get off the plane, it won’t make your trip through customs any quicker and it’s not very “German”.

5

To add to ShibbOleth’s jet lag advice, I’d suggest spending your first day outside in the sun. It really helps your body clock to get readjusted.

6

It’s Germany. In the middle of winter. The sun might be out, but it won’t be there long.

:slight_smile:

Frank, have some Gluhwein for me, will ya? Maybe some of those roasted almonds, too.

7

Ha! Can you tell that all my long trips have been to Australia?

8

Excellent advice so far. I’ll add a couple of things:

If you’re tall, do everything you can to get an exit row seat for the long hop: check in as early as possible, ask during check-in, ask when you get to the gate, ask during your layover. Be polite. Ground attendents will sometimes help you out, sometimes they won’t, depends on their own whims; but if you’re polite they’ll be much happier to accomidate you.

I see you have water in your packing list, that is a very good idea. Buy it before arrive at the airport (Bottled water in airports is more expensive then drugs, so it seems). Buy a bigger bottle then you think you’d ever drink, you’ll probably drink it all anyway. I’ve been known to drink a 1-liter bottle on a 3-hour flight.

Carrying tolietries is a good idea too, although I’m not sure if they’ll let you take disposable razor blades in your carryon (my guess would be no). Probably best to leave those in your checked bags.

9

Wear your most comfortable clothes. Wear a long long sleeved shirt. You don’t score any points with the fashion police on aircraft, but anything to make yourself comfortable on the flight is a bonus. If you’re flying with a US based airline, take eyeshades. They will help you get some sleep on the flight over. BA and Virgin supply their own (as well as free beer).

10

I flew over there once before about 6 years ago, so I have experienced that wonderful “I’ve been in a crowded airplane for 8 hours” feeling. Not to mention, that was the first time I’d ever flown (well, I took a little commuter plane to Dulles and that was the first time I’d ever technically flown) so I was a bit sweaty to begin with.

Unfortunately, there were no direct flights out of Harrisburg, so I’m flying from Harrisburg into Detroit where I have a 3 hour layover. I’m not too concerned about the length of the layover, that will just give me plenty of time to find the right terminal and maybe get some lunch.

I’m 5’9", so I’m not cursed with overly flight-unfriendly legs, although my legs are where most of my height comes from. Also, my seat on the trans-Atlantic flight is an aisle seat, so I’ll have a greater degree of freedom of movement. I’ve already picked out the pair of shoes I’ll be wearing - they’re a little bit big so my feet will have plenty of room. As for clothes, I’m usually a severely casual-dress type, but for the flight I’ll be wearing a pair of Docker Mobil pants (love those pockets) and a button-shirt. I figured that choice of pants would be better than my normal cargo pants - I don’t need to be frisked that much.

Glühwein? I think I tried that when I was over there the first time. I did not, however, partake of the pferdewurst (horse meat), lol.

I suppose I should add that I’m 20, so there will be no alcohol for me on the flight :slight_smile:

11

Detroit is a much nicer airport than it used to be. You might want to walk around a bit before the transatlantic leg, just to burn off some of your adrenaline (most people who don’t travel much get pretty pumped up about international travel). There is a really cool tunnel between the B and C terminals there, worth a little side trip. The only bad news is that you’re probably flying on Northwest and I’ve not really enjoyed my Int’l flights with them. Maybe you’ll do better there.

On the theme of bottled water, if you’re not picky about it, then on the longhaul I’m sure you can get as much as you like from them. Just tell the flight attendant that you drink a lot of water and could you have a bottle or two. Or start being German on the flight out and only drink seltzer water, since you probably won’t find water without bubbles in Germany without searching out Volvic or Evian in a grocery store. Stille Quelle just means less bubbles, most of the time.

Somehow I missed pferdewurst (horse sausage would be a better translation), but I’ve had horse steaks in France, it’s not bad. As for drinking, you could probably get alcohol on the flight if you wanted, but it’s really not good for you, and if you’re so inclined you might as well wait until you get to Germany.

Glühwein is perfect for those cold days when you’re outside at the market. Makes you feel nice and warm inside. Best taken with some hot pretzels or sausages. Indoors I prefer Bier.

12

I’m going to take a completely different tack here. I am a fairly frequent flier, and travel mostly on international flights.

My theory is be burdened by as little as possible. Forget the footlocker-size trunks with wheels that some people try to cram into the overhead bins. Minimize the junk that you have to sort through in your purse or knapsack. For me, flying is so much more pleasant when I don’t have to worry about cramming myself into a coach seat AND worry about where all my widgets, doodads, attentionkeepers, and whatnots are, and how they are organized, and how I can get to them, and so on.

My few rules, take 'em or leave 'em.

Wear loose clothing and the most comfortable shoes that you will actually wear at your destination (ie, don’t pack extra shoes).
The only must-haves to keep on your person are your passport, your ATM card, a bit of cash, and a pen. (A pen is key for filling out customs forms while on the airplane.)
A book or magazine, and maybe a bottle of water.
Everything else gets checked. (For as many flights as I’ve taken, my only trouble with baggage has been one bag delayed by 2 hrs.)

If you want anything else, ding the little bell and ask for it.

There’s nothing I can’t stand more than fellow travelers who gear up like they’re going to the moon or on safari. I fully expect one of these days that I will sit next to someone who wears one of those photographer/safari/fisherman’s vests, and will actually bring along a personal mosquito net to spread over his seat, while he fidgets with his laptop, sleeping goggles, slippers, foot powder, aromatherapy, walkman, inflatable neck pillow, extra large print hardcover Tom Clancy 7,000 page encyclopedia, peanuts, bottle of water, expandable travel cups, bottle of wine, pillow, blanket, safety instructions, sweaters, socks, jackets, cell phone, purse, pillboxes, manbag, inflight shopping magazine, baseball cap, the inflight video entertainment, armrest, and god knows what else.

Now I’m getting riled up. Is it really such a chore to sit quietly for several hours, excepting the occasional break to stretch one’s legs and go to the bathroom? Just keep things simple, nap for a while, and the whole ordeal will be over before you know it.

Anyway, feel free to disregard, but that’s just my two cents.

13

I’ll second this–it is excellent advice.

There was a time when I did take a lot with me on the plane. But I found that I didn’t use or need a lot of it on the plane. So I pared my carry-on way back, and now end up with a small briefcase containing a book, the crossword puzzle I always seem to be doing, and my glasses. Much easier to get through security, much easier to stow (it fits under the seat with room to spare for my feet instead of being crammed into an overhead bin), much easier to grab when getting off the plane, and it’s much lighter to carry while waiting for luggage to appear or while in line for Customs.

Your needs may vary, of course, but most things you may eventually want during the flight are available on the aircraft. Music? They have headsets that are much more comfortable than they used to be, and a wide selection of channels. Water? As Ravenman says, just ask–I’ve never seen a flight attendant refuse a passenger’s request for water. A blanket, a pillow, an eyeshade–they’re all available. Reading material? A selection of magazines and newspapers are there too. And for an overseas flight, you’ll get a meal or two. It may not be the best cuisine, but it will be edible, and it will pass time.

I find that things are just plain simpler when I minimize my carry-on. My suggestion would be that you do the same.

14

I have been sent to Germany numerous times for the Army, so I feel like I know the flight all too well. Everyone has given you good advice–a couple more things I would like to add: Check out this site to see where you will be sitting and what seat you may want to request. One other thing to bring along with you is a small spray bottle of saline solution to keep your nose moist, to prevent getting sick from breathing all that recycled air.

Oh, and once you are in Germany, insist on visiting the Friedrichsbad Spa in Baden-Baden (50 km south of Heidelberg) on a Friday night. You won’t regret it!

15

I think Ravenman’s advice is excellent (although I don’t always follow it as closely as I probably should).

I have found that a cheap inflatable collar-style sleeping pillow to be worth its weight in gold on long flights. They stow very compactly, and provide MUCH better neck support than any combination of airline pillows & seatback headrests that I’ve found. They’re the only way I can actually get a good amount of sleep without waking with an awful crick in my neck.

16

Hmm, my seats are already reserved - 27B to Germany and 24B back on an Airbus A330. According to that site, I may be subject to foul winds emanating from the lav’s on the way to…I hope the air currents are with me. It also seems I will be near the baby-aisle, perhaps I should go with my stereo headphones on account of their moderate sound-dampening qualities.

So what goes on at the Friedrichsbad Spa on Friday nights? My dad lives south of Heidelberg and there’s a pretty good chance we’ll be making a trip up there anyway.

Incidentally, does anyone know what questions I’ll be asked by the German customs people (auf Deutsch)? I took 4 years of German in HS, but I graduated 2 years ago so my hörverständnis is not what it used to be.

17

In my experience flying in and out of Frankfurt, they most likely will not ask you any questions at all. If they do, you can pretty much count on them speaking English quite well.

18

Walk up to the booth, present your US passport. They’ll ask (in English) the reason for your trip.

Well, at least that’s what they did before 2001.

Water. Something to read. Hope that the movie’s reasonably worth watching.

Frankfurt’s a really nice airport. Even has connections to the train in the basement. Also, if I remember correctly, has those neat baggage carts that can go on escalators. Enormous duty-free section, which is useless for Americans except for the Cuban cigars.

19

'been in and out of Frankfurt many time over the yrs … have never had a problem w/ German customs AND yes, most all do speak English (with a decided Brit accent - as do most Germans.)

Further up in this thread, folks were talking 'bout time zone related sleep problems. In a word, Eastbound is a BITCH - don’t worry 'bout Westbound. The most important thing that you have to remember once you get on that plane going East is Get To Sleep - If you don’t, you’re gonna be a mess for 2-3 days.

have a good trip AND all that talk 'bout beer and sausage brings to mind the classic Irish toast …

May the wind at your back always be your own!

/pats.

20

I do a lot of international travel for work, stuff I always bring:

  1. Water
  2. Snacks (airline food is pretty terrible and never very healthy) - trail mix is a big one for me
  3. Books books books
  4. Little “pharmacy” - tylenol, allergy medicine (nothing worse than flying congested), tummy medicine (okay, I can think of something worse)
  5. Prescriptions (never check these!) - in the original bottles with my name on them
  6. Lotion (flying is so dry)
  7. Sleep mask
  8. Hair brush, tooth brush, tooth paste, deoderant, clean pair of underwear. It’s nice to be able to brush your teeth before you land.
  9. Slipper socks
  10. Inflatable neck pillow