Haven't flown in 10 years - What do I need to know?

[Tremblay]

@Spiderman

Security theater that is just that, a show.
Did a weekend trip; on the way out I threw my bag on the x-ray conveyer belt & picked it up on the other side. For the return trip the next day,** there was a [del]useless troll[/del] TSA agent repeatedly reminding us in line that our toiletry liquids needed to be in a 1qt bag that was pulled out & separated from our luggage. I inquired if there was anything I should know (like a raised threat level) because it seemed they upped the security since the day before. Nope. Nothing. Apparently outbound city wasn’t doing it up to snuff.**

Reasons as such is why I just pick up my travel sized toiletries at a drug store near my hotel. Its not worth the time/effort a wishing and a hoping I pass TSA’s requirements, or arguing if they are wrong.

[bump]

@Icarus

For Southwest, your boarding pass that you print at home from your computer will have a big letter (A, B, C) as well as a number. At many of their airport gates (not sure if it’s all Southwest everywhere) you will see poles, or floor markings, with numbers (usually in sets of 5) and letters indicating where you should line up. The “A” group will be instructed to line up first. The “B” group will be instructed to line up after “A” group is boarded, etc. So, you will have an explicit spot to stand when lining up. If you are B-22, you try to find out who B-21 is and line up near them (usually people will try to be first in their small group of 5 in spite of their actual numbering, because people are, well you know…).

Because Southwest does have a frequent flier program, and allows for buying early boarding, if you are not a frequent flier with them, or have not purchased early boarding, you may likely be in group B or even C. The farther away from A-1 you are, the less likely you would be able to carry-on your suitcase (nothing new there). So, for you it probably makes sense to check the bag.

That’s really the main difference since 2004; you used to check in, and be assigned a boarding group at check-in, but no particular order. Now you get your boarding group AND sequential number within that group assigned at boarding, and all the business select jerks hog up group A pretty much every time.

(I like SWA less and less, the more like other airlines it gets…)

[ThelmaLou]

@GrumpyBunny

Exhale and try to relax during the body cavity searches.

@DrDeth

This is not true. Likely a attempt at humor.

@TriPolar

Exactly. You have to inhale and tense up.

Given the state of my social life, this could be the highlight of the trip.

[dougie_monty]

Haven’t flown in ten years? It’ll take some exercise to build those wings back up.

[sciurophobic]

@Sattua

Getting yourself organized to go through security is the hardest part. You have to take your shoes off and put them through the x-ray along with your bag of liquids, electronics, jacket, belt, and any jewelry big enough to set off the metal detector.

So I always try to wear slip-on shoes and no jacket, belt, or jewelry, to make things easier.

They also pull people out of the security line for “extra screening” pretty frequently. I fly maybe twice a year, and it has happened to me 3-4 times in the past five years.

There’s also the possibility you’ll benefit from what TSA calls “managed inclusion” and be subject to less screening and find out everything you did to make your screening easier was a waste of your time.

[Moonlitherial]

Don’t drink alcohol on the plane and avoid caffeine if you can.
Buy a bottle of water after you’re past security. Both of these will help with dehydration which, although this is a fairly short flight, still makes you feel less dragged out after arrival.

Dress in light layers. Planes are either boiling hot or freezing cold. I have no idea how this is possible but it’s true. A wide scarf or pashima is the greatest travel accessory. Avoid metal belts, tons of jewelry and shoes that are complicated to get on and off. A smooth trip through security sets the tone for a trip for me.

I can’t sleep on planes so I always stock up on reading material for the flight. I have options in case something suddenly doesn’t appeal. If you’re using electronic devices to read on make sure they are fully charged and have a charging cable in your carryon in case of delays.

I am self admitted and unrepentant overpacker so I will not provide packing advice.

[Heracles]

Millimeter-wave scanners have replaced ordinary metal detectors in most U.S. airports. Assuming you are willing to go through this device:

• You are required to empty your pockets completely. Even papers or used Kleenex are a no-no. You may hold your passport and boarding pass in your hands.
• You step into the scan area, like a round telephone booth.
• You put your feet on the two foot markers in the middle of the booth, raise your arms above your head and stay still.
• The scanner unit revolves around you in about 2 seconds.
• You exit the booth.
• You may still be frisked briefly if the image shows some abnormal lumps, such as bunched-up underwear.

[YogSothoth]

Try not to recline, it pisses people off.

[PaulParkhead]

@Capt_Kirk

I miss the plastic boarding pass, I spent my teens flying MAF, DAL, HOU and would rather fly Southwest than anyother airline to this day. I am a forty something WM with a shaved head and giant goatee/beard, I got all the way to the back and for some reason the seat next to me is the last to be filled.

Have a great trip.
Capt

People avoid you? I am a small (5’6" and light) man and the guys I am least scared of are tall, bald (or shaved headed) men with beards. They seem amiable, in general.

[Heracles]

Oh, also, I believe this didn’t happen much in 2004:

• Because people are allergic to checked luggage, carry-on bags have gotten larger. People have medium-sized suitcases with wheels which they carry to the gate and onto the plane.

• The over-head bins are no larger than they were 10 years ago. They fill up very quickly.

• Airline staff may determine that your carry-on is too large to be carried into the cabin, or that there’s no room left for it. If so, they will affix a special tag to your bag and give you a claim ticket; the bag will be stored in the luggage area of the aircraft. If this happens, you will of course have no access to its contents during the flight (pills! Kindle!). At the end of the flight, you must wait in the gangway until your bag is retrieved and given back to you. (It can get more complicated if you have connecting flights.)

[Magiver]

Be aware that your laptop or any device with a spinning hard drive will be damaged if the plane looses pressurization. Planes are generally pressurized to about 8,000 ft above sea level in flight. Conventional hard drives use an air bearing that requires something below 10,000 ft of pressurization.

[even_sven]

@Heracles

Oh, also, I believe this didn’t happen much in 2004:

• Because people are allergic to checked luggage, carry-on bags have gotten larger. People have medium-sized suitcases with wheels which they carry to the gate and onto the plane.

• The over-head bins are no larger than they were 10 years ago. They fill up very quickly.

• Airline staff may determine that your carry-on is too large to be carried into the cabin, or that there’s no room left for it. If so, they will affix a special tag to your bag and give you a claim ticket; the bag will be stored in the luggage area of the aircraft. If this happens, you will of course have no access to its contents during the flight (pills! Kindle!). At the end of the flight, you must wait in the gangway until your bag is retrieved and given back to you. (It can get more complicated if you have connecting flights.)

The upside to this is that you don’t actually have to pay the baggage fees. Just wait for them to announce the flight is full, and gate-check your bag for free. Keep your must-haves in your personal item.

[even_sven]

@Tremblay

Reasons as such is why I just pick up my travel sized toiletries at a drug store near my hotel. Its not worth the time/effort a wishing and a hoping I pass TSA’s requirements, or arguing if they are wrong.

I always travel with a bottle that’s just a little too bit large, and never once have I been called out. I also never take liquids out of my bad, and have only called out a couple times.

[ThelmaLou]

@Heracles

Millimeter-wave scanners have replaced ordinary metal detectors in most U.S. airports. Assuming you are willing to go through this device:

• You are required to empty your pockets completely. Even papers or used Kleenex are a no-no. You may hold your passport and boarding pass in your hands.
• You step into the scan area, like a round telephone booth.
• You put your feet on the two foot markers in the middle of the booth, raise your arms above your head and stay still.
• The scanner unit revolves around you in about 2 seconds.
• You exit the booth.
• You may still be frisked briefly if the image shows some abnormal lumps, such as bunched-up underwear.

Hmmm… my doctor said it’s time for me to have a mammogram. Would this suffice? Too bad I had the colonoscopy a month ago. :smack:

[ThelmaLou]

@Tremblay

Since I fly for pleasure/trips and not business, I wear sandals/flip flops/shoes that are easy to get on/off for security reasons.

Did you ever consider that you might have to crawl out of tangled wreckage in those?

I think about stuff like that. It’s a curse.

[friedo]

If you’re crawling out of tangled wreckage, you’ve got bigger problems than your footwear.

[Bumbershoot]

I take an empty water bottle in my carry-on bag and fill it up at a water fountain after I go through security. I take some snacks too. And something to read (I love my Kindle).

[ThelmaLou]

@friedo

If you’re crawling out of tangled wreckage, you’ve got bigger problems than your footwear.

Not necessarily. If you are crawling out of tangled wreckage, you’ll be glad you’re wearing real shoes and jeans, not flip-flops and shorts. Just saying.

It’s like how you should wear long pants and boots when you ride a motorcycle and a leather jacket isn’t a bad idea either (helmet, too, of course). Yeah, you’ll prolly get to your destination okay, but if you go skidding along the pavement, you’ll be glad your skin was covered up.

[Tremblay]

@ThelmaLou

Not necessarily. If you are crawling out of tangled wreckage, you’ll be glad you’re wearing real shoes and jeans, not flip-flops and shorts. Just saying.

It’s like how you should wear long pants and boots when you ride a motorcycle and a leather jacket isn’t a bad idea either (helmet, too, of course). Yeah, you’ll prolly get to your destination okay, but if you go skidding along the pavement, you’ll be glad your skin was covered up.

I figured if I’m going down-- I’m going down. :eek:

[Bumbershoot]

Would you like to borrow my parachute, ThelmaLou? Believe it or not, TSA has no problem with someone carrying one onboard.