Airports for Dummies type question(s)

[yoopermom]

Not that my DH is a "dummy", but he hasn't flown alone ever, and not at all in at least eight years, so he's asking me to walk him through what to expect from arriving at airport to boarding the plane.

He won't have any luggage, only carry on might be a magazine or water purchased after security.

Two one-way tickets, MKE-Denver (departing 12:44 pm on United), ABQ-MKE (departing 6:20 am on Delta)

Is it correct that I can check him in 24 hours in advance? When I do so, is that when I will be able to print off his boarding pass?

All he will need is his boarding pass and his drivers license, correct?

When he gets dropped off at the airport, will he have to check in at any desk, or can he proceed right to security as long as he has his preprinted boarding pass?

Once he gets through security and locates the correct gate, he doesn't need to do anything except wait to be called, correct? (He has Economy Plus/Delta Comfort, so I assume he will be called after first class, people who need help to board, but before the regular economy?)

Both airports websites suggest being there 60 minutes in advance if you have no checked luggage, is that early enough, or should he plan on being there earlier?

Any other suggestions/information for him?

TIA!
Terri

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, you can check him in 24 hrs prior to flight time, and yes, you should be able to print out his boarding pass. Since he isn't familiar with flying, I would have him get to the airport closer to 90 mins prior to departure. That way he won't feel stressed.
He should be able to just go directly to security, and yes, he just needs his ID and his boarding pass. He should be prepared for security....shoes off, jacket off, belt off, pockets emptied.

 

[alliecat523]

In Delta Comfort he will have "SKY" on his boarding pass. When they call Sky Priority, that will be his boarding group. It's been awhile since I've flown United but it should be something similar.

 

[yoopermom]

Thank you both SO much, he will be more comfortable knowing what to expect. MKE is our home airport, and ABQ is smaller, also, so I think he'll be fine.

Now if he just makes his connection in Atlanta!

Terri

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Both airports websites suggest being there 60 minutes in advance if you have no checked luggage, is that early enough, or should he plan on being there earlier?

I fly many times each year. I always TRY to arrive at any airport 2 hours early, whether I'm checking bags or not -- even though I'm very familiar with the process, am experienced at navigating airports, and get to use the first class / frequent flyer TSA line.

90% of the time, I'm at the gate way too early. No problem. I get a sandwich and work on my laptop.

But there have been other times when I've run into slow traffic on the way to the airport, or I've made a wrong turn, or the TSA process has taken an hour.

Keep in mind that boarding is 30 minutes before the departure time. At 15 minutes before departure, seats can be released for standby passengers.

 

[NotUrsula]

Full-body scanners require your pockets to be completely empty. To avoid his being that guy who is standing there holding up the line while he digs stuff out of his pockets, here's a tip:

On his way out the door, give him an empty gallon ziploc bag to put in his pocket. While he is standing in the security line, he should empty ALL of the contents of his pockets into the baggie, including loose change, sunglasses, wallet, keys, phone, etc., and his wristwatch if it is a large metal-banded one. That way, once he gets to the head of the line it will all be in the baggie, which he can just drop in a bowl while he goes through the scanner. (His wedding ring will NOT alarm, no need to remove it.)

Actually, if you can get him a compact fabric bag (such as a camper's little drawstring ditty bag, or one of those very compact zip-down grocery sacks), that is optimal, because it isn't see-through, so other folks in the line won't be tempted to grab that baggie with the wallet in it. That's the downside of no bag at all for a man -- your valuables are right there in an open bowl when you take them out of your pockets, as you've got no place to put them out of sight.

 

[kamik86]

Full-body scanners require your pockets to be completely empty. To avoid his being that guy who is standing there holding up the line while he digs stuff out of his pockets, here's a tip:

On his way out the door, give him an empty gallon ziploc bag to put in his pocket. While he is standing in the security line, he should empty ALL of the contents of his pockets into the baggie, including loose change, sunglasses, wallet, keys, phone, etc., and his wristwatch if it is a large metal-banded one. That way, once he gets to the head of the line it will all be in the baggie, which he can just drop in a bowl while he goes through the scanner. (His wedding ring will NOT alarm, no need to remove it.)

Actually, if you can get him a compact fabric bag (such as a camper's little drawstring ditty bag, or one of those very compact zip-down grocery sacks), that is optimal, because it isn't see-through, so other folks in the line won't be tempted to grab that baggie with the wallet in it. That's the downside of no bag at all for a man -- your valuables are right there in an open bowl when you take them out of your pockets, as you've got no place to put them out of sight.

This is what I do. However if you have a jacket on your way to the airport (not sure if he will or not) you can even skip the baggie if your jacket pockets zip. That is what I do just move everything to the jacket pockets and put the jacket and shoes in the bin.

The only other thing I will mention is he shouldn't stop paying any attention to anything while waiting near the gate... just in case they move the gate or something. Its rare but it happens.

 

[yoopermom]

Thank you all again, for giving us more to think about.

We are staying at a large chain airport hotel in ABQ, whose free shuttle starts running at 4:30 am, so I'm sure he will want to leave there by 5 (giving him an hour and a half). I assume we just ask for the shuttle at check in? (I've never stayed at an airport hotel.)

He's a hunter, and has lots of those little bags, so I will make sure he sticks one in his pocket.

And he's going to be so nervous, I'm sure he'll be tapping his foot waiting to join the line to board, they won't be moving any gates without him !

Thanks again!!!

Terri

 

[dina444444]

Thank you all again, for giving us more to think about.

We are staying at a large chain airport hotel in ABQ, whose free shuttle starts running at 4:30 am, so I'm sure he will want to leave there by 5 (giving him an hour and a half). I assume we just ask for the shuttle at check in? (I've never stayed at an airport hotel.)

He's a hunter, and has lots of those little bags, so I will make sure he sticks one in his pocket.

And he's going to be so nervous, I'm sure he'll be tapping his foot waiting to join the line to board, they won't be moving any gates without him !

Thanks again!!!

Terri

I don't know about the shuttle but Albuquerque has a very quick to get through security the number of times I've flown through there.