First time flyers

[DanB]

Any advice for first time flyers? Sending my GF and her son to US/IOA for 3 days and they haven't flown before. Staying at PBH.

I want to make their experience enjoyable and try to make their travel easier.

Any ideas on checked -vs- carry-on baggage these days? I use to do carry-on before 9/11 but wondering now if checked is better since you just walk through the security checkpoints.

Converted e-tickets to paper so they wouldn't have to wait in that slow ticket line.

Reminded her to write down where she parked and to leave parking ticket and parking fee in car.

Make sure to check-in at gate and be at gate 45 minutes before arrival.

Any other ideas/suggestions?

 

[Seahag]

Give them stuff to keep them busy on the plane - I don't fly well -so I appreciate a good book, magazine, or really anything that keeps my mind off the fact that the earth is 30 thousand (or so) feet below me. But that's just me LOL
How about a guide book to US & IOA ??(cough*plug for Kelly*cough) That would *really* help get them even more excited about the trip, plus give them some good pointers for when they arrive!!

I don't think this answered *any* of your questions ! So sorry !!

 

[prncess674]

I don't know what airline they are flying but if the airline they are flying has online check in they can bypass the ticket counter completely and head straight to the gate. Having checked luggage adds time to the check in process. Two adults should be able to survive for 3 days with just a roll a board suitcase.

 

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by DanB
Any advice for first time flyers? Sending my GF and her son to US/IOA for 3 days and they haven't flown before. Staying at PBH.

I want to make their experience enjoyable and try to make their travel easier.

Any ideas on checked -vs- carry-on baggage these days? I use to do carry-on before 9/11 but wondering now if checked is better since you just walk through the security checkpoints.

Any other ideas/suggestions?

DanB ,
I would say carry on if they pack light and are not planning to travel with anything that is supposed to be checked (like scissors or something of that nature).
Something that we really enjoy doing while we are waiting to leave at the gate (we always get there real early) and also while on the airplane is watching DVD's on a portable DVD player. It really makes the time pass by quickly. Movie suggestions which would be really fun for a flight to Universal would be Terminator, ET, Back to the Future or Jaws (et'c.).. If your DVD doesn't have two earphone jacks, you can purchase a splitter so that both can watch...
-DC

 

[Lewisc]

Not sure why you went from E-Ticket to paper ticket.

I think it's easier to check luggage.

 

[DanB]

Originally posted by Lewisc
Not sure why you went from E-Ticket to paper ticket.

Never used e-ticket b4. I didn't convert them yet. My girlfriend doesn't use credit cards and she won't have mine.

Talked to Delta and they said they've changed the kiosks so you can just enter your flight confirmation number (no credit card needed). Haven't verified this yet but if true then I don't see a reason to convert to paper tickets, plus the Delta rep said that even w/paper you have to get a boarding pass issued at the gate.

 

[BarryHom]

If you fly Jet Blue, you can watch Direct TV while you fly. That made the time pass quickly. On other airlines, I usually take a Game Boy and a lot of games along.

 

[suzysezso]

I don't know if they still do this post 9-11, and I guess it depends on how old the child is as to whether he would get a kick out of it, but in the past if you made it known to the flight attendant that it was a kid's first flight they used to give out cute little pilot wing pins...

 

[prncess674]

There is no advantage to paper tickets. In fact if you do have paper tickets you will certainly have to stand in the long ticket line. STICK WITH ETICKETS!!!!

 

[robvia]

A few observations. I fly Delta and did it twice this year.

E-tickets are the way to go. They've perfected the Kiosk machines. The lines are short and there are people to help.

You are only allowed 1 carry on and a personal item (camera bag, laptop). On both trips, I checked one bag, that had most of my cloths in it. They wrap a bar coded sticker on the luggage. It easily peals off after the trip. It's a better system, and I trust it, meaning, I don't fear losing my luggage.

The carry on has my CD player, cds, cell phone, a folder with all reservation info, Tylenol, snacks, facial stuff, and one set of cloths just in case. I listen to my CD player and enjoy looking out the window.

 

[ksdave]

I agree with robvia. I flew 65,000 miles on Delta last year and NEVER use a paper ticket. I had one business trip earlier this year where I had to fly American and they sent me a paper ticket. I was so afraid I was going to lose the d..n thing the whole trip. E-ticket is so easy because you can just show your license and they give you the boarding passes.
The portable DVD is also a great suggestion. I have one we bring all the time, both on the plane and in the car. I also have a DVD drive in my laptop, so the kids can watch one movie on the portable while the wife and I watch another on the laptop. Just remember to bring headphones, as the flight attendants will ask you to turn off the sound if it bothers any other passengers (had this happen). Just get a headphone splitter jack from Radio Shack and two sets of headphones.
By the way, I never check my bag. I can get six or seven days worth of clothes, etc. in my suitcase that fits in the overhead, and my DVD and laptop go in my computer bag/briefcase. Getting luggage at the end of a flight can be a long wait, particularly in a large airport like MCO.

 

[DanB]

I did buy Kelly's guidebook for her to read. I'll remind her to maybe bring a magazine or two on the plane.

They're flying from Atlanta to Orlando so fortunately it's a very short flight. When I fly I usually bring a portable DVD player to help pass the hours. To make their flight a bit easier, I bought them each a small MP3 player (RCA Lyra) so they can relax with some of their favorite music if they get a little nervous. I'm also letting them borrow my two Sony noise cancelling earbuds (MDC-NC10) that really reduce in cabin noise.

Went to the airport last night on the way home and talked to a Delta ticket agent. She said the eTicket kiosk still requires you to have any card with a magnetic strip on it to use it (she said even a blockbuster card works). Still a little concerned about the eTicket.

I did inform Delta that this was their first trip on a plane.

The flight from ATL to MCO is booked solid. I couldn't get them two seats side-by-side. The best I could do was two isle seats in front of each other. I reminded her to check with the gate agent to see if they release any seats that they could get two side-by-side.

Also we decided just to use a car service for the trip to the airport so she wouldn't have to worry about parking, etc..

 

[prncess674]

The flight from ATL to MCO is booked solid. I couldn't get them two seats side-by-side. The best I could do was two isle seats in front of each other. I reminded her to check with the gate agent to see if they release any seats that they could get two side-by-side.

Assuming one of the people sitting next to one of them is a single. I am sure no one will have a problem giving up their middle seat for one the aisle's you party holds.

Personally I wouldn't bother with toting a DVD player for short flights. Two adults should be able to entertain themselves quietly for a few hours reading magazines or books.

 

[prncess674]

Talked to Delta and they said they've changed the kiosks so you can just enter your flight confirmation number (no credit card needed). Haven't verified this yet but if true then I don't see a reason to convert to paper tickets, plus the Delta rep said that even w/paper you have to get a boarding pass issued at the gate.

The eticket kiosks will give you a boarding pass. There is no reason to "recheckin" at the gate. Since they are seated in different aisles they may check with the gate agent about changing seats.