First time flying!! Please help!

[KerriKaden]

Hi everyone. We are a family of 5 and this is our first time flying. Since SWA has those great rates , we decided to fly. I'm really worried, b/c I don't have a clue what to do. We have to drive about 4 hours to Nashville. When we get to the airport, how do I know where to go? Do you unload your baggage and then someone parks the car? What about renting a car? I plan to sign up for the EA thingy. Another thing I've got to figure out. We are leaving at 8pm and arriving at 10:40pm. Will it actually be 11:40 when we get there? I feel so clueless!! Any help would be appreciated!!

 

[cbrfan]

I've never been to the Nashville airport, but I imagine they're all pretty much the same basic setup. As you pull in there will be signs telling you which way for which airline. Just keep following the directions for Southwest. I always have DH drop me and our luggageat the terminal and then he takes the car to long-term parking and catches the shuttle back to the terminal. You can either take the bags into the terminal with you and check them yourself or you can give them to the skycap. Be sure to tip the skycap as they're independent contractors. And you'd like to have your luggage show up when you get there. Not sure what you mean by the time. I assume you're talking about a time zone change. The departure time will be Nashville time, the arrival time will be FL time. So if you don't reset it your watch will show you arriving at 10:40 but the airport clock will show 11:40. I hope that made sense. When we fly from MI to Chicago the airline flight times show us arriving in Chicago before we actually leave MI.

 

[KerriKaden]

cbrfan,
So, the arrival time that SWA shows is already adjusted for the time zone. So, really we will only be flying 1 hour and 40 minutes. 8:00-10:40. If it's 10:40 FL time, then my watch will actually say 9:40, b/c we are flying East. I know, I'm making everything hard! LOL Approx. how much does it cost to do the long term parking?

Thanks for your help!!

 

[cbrfan]

That's right. Your actual travel time will only be 1:40. Your watch will be behind. It works the opposite way on your return trip. Just be sure to schedule things like transportation based on actual local time.
I misspoke on the parking. We actually park our car in the economy lot (I'm cheap). I checked BNA and their rates are $8 a day for long term parking and $6 a day for economy. I got this information from www.ifly.com

 

[my3kids]

Airport Basics...101....When you get near the airport just start looking for signs saying Southwest....different airlines have different places to unload the luggage and check in. If you check them curbside you probably don't have to stand in line inside the doors. Otherwise take the suitcases and stand in the SW check in line with your driver's license ready to show. They will give you a boarding pass. Take the boarding passes and your carry on luggage to the security checkpoint. They will inspect you ID and boarding pass. Then you will grab a rubber maid type of pan and put your purse, coat, maybe shoes inside...one tub per person. Lap tops and video cameras have to be out of their cases. Then you will walk through the security arch. Gather up your belongings, put your shoes and coat back on, then you are off to find the gate. The walk ways are well marked to find th proper concourse and gate number. In larger airports you might have to catch a train to the proper terminal or concourse. If so it will be marked.

When I flew last month to FL with my children their photo IDS were checked carefully, even though I wasn't sure they needed picture identification. They flew out west last week and the people never looked for an ID for the kids in either direction.

 

[CarolA]

Nashville's airport is small and user friendly.

You have a couple of options on parking. You can follow the signs to Long Term parking, park and take the shuttle bus to the airport. (You will see shelters where the bus stops) or you can use an offsite parking service. I use http://www.flightpark.net/
They drive you over to the airport and when you return after you get your luggage you give them a call. For stays over five days these guys are much cheaper. I would suggest you use them. (I do tip the driver but he will load and unload your luggage for you.)

I haven't noticed them checking IDs for kids in Nashville, but they are VERY strict about the carryon limit. Each ticketed passenger gets two bags not ONE more. (you always see women trying to cram thier purse into thier briefcase here)

There are men and women in the airport wearing Red vests. They are some type of greeter service. If you get confused just ask them, they love to help.

Everyone in the airport is pretty nice with the exception of the people who check your ID at security. They get the award for the RUDEST people in Nashville! Just give them yoru boarding pass and ID and try to get away from them!

 

[KerriKaden]

CarolA,
2 of my kids have a photo id thingys that I received from their school pictures. Would this work? What do I do about id for my 2 year old? We won't need like birth cert. or anything like that will we?

About flight park, their price for a week is $41.65. If the info on ifly.com is correct, then it is $42 for economy parking at the airport. Wouldn't it be simpler to park in economy, instead of loading & unloading the luggage?

Thank you all for responding!

 

[Olaf]

You've still got to get your luggage out of the car and to the checkin counter. If you park first, you'll be hauling the luggage, along with your kids, onto the airport shuttle. Not fun.

DH always drops me and the kid at curbside checkin, and then he parks the car. He can go much faster without dragging luggage and child. I wait for him at the ticket counter of which ever airline we're flying. It's a good time to use those walketalkies.

Looks as if your daughter could help out too. Put her in charge of the carryons and the little ones, and limit them if you can. Nothing is more stressful than trying to keep your eyes on five carryons.

 

[KerriKaden]

Another dumb question? Aren't you all tired of me yet?

You know how you can print your boarding pass online? Well, is that all I will need? Is that like my ticket? If I have printed them, do I then just go to the security thing, and then board? We should be able to pre-board b/c Brooklyn is 2, right? I have to lug my carseat, ugh!! Do any of you bring a stroller? Is it worth the hassle?

THANKS!! I hope I'm not getting on your nerves!

 

[Vivianne]

To print your boarding passes online you need to go to go to the website for the airline you are flying and under the travel section you will find instructions on how to do this it's just a matter of entering your information. Usually it can be done 24 hrs before flight time. Your printed boarding pass will be scanned and then you can board the plane at the Gate when your flight announced. You get to this point after you have checked your luggage and passed through security. I don't have children but most people do bring their child's stroller along. In the long run, it gives you a break from holding your child while you deal with travelling.

 

[Vivianne]

The Orlando Airport can be confusing to a first time traveller since the Main Terminal (baggage claim and car rental) is a short train ride. It would be helpful for you to visit the Orlando Airport website at
www.orlandoairports.net/goas/arrive/arrive.htm.

At the website click on the far left column that says Passenger Terminal and then click Arrival Walkthrough. As you scroll down you'll see pictures and descriptions of the steps to take once you arrive.

Hope this helps.

 

[Vivianne]

Sorry. This is the correct site:

www.orlandoairports.net/goaa/arrive/arrive.htm

Have a great trip.

 

[foxtrotter]

We always take our stroller on flights. Just bring it right into the airport with you. You'll have to break it down and send it through the security scanner (at least we have had to every time). When you start boarding, just take the uncollapsed stroller right up with you and they'll put a sticker on the handle and give you a claim ticket. Stroll it right on down the ramp and leave it off to the side right before you board the actual plane. When you get off the plane, it should be right there where you left it. Well, not exactly where you left it of course, because it did come with you on the plane, but it will be in the same area off to the side. Anyway, that's been my experience though I've never flown SWA.

My 2 year old did not need an id any time we've flown, I really wouldn't worry about it at all.

Someone mentioned that the security id checkers are rude in Nashville. I think they must be rude everywhere because I've never dealt with one that didn't look like they wanted to be elsewhere and that you were a really big annoyance in their day. Just do what they say and move on as fast as possible before their attitude has a chance to rub off on you. Thye look bored, annoyed, exasperated, put upon, and like you just insulted their mother. I guess it may not be the best job, but man...

 

[my3kids]

kerrikaden: Unless you are leaving in the next few minutes, maybe what you printed out were your eticket confirmations? With etickets you need to check in and check your luggage before heading to security. Usually the boarding passes for SWA can be printed on the day of the flight only, just after midnight I think. If you have those you need to get the luggage checked and then head to security with your photo ID.