Flying for dummies (newbies)?

[Musky]

I need a "Flying for Dummies" book. We are leaving Pittsburgh this Saturday (6/4) at 2:10 p.m. and will have a 1 hour and 40 minute layover in Philadelphia, arriving in Orlando at 7:35 p.m. We have never flown before and are totally clueless. We are flying Southwest and I have so many questions I don't know where to start! I hope some of you experienced flyers can help me out. Some questions: What is curbside check-in? What is the difference between it and regular check-in? I understand that if I print my boarding passes myself I will not have to go the the "check-in counter", yet I have to check my luggage in somewhere, so where do I do that? And Pittsburgh, like most airports, has a landside and an airside terminal. Where exactly do we go through security? If we want to get something to eat, or buy something, do we have to do it before we go through security? How do we know how much time we have - that is, how long it will take to actually get to the gate? And what do we do with our luggage? What I mean is I know we leave our checked luggage somewhere and we keep our carry on with us, but what if we have more checked luggage than we can carry either on arriving or departing the airport. Are there some kind of luggage dollies or carts or something you can borrow or rent? And what if the kids get tired of carrying their carry-on (since I have no idea how far you may have to carry it)? Again, is their some kind of dolly you can put it on? Also, in Philadelphia, will 1:40 be enough time for us to find our new plane and get a late lunch/early dinner? Or will we not be allowed into the main airport area? Will we be responsible for getting our luggage on the second plane? I know you're probably right now at the stupidity of these questions, and some of them I think I know the answers to, but I just want to be sure. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Becky

 

[brentalex]

Since I am not familiar with the Pitsburg or Philly airports, I can only answer some of your questions. Curbside check in is done outside the airport terminal. There is usually a place near the entrance for your airline where you can check your bags. There is usually a much smaller line out there, so it is usually faster than going inside, but people also generally tip the people doing curbside checkin, and do not do so inside, so there is a bit of a cost. People tip anywhere from 1 up to 5 dollars per bag that is checked.
Most airports have places to eat on either side of the security checkpoints. So you should be able to get food either before going through or after. But once again, having never been to these airports it is possible that there are not places to eat after the security.
When you change planes, you do not have to worry about your luggage, the airline will move it for you. And you can go anywhere in the Philly airport, since you will have a boarding pass to get you back through security if you choose to. Since most airlines have their gates close to each other, as long as your first plane is not overly delayed, you will not have to go far to get to the second plane. Someone from the airline will be able to tell you where the gate is for the second flight.
Airports do have carts you can rent to move things around, but if you do curbside checkin, all you will need to move is your carry on stuff, just don't make the kids bags too heavy. All airports require some walking around.
Lastly, there are no stupid questions. Have fun

 

[bavaria]

You may want to visit this thread

Tips for navigating the airport

I started it as a guide for others in your situation, and several other frequent flyers have added tips over the weeks....

 

[puffkin]

Never been to Pittsburgh airport, so no comments there.....

We fly out of PHL, and there are plenty of food choices at the gates. Each terminal has all sorts of food places right outside the gates, plus I believe there is a food court somewhere. We always fly early in the morning though, so we usually don't need to eat and nothing is open anyway.

Honestly, I wouldn't have the kids have carryons. Pack a bag with essentials like a clean change of clothes, toiletries, swimsuits, and medication. Pack another bag with snacks, water, and materials to entertain the kids on the plan. I wouldn't want to have to worry about schlepping around with kids and tons of carryons, especially when you are not used to flying. That will be stressful enough as is!

Also, if you or your kids are susceptible ot ear pressure problems, you might want to consider purchasing Ear Planes. They are earplugs that help alleviate the air pressure changes in your ears. I NEED them, but my DH doesn't. My first trip on a plane was horrible, my ears were clogged for days after. I would get them just to be safe. They are sold at most drug stores/wal mart.

Finally, prepare yourself and your kids for take off. The plane starts from a virtual standstill and accelerates very quickly. The noise from teh engines is quite loud, and the pressure pushes you back in your seat. As you start to lift off, your stomach drops a bit. It is kind of scary if you don't know what to expect.....

Anyway, good luck and have a great trip!

 

[safetymom]

The security check point at Pittsburgh is in the landside building. When you come down from the ticketing floor to the transit floor there will be the security checkpoint. It is before you get on the cars that will take you to the airside terminal.

PIT is a great airport to spend some time in.

As far as curbside not all airlines do it at PIT so check with your airline.

http://www.flypittsburgh.com/AirportGuideServlet?action=faqs

In Phila there is a food court in the middle of the airport so you won't need to go past security to get something to eat. It's a good idea not to go past security because the security screening lines can be long.

Southwest will transfer your bags from one flight to the next. You don't see them again till you are in FL.

 

[cabowser]

We will miss you by three days, we are flying out of PIT on the 7th, flying usair directly to MCO. It is just under two hours. We got a pretty good rate, I think anyway, it was about $98.00 RT/person.

ANyway, thanks for posting this, I had some of the same questions.

Jan

 

[Musky]

Thanks for the great replies, everyone. Just a couple of things I'm still not clear on. If I print our boarding passes online, and we use curbside check-in for our luggage, then what? Do we go straight to security from there? When we change planes, will Southwest move our carry-ons also? Or will we have to carry them around with us for that hour and 40 minute wait? And do you think that will be enough time for us to grab a meal? (I know it seems like I'm obsessing about eating, but we have to be at PIT at noon and we don't get to MCO until 7:30! Somewhere in that time we're going to have to eat something besides peanuts!) As far as the kids having carry-ons, I won't know until we've packed whether we can get by without them, but we probably won't have them as all that luggage won't fit in the car we're renting. But if the kids do have to carry a bag it won't be that big a deal as they're 15 and 10 - not little kids. And finally, thanks for the warning about the takeoff. Looks like I'd better plan on taking some Dramamine. I have been known to get motion sickness on a swingset (honest to God)!

Becky

 

[safetymom]

If you print your boarding pass at home and then do curbside check in with the luggage you can go straight to security. You are responsible for carrying all your carry ons. Southwest will move your checked luggage to the next plane but you will carry the rest.

I don't know where you are connecting but PIT has a great food court. You can get food to go and eat it on the plane. Then you don't have to worry about eating during your connection.

An hour and 40 minute correction should be fine.

I love the feeling at take off. Your kids will probably enjoy it.

 

[AmbulanceDriver]

OK, so call me cheap but.
Some airlines have announced that they are not serving (for free) any food or drinks on the plane. (We have two short hops to get to MCO)
Is there any problem bring food, water, drinks (Non-acho) on the plane?

Can I bring chips, sandwich, canned cokes, etc.

Leave on Monday

 

[gw_lit]

Is there any problem bring food, water, drinks (Non-acho) on the plane?

Can I bring chips, sandwich, canned cokes, etc.

Leave on Monday

Not a problem, you can bring on anything you mentioned. In fact, as another poster stated, many of the food places in the airports will package your order for you to take on the plane.

 

[gw_lit]

And do you think that will be enough time for us to grab a meal? (I know it seems like I'm obsessing about eating, but we have to be at PIT at noon and we don't get to MCO until 7:30! Somewhere in that time we're going to have to eat something besides peanuts!)

My recommendation would be as soon as you get off your first flight, go immediately to your connecting gate. I'd recommend staying in the secured area and don't go out into the main terminal of the airport, the biggest delays seem to be getting through security, and most airports have plenty of food options in the gate areas. Once you get to your connecting gate, you can assess how much time you have to grab a bite to eat and how close you are to any food courts or restaurants. If you have time, you can dine at a Chili's or Fridays type place (sit-down restaurant), or if you are concerned about time, pick up something in a food court, McDonalds, Burger King, etc. You may not have the most healthy eating options... but hey, its vacation! (Its been years since I've been in the Philadelphia airport, so I can't comment on the physical layout there.)

Getting to your connecting gate right away should lower the stress level for everyone involved.

 

[Jeanne B]

Becky - Another tip...when you fly back home be sure you get to MCO two hours early. The Southwest lines at MCO tend to be VERY long plus you still have to go through security which can also take some time. We were running a little late on Wednesday because we left the hotel late and there was a major thunderstorm with severe downpours which slowed us down driving. By the time we dropped off our rental car and walked inside the airport we had just over an hour to spare and I think we would have cut it VERY close had an airport employee not come up to us and asked us if we were feeling lucky that morning...as it turned out Southwest had just opened up a check-in line downstairs so we went running along with the group of people behind us. We saw some people on our flight who were standing at the tail-end of the long line upstairs and they got to the gate with about 5 or 10 minutes to spare...too close for comfort for me!! Have fun!!

 

[seashoreCM]

If you are new enough to flying to want to buy a book "Flying For Dummies" you should not have more luggage than you can handle on "My First Flight". You don't want to be lifting, hustling and running, all sweaty.

Do not put valuables, undeveloped film, unused film, loaded cameras, medicines, keys in checked baggage. If the boarding agent tells you you cannot bring a suitcase into the plane for any reason, take out valuables, etc. before giving him the suitcase.

It is usually a bad idea to get a restaurant meal at the airport before going through security. Get food if needed inside security when flying out, save the airport restaurants for after you arrive.

If someone is in or partly occupying your seat, ask for a new seat (or just take another seat on Soutwest). If time permits start with the gate agent outside. Keep going up the chain of command (flight attendant, senior flight attendant) all the way to the Complaint Resolution Officer if needed. Don't say it up front but yes the airline can always do something about this, by asking for volunteers as a last resort.

Don't bring peanuts or peanut containing foods (PBJ sandwiches...) to eat on the plane. There are a surprising number of people allergic to peanuts and even the odor can make some of them ill enough to force an emergency landing!

Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm