Have not flown in 20 years -- what to expect?

[Savin4Disney]

Okay I have not flown in 20 years. We are flying on Midwest Express this Nov. Me and DS (14).

Please tell me what to expect from the moment I get out of the car till I land in Orlando.

We are flying out of Milwaukee at 7;30 am.


Thanks

 

[Paull117]

What day are you flying out we are leaving MKE on Nov 4th.

Paul

 

[Savin4Disney]

I leave on Nov. 19 at 7:30 am

 

[ducklite]

You get to the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight, check-in, go through security, find your gate, and wait in your seat until your row is called for boarding.

When you get off you follow the signs for baggage claim, take the monorail to the main building, go down the escalators, get your bags and head to your resort.

Really the only things that have changed in 20 years is that the flights are all no smoking, you have to go through a security screening, and they no longer serve meals on most flights.

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

Don't leave your luggage unattended if you're going to get food or even if you're going to the restroom. Only people with tickets are allowed to go through security to the gate, some exceptions if a parent has to accompany a young child to the gate.

The airlines have size and weight restrictions on your luggage. Check the website, most airlines have lowered both limits. Don't put expensive equipment like cameras in your checked luggage. Don't pack film in your checked luggage and ask to have high speed film (ASA 800 and higher) hand checked when you go through security.

 

[jho]

We fly out of Milwaukee on Midwest quite often. If you have a computer and printer, you can check in for your flight up to 24 hours ahead of time and print out your boarding passes. Midwest has curbside check-in at Mitchell Intl, so if someone is taking you to the airport, you and your luggage can be dropped off right at the curb by the Midwest sign. Show your printed boarding pass and driver's license and they will check your bags right there. You can then bypass the counter inside and go right to the security area.

 

[Savin4Disney]

So that means I don't need tickets correct. I bought them online. So I just print out my boarding pass?

 

[RAD]

This of airlines now as Greyhound busses in the sky, all they do is get you from point A to point B. Any 'frills' that you might remember are gone, you can't even find a magazine to read anymore except for the airlines publication.

 

[Tara]

For going through security, if you have a laptop, be prepared to take it out and put it in its own bin to go through the x-ray machine. If your shoes have metal shanks, you'll need to take them off and have them run through the machine, too. (I just always take mine off unless I'm wearing sandals.)

Flights typically begin boarding pretty early these days, so don't decide to go buy a snack if you are getting close to your departure time.

Don't lock your checked luggage unless you have the new type of lock that TSA can open. Your checked baggage will likely be opened and inspected (they'll leave a little card in your bag letting you know they opened it) and if it is locked, they'll cut the lock off.

If you check the top of this board, there's a thread about items that you can't carry on with you -- you might want to check it out.

This may seem silly, but check your ink pens. There are a lot of popular rollerball pens (like the Pilot, ironically enough) that leak profusely due to the difference in air pressure in the cabin during flight. Some rollerball pen makers have addressed this and their packages are now marked "airline safe" for this reason.

Also, since you are flying on Midwest Express, I do believe you can expect fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.

 

[2Disney]

Cookies are only on flights after 10:30. I am taking the same flight on 9/05. Midwest says to allow 2 hours as they are busiest early mornings.

 

[jho]

So that means I don't need tickets correct. I bought them online. So I just print out my boarding pass?

That's right, you have an 'e-ticket' - no paper tickets (some airlines now charge extra to issue paper tickets). Just go to Midwest's web site, click on Online Check-in under Travel Tools in the right hand column, and it will guide you right through the check-in process. You'll need the full name of the person who is holding the reservation, the departure city, and either the flight number or confirmation code. You can do this beginning 24 hours before your departure time.

 

[Savin4Disney]

One last question. I am bringing DS (14)with me. I will have his high school ID and birth certificate. I know under 18. they do not need ID but my son is as big as a grown man. Do you think his ID will be okay?