This trip last weekend was not to Disney, but to go to a friend's wedding,but I thought I'd share are experience on the flights.
Friday, September 21st -- Our plane was scheduled to leave at 10 am, but we decided to get there at 7:30 a.m. We flew Delta Express. There was only one person in front of us to check in. The initial check in procedure took only a few minutes. We opted to bring no carryons (except for my purse) to eliminate any problems.Except for a couple of questions (like, "Have you received anything to carry on the plane with you from someone you do not know?" "Are you carrying any sharp items with you, like tweezers...?" "Have your bags been in your possession at all times?") check in was very normal.
After check in, we passed through our next security. At this point only persons with tickets are able to enter. We had to show our tickets and a photo id (we used our driver's licenses). We went through with no problems (my oversized purse wasn't even opened!) -- There was a stewardess in front of us that made the metal detector buzzz...she was pulled aside and "patted down" extensively...guess no one is beyond suspicion anymore!
At boarding, again, we had to show our tickets and a photo i.d.
Our observations of Dulles airport -- It was a bit eerie, I must admit...very quiet...unusually so...like a library. There was an NBC broadcast "set" set up in the corner of the "lobby" area. There were long lines at other airlines (maybe our was empty because we were so early) United people had been in line for over 2 hours...with no end in site!!! There was a definite presence of security. Dogs and policemen...more security everywhere!
The flight was fine...though everyone apparently was as stressed as we were! When we landed and the door was opened, everyone clapped! No kidding! I think everyone on the plane was feeling uneasy, though no one spoke it!
Getting off the plane in Orlando, we both noticed the lack of people in the airport! The wing that our gate let out of was entirely empty! No one was there except for the passengers on our plane...very strange for Orlando airport. Another sign of heightened security! Our friends were waiting for us just beyond the security checkpoint. We got our bags and left...nothing different there.
Sunday, September 23rd --
Because our experience from Dulles was so easy, we decided to check in about 1 1/2 hours ahead of time when leaving. WRONG MOVE!!! Our flight left at 2:30 p.m. and we barely made our flight!!! When we walked in, the line was about as long as a football field! I'm not kidding!!!! It did move fairly quickly, but it was stressful, worrying about whether we were going to make it or not! When we got up to the check in counter, we had 35 mins til our plane took off. The Delta employee was concerned that we wouldn't make it. He asked another employee if he should try to check our bags in or not! (*gulp*) He decided to try it. He asked the same questions as before, typed, pressed "enter"...then said, "You're OK" (WE later learned that the computer does random checking as well as "red flag screening"....that explained the other LONG line next to ours where people were dumping out their luggage on long tables!)
We raced to get to the next security check point...went through uneventfully....raced some more (*imagine the OJ commercial running through the airport!*)...we made our flight...with only one person behind us! (*whew!*)
The flight was fine....the end of our experience at last!
My advice to anyone travelling -- give yourself PLENTY of time! If we had had children with us, we would NEVER had made our Orlando flight home! I would rather be waiting around the airport then the stress of barely making it! (By the way, the Orlando airport has a mall in it....great way to kill time, if you are early!)
To all those flying, be prepared, allow plenty of time, and you will have a great flight!
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Friday, September 21st -- Our plane was scheduled to leave at 10 am, but we decided to get there at 7:30 a.m. We flew Delta Express. There was only one person in front of us to check in. The initial check in procedure took only a few minutes. We opted to bring no carryons (except for my purse) to eliminate any problems.Except for a couple of questions (like, "Have you received anything to carry on the plane with you from someone you do not know?" "Are you carrying any sharp items with you, like tweezers...?" "Have your bags been in your possession at all times?") check in was very normal.
After check in, we passed through our next security. At this point only persons with tickets are able to enter. We had to show our tickets and a photo id (we used our driver's licenses). We went through with no problems (my oversized purse wasn't even opened!) -- There was a stewardess in front of us that made the metal detector buzzz...she was pulled aside and "patted down" extensively...guess no one is beyond suspicion anymore!
At boarding, again, we had to show our tickets and a photo i.d.
Our observations of Dulles airport -- It was a bit eerie, I must admit...very quiet...unusually so...like a library. There was an NBC broadcast "set" set up in the corner of the "lobby" area. There were long lines at other airlines (maybe our was empty because we were so early) United people had been in line for over 2 hours...with no end in site!!! There was a definite presence of security. Dogs and policemen...more security everywhere!
The flight was fine...though everyone apparently was as stressed as we were! When we landed and the door was opened, everyone clapped! No kidding! I think everyone on the plane was feeling uneasy, though no one spoke it!
Getting off the plane in Orlando, we both noticed the lack of people in the airport! The wing that our gate let out of was entirely empty! No one was there except for the passengers on our plane...very strange for Orlando airport. Another sign of heightened security! Our friends were waiting for us just beyond the security checkpoint. We got our bags and left...nothing different there.
Sunday, September 23rd --
Because our experience from Dulles was so easy, we decided to check in about 1 1/2 hours ahead of time when leaving. WRONG MOVE!!! Our flight left at 2:30 p.m. and we barely made our flight!!! When we walked in, the line was about as long as a football field! I'm not kidding!!!! It did move fairly quickly, but it was stressful, worrying about whether we were going to make it or not! When we got up to the check in counter, we had 35 mins til our plane took off. The Delta employee was concerned that we wouldn't make it. He asked another employee if he should try to check our bags in or not! (*gulp*) He decided to try it. He asked the same questions as before, typed, pressed "enter"...then said, "You're OK" (WE later learned that the computer does random checking as well as "red flag screening"....that explained the other LONG line next to ours where people were dumping out their luggage on long tables!)
We raced to get to the next security check point...went through uneventfully....raced some more (*imagine the OJ commercial running through the airport!*)...we made our flight...with only one person behind us! (*whew!*)
The flight was fine....the end of our experience at last!
My advice to anyone travelling -- give yourself PLENTY of time! If we had had children with us, we would NEVER had made our Orlando flight home! I would rather be waiting around the airport then the stress of barely making it! (By the way, the Orlando airport has a mall in it....great way to kill time, if you are early!)
To all those flying, be prepared, allow plenty of time, and you will have a great flight!
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