Tips to have a better experience while flying to Walt Disney World

[DebbieB]

Good ideas all!
I do have to disagree about joining the gate lice though. I prefer to be part of the solution vs part of the problem.
I have seen those passengers denied access when they try to 'cut the line'. I have no issue shoving my way through that group. My comment is usually 'you know...you'll get in a lot faster if you step aside and let those called to board'....yep, I get some dirty looks, but I get more chagrined faces.

I was out at Disneyland a couple of weeks ago and was lucky enough to get a first class ticket on miles (was actually less miles than coach). I was boarding with first class and I heard the gate agent tell the person behind me that they were zone 4, only first class has been called. Seriously, zone 4?

 

[DebbieB]

Regarding reclining, please go back slowly. On a flight a couple of months ago, the woman in front of me slammed the seat back and I almost had my drink in my lap.

If I'm in the window seat and have to get up, it's hard to do if the people in front have their seats fully reclined. I'm not a small person and practically have to do a limbo. Even if they are not reclined it's hard.

 

[goofy4tink]

Jeff....you're absolutely correct. If the seat in front of you is reclined, especially all the way, it does make it difficult to get up.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Good ideas all!
I do have to disagree about joining the gate lice though. I prefer to be part of the solution vs part of the problem.
I have seen those passengers denied access when they try to 'cut the line'. I have no issue shoving my way through that group. My comment is usually 'you know...you'll get in a lot faster if you step aside and let those called to board'....yep, I get some dirty looks, but I get more chagrined faces.

I have been known to say to some particularly aggressive gate lice "you know if you let me OFF the plane you have a better chance of getting on it" Seriously, some of them line up before the plane even unloads. I think there's some prize for being "first on" that I have never gotten LOL! (Back when the TSA used to do the "random" checks at the gate they always checked the "first one on" which I thought was hysterical since these idiots had been lined up shoving their way to the front for an hour and then got held up for the "random" check)

And if you are shoved up there trying to board before your boarding group don't be surprised when people shove past you and aren't polite. Rudeness leads to rudeness.

 

[OKW Lover]

Well said OCC. For a while there I thought I was on FlyerTalk.

 

[kar915]

As someone who worked in the airline industry for a number of years. Just be patient, have common courtesy, listen and be early leads to less stress.
I'm the opposite of most people going to the airports gets me all excited and I could spend all day in the airport even if I wasn't flying anywhere!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

As someone who worked in the airline industry for a number of years. Just be patient, have common courtesy, listen and be early leads to less stress.
I'm the opposite of most people going to the airports gets me all excited and I could spend all day in the airport even if I wasn't flying anywhere!

Actually I love airports and flying... And the people who are fighting to board early, screaming because "they didn't hold the plane for us" (while holding bags of food and merchandise purchased IN the airport and otherwise acting out just add to the fun! ( Seriously I see this a lot in Atlanta, people show up at the gate with big bags of Chick Fil A screaming about "my connection was late" Ummm..yes it was so you should have skipped ChickFilA and come to the gate LOL!)

 

[jtowntoflorida]

8. When the time finally comes for you to board the plane make sure everyone is holding their own boarding pass when they get to the gate agent.

This has never once been something required on a flight I've been on. They've always been happy (at the TSA boarding spots and at the gate) for anyone to hold the boarding passes for anyone.

Not saying it's not something that has happened. But if your kid really really wants to hold everyones' passes, it might not be an issue for your flight, and I wouldn't worry about it until/unless it actually is something the gate agent needs.

In the last year or so, both the TSA agent and the gate agent have reminded us as we approach that podium that everyone needs to be holding their own boarding passes. This seems to be relatively new, but I have seen consistency in this requirement.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

In the last year or so, both the TSA agent and the gate agent have reminded us as we approach that podium that everyone needs to be holding their own boarding passes. This seems to be relatively new, but I have seen consistency in this requirement.

I guess it depends on the airport, because that was not my experience this month at IAD or LAX. We held our grandson's boarding pass and TSA didn't say a word.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I was out at Disneyland a couple of weeks ago and was lucky enough to get a first class ticket on miles (was actually less [FEWER] miles than coach). I was boarding with first class and I heard the gate agent tell the person behind me that they were zone 4, only first class has been called. Seriously, zone 4?

This happens fairly often. The annoying thing is when the gate agent lets them board in the wrong group anyway.

 

[Super 27]

Disagree. BECAUSE there's always a large crowd, be part of that crowd OR you will have a hard time getting through to board.

8. When the time finally comes for you to board the plane make sure everyone is holding their own boarding pass when they get to the gate agent."

This has never once been something required on a flight I've been on. They've always been happy (at the TSA boarding spots and at the gate) for anyone to hold the boarding passes for anyone.

Not saying it's not something that has happened. But if your kid really really wants to hold everyones' passes, it might not be an issue for your flight, and I wouldn't worry about it until/unless it actually is something the gate agent needs.

It is policy at most airlines that every passenger present their own boarding pass at the gate. That said, it's always going to depend on the CSA that's working the gate. More times than not I do see this rule enforced, so it's probably smart to plan on everyone hanging on to their own boarding pass. Interestingly enough, TSA seems to be less strict about this at the security checkpoint than the gate agents are during boarding. While I've seen the Boarding Group Police yell at plenty of people at the gate to hold their own boarding pass, I've never seen anyone get scolded at the TSA checkpoint.

One of the best articles like this I have read.

A couple of additions

if your airline charges for seating and you have to sit with your child pay for the seats. Do not show up and demonstrate that your child is actually the mature member of the family by screaming and crying because you and your child are not seated together. No there is no law or regulation requiring the airline to seat you with your family.


Check your reservations and your seat assignments often. Routinely read on travel boards about people who miss the plane because they didn't realize the airline had changed the flight time.

^^THIS. And if you have a problem with your seat assignment, I recommend getting to the gate very early, and discussing it with the agent at the podium. If you get there early and are nice about it, 99% of CSAs will try to work with you and find a solution. If you wait until they are trying to board the flight and then storm up to the podium screaming, you're not getting any help (nor should you). Also PLEASE don't complain to the flight attendants about your seat or expect them to move you once you are on the plane. They have ZERO control over your seat, and all it does is hold up the boarding process.

While I try to keep my touch light, if there is turbulence, all bets are off. I would assume most passengers would prefer an occasional bump on their seat to a passenger falling on the floor and requiring medical attention. -- Suzanne

Respectfully, if the turbulence is significant enough that you need to hold on to prevent falling, you should be seated with your seatbelt on, not walking the aisle. And just because you see the FAs up in the aisle doesn't mean that it's safe for passengers - crews are trained on how to move around safely and have a LOT of practice.

 

[Super 27]

I'm gonna just throw this out there too:

http://rantsofasassystew.com/2013/12/10-ways-to-be-an-awesome-airline-passenger/

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually I love airports and flying... And the people who are fighting to board early, screaming because "they didn't hold the plane for us" (while holding bags of food and merchandise purchased IN the airport and otherwise acting out just add to the fun! ( Seriously I see this a lot in Atlanta, people show up at the gate with big bags of Chick Fil A screaming about "my connection was late" Ummm..yes it was so you should have skipped ChickFilA and come to the gate LOL!)

When I was waiting for my SW flight home last month, I sat and watched a young woman come running up to her gate, as the door closed! She was yelling and screaming not to shut the door....too late, it closed!! Man, she was peeved. There was crying, yelling, tears. And....a bag of food. It wasn't pretty.