Walk me through the airport procedures

[3DisneyBuggs]

So I haven't flown in 15 years and want to be prepared. We will be leaving at 6 am out of Newark United Airline. I will check in the day before and print our boarding pass. If they have curbside check in for luggage, what do I do next? Do I have to check in again? I'm nervous to fly anyway so I want to be familair with the airport.

 

[prestonbunch]

Wish I could help you. We are in the same boat. Haven't flown since 2001 and we are flying out tomorrow morning.

As far as I understand it, once you check-in and print boarding passes, check your luggage, then you go through security and then to your gate and wait to board.

If I'm wrong, someone can correct me.

 

[NJRRK]

1 - Make sure you pay for your baggage when you check in online (if you need to) That will save you time at the airport.
2 - Arrive EARLY! Get there well before 5 a.m. Terminal C at EWR is notorouisly busy at 6 a.m.
3 - When you get to the airport, I'm not sure if there is curbside luggage or not at C I've never used it. If you need to go inside there will be an ungodly long line to check your bage, but it moves pretty well.
4 - When you get to the front of the line go to one of the terminals, and follow the directions, it will ask you for you name and other pertinent information, it might even ask if you want to upgrade to 1st class for $????
5 - Head for security. Expect this line to be pretty long also, if you expect it to be long and it isn't you'll be happy. If you expect it to be short and it's long you'll be upset.
6 - Be ready with your boarding pass and ID at the end of this line.
7 - When you get to the security belt, put your "stuff" that you have on the belt and take out your baggie with liquids and put that on the belt separately. Take off your shoes and head through the metal dectector or body scanner, as the TSA agent directs.
8 - Head for your gate, sit wait and enjoy.

It's not as bad (usually) as it seems to sound.

 

[Flight]

If you print out your boarding passes at home and check your bags curbside, you now head up security. Let the fun begin!

Make sure you are not carrying items deemed a threat by TSA. If you have any they will be confiscated or you may be given the option of not carrying them with you.

There may be TSA agents constantly yelling for everyone to remove shoes, laptops, coats,... This adds to the carnival atmosphere at security. There may be several bewildered passengers that have never travelled by air and they can muck up the whole smooth and stress free process.

You may be selected to go through the full body scanner which the government has said posses no hazard to your health (the airline pilots unions have said there is no way pilots are going through that machine - I wonder why?). Those going through the metal detector might set the machine off or could be randomly selected by a computer to be subjected to the full body patdown.

When you successfully navigate the TSA obstacle conures, proceed to the gate area. Once there, you realize you left your cell phone at the security checkpoint.

At the gate , you are not required to check in with the agent. Just wait for the boarding announcement. Boarding generally begins within 30 to 45 minutes prior to departure, depending on the size of the plane.

 

[njmom47]

I just flew United out of Newark to Florida (not Orlando) last month on a 9am flight, so I arrived at 730am. My driver's license was expired eek but the agent said I could use that as ID to fly for up to one year of the expiration date.
I didn't do anything special with my 3 oz liquids although you may want to. I thought the security lines were rather quick..there were personnel directing you where to go. I did wear slipon shoes and just put everything in the bins. Also, I didn't check my gate after heading through and of course, the gate had changed.
As far as boarding I was in row 25 so I boarded in the last group. I was a little concerned that there would be no room for my carryon but there was. I really had no issues with the entire process.

 

[Planogirl]

I was nervous the last time too because it had been so long. Just make sure that you have your id out before you get to the first security guy. Then put coats, purses, carry-ons, cell phones or any other electronics, your bag of liquid toiletries and shoes all separately in a plastic bin or two. The next agent will push it through the x-ray machine. Also, empty pockets of change or anything else and try not to wear too much metal.

How they handle the next part seems to vary. Teen DS was just sent through the metal detector while I was directed to the body scanner. I was nervous about that but the agent there joked with me so I felt better. He told me that I had to dance to make it work right and I laughed and he sent me on through.

Then hurry to gather up your stuff and put your shoes on and you're done!

 

[giantstoindy]

1 - Make sure you pay for your baggage when you check in online (if you need to) That will save you time at the airport.
2 - Arrive EARLY! Get there well before 5 a.m. Terminal C at EWR is notorouisly busy at 6 a.m.
3 - When you get to the airport, I'm not sure if there is curbside luggage or not at C I've never used it. If you need to go inside there will be an ungodly long line to check your bage, but it moves pretty well.
4 - When you get to the front of the line go to one of the terminals, and follow the directions, it will ask you for you name and other pertinent information, it might even ask if you want to upgrade to 1st class for $????
5 - Head for security. Expect this line to be pretty long also, if you expect it to be long and it isn't you'll be happy. If you expect it to be short and it's long you'll be upset.
6 - Be ready with your boarding pass and ID at the end of this line.
7 - When you get to the security belt, put your "stuff" that you have on the belt and take out your baggie with liquids and put that on the belt separately. Take off your shoes and head through the metal dectector or body scanner, as the TSA agent directs.
8 - Head for your gate, sit wait and enjoy.

It's not as bad (usually) as it seems to sound.

This.

 

[SamSam]

Everyone has given excellent advice. I'll just add that you just need to take a deep breath and not worry to much. Watch the people in front of you as you come to the security belt, and you will see how it is done...that's the only good thing about long lines.

 

[dontthrowsand]

As someone who always seems to be chosen for pat downs, I wear a sports tanktop and shorts or yoga pants. I find it makes it easy when it is pretty obvious you aren't able to hide anything. I don't mind them anymore but the machine makes me sick from the noise.