Air travel questions

[ladder13]

Like others here, my road trips are going to be under 12 hours. Gone are the days of driving 20+ hours to FL in one day.
I know of no way to get across the Atlantic by car.
Yep, flying is a hassle but I don't do it often.

 

[dockmurgw]

I think everything has been covered already, but here's a couple more that I don't think were mentioned, but I may have missed it.
Give yourself PLENTY of time. Much can go awry between your doorstep to the door of the plane, so leave early and get there early. I would rather sit and wait at the gate than sweat out missing the flight.
If you're going to have connecting flights, don't book a flight that will force you to run a marathon through the terminals to make the next flight. I'll spend more for a ticket that allows at least an hour between flights if I have to, because that extra time is often needed.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

TSA can ruin your trip in a hot second. DON'T piss them off be dropping trou and say go ahead and make sure you don't miss anything. I almost learned that lesson the hard way. Let them grope you, let them pick through everything, don't get snarky with them. They will pull you out of line for further inspection long enough for you to miss your flight.

 

[pawngal]

TSA can ruin your trip in a hot second. DON'T piss them off be dropping trou and say go ahead and make sure you don't miss anything. I almost learned that lesson the hard way. Let them grope you, let them pick through everything, don't get snarky with them. They will pull you out of line for further inspection long enough for you to miss your flight.

True /\. I pissed off TSA one time enough they called security.(I had plenty of time before my flight) It was 5AM so I wasn't in the best of humor. I'm over 75 so supposedly it is not required to remove my shoes. I wear the same pair every time I travel, most of time, no problem. I argued for awhile, when security arrived I demanded a chair so I could sit down and tossed the shoes to the side. I also quipped about an underwire bra, the metal zipper in my jeans and the small metal belt buckle. Guess they didn't want to see what color my undies were.
So, sturdy shoes have a metal shank in the sole. Sometimes they are OK sometimes not.

 

[NYlakesider]

TSA can ruin your trip in a hot second. DON'T piss them off be dropping trou and say go ahead and make sure you don't miss anything. I almost learned that lesson the hard way. Let them grope you, let them pick through everything, don't get snarky with them. They will pull you out of line for further inspection long enough for you to miss your flight.

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely"

Quote Lord Acton (1834-1902)

 

[ladder13]

Agree on the TSA folks.

OTOH I have found CBP people helpful and friendly, on the American side. A couple weeks ago one of the CBP guys advised us to get Global Entry to speed up our return.

 

[WR Moore]

After the dude with the plastique in his shoe, they don't care what the shank is make from, the shoes go through the x-ray.

I think it was Atlanta decades ago where I saw a young lady get unnecessarily wanded. The way she was dressed she wasn't hiding much at all.

 

[Dave_n]

I fully agree with Global entry. My wife and I have had ours since the program started and you get automatic TSA-Preclear with GE. Now that CBP use facial recognition, no longer do you have to have your fingerprints scanned. Takes around 15 seconds to clear and then you are through Customs. So if you have only carry-on, you are straight out. At PHL there is even a special lane for the "exit to civilization!! Dave_n

 

[Beemerguy53]

You know, it's funny...the other day I had a question come to mind about shooting range etiquette, so I wrote to TSA to ask them. Wouldn't you know, they referred me to the Forum! Who'd a thunk it!

Frequently Asked Questions | Transportation Security Administration

 

[Beemerguy53]

After reading the Comments/answer on here you don't really need this However i found these helpful when i Flew commercial for the first time.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/baggage.html

What Can I Bring? All | Transportation Security Administration

Why in the world would you ask the airlines or TSA questions about flying or airline security, when all the [mis]information you need can be found right here?

 

[Skeet 028]

I may have to fly back east. I truly do not like to fly these days. I flew all over back in the 60s and 70s. I worked FireRescue on an airport. By helping some flight crews I was even given a free seat or two. But it was a different world back then. The people at TSA are too full of their power...somewhat like the other out of control Federal Agency called Homeland Security. You give 'em a bit of a hard time which includes the question why when they tell you to do something stupid and they immediately think you are questioning their authority. But as bad as the TSA is the sardine cans they put you in when you travel. You can carry your meds etc as a carry on. I carry insulin and insulin needles ...etc etc...in my carry on. TSA gave 'em a cursory look...I remember flying when I gave my rifle to be carried in the cabin by the flight crew...to Alaska esp

 

[yaktamer]

You should be able to carry them on but will need to take them out of case and run through scanner.

You may not need to take them out. It depends on which airport and which type of scanner they are using. I've gotten grief for taking my laptop out of my bag and for leaving it in the bag. At the same airport. In the same week. At another they made you take all the electronics out going through, but were nice enough to point out the shiny scanner in the next lane that wouldn't require that, but that they don't use because no one has been trained how to use it. And what goes in a bin vs. directly on the conveyor belt varies, seemingly with no rhyme or reason.

 

[yaktamer]

Adding to clarify:

Currently, we are a one vehicle family, and my son has football practice this year. Flying is actually cheaper than renting a car for one way trips out and back.

I honestly don't know if my tablet, laptop, or cell phone have lithium ion batteries, would these devices be marked?

Can I presume meds have to be in their original container? If so, is there a size limit on carry on baggage?

More questions will probably arise!

Baggage size questions are not a TSA question, they are an airline question. Between the airline website and the TSA website you can get all of your questions answered with accurate, current information.

 

[6string]

Think about "seating zone" priority

If you book your flight yourself, look at options for seating priority.

The higher number if your seating zone, the longer you wait to board and the less time you have to get settled in. Also, there may be less or no overhead baggage storage. Zone 9, for example, is usually the longest wait. The airline knows you chose to pay the very lowest price and will treat you accordingly.
If you feel you need extra time to get seated and comfortable, an extra couple bucks will get you priority seating.

Of course, first class will cost a lot extra. But, even seated in coach, you can get an option for priority boarding. Zone 1 in coach usually seats immediately after first class.

This takes a lot of stress out of flying, and being stuck treated like cattle.

If you have to make a connection, better priority can really help when things get busy and hectic.

 

[K-22]

Meds

Adding to clarify:

Currently, we are a one vehicle family, and my son has football practice this year. Flying is actually cheaper than renting a car for one way trips out and back.

I honestly don't know if my tablet, laptop, or cell phone have lithium ion batteries, would these devices be marked?

Can I presume meds have to be in their original container? If so, is there a size limit on carry on baggage?

More questions will probably arise!

Regarding meds, have your pharmacist print out some extra labels.
Put the meds in other containers, zip locks, etc. and label with the appropriate label. You are legal, and good to go.

 

[LVSteve]

You may not need to take them out. It depends on which airport and which type of scanner they are using. I've gotten grief for taking my laptop out of my bag and for leaving it in the bag. At the same airport. In the same week. At another they made you take all the electronics out going through, but were nice enough to point out the shiny scanner in the next lane that wouldn't require that, but that they don't use because no one has been trained how to use it. And what goes in a bin vs. directly on the conveyor belt varies, seemingly with no rhyme or reason.

If you think it drives you crazy, imagine how frustrating it is for the bad guys trying to establish a pattern to help them crack security.

 

[yaktamer]

If you think it drives you crazy, imagine how frustrating it is for the bad guys trying to establish a pattern to help them crack security.

I wouldn't mind it so much if more of them were polite and clear with their instructions.

 

[lrrifleman]

Thank you for all of the advice and recommendations.

Airfare has been booked. Outbound, I am flying American: PHL to CLT to IND. On the return, I'm flying direct: IND to PHL. What can be FedEx'd, will be.

Again, thanks!