Taking a trip

[Sparky]

I haven't been on a plane since I left the Navy in 1992. I am receiving an all expenses paid trip to be on an advisory board discussing adult growth hormone deficiency with Pfizer. I have to fly to New York Thursday. I need travel tips. I will be flying out at 7:40 am. What time do I need to get to the airport? Going to be traveling light and put most stuff in checked luggage.

[jmg8550]

I always arrive 2 hours early. I've never checked baggage so I can't help you there. If you don't know where you're going, just ask a DIA employee.

[Honey Badger282.8]

2 hours should be plenty for an early morning flight during the lull.

[Dlesh123]

Make sure any meds or things you can't afford to lose are in your carry on, not checked.
Lots of prohibited items since 9/11. No liquids more than 3 ounces in carry on. No knives, obviously no firearms or other dangerous weapons in carry on. You can go to TSA site to see a list of prohibited items in carry on.

I fly out of COS so an hour, hour and half is plenty of time to show up, DIA, I would definitely plan on showing two hours prior departure time, maybe more for that time frame of departure, I would imagine it would be busy at the screening points.

Try to check in from home within 24 hrs of departure, checked baggage will complicate that, be prepared to use kiosks to check in at the airport if not from home. Human interaction has been minimized by the airlines. Probably will need a credit card ( for ID only, ) or a PNR ( passenger name record) to work the Kiosks.

[Sparky]

Make sure any meds or things you can't afford to lose are in your carry on, not checked.
Lots of prohibited items since 9/11. No liquids more than 3 ounces in carry on. No knives, obviously no firearms or other dangerous weapons in carry on. You can go to TSA site to see a list of prohibited items in carry on.

I fly out of COS so an hour, hour and half is plenty of time to show up, DIA, I would definitely plan on showing two hours prior departure time, maybe more for that time frame of departure, I would imagine it would be busy at the screening points.

Try to check in from home within 24 hrs of departure, checked baggage will complicate that, be prepared to use kiosks to check in at the airport if not from home. Human interaction has been minimized by the airlines. Probably will need a credit card ( for ID only, ) or a PNR ( passenger name record) to work the Kiosks.

Would it be easier to cram everything into a smaller carry on? Biggest thing I have is a CPAP machine and laptop.

[Dlesh123]

Would it be easier to cram everything into a smaller carry on? Biggest thing I have is a CPAP machine and laptop.

I travel for 4 days at a time, with a Cpap and put it all in one carry on and one personal bag. Everyone has a story of a lost checked bag. Sometimes it is minimal disruption, other times, never to be seen again. My carry on will fit in any RJ overhead, so in a mainline bird should be easy. My personal bag will fit under most seats. But I don't carry a laptop, just two iPads.
As mentioned by others, no problem with CPAP in carry on, but will need to be pulled out and screened separately like a laptop.
Without experience with your specific belt, probably best to remove it before going through the screener machine ( any type).

[Dlesh123]

So with all of this good advice, did your trip go off without a hitch?

[bczandm]

Hmm, I'll take a shot:
1) Make sure you have no guns or ammo, see recent thread here It's an easy mistake to make.
2) Check in online if you can
3) Parking at the airport on Thursday can be difficult as the garages can be full, think about parking offsite. I prefer Wally Park.
4) Confirm your flight before you go. It's rare that things don't go, but it's a lot easier to rebook from the phone at home rather than wandering around the airport.
5) Put the number for your airline, hotel and other places you will be visiting in your phone. Make sure you have your Phone on autolock, after a minute or two.
6) Take a photo of your suitcase. It helps if it gets lost.
7) Mke sure your suitcase has a tag with your name and address on it before you leave.
8) Read the rules on what you can and cannot carry on as well as the quantities. Go to a Target or other superstore and buy legal size stuff or it will be confiscated
9) Look at a map of DIA and the airport you are going to, it really does help
10) Make sure you have a good photo ID with you, I think a Passport is best.
11) My number one PITA is forgetting my chargers for my phone, laptop and so on. Double check you have them and charge everything the night of your departure.
12) I'd allow 3 hours at the Airport only because you have not been there and haven't traveled much....but that's me. Answers here will vary.
13) You are going to NY? Take everything out of your wallet you don't need. I spent two hours in a NYPD substation with a friend who got pick pocketed in the City. Outstanding customer service isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I look back on that visit
14) Photo everything that remains in you wallet, especially the back of your credit cards in case you need to cancel. Some might suggest photos are a risk but I don't agree, especially if you have auto lock on your phone.
15) I print everything I need to trave..., flights, rental car info, hotels, important phone numbers just in case I have a phone problem. It has come in handy!

Then- be patient. Travel problems can be frustrating but if you roll with it you will be much better off.

Bob

[spqrzilla]

If I arrive at DIA an hour before boarding, I never make my plane. If I arrive at DIA two hours before boarding, it takes me 10 minutes to get through TSA grope session and to the gate so I wait in a terminal for one hour and 50 minutes.

I advise wearing pants that don't fall off without a belt so you don't show your thong in the TSA line.

Keep an eye on the clock and take a good toilet visit just before boarding starts.

[tmjohnson]

If you have to check a bag go to the counter and they will weigh it and you generally pay $25.00.