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Ten Things You Need To Know About Flying
There are many resources around the Internet that explain the important aspects of flying. I have read most of them because I like to be prepared to fly. I have rounded up the best tips and provided them here with a little commentary.
- Check-in Online
These days as the Internet gains popularity, the ability to check-in for your flight is available online. This will allow you to confirm flight details and print your boarding pass. Depending on your flight, airport, or airline, there are different options that are available to you by checking in online. **TIP** One thing that I have noticed is on more than one occasion I have been offered upgrades to my flight at a significant discount. - If you can, pick your seat wisely.
You'll want to avoid seats near the galley and restroom, due to noise and potential traffic respectively. Avoid the seat just before the exit row because they often do not recline. Tail seats often do not have middle seats, which offers more room. Aisle seats are generally preferred to to accessibility and extra room in the isle, but watch out for those food carts coming down the isle. - Arrive 1 hour early for domestic, and 2 hours for international.
I think that it is pretty clear to all travelers that arriving early is a requirement for boarding your flight on time. If it is during a holiday or other busy time, it is generally advised to double the times given above. It is one thing to potentially waste 2 hours arriving early if you get right through, but it would be worse sitting in an airport on Christmas Eve after missing a flight. - Carry-on Travel Only
By carrying on, you bring only what you need. Generally this is only possible for trips that last only a short duration. Most people bring one carry on bag that can fit in the overhead compartment and one additional bag, such as a back pack or laptop case. Check with your airline on what is acceptable on your particular flight. Keep in mind not all airplanes are the same size. - The art of the smaller aiport.
Large airports do not always have the best prices. For example, Ft. Lauderdale's airport generally has much cheaper prices than Miami International, and it is a smaller airport only 30 miles north (aprox.). Most online utilities offer the ability to search nearby airports, which can infact save you a lot of money. Sometimes it can save you enough for the car rental, gas, and a few snacks. - Bring Snacks
A bottle of water and some assorted nuts can pay off in dividends. Unless you like to pay $3 bucks for a bottle of water and even more for a bag of nuts. I generally pack a few bottles of water and a few snacks for each leg of a round trip. Don't go overboard, pack snacks, not a lunch. Perishables are NOT a good idea. - Bring your own entertainment.
An iPod, book, laptop, or a few magazines work wonders. A laptop is generally too big for airplanes these days unless you have the luxury of first class. An iPod is a great thing to bring on the airplane because you can store music, video, audio books, photos, and podcasts all on an iPod. A properly setup iPod could keep almost anyone entertained for 24 hours straight. - Talk to your neighbor!
Flights are a great way to meet exciting and new people. You're stuck together for a few hours, and you have something in common with them (you're traveling to the same place), how much easier could it get? I mean Harrison Ford and Anne Heche built a romance on not being able to get away from each other, so who knows? Ok, that is a bit too much, but try it. I can say without hesitation that one of the things I absolutely love about flying is who I will meet on my journey. - Nonstop is the way to fly.
Do everything you can to avoid having to take a connection flight. By flying nonstop, you avoid the possibility of your luggage getting lost, missing your connection, having a flight delay, and pretty much every possible thing that could go wrong with a flight, is now doubled due to making a stop on your trip. But then again, getting on a new plane offers you the ability to meet yet another new person. - Depart as early as you can!
Traffic is generally lowest early in the morning. If you can catch the first departing flight, your chances for hitting traffic are as low as they can get. Part of being a smart traveler is avoiding the crowd.