flying... how bad has it been lately?
 

Getting on a flight Wednesday with the wife and 2 kids to go to St Paul/Minn. for the holiday...

How bad has flying been lately?

Lately it hasn't been bad. Wednesday -- it will be bad.

Not bad at all to be honest. I fly weekly and patience is the key. I flew with my daighter a couple of weeks ago and it went just fine.

Of course John hit the nail on the head. I am puposely not flying this week due to the additional holdiay travel.

I am also a fan of checking my luggage, that way you don't have to deal with the not fluids, creams, lotion bs at security. Are you flying non stop?

Bill

Not that bad, lately, but Weds will not be good i'm afraid. I don't have to fly again til the 29th, thank goodness.

"..not that bad..." is a relative term. The security checks move rather quickly, almost pointless in some cases. The airline performances themselves are another question entirely...they sukc...bigtime

Just flew to south carolina on wed--had a stop in cincy on the way down, and a stop in atlanta on the way back. atlanta was fairly crowded/busy--there were alot of delayed/cancelled flights--all in all it wasn't bad--we had to change gates 3 times, but our flight was only 20 mins. late
Now flying this week during the holiday....I would expect it to be baaad.

I don't mind the normal "everyone is traveling today" stuff, its the mindless TSA crap that raises my bloodpressure.

Are electronics allowed now, or will I have to check my Nokia and laptop?

Very bad. I would take the train...

Check everything that you can live without but carry pill form meds and anything expensive that is allowed. Enjoy...

It really has not changed in a long time with the exception of the month after the recent London bombing timeframe.

Joe

id10t -

Just flew to SLC and back on Delta. No problems with carrying my laptop.

I take my lap top, cell phone, ipod, etc. with me on all of my flights. Just take the lap top out in the screening process, and unless the TSA person is in training, you'll be fine.

Bill

There's been a lot more room in the overhead bins.

Timely post/question.

I haven't flown in a decade or so. I'll be flying (dread) up to Portland after Thanksgiving.
I'll have my shaving dob bag in a carry-on bag...OK to have a cologne bottle and a safety razor in it/with me?
What about a checked garment bag...can I lock it?...do they want a key for it?...do they want to rummage through it?...so that they can steal my stuff?
Thanks.

www.tsa.gov is your friend.

Any liquids up to 3oz in original containers; these in a one Quart ziplock bag. No, not 4oz. No, not one gallon. Razor no problem.

You can lock checked bags, but you should use TSA approved locks that they can open. If they open your bags they toss in a little note.

It's no biggie to fly. Prepare, deal with it, arrive at your destination. Not worth it for less than 400 miles though.

I fly at least once/month and I'm religious about not checking bags if it's at all avoidable. I spent over a week in China and didn't check bags. The airlines can't lose what you don't give them! :rolleyes:

As far as the fluids restrictions are concerned...
1) Read the TSA web site. They have very clear instructions regarding what they allow. It's not that onerous.
2) I've removed most fluids from my toiletries. Rather then 'Lectric Shave, I use baby power prior to shaving with an electric razor. It works fine. My contact lens solutions fits in the TSA mandated 1 quart bag, as well as some nasel saline for treating dry sinuses on long flights. Tooth powder instead of tooth paste also is an easy drop-in. Pepto Bismal and Malox now offer chewable tablets in addition to liquids. Stick deoderant/anti-persprant is also an easy swap.

I don't check bags and if I were you, I'd arrive at the airport three hours early, rested, hydrated, after a nice meal. With a book.

Wednesday will be brutal.

Thanks for the link, Don. I'll take the minimum on board w/me.
I'll also call the airlines as to what time I ought to arrive at the airport.
I'll probably just FedEx my garment bag and a box of tools (gathering a Ford Ranger to drive back).

SmileWavy

Edit: Have a good trip and Holiday, id10t.

May I give you some tips for getting thru security smoothly? In addition to those mentioned above:

Wear slip-on shoes.
Remove your jacket and have it over your arm.
Laptop bag unzipped (remove when you get to the front of the line)
Plastic 1 quart baggy for toiletries.
Additional plastic bag - put your IPOD, Cell Phone, Watch, PDA, and any large jewelry into the bag.
Ticket must be in hand.
ID must be inhand.
Throw your stuff into the bins. Laptop and bag w/cell etc., can go into one bin.
Shoes in a bin, jacket in a bin, computer or roll on goes thru by itself.
All your items must be grouped together, don't let anybody mix stuff up in between your two or three bins.
Don't walk thru the metal detector until motioned to do so - keep your ticket/ID in YOUR HAND.
After cleared, grab all your stuff, double check to make sure you have it and walk a few steps away. Put on shoes, jacket, repack items. Check a 3rd time that you've forgetten nothing.

I fly once or twice a month cross-country. This gets me thru security rapidly with no problems. Bring a book. Wednesday will suck. Many people who are traveling on this day are inexperienced with the current security regulations. They absolutely positively WILL hold your line up. Arrive early and don't stress over it.
angela

I flew just a couple weeks ago - through several different airports. The experience varied from airport to airport. John Wayne was nice - friendly staff, short line, nice experience. Charlotte - ugh, feels like you are in the "new world order". Las Vegas's security lines where understaffed, and it was a struggle to get people through. The line literaly was out the door and into the drop off zone.

... and if you plan to fly in/out Las Vegas this weekend be ready for some nice waiting lines ... about 750,000 people are expected this long weekend thru the airport (plus the ones driving)!!! yet another record for Las Vegas!!

I fly 2 or 3 times a week .. every week (except for 4th July, Thanksgiving and Xmas). My rules:
- NO checked baggage, I can live out of my carry-on for 6 days (all hotels have laundry/dry-clening service!!)
- Zippy bag with toothpaste, toothbrush, razor and shaving cream, most hotels will provide those items (and then some) free of charge if asked nicely
- laptop, shoes and jacket out at the checkpoint
- cell phone and pocket change in the laptop case
- ticket in pocket, no need for ID after first check

Good luck!!

Im usually on four flights per week, to me, the airport was absolutely atrocious last Thursday. Im glad Im at home for the next two weeks and not traveling. I can't imagine what its going to be like on Wednesday.