Not been on a plane in 10 years

[enlisted person]

I have not been on a plane in 10 years and in 5 weeks I am leaving for a 2.5 week stint in the czech republic. I have not been in Europe since 1999 and that was the UK. This is going to be an interesting trip. I will be working most of the time but would like some suggestion on going through the airports and things. I have CPAP machine,if you know what that is , and a knee brace, so I am sure to get the full treatment. I hear they have good beer in czech, so that will be a bonus.

 

[Lindley]

Well, probably they're going to give you the extra look-over anyway, so just don't give them any extra cause for concern. Remember, the laptop goes through out of its bag, and don't try to take any liquids or gels on the plane. (Small amounts are acceptable, but put them in a small zip-lock....I prefer to just go with none.)

 

[Ruaidhri]

Well, probably they're going to give you the extra look-over anyway, so just don't give them any extra cause for concern. Remember, the laptop goes through out of its bag, and don't try to take any liquids or gels on the plane. (Small amounts are acceptable, but put them in a small zip-lock....I prefer to just go with none.)

Man, I've been on a plane trwice in my life. \don't get the appekla. |I'd rather drive.

 

[Vulcan Princess]

Leave extra time at security. My dad travels with a CPAP, and he has a letter from his doctor explaining what it is. He's never had a problem, but it can't hurt to have the letter anyway.

I recommend shoes that slip off easily and that you can wear socks with, since you'll have to take the shoes off for security, and nobody wants to walk around barefoot on grimy airport floors or spend a zillion years re-tying shoes.

Bon voyage!

 

[Lindley]

Well, probably they're going to give you the extra look-over anyway, so just don't give them any extra cause for concern. Remember, the laptop goes through out of its bag, and don't try to take any liquids or gels on the plane. (Small amounts are acceptable, but put them in a small zip-lock....I prefer to just go with none.)

Man, I've been on a plane trwice in my life. \don't get the appekla. |I'd rather drive.

Well, I'm not sure what appekia is, but I'll agree that traveling commercial isn't all that. I'd much rather rent a 4-seater plane and fly myself. However, that isn't always practical for financial or range reasons.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Take gum. Every time I fly my ears pop and I always wish I had remembered to take gum.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Well, probably they're going to give you the extra look-over anyway, so just don't give them any extra cause for concern. Remember, the laptop goes through out of its bag, and don't try to take any liquids or gels on the plane. (Small amounts are acceptable, but put them in a small zip-lock....I prefer to just go with none.)

Man, I've been on a plane trwice in my life. \don't get the appekla. |I'd rather drive.

Well, I'm not sure what appekia is, but I'll agree that traveling commercial isn't all that. I'd much rather rent a 4-seater plane and fly myself. However, that isn't always practical for financial or range reasons.

I think he was going for "appeal".

 

[iguana_tonante]

I hear they have good beer in czech, so that will be a bonus.

Oh boy. Prepare your taste buds for the time of their life. Czech beer is awesome. Pivo, prosím!

Na shledanou!

 

[ares93]

i can tell you this, the czech are crazy. in a good way though. they give the saying "sex drugs and rock & roll" a brand new meaning. i love that country.

 

[Omnius]

Well, probably they're going to give you the extra look-over anyway, so just don't give them any extra cause for concern. Remember, the laptop goes through out of its bag, and don't try to take any liquids or gels on the plane. (Small amounts are acceptable, but put them in a small zip-lock....I prefer to just go with none.)

Man, I've been on a plane trwice in my life. \don't get the appekla. |I'd rather drive.

As soon as they build that transatlantic bridge I'll do that for sure!

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I'd just wear shoes without metal in them and allow yourself plenty of time to get through security - especially if you are boarding at Hartsfield (I thought I remembered you being from SC so I am thinking you might be going out of here - sorry if I got that wrong).

For an international flight out of Hartsfield, I get to the airport 2.5 hours ahead of time, and I am an expert and very light packer who knows what to wear and carry on, etc so I won't get stopped. But being a post-9/11 rookie, I'd get there 3 hours ahead if I was you - if we are talking about Hartsfield here. 1.5 hours to go through the ticket line and security, .5 to get out to the international terminal, .5 to find your gate and get settled, and .5 to relax and feel smug about how you got there without feeling rushed.

Add another .5 hours if you are traveling on a Monday or a Friday - those are the worst days to travel because of all the business people you will be going through security with - more people, more laptops & gismos = more time.

If you are going out of a smaller airport, your mileage may vary. Hartsfield is a zoo, so you'd probably need less time in a smaller airport.

P.S. - the Czech Republic is beautiful. And especially in Prague, a lot of people speak English as it's a very touristed city. So you have no worries there.

 

[Marten]

The beer is at least cheap.

 

[JiNX-01]

I have not been on a plane in 10 years and in 5 weeks I am leaving for a 2.5 week stint in the czech republic. I have not been in Europe since 1999 and that was the UK. This is going to be an interesting trip. I will be working most of the time but would like some suggestion on going through the airports and things. I have CPAP machine,if you know what that is , and a knee brace, so I am sure to get the full treatment. I hear they have good beer in czech, so that will be a bonus.

Pay a visit to the TSA web site. Pretty much anything you need to know about getting thru the security checkpoint and what is permissible in checked and carry-on bags is there.
If you can't walk without the brace -- I assume you brought it up because it's metal -- you might want to ask for wheelchair assistance when you check in.

 

[Mr. B]

I thought I would add one thing. I don't fly much but I did in May and I bought some IEM headphones for my MP3 player. I got the Etymotic HF-5 for around $100 and some Comply foam tips. For the price they are some of the best noise isolating headphones you can get. With music playing it totally drowned out the incessant engine noise which made the flight considerably more plesant. It's a worthwhile investment even if you only use them during your filghts.

 

[enlisted person]

I will be flying from here in asheville, nc to Atlanta and more than likely landing in amsterdam or somewhere and on to Prague and then I am not sure from there. I guess I will have to go through security here in asheville and then again in atlanta for international and then hopefully not again in amsterdam or wherever for the trip to prague. Yeah there is metal in the knee brace but I can walk without it for a while. I thought it would be best to take if off for security and then put it back on if needed once through with that. I would take a personal laptop, but with the Cpap and brace I will have enough to deal with. At least the cpap is dual voltage and will work in europe with an adapter. So, you have to stand in line for hours to get through security?

 

[Captain Ice]

So, you have to stand in line for hours to get through security?

You can at times. It depends a lot on what day of the week you are leaving, time of day, and airport. How long is your layover at Hartsfield? I'd personally allow an hour to get through ticketing and security in Ashville, half an hour to find your gate, and half an hour to 45 minutes for a cushion/veg before the flight.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I will be flying from here in asheville, nc to Atlanta and more than likely landing in amsterdam or somewhere and on to Prague and then I am not sure from there. I guess I will have to go through security here in asheville and then again in atlanta for international

<snip>

So, you have to stand in line for hours to get through security?

Okay - you did good by flying out of Ashville. Then you will at least miss the Hartsfield ticket/check-in line - that is an absolute nightmare and often takes well over an hour (I have been on that line for 2 hours on occasion) - especially if you fly Delta since there are about a million Delta flights out of here and some people insist upon flying with all of their worldly possessions in-tow (all of which they choose to check).

Since I have lived in Atlanta since 1996, I have never flown thru Atlanta from someplace else (at least since before 9/11), so I don't know what sort of security they are going to put you through at Hartsfield, if any. "Regular" security for passengers originating in Atlanta is a PITA though - a long line (although not as long as the ticket/check-in for Delta line, which is the longest line in the history of the universe) But presumably you will have enough time - the airline typically builds that sort of thing in when booking your connecting flights. I know this much, you will likely have a long walk/ride via the underground train from the gate you land at (which will be a domestic gate) to the international terminal (which is the last stop at the end of the train line). So be prepared for that bit to take a while.

 

[ThunderAeroI]

I'm not sure how it occured, but some guy got on my plane with no ID or known address. Yes he was native american, but don't they have some type of reservation address?

 

[Squiggy]

I will be flying from here in asheville, nc to Atlanta and more than likely landing in amsterdam or somewhere and on to Prague and then I am not sure from there. I guess I will have to go through security here in asheville and then again in atlanta for international

<snip>

So, you have to stand in line for hours to get through security?

Okay - you did good by flying out of Ashville. Then you will at least miss the Hartsfield ticket/check-in line - that is an absolute nightmare and often takes well over an hour (I have been on that line for 2 hours on occasion) - especially if you fly Delta since there are about a million Delta flights out of here and some people insist upon flying with all of their worldly possessions in-tow (all of which they choose to check).

Since I have lived in Atlanta since 1996, I have never flown thru Atlanta from someplace else (at least since before 9/11), so I don't know what sort of security they are going to put you through at Hartsfield, if any. "Regular" security for passengers originating in Atlanta is a PITA though - a long line (although not as long as the ticket/check-in for Delta line, which is the longest line in the history of the universe) But presumably you will have enough time - the airline typically builds that sort of thing in when booking your connecting flights. I know this much, you will likely have a long walk/ride via the underground train from the gate you land at (which will be a domestic gate) to the international terminal (which is the last stop at the end of the train line). So be prepared for that bit to take a while.

All security is done at your original point of departure, in this case Ashville. There won't be much of a line to speak of.

Since he's only connecting at ATL there won't be any security to speak of. Just a lot of walking from his Ashville arrival to his Amsterdam departure. Lots...and lots...of walking. I suggest taking the tram.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I will be flying from here in asheville, nc to Atlanta and more than likely landing in amsterdam or somewhere and on to Prague and then I am not sure from there.

If you have a little time in Amsterdam, get out of the airport and check out the city. It's worth it even for a just couple hours imo - Schiphol is just 15 minutes or so by train from the city centre.