Air travel...some of the do's & don't...tips if you will?

[sammy the sage]

Haven't flown in almost 20 years...am sure much has changed...so a refresher needed if anyone cares to chime in...it would be greatly appreciated...

should clarify....going to Vegas...

Also...

what would be the best way to take a considerable amount of cash...a cashier's check perhaps?...or just wire it to myself...?

Taking herbal supplements and legit script pills on said flight...best way to pack pills...I do take a fair amount of them...and will be there almost a week......don't need the extra hassle of being pulled aside for hours and having to catch a different flight...

Thanks in advance...sts

[sammy the sage]

Thought about posting this in the Vegas thread...but am thinking...air travel tips in general would BE GOOD for ALL members of P.A. land who haven't traveled in while....regardless of destination...

[lamboguy]

Originally Posted by sammy the sage

Haven't flown in almost 20 years...am sure much has changed...so a refresher needed if anyone cares to chime in...it would be greatly appreciated...

should clarify....going to Vegas...

Also...

what would be the best way to take a considerable amount of cash...a cashier's check perhaps?...or just wire it to myself...?

Taking herbal supplements and legit script pills on said flight...best way to pack pills...I do take a fair amount of them...and will be there almost a week......don't need the extra hassle of being pulled aside for hours and having to catch a different flight...

Thanks in advance...sts

you can wire as much money as heart desires into the casino cage. the casino cages are all licensed as banks.

i don't take pills, so i have no idea what to do with them.

my days of getting on airplanes every day is far past me now. i try not to fly if i don't have to now. i get on a plane once or twice a year. my next airbound trip will be to California for the Breeder's Cup the last few days of October.

[davew]

You need to get to airport 2 hrs before scheduled departure, so you can get through TSA line and reserve your seat.

Need to take shoes off, belt, wallet, watch, change, phone, laptop, all metal and put into bin, as well as all carry-on to walk through metal detector. Be ready to explain why if you have any metal inside you (plates or joint replacements). Don't make any jokes about hijacking or bombs and don't drink too much before.

Be prepared to pay for checked luggage, food, and drink on flight (depends on airline and ticket level) some airlines will not take cash, just cards.

Large cash? If over $10K, need to declare on international flights. Check to see if your bank has a branch in Vegas or wire to casino cage.

Pills? I would check them in luggage.

Stuff that will not make it through TSA with carry-on .... tube of toothpaste, shampoo, cans of pop, food, guns, bombs ... airline should have a list for you.

I prefer train or driving if possible.

[sammy the sage]

Excellent tips so far thanks...

Should one notify credit cards companies ahead of time?....thinking that might be wise...

[Augenj]

Originally Posted by sammy the sage

Excellent tips so far thanks...

Should one notify credit cards companies ahead of time?....thinking that might be wise...

Yes. File trip reports with each to prevent "declined" when used. I do that when I'm driving out of state also.

[Suff]

Originally Posted by sammy the sage

should clarify....going to Vegas...


Thanks in advance...sts

Flying from what airport?
Non-stop?
What Airline?
Time of flights?

Generally, if feasible, put anything that might slow you down into a checked bag.

Medication.
Pocket Knife
Anything metal.
Liquids over 4 ounces ( shampoo, cologne)
Wrapped cash in your carry on is no problem. Loose cash no good. New bills wrapped on a vegas bound plane is SOP.

[Tom]

Keep your meds in the original bottles the drugstore gave you.
I see that on COPS all the time.

Have a good time!

[Dave Schwartz]

These guys have all offered some really excellent advice.

Here's what I've got to add:

As you are packing, pretend that your bags will be lost. Make sure that everything you MUST HAVE and COULD NOT BE EASILY REPLACED is in a carry-on.

Don't worry about anything that you could buy walking into a store without a prescription or a lot of money.

Examples are...

Prescription medications
CPAP machine
Laptop or tablet

Also, keep all you emergency info on you.
How an emergency responder would know...

What medical conditions you may have
What meds you are on
Who should be notified

[barahona44]

Originally Posted by Dave Schwartz

These guys have all offered some really excellent advice.

Here's what I've got to add:

As you are packing, pretend that your bags will be lost. Make sure that everything you MUST HAVE and COULD NOT BE EASILY REPLACED is in a carry-on.

Don't worry about anything that you could buy walking into a store without a prescription or a lot of money.

Examples are...

Prescription medications
CPAP machine
Laptop or tablet

Also, keep all you emergency info on you.
How an emergency responder would know...

What medical conditions you may have
What meds you are on
Who should be notified

Bags do get mislaid.Wherever you're staying ,make sure you have the address of where you'll be,so they can forward your bags.Also for that reason,a change of underwear in your carry-on never hurts.

You are allowed to bring 3 items of toiletries in a clear ziploc sandwich bag in your carryon, but none of the items can weigh more than 100 grams (3.4 oz)Also take the Ziploc out of your bag,when going through security.

Lastly something I had to learn the hard way,don't scream out "Where are my fu**ing box cutters?" when going through TSA.

Have a great trip!

[JustRalph]

take some candy or something that will bump your blood sugar quickly. If you get caught on a runway or in a hold for a long time, you won't get anything to eat. Your blood sugar drops and you feel like shit.

If you can find em, honey packets similar to a ketchup packet are great for bumping blood sugar. Marshmallows are good too.....but hard to travel with..........

[mostpost]

Originally Posted by Tom

Keep your meds in the original bottles the drugstore gave you.
I see that on COPS all the time.

Have a good time!

Tom is right about the pills. (Ohmigod!! Did I really say that?) Putting them in checked baggage is not a good idea. They could be stolen or your luggage could be lost. Also, a lot of medications are affected by temperature extremes and I am not sure that temps in the baggage compartment at 35,000 feet don't get quite cold.

And if your meds do get lost or stolen, replacing them can be quite expensive and time consuming. Keep them in your possession at all times. I do this and I have never had the slightest problem.

Here are the rules as best I remember them. Your carrier will have the official rules on their website. The medications must be in their original bottles with the labels attached. They cannot be strewn throughout the carryon. They must be placed in a one quart Ziploc bag. As many as can fit, as long as the bag can be sealed. If you have a lot of medications you may use more than one bag.

I don't know the rules if you are taking any liquid medications. I would think the three ounce rule applies. Maybe it would be best in this one case to put it in checked baggage. Just to tighten the cap securely and put it in a Ziploc bag to prevent leakage.

[Fwizard]

The above is good and correct info(meds in one carryon)..just a funny to add ...I go to Mexico for a timeshare (Hard Rock) when I go I am searched , my bags searched very carefully.........but coming back into the country I am passed very quickly and never stopped...why do I feel it should be other way around.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

take some candy or something that will bump your blood sugar quickly. If you get caught on a runway or in a hold for a long time, you won't get anything to eat. Your blood sugar drops and you feel like shit.

If you can find em, honey packets similar to a ketchup packet are great for bumping blood sugar. Marshmallows are good too.....but hard to travel with..........

I was sitting on a tarmac for 7-8 hours once - felt like total death when it was over. I would have killed for a candy bar.

Honey packets - great idea.

[FakeNameChanged]

Originally Posted by sammy the sage

Haven't flown in almost 20 years...am sure much has changed...so a refresher needed if anyone cares to chime in...it would be greatly appreciated...

should clarify....going to Vegas...

Also...

what would be the best way to take a considerable amount of cash...a cashier's check perhaps?...or just wire it to myself...?

Taking herbal supplements and legit script pills on said flight...best way to pack pills...I do take a fair amount of them...and will be there almost a week......don't need the extra hassle of being pulled aside for hours and having to catch a different flight...

Thanks in advance...sts

If you need to take some pills on your flight, I usually just put the assortment into a small baggie, either loose or in an regular prescr. bottle and place it into the bin with my shoes, belt, keys(if any), wallet, watch, etc. and run it through the security scanner. Never had a problem. I'm not on any prescriptions, but always take a few tylenol, benadryl, and occasionally loperamide plus a couple antacid tabs. The bulk of meds, just pack in your luggage. If you need a pillow on flights, it might be wise to take one of those horseshoe shaped pillows along. Flights often run out of pillows and may even charge for them. Lots of people wear slip-on shoes, sandals or crocs that don't require tying. I just wear my New-balance athletic shoes, and re-tie them after security.
If it's not a direct flight and walking up to a quarter mile to the next gate is a problem, check with your flight attendant or gate person on the distance and they can reserve a cart for you to the next one. That's an issue for my wife. Have a great time.