Please check my checklist & then tell me about the airport?

cpu

Holiday time is rapidly approaching and we're beginning to enter panic mode. Not sure why exactly, but both my wife and I have got a nagging 'must have forgotten something' feeling. Neither of us has been on a plane before, we've always been caravan holiday people, lol, so we're very nervous about it all.

We think we've got things covered but if anyone thinks of something we've not, please shout out loud.

Check List:

New passports: Yes
Flight tickets:Yes
Villa booked:Yes
Attraction tickets got: Yes
Nice new suitcases : Yes
TSA Locks: Yes
USA Car hire:Yes
Holiday insurance: Yes

Holiday 'pack' including mp3 players/ds lite/books/snacks/ to amuse younger members of the group on the 9 hour flight: Yes

The only other thing we were planning on getting was flight socks. Anything else we should get or do?

Also we've read that all airlines overbook. As there are several of us in the party, we don't want any problems so if we turn up to check in as early as possible, does that mean we will get a seat ok? Is it just the passengers who turn up later that may be affected by any overbooking issue?

The other thing is, because our flight time has been changed from morning to night and we have to leave the hotel we're staying in the night before, at 11am at the latest, is it worth booking into one of the lounges at the airport to waste time there?

Our flight isn't until 6pm so we've a lot of time to waste and a lot of hanging about to do. Check in opens 4 hours beforehand so I think we can only be in the lounges before we check in, so from 11am - 2 pm assuming we check in early. What do we do after we check in? Is check in just where they check your ticket and passport? Do they take your bags then too? Sorry, like I said, we're new to this.

Any tips more than welcome.

withabix

"Nice new suitcases : Yes"

They will be a bit scuffed and dirty next time you see them! Make sure anything SHARP is in the suitcases, not your hand luggage.

"Holiday 'pack' including mp3 players/ds lite/books/snacks/ to amuse younger members of the group on the 9 hour flight: Yes"

Don't forget that you can't take any drinks (>100ml - ie none!!) through security - they must be bought once you'ver gone through passport control. That won't be an issue as there are places to buy them from in all airports (WH Smith, Boots etc) and the prices are OK.

"The only other thing we were planning on getting was flight socks."

Gimmick!

"Also we've read that all airlines overbook. As there are several of us in the party, we don't want any problems so if we turn up to check in as early as possible, does that mean we will get a seat ok? Is it just the passengers who turn up later that may be affected by any overbooking issue?"

Don't worry about it.

"The other thing is, because our flight time has been changed from morning to night and we have to leave the hotel we're staying in the night before, at 11am at the latest, is it worth booking into one of the lounges at the airport to waste time there?"

No, as you've got a hire car, use that as another day of your holiday.


"Our flight isn't until 6pm so we've a lot of time to waste and a lot of hanging about to do. Check in opens 4 hours beforehand so I think we can only be in the lounges before we check in, so from 11am - 2 pm assuming we check in early. What do we do after we check in? Is check in just where they check your ticket and passport? Do they take your bags then too? Sorry, like I said, we're new to this"

Lounges are AFTER security.

They take your luggage when you check in.

cpu

Sorry, I probably wasn't clear, the hire car is for when we arrive at the destination.

All the questions were for the airport here (Glasgow) before we go. We had booked a hotel here as originally the flight out was 6am and we didn't want to travel to the airport during the night.

Thanks for the comments, it all helps.

withabix

How far away from Glasgow Airport are you (ie for travel distance)? Where in Glasgow is the hotel you are staying in (or which hotel)?

What about putting your luggage in at 'left luggage' and going for a trip into Glasgow for the day? Get a bus from the front of the airport to Paisley railway station and get a train into Glasgow.

Also, who are you flying with? You might be able to select seats online and check in online, with suitcases then taken to 'Fast Bag Drop' when you get to the airport.

cpu

Over 300 miles away.

Staying at the Holiday Express at the airport itself, 2 mins walk away from the terminal I believe. There are elderly in our party and we were trying to make it as easy as possible for them too.

Not sure about the day trip tbh, we're all quite nervous and I'm not sure if throwing another trip into the equation is advisable, lol. We're working on the' what can go wrong, probably will go wrong' basis. Knowing our luck, we'd get lost or the bus would break down or something.

bertha

Currency/travellers cheques/plastic cards??????!!!!!!

Check in - Time the check in will be opened and closed will be on your booking details (usually a couple of hours before the flight). Check the screens in the airport to see where you need to check in and when check in opens. You don't have to be there as soon as it opens but you must be there before it closes!!! Passports, tickets will be checked and you will be asked if you packed your luggage yourself and if luggage could have been tampered with. Check what may and may not be taken as hand luggage. Your check in luggage leaves you at this point (tie a bright ribbon on to it to make sure you recognise it at the other end) to be taken on to plane and you will be given boarding passes showing when and from which boarding gate you will be boarding from. This is all 'land-side'.

Once you have your boarding pass you and your hand luggage can go 'air-side', the point of no return. You will have to put your hand luggage (small amount of liquids allowed in see through plastic bag carried separately - check allowances) and yourselves through the security system. There will be shops, cafes, toilets etc.

Watch the departure board for any flight changes. Make your way to the boarding gate given on your boarding pass at the appropriate time. Queue to board plane. Have passport and boarding pass at the ready.

On landing, go through security checks into arrivals and check screens to see where the luggage from your flight will be arriving (which carousel). Make your way there and wait for your be-ribboned cases to arrive. Follow the signs for the exit and eventually you'll end up land side.

Have a good holiday!

Mrs_Thrify

Hi, CPU. Happy holidays.....
This is what we do.... at the airport check in cases as soon as poss. don't want to lug them around! then strieght through the passport control. Next we head to the duty free shops with our list(write down any perfumes/tobaco/may be new camera or game boy) Shopping done we have a drink(buy in cafe or buy in shop - in your case maybe lunch?)
Then we look for a seat near the window and infront of the large info board, that calls your flight. Sit and watch the planes/read mag/newspaper.Wait to be called to go down to the boarding lounge.

2 1/2 WEEKS! To my holiday now :j :j :j

I would not pay for the fancy lounge, sit and people watch/walk around!

withabix

Don't buy any cameras or gameboys etc at the airport. They are overpriced, even in Duty Free shops.

In fact, if you're going to USA, don't buy Duty Free goods at Glasgow at all, apart from alcohol - EVERYTHING will be cheaper in USA, even more so at £1=$2.

As I said before, you CANNOT take drinks through security, so 'bring your own' is not an option.

Mrs_Thrify

Bring your own drinks - you can drink this side of secuity :rolleyes: then dump it in the bin.
then after security buy bottled water to take on the plane.

cpu

Thanks everyone. We feel a bit happier now knowing what the usual procedure at the airport is. Nothing more disconcerting than being like a fish out of water, lol.

We are going to USA so think we'll buy whatever over there.

Got the dollars/TC's sorted out too, forgot to add that to my list.

ManAtHome

And don;t stay in your seat for the entire flight - get up and stand in the aisle every couple of hours. Even standing up and doing a bit of standing on tiptoe and/or a bit of walk up and down the plane will do you a bit of good.

You'll probably all stay awake on the flight out - "jet lag" often sets in a couple of days after you land (until then, you'll have no problems getting up in the morning.

Be prepared for a bit of queueing at the other end (immigration), and don't try any jokes on the officials!