Flying Help

**cyfan964** · 01-29-2009, 04:45 PM

Going to be taking a trip here in the next few days and was looking for some advice. Haven't been on a plane in a couple of years and looking for some airport advice. I've also never flown with a laptop before. Do i just leave it in my carry-on bag. Can I have a separate carry on for it, or does that constitute two carry-ons? I've heard everything about small sized liquid containers.... Anything else I should be made aware of? Any help is appreciated.

**cyco2000** · 01-29-2009, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by cyfan964

Going to be taking a trip here in the next few days and was looking for some advice. Haven't been on a plane in a couple of years and looking for some airport advice. I've also never flown with a laptop before. Do i just leave it in my carry-on bag. Can I have a separate carry on for it, or does that constitute two carry-ons? I've heard everything about small sized liquid containers.... Anything else I should be made aware of? Any help is appreciated.

Word of advice--make sure your driver's license is up to date!

Both my wife and I forgot to renew our licenses. They did nothing out of Minneapolis, but made us go through the thorough search in Charlotte on the way back. Wasn't too bad, but we made sure our licenses were up to date when we got back!

**4429 mcc** · 01-29-2009, 04:48 PM

lapper can go in your carry on..you have to take it out before your bag go through xray

You get a carry on plus one..so you can have a small suitcase and a computer case.

Make sure to have all your liquids out and some easy slip on/off shoes (you have to take your shoes off when walking through the metal detector)...DSM is very easy to fly out of you'll look like a pro on your way back!

**SeattleClone** · 01-29-2009, 04:49 PM

A laptop bag can count as your "personal item" in addition to a larger carry-on item. You have to take the laptop out of the bag at security and send it through the x-ray machine by itself.

**4429 mcc** · 01-29-2009, 04:54 PM

Also if your going on a short trip...think about not checking your small bag (if only taking one) on the regional jets they end up under the plane anyway. This way you wont have to pay the extra 15 dollar checked bag fee. Again remember to take travel size liquids 3oz or under.

**cyfan964** · 01-29-2009, 05:41 PM

Thanks for the help.

**ISU4ME** · 01-29-2009, 05:53 PM

Check out the TSA website for all the information you need.

TSA: Prohibited Items

**CycloneErik** · 01-29-2009, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by cyfan964

Going to be taking a trip here in the next few days and was looking for some advice. Haven't been on a plane in a couple of years and looking for some airport advice. I've also never flown with a laptop before. Do i just leave it in my carry-on bag. Can I have a separate carry on for it, or does that constitute two carry-ons? I've heard everything about small sized liquid containers.... Anything else I should be made aware of? Any help is appreciated.

Laptop is your "personal item," and doesn't have to be in your carry-on. It's a separate piece of luggage, so you'd be OK.

**cyfan964** · 01-29-2009, 06:00 PM

Has anyone ever taken a tennis racket as carry on before? It isn't listed as prohibited on the TSA web site, but most other athletic equipment is.

**jumbopackage** · 01-29-2009, 07:11 PM

Here's what I do:
wear pants with easily accessible pockets (cargo pants etc), no belt, and easy to get on and off shoes. Put EVERYTHING in your carry on/laptop bag prior to getting to security except for a photo ID (drivers license) and your boarding pass. Keep all your liquids/gels in the plastic bag, and in an external pocket that's easy to access on your carry on.

Keep the laptop as easily accessible as possible as well. When you get to the checkpoint, put all the small items, as well as your shoes into one tub, your laptop in a separate tub by itself (sometimes they don't make you do this, sometimes they do). All you need once you get to the checkpoint is your boarding pass, so you can put your ID back into your pocket, or into the tub with the small items.

Put your shoes through first so you can put them back on while the rest of your stuff is getting scanned. That's about it.

I don't know about Tennis rackets. I haven't seen anyone carrying one around in a while, but I don't think it would be a huge deal either way. Worse comes to worse, ask the people at the airline counter at check-in. What you DON'T want to do is have to shuffle back and forth to ticketing with stuff.

Good luck! And there will always be someone there who is worse than you at the whole thing too.

**Angie** · 01-29-2009, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

Here's what I do:
wear pants with easily accessible pockets (cargo pants etc), no belt, and easy to get on and off shoes. Put EVERYTHING in your carry on/laptop bag prior to getting to security except for a photo ID (drivers license) and your boarding pass. Keep all your liquids/gels in the plastic bag, and in an external pocket that's easy to access on your carry on.

Keep the laptop as easily accessible as possible as well. When you get to the checkpoint, put all the small items, as well as your shoes into one tub, your laptop in a separate tub by itself (sometimes they don't make you do this, sometimes they do). All you need once you get to the checkpoint is your boarding pass, so you can put your ID back into your pocket, or into the tub with the small items.

Put your shoes through first so you can put them back on while the rest of your stuff is getting scanned. That's about it.

I don't know about Tennis rackets. I haven't seen anyone carrying one around in a while, but I don't think it would be a huge deal either way. Worse comes to worse, ask the people at the airline counter at check-in. What you DON'T want to do is have to shuffle back and forth to ticketing with stuff.

Good luck! And there will always be someone there who is worse than you at the whole thing too.

This is what I do, too - you'll probably want to put your wallet in that first tub with your shoes so you're not waiting for that to come through, too. Make sure to put any coats/jackets/sweaters in a tub, too.

I haven't had an airport lately that doesn't make me take out my laptop and put it in a tub.

It's a huge pain in the butt.

**jumbopackage** · 01-29-2009, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Angie

This is what I do, too - you'll probably want to put your wallet in that first tub with your shoes so you're not waiting for that to come through, too. Make sure to put any coats/jackets/sweaters in a tub, too.

I haven't had an airport lately that doesn't make me take out my laptop and put it in a tub.

It's a huge pain in the butt.

I meant in a tub all by its lonesome as opposed to in a tub with other stuff.. Unless you have one of those high speed laptop bags designed for TSA checkpoints.

**dosry5** · 01-30-2009, 09:36 AM

Take an egg salad and extra red onion sandwich with you in a baggie. Eat it on the plane. This has happened to me many, many times. Love it. Smells great.