Flight Questions

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Originally Posted by rworkman83

Gotta agree with these guys. I've shown up 20 minutes before boarding time in Cedar Rapids and been fine. They can't tear up your ticket for not being there 2 hours early. As long as you are there before the doors close on the plane, which is about 10 minutes before departure, then you are fine.

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Not saying you're wrong but Cedar Rapids is a lot different than Dallas.

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Originally Posted by yler4cy

FYI - My aunt was flying in from Phoenix for Christmas and since she was not through security 2 hours before hand they ripped up her ticket and told her she had to purchase another one if she wanted to fly. She was even there on time, but security took a little longer than expected. I am not saying this is going to happen, but just wanted to forewarn you.

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I am a very frequent flier, and have never heard of anything even close to this.

I have seen my fair share of belligerent travelers that ask for cuts in the security line because their flight is boarding. They don't even get their tickets ripped up.

I've personally walked straight from security right into the airplane (last man on before doors shut) more times than I care to remember.

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Originally Posted by 1100011CS

My mom flew in to DSM from Dallas Thursday. She was at the ticket counter about an hour before her flight and they said she was too late and would have to get on stand-by.

I know that's usually not an issue in Iowa but with all the new regulations coming out this week how early should I be at the airport in Cedar Rapids?

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Now I could believe this. An hour early is pushing it at a lot of big airports. They generally let you go, though, especially if you're not checking baggage.

Dallas kinda stinks too because it's so spread out. Might take you 25 minutes just to get to your gate after security. Say security takes you 25 minutes, you're going to miss your flight more than likely.

They won't tear up your ticket and make you buy a new one in my experience. They'll just put you on standby for a later flight, maybe connecting differently or something.

This is what my aunt had said. They are trying to stick to the 2 hr window that they have posted on their website. I do not know what airlines she was through, but if true wanted to make people aware of it.

Maybe it has to do with the incident in Detroit???

If you're concerned about how soon to arrive at the airport, check the airport's website http://www.dsmairport.com/ . They'll provide recommended arrival time as well as other helpful information. . Also, since you don't fly often, review the website for the airline you are flying.
Getting informed before you fly will help to avoid any costly or inconvenient mistakes. (i.e.….exceeding weight limit on bag to be checked)

Frequent flyer myself out of the DSM airport. I usually allow an hour before the flight to arrive at the airport but given the number of non-frequent fliers this week, I am going to allow more time.

Gate check your bag if you can and you will not have to pay the checked bag fee. Of course if you fly as much as some of us, they waive the fee. I still gate check mine as it seems like the AA has it out for me and tries to lose my luggage.

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Originally Posted by ISU4ME

Frequent flyer myself out of the DSM airport. I usually allow an hour before the flight to arrive at the airport but given the number of non-frequent fliers this week, I am going to allow more time.

Gate check your bag if you can and you will not have to pay the checked bag fee. Of course if you fly as much as some of us, they waive the fee. I still gate check mine as it seems like the AA has it out for me and tries to lose my luggage.

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You aren't the only one. I've flown AA 4 times since I began travelling for work, they have lost my luggage on 3/4 of the trips. One trip they lost it twice! (both directions)

I normally fly NW, Continental, or Delta. In 100+ flights over 5 years, my luggage has only been lost once between those two.

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Originally Posted by yler4cy

FYI - My aunt was flying in from Phoenix for Christmas and since she was not through security 2 hours before hand they ripped up her ticket and told her she had to purchase another one if she wanted to fly. She was even there on time, but security took a little longer than expected. I am not saying this is going to happen, but just wanted to forewarn you.

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Who ripped it up? There has to be more to this story. I travel a lot and the closest I've seen to this is at night where an airline closes the ticket counter a couple of hours before the last flight. Even then no one is ripping up a ticket.

I would allow yourself a little more time than normal due to volume and the extra security from the attempted terror attack on Christmas. Some large airports are actually telling passengers to get there 4 hours before their flight.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091227...20091227214321

It won't be that bad in Des Moines but just to be safe I would arrive 1-1.5 hours early. That's what we are doing.

Oh the horror stories I could tell you about my flying issues, but we don't have that much bandwidth.

Come early. EARLY. Planes move on their schedule - not yours.

I've gotten through security in Des Moines in as little as 4 minutes - as well as 70 minutes on an early morning packed flight or a time near one of the magical Alligiant flights.

One thing not mentioned here - ONE QUART BAGGIE WITH YOUR LIQUIDS AND GELLS IN BOTTLES THAT HOLD LESS THAN 3 OZ. EACH. No mas!

There is always some jackbutt(s) in line that can't remember to lay the baggie in the conveyor belt box. Or, can't seem to get their laptop out of the bag like they're supposed to. Or have more electronic gear buried under a over-packed bag. Or have 90 different metal objects attached to their body and can't remember them all, so they removed them one at a time, only after the metal detector repeatedly goes off a million times. Or, don't bother to start rummaging for their picture ID until they're next in line, and then they can't find it. Don't be that guy. Don't.
:no6xn:

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Originally Posted by bugs4cy

Oh the horror stories I could tell you about my flying issues, but we don't have that much bandwidth.

Come early. EARLY. Planes move on their schedule - not yours.

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Yes, they move on THEIR schedule --- which is never EARLY.:confused:

One of the advantanges of flying out of DSM is the small size of the airport which generally lends itself to to shorter lines/congestion. Do you really have good reason to encourage anyone to arrive at DSM airport more than 90 minutes B4 scheduled flight time? I guess you didn't specify what you meant by "EARLY", so maybe that would be helpful to hear.

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Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

Yes, they move on THEIR schedule --- which is never EARLY.:confused:

One of the advantanges of flying out of DSM is the small size of the airport which generally lends itself to to shorter lines/congestion. Do you really have good reason to encourage anyone to arrive at DSM airport more than 90 minutes B4 scheduled flight time? I guess you didn't specify what you meant by "EARLY", so maybe that would be helpful to hear.

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Normally, I don't think it's necessary to show up more than 90 minutes early at DSM. There have been a few Sunday afternoon and Monday morning flights where they had to scoot me to the front of the line when I got there 1 hr 45 min early, though. Holidays can be similar. 90 minutes is usually way more than enough time, though.

Has anyone here flown out of Rockford?

The worst I've ever seen at DSM was maybe 15 mins. That was with 1 line open and a bunch of pilots/crew were allowed to cut in line right before me.

Hmmm, if they tore up my ticket I would just print a new one at the kiosk... problem solved. Also, they do tear up your ticket if they give you a new standby ticket for another flight, but you don't have to pay for a whole new flight. If anything, they will get you for like a $50 change fee.