Flying Internationally

[JT!]

Where the hell do i start really.

Don't know anything, flying to America on my own sometime this summer, never left the country befor apart from a school trip ages ago, really need a brief summery of everything i need to do. I'm sure there's loads of things i need to do that i don't even know about, also is it true u can't take razors (as in to shave with).

So really, would someone experienced with flying to the states give me a quick overview.

What i really need to know now though is when's the soonest i can be up in the air. What one thing will take the longest so process if you know what i mean. I need to know that asap to know when to get time off work.

Thanks.

[Smo™]

Well I know you can buy the seats of passengers who've dropped out as late as the day of the flight but mostly you can do it the night before and have the tickets waiting for you at the checkin desk. You can take razors and shit but they can't be in your hand luggage. You could leave the country in a couple days with some briefcases, your passport and cash.

I don't know the specifics though, sorry bud.

[JT!]

Well i haven't got El Passporto so i supose that's gonna be the first thing on the to-do list.

[rocktrials]

Ah shiato you reminded me i gotta buy my new driver's license (lost it bout 8 months ago)

[F-Stop Junkie]

Buying last minute can either be a good way to save money, or a good way of making sure you pay full fare. On a busy route (such as London to New York) don't expect any last minute bargains. If you know when you want to travel, then go to a travel agent or look at Expedia or someone like that and see who's doing cheap flights. Keep an eye out for any sales too, the only way to guarentee you're getting a cheap flight is by booking early and ensuring you have the tickets!

Get your passport application in now. Like right now. Some new checks coming in soon which could make it take longer, so do it now.

When you fly, each airline has a weight restriction for luggage, and they allow you to take one bag on board with you. Your main suitcase (the one you leave at the check in desk) will probably have a max weight of something like 25Kg, and you can put almost anything in there. If you want to take a swiss army knife, nail clippers or razors, but them in your suitcase. You won't see them until you get to your destination, but you can take them.

You can also take a small bag or case on with you. There are restrictions on both size and contents. The currents regs are:

Bag no bigger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm

No bottles of any liquid, gel, paste, solution, etc... bigger than 100ml. You can not take a 500ml bottle of Coke on a plane. In your checked luggage, but not your hand luggage.

All bottles of liquid must be put in a clear plastic zip-loc bag and presented at the security check point.

With me so far? Right.

On the day when you fly you'll go to the check in desk, present your ticket and drop off your main suitcase. They check your passport and give you a boarding card and point you towards security. When you join the queue, you'll be asked to put all your metal items in a tray and walk through a metal detector. Your bag and the tray will pass through an X-ray machine as you go through the detector.

Tip no. 1. Avoid having metal objects in your pockets or belt buckles. Put what you can in your hand luggage bag if you can.

Now, remember what I said about bottles? That restriction applies to stuff you take through security. Once you're past security ('airside') then you can go into a shop, buy a litre of vodka, a big bottle of Coke and some shampoo and take it all on the plane without problem. Also if you want to buy some duty free but don't want to carry it around on holiday, some airports allow you to buy it on the way out, then they hold onto it and you just collect it when you return.

In these days of hightened security, don't be suprised to see armed Police walking around, and people looking worried. Any unusual activity or unattended bag is taken very seriously

Tip no. 2. Once you enter the airport, DO NOT make any jokes about bombs, guns, terrorists, or anything like that. There is a good chance that you may end up missing your flight, and having an 'intimate' inspection at the hands of a large man who's convinced you're hiding something.

Keep your flight number and departure time in your mind. Be aware of what gate you're supposed to be leaving from, what the time is now, and if your flight is delayed. There are boards everywhere, so keeping track isn't difficult. Make sure you're at the gate promptly, but there's no reason to queue or be there mega early. Once you have a boarding card, then you'll have a seat allocated. Enjoy the shops, have a coffee, wait for the flight to be called.

When you go on board, just relax and enjoy the flight. Check out the movies, laugh at the bad editing, see if the Alcohol is free (It often is with the big carriers, but you get drunk more quickly at altitude and the hangovers are killer. Believe me. Fill in your immigration card (Take a pen!) and then when you land go straight to immigration. If it's a big plane, then it's possible to get big queues.

Go and speak to some man at a booth who has no sense of humour. He'll let you into the US, then it's just a case of going to the baggage claim to wait for your case.

Tip no. 3. Buy TSA approved locks for your case. This should stop security busting open your case if they're curious. Don't put anything valuable in your checked luggage as things have been known to go missing while the bag is out of your control. And if you can only describe your suitcase as 'big' and 'black' then do something to make it obvious which is yours. I'm keen on brightly coloured luggage straps. Helps stop your suitcase bursting open, and you'll see it a mile off when you're waiting.

Tip no. 4. If your case does get lost, or doesn't turn up where you are (home or abroad) then go to the nearby missing luggage desk for your airline and ask for compensation. If I remember correctly, they're obliged to give you some compensation, but only if you ask for it. Don't ask, don't get. I had a case go missing, I didn't ask for compensation, but then my case was 11Kgs overweight and no-one had charged me so I wasn't going to mention it!

Then it's enjoy your holiday!

One last word of advice. Everyone has an upgrade story, the time they ended up in business class or something. There is no easy way to get an upgrade unless you're a frequent flyer on a busy route. Do not expect an upgrade, there's no magic phrase you can use to get one, if you do get one, feel very lucky! If you're very tall and you'd like extra leg room, then you can ask for a seat with extra legroom (by the doors, the bulkhead, or in the emergency exit isles). These can only be given out on the day, and for the emergency exits, they have to be happy you're physically able to open the emergency doors. Get there a bit early and ask. And finally...

Tip no. 5. Be nice. Even if you're a grumpy b*****d and you hate everyone, be sweet as honey while you're flying. People on the check in desks, at security and the cabin crew on the plane have to put up with stupid, rude, arrogant people all day every day. Be nice to them and it'll be a lot easier to get things done, you'll be more likely to have a decent seat on the plane, and no-one will spit in your food. Also cabin crew tend to be very social peple. If you're on the plane early, then have a chat as you tend to meet some interesting people who spend their life in the air. And you'll get more free booze.

Oh, AND...

Whenever I fly, I always write out all my travel details on a single sheet of paper. Passport number, flight numbers, times, airports and terminals, hotel name, address, phone number, travellers cheques numbers. Leave one copy with the folks, one in hand luggage, one in suitcase. That way if your passport (or travellers cheques) gets lost you'll have the number, if you need to ring the hotel because you're lost you're OK, etc...

I also take in my hand luggage:

• MP3 player
• Book
• Travel guide to where I'm going, so I can mean to read it on the flight before I get distracted by a film
• Camera/laptop/anything valuable or fragile.
• Magazine
• Another magazine if it's a long flight
• pen and small notebook
• essential toiletries (buy from boots in the airport if needs be)
• Enough clothes and especially underwear in case the suitcase gets lost. Enough for a couple of days.

Make sure your bag isn't too full. You'll almost certainly be bringing more back than you take out!

[JT!]

Wow, 10/10 for effort. Thanks alot! It does seem like i'll be on more than one flight, in fact 3. So i asume you just go through all that and then start at the begining each time?

Also, what's the best way to go about tickets? As cheap as possible, and preferably less conections.

[sUm]

lots of stuff

Very well put.

Wow, 10/10 for effort. Thanks alot! It does seem like i'll be on more than one flight, in fact 3. So i asume you just go through all that and then start at the begining each time?

Also, what's the best way to go about tickets? As cheap as possible, and preferably less conections.

If you mean that you'll be on 3 connecting flights, you likely will not leave the secure area in the airports (unless your connections are like a day apart). You will be given all 3 boarding passes when you arrive at the first airport, so you just need to keep track of them to check your flight info. Also, your checked baggage will be moved from plane to plane for you, so the only thing you need to do between your home airport and destination airport is make sure you, your carry-on bag, and your boarding pass are on the right plane at the right time.

[JT!]

If you mean that you'll be on 3 connecting flights, you likely will not leave the secure area in the airports (unless your connections are like a day apart). You will be given all 3 boarding passes when you arrive at the first airport, so you just need to keep track of them to check your flight info. Also, your checked baggage will be moved from plane to plane for you, so the only thing you need to do between your home airport and destination airport is make sure you, your carry-on bag, and your boarding pass are on the right plane at the right time.

Ah that's alot less hastle then.

So where would u apply for a passport?

And what's the best way about buying tickets? Just random sites and put in where your going from and to and just buy them?

[Danny@phatworks]

what's the best way about buying tickets? Just random sites and put in where your going from and to and just buy them?

Yes, online is easiest and to get the best deals really. Once you book the flight you will get an email/fax confirming your flight details. You will need to take that to the airport when you go to check in your baggage.

Some good sites I have used when going to the states and Canada numerous times are:

http://www.expedia.com

http://www.opodo.co.uk/

http://www.cheapflights.co.uk

Or could try the flight companies direct such as: Virgin Atlantic or British Airways, they are the 2 best in my opinion, you get more leg room with BA though (which is better obviously being on an 8 hour plus flight, depending where your going in states), but BA can either be really cheap or really expensive. Virgin are very good though and sometimes have PS2 under the seats to play on

[F-Stop Junkie]

Passport info here!

I've heard good things about Airline Network, and I booked my flights to the States through American Express travel for good prices.

I've never flown Virgin, but stick to one of the big carriers (I had a good flight with American Airlines) and you'll have a good time. Best thing is just to keep an eye on the websites and see if anyone is doing bargain flights. The more obscure the flight though, the less cheap flights you'll get. Airlines tend to offer bigger discounts on flights to New York, Hong Kong, Dubai, etc... Don't forget when you're looking to check out the different airports. If you can travel to London, then you may pay slightly less BUT you then obviously have to pay more for transport than flying out of Manchester or Birmingham. Check 'em all out and see how they compare.

[Tomm]

I don't know the situation with visas for the US at the moment. It probably depends on how long you're going for, and if you're planning on working. But you may need to apply in advance. Someone on here should know.

[Joe Papasnap Maher]

Chris..lol..fair play for writing all that out.

seriosly good info there.

And yer...just to re-inforce the point about going through immagration check point thin in the us.

Them people are utter spoons..they dont wanna be your friend..they dont want to talk to you...so dont try and crack any jokes whilst there cheking your passport or anything.

[the666ers]

Yeah man, I almost came when i read that. Good to see a decent post once in a while, as i never bother with any myself nowadays!

[F-Stop Junkie]

I don't know the situation with visas for the US at the moment. It probably depends on how long you're going for, and if you're planning on working. But you may need to apply in advance. Someone on here should know.

If you're just going for a holiday or business, then you can enter without a visa for upto three months. However, if you've got any criminal convinctions, are staying longer than 90 days, have certain awful diseases (strange but true!), or are moving to the US for good need a visa. If it's the first time you're going to the US, you're a UK citizen (with no dual nationality with a middle east country or anything), and you've behaved in the past then you have no need to worry.

Usefully, the US embassy has a good UK website

So to summarise Joe's post, as a rule, if they smile at you, smile back and be nice. If they don't smile (and carry a gun, probably) don't smile and only say what you need to say.

[Danny@phatworks]

I don't know the situation with visas for the US at the moment. It probably depends on how long you're going for, and if you're planning on working. But you may need to apply in advance. Someone on here should know.

If you're just going for a holiday or business, then you can enter without a visa for upto three months. However, if you've got any criminal convinctions, are staying longer than 90 days, have certain awful diseases (strange but true!), or are moving to the US for good need a visa. If it's the first time you're going to the US, you're a UK citizen (with no dual nationality with a middle east country or anything), and you've behaved in the past then you have no need to worry.

Spot on In terms of the working their, you cannot work over their without a visa or a tempory visa (say for example a company gives you an internship as part of a foreign youth programme etc) Obtaining a full US citizen visa is pratically impossible nowadays unless you have $1,000,0000.00 lying around to put in an american bank.

Im not sure the deal with getting one via the skills points system based on a trade and/or qualifications. I know for a Canadian visa its 36 points to get skills/working trade visa (which requires ALOT of qualifications, experience etc.)

Edited March 1, 2007 by dan08

[Walleee]

You'll have to attend an interview if you apply after march, if you havn't recieved a letter within 7 days your lucky and wont have to go for an interview, this is starting today! I doubt you'll get called as they have only started the recruitment process really.

At the moment you should expect to have the PP back within 3 weeks or so, but the closer we get to summer the busier it will get.

yeh, just apply for you passport now, so you dont end up phoning me from the airport and have me tell you your not going anywhere.

0207 499 9000 is the number for the US conculate in London, ring them, check visa requirements, you will be travelling with a new 'biometric' passport, which will have your photo digitally scanned in rather than stuck between the paper and laminate.

Edited March 1, 2007 by jake1516

[MattB]

When you get to US immigration make sure the green form is filled out perfectly otherwise you get sent to the back of the que which is a pain if you just missed out a couple of boxes. Also as everyone else has said US immigration people are like robots, they do a job and nothing else. If you've hired a car I suggest you pay the extra to have the quicker option as when we waited for our hire car it took 4 hours!!! If not just grab a bite to eat and enjoy.

Matt

[Gavyn.]

if you've had a british passport before then you won't need an interview yet (I presume you have as you said about the school trip)

[haydon_peter]

Woah, now that's a useful post Chris!

Like Chris has said, if you have a case that is just big black and normal looking put something on it to make it easily identifiable! I didn't do this when I flew in November and it was a bitch finding my case in Dubai and Jordan! The person I was travelling with had a more unique blue case and you could spot it from a mile away. On the way back I put a few bright red Emirates luggage tags that were free at the Airport in Cairo on my case and it made things a bit easier when I arrived back at Heathrow knackered! (Note I just said a bit easier, do something crazy to your case so it stands out from a mile away!)

I also advise wearing a few layers, it may just be me but I generally find planes cold! Also these layers count towards spare clothes in the (hopefully unlikely) event your luggage gets lost.

If you plan to sleep put your seatbelt on beforehand so hostesses don't have to wake you up if you hit turbulence, if you are going to cover yourself with a blanket while you sleep put your seatbelt on over the top of the blanket so again hostesses wont need to wake you up if you hit turbulence.

If you have taken your MP3 player with you to use these headphones when watching the TV, the ones supplied are usually shit.

If you get travel sick take a pill, you don't want to be ill, no one on the plane will like you for it!

Because your travelling alone try your best to get an isle seat so its easier to get up to visit the loo, if you are unable to get an isle seat complain you have the shits and request to be changed

Regarding prices visit some local travel agents, I'm currently researching flights to Australia and have found great prices on-line but surprisingly one of the local travel agents isnt far off these prices! If you are under 25 with some airlines you qualify for a young person discount even if you are not a student!

If you are a student make sure you get a ISIC (International Student Identity Card), you could make some nice savings! I'm not sure how much it could save in USA but when going around Jordan and Egypt I was paying full rates to get into all the museums, temples etc... whereas all the students were using these cards to get a 50% discount!

[RR_Trials]

I would so recomend going 1st class on 1st choice you get all the extras free and it isnt much more and if you count up all the free drink you use etc it probably adds up to how much its cost u to get in 1st class. You get meal served properly and all the movies u can just choose and wotch rather then sharing 1 movie every 3 hours with 20 other pasengers. Im prety shure thats the situation, thats what it was like when i went to florida with my family, the flight was AMAZING. They even let me see the cockpit when we had landed.

Rorz!

[F-Stop Junkie]

Woah, now that's a useful post Chris!

Like Chris has said, if you have a case that is just big black and normal looking put something on it to make it easily identifiable! I didn't do this when I flew in November and it was a bitch finding my case in Dubai and Jordan!

Can you tell I've done my fair share of flying over the past few years?

When I went the states I had a hard shell plastic suitcase, and I put a huge Koxx sticker on both sides. Easy enough to spot! I put a purple luggage strap around it too, and I was glad I did. When it came off the conveyor at Heathrow all three of the locks had popped open, and the plastic clip on the strap was half undone too!

I also advise wearing a few layers, it may just be me but I generally find planes cold! Also these layers count towards spare clothes in the (hopefully unlikely) event your luggage gets lost.

Plus if you're on the weight limit or run out of space, carry/wear your bulkiest clothes!

Don't forget to check what it will be like where your landing. Was hillarious picking my girlfriend up from the airport in Birmingham in December. Her flight was from Dubai, and people were wandering into arrivals in shorts and T shirts, in Birmingham, in December!

Some airlines turn the heating down to save money (I guess), while others, especially on longer flights, turn it up slightly after meal services when they dim the lights to try and get people sleepy and sedated.

If you have taken your MP3 player with you to use these headphones when watching the TV, the ones supplied are usually shit.

Good point! Also with those foam covered ones, you never know who's worn them before or if they've been cleaned...

If you are a student make sure you get a ISIC (International Student Identity Card), you could make some nice savings! I'm not sure how much it could save in USA but when going around Jordan and Egypt I was paying full rates to get into all the museums, temples etc... whereas all the students were using these cards to get a 50% discount!

Also students get reduced prices at STA travel. Worth a look!

[F-Stop Junkie]

I would so recomend going 1st class on 1st choice you get all the extras free and it isnt much more and if you count up all the free drink you use etc it probably adds up to how much its cost u to get in 1st class. You get meal served properly and all the movies u can just choose and wotch rather then sharing 1 movie every 3 hours with 20 other pasengers.

Wow. I'd certainly reccomend first class too, if you can afford it. Quick comparison though. BA travelling mid-may for a week, London Heathrow to New York JFK. Always looking for the lowest price fair according to BA.com:

Economy - £369.90

Premier Economy - £709.90

Business - £1347.90

First Class - £4321.90

Note: All these flights are on the same plane! For the flying geeks, it's BA0175 ex-LHR and BA0112 ex-JFK.

The benefits as you go up each class are; better food, more cabin space, bigger seats, lounge access, more goodies on the plane and better quality alcohol. You won't get anywhere quicker.

If you're flying with a decent airline with upto date aircrafts, you will get in seat entertainment flying long haul. You may not get video on demand in all aircraft yet, but you can watch what you want. The only planes with a two or three screens for all of economy to watch cinema style these days are either older planes doing holiday charter work, or ones that have been sold to smaller national airlines.

Decent airlines do free booze too. In economy you may not get champagne, but there's plenty of wine, spirits and beer.

Oh, and if you ever fly Indian Airways, you have two meal choices - Veg or non-veg. Whatever you get, don't ask what it is, just eat it. I've had a couple, don't know what I ate, don't want to...

[JT!]

Aww i'm not a student, not got a passport at the mo, and if i do it'll be very old.

I'm only going for 2 weeks, not staying or working.

Staying with a friend so no fannying with hotels.

Don't really care about booze or movies because i know i'll just sleep because i'm a lazy git.

I like the idea of getting woken up by a hostess...

Thanks for all the info, starting to get my head around it now.

Edited March 1, 2007 by JT!

[JT!]

Passports are a bit confusing...

I've had one befor when i was a child, like 11. Anyone know if i just apply for an adult on as if it was my first one, or do i do something different? (i'm 20 now btw).

[F-Stop Junkie]

It used to be that kids were put on their parents passports until they were 16, unless they asked for one specifically.

If you've had your own passport before then you need to renew it. If you've been on a parents one, then you'll have to apply for a new one.

Passports last for 10 years, so if you had one when you're 11, and you're now 20, then the same passport may still be valid. Just. Expect problems when you get to customs and you look nothing like an 11 year old boy...