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Discussion Forums » General Discussion
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Traveling by Airplane
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15 Apr 2011, 21:56
Aubrey;
Post Count: 377
I'm going for a trip in a couple days.
I have some dumb questions about traveling on an airplane. I haven't been on one in about ten years, so forgive my ignorance.
1.) Do they search your checked luggage? I know there's that whole thing about only certain liquids, but I assume that's only if you're bringing it on the plane? (I'm planning on bringing shampoo and conditioner, but packed in my checked bag, not my carry-on).
2.) Are you allowed to use your phone or iPod while the plane is flying? If the iPod has wifi, should it be turned off? I assume they'll talk about this during the preflight, but I'm just curious.
I had more, but I can't think of what they were. Is there anything I should know about things to bring/not bring on the plane, what to expect, etc. I already know about the pat-down/scanner thing and I don't really care about that.

I'm flying Continental Airlines, I guess, if that matters.
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16 Apr 2011, 01:06
Chris
Post Count: 1938
1. No, unless they suspect your luggage is carrying something illegal.

2. You can, but not while the plane is taking off and landing. The captain will come on and let you know when it's cool to use your stuff.
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15 Apr 2011, 22:22
Estella
Post Count: 1779
There are different rules about what is permitted in carry-on and what is permitted in checked luggage. Here is a page saying what's allowed and not allowed in carry-on and in checked. You're allowed shampoo and conditioner in your checked luggage. You're even allowed it in your carry-on, so long as it's no more than 100ml.

I haven't flown for a while, so not sure about the phone and iPod thing. I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to use a mobile phone but, who knows, things may have changed.
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15 Apr 2011, 22:39
Aubrey;
Post Count: 377
Well, I assumed it would be allowed, I just wasn't sure if they'd end up searching it. I guess I will do some googling! I'm just getting nervous that I'm going to do something wrong.
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15 Apr 2011, 22:52
Estella
Post Count: 1779
Ah, okay - I think it just goes through an X-ray thing. You'll be okay - just make sure you put the important things in your carry-on so that you don't lose anything (just in case the checked luggage gets lost or sent to the wrong place - which is unlikely, but better safe than sorry). I was going to say 'And don't forget your passport!' but if you're travelling within the US then of course you won't need it! ;D
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15 Apr 2011, 23:16
Madeline Rain
Post Count: 151
If you are traveling within the U.S. your luggage might be x-rayed and searched, but liquids and gels are ok, as long as they're in your checked luggage. As for the iPod, you are allowed to listen to music for most of the flight, but will have to turn it off during takeoff and landing.

I hope this helped.
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16 Apr 2011, 00:20
Beautiful Lies
Post Count: 402
1. You'll have no problem with your shampoo and stuff in your checked luggage. They'll probably Xray scan it and if something looks suspicious they might search it by hand. Also, at some airports they have random gate checkpoint screening. It happened at an airport in Orlando. They actually just randomly select people as they're going to get on the plane and search their carry-on's even though you've already been through the main security checkpoint. It's kind of annoying.

2. You can use your ipod during the flight (not during takeoff and landing, they'll make announcements telling you when you can turn on your devices and when you need them off) but you cannot use your phone. You also cannot use wifi on the plane. You'll have to turn any 3g devices and such to 'airplane mode.'

Also, this is just for the US.
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17 Apr 2011, 01:56
Aubrey;
Post Count: 377
Thanks for the help everybody.
I have one more stupid question:
What's the deal with food on the plane? Are you allowed to bring your own? My ticket says food will be available, but it says "for sale" and I have no idea how much it costs. It's not a big issue, because there will be time to eat at the airport(s), but I'm just curious.

(My trip is four days away and I'm starting to get into panic-mode)
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17 Apr 2011, 17:53
Beautiful Lies
Post Count: 402
You can bring your own food on the plane. You just can't bring any liquids past the security checkpoint. Although you are allowed to purchase beverages after you pass the security checkpoint to bring on the plane (and you can buy food at one of the restaurants inside the terminal and bring it on the plane). I've brought things ranging from gummy bears and whole bags of chex mix on the plane to even my moms delicious homemade cookies. :) Have a good trip!!
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17 Apr 2011, 20:49
Estella
Post Count: 1779
On the flights I've been on, I've had meals included (and sometimes a glass of wine too, but that's only been with European airlines!) but I guess I've been on long flights. Shorter flights might not have meals. But the meals are not very nice anyway, so I would recommend bringing something to eat with you! I also recommend buying a bottle of water once you go through security because flights can be quite dehydrating.
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18 Apr 2011, 23:57
love♥nik
Post Count: 1010
Did they not offer refreshments for you on the flight? O____o
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19 Apr 2011, 00:24
Estella
Post Count: 1779
Me? No, I had meals. And bags of peanuts were given in between meals. I haven't flown for a few years, though, so maybe it's different now.
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19 Apr 2011, 01:14
love♥nik
Post Count: 1010
@Estella, sorry, yes, forgot to say who I was talking to. xD

But srsly?!?! Every national or international flight that I'm on they always offer drinks w/i 30 min. Most flights that's all they do now. I can't imagine an airline not offering their customers some sort of refreshment. Goodness.
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19 Apr 2011, 01:24
Estella
Post Count: 1779
Ooh, you meant specifically drinks - sorry, 'refreshments' here means food and drink, and I was confused because I'd already said I had meals! Yes, we get drinks included with the meals - a cup of tea or coffee, or a glass of water (and probably other options, but I always have water!).
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19 Apr 2011, 02:28
love♥nik
Post Count: 1010
@Estella, what about the flights where there are no meals? Most of the flights that I've flown on here in the States don't offer any food (I don't really count peanuts xD) unless it's a really long flight from say NY to California and even then, from my experience, you have to pay an insane amount for a sandwich with no mayo. >__< But literally every flight offers some sort of drink from tomato juice to Coke with peanuts or pretzels of some sort.
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19 Apr 2011, 02:35
Estella
Post Count: 1779
I was talking about flights with meals included, as the flights I've been on have had at least one meal (like, breakfast, lunch or evening meal, depending on the time of day).
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19 Apr 2011, 02:41
Estella
Post Count: 1779
Oh, I see why you were asking - I thought you were responding to my saying flights had meals on them, but I guess you were responding to what I said about bringing a bottle of water? The reason I bring water on flights is not because there are no refreshments, but because refreshments come at certain times, and you only get a small cup for water, and I prefer to have a bottle as well so I can drink from it whenever I like, rather than wait for the drinks trolley to arrive. And when they're coming through with drinks, it takes a while, especially if you're on a huge plane with loads of people. I drink a lot of water.
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19 Apr 2011, 02:42
love♥nik
Post Count: 1010
@Estella haha I can see now from your end it must've looked like I was asking an asinine question. XD

That makes sense to me. Sounds like something my bf would do but w/ Coke. I thought I drank a lot but he out drinks me by a lot. xD
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19 Apr 2011, 04:35
Jessica [Private]
Post Count: 1751
@Noobs: Wtf you got drinks!? My flight from Minneapolis to LAX didn't offer me crap. My dad had to buy every drink. All we got were peanuts, with no salt!
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19 Apr 2011, 04:41
love♥nik
Post Count: 1010
@Joo well this was back in 2004; that was the last time I flew. Doesn't surprise me that they fucking charge now. >___< I miss international flights. The food was so good. xD
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19 Apr 2011, 04:43
Jessica [Private]
Post Count: 1751
@Noo: mine was in... uh, 4th grade. So 1999? ;D

I'm still bitter about the $1 they probably charged my dad 12 years ago! ;) (kidding, obvs.)
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19 Apr 2011, 04:45
love♥nik
Post Count: 1010
@Joo maybe it was the airline then? I've never been on a flight where they charged for drinks and I've been more than I can count. xD And my mom, who had flights the most recently, hasn't had to pay for drinks either b/c if she had I'm pretty sure I would've heard of it. xD
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19 Apr 2011, 06:23
~RedFraggle~
Post Count: 2651
When I was in America last year they charged on US Airways, Delta and Frontier.
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19 Apr 2011, 18:03
love♥nik
Post Count: 1010
@ Red Frag, good lord, 6 hours and no food being offered?! Jeez. >___< I had one similar to that but you could buy it. I think it was from Houston to San Fran which was a long flight when one hasn't had any breakfast.

But yeah my mom flies Continental and as far as last year they haven't charged for refreshments.
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19 Apr 2011, 18:31
~RedFraggle~
Post Count: 2651
@nik: No, I meant there was no food supplied within the cost of the flight but you could buy it! (I'd bought food in the airport anyway as I'm not a big fan of aeroplane food, so I was fine) I was just shocked as I'd just gotten off another 7 hr US Airways flight (from Glasgow to Philadelphia) flight on which food HAD been supplied... I couldn't understand why they supplied it on the transatlantic one but not the cross country flight when they were the same airline and roughly the same duration!
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