Flying for the first time... Grandfather turning 91

[m4a2000]

So at the ripe old age of 32 I've finally worked up the nerve to go through all the hassle of flying to see my grandfather for his 91st birthday. This old man is still kicking and oddly still working in insurance in Beverly Hills.

That aside I've never wanted to fly in an airplane. Oh sure I've had dreams of being in a rocket or even the shuttle, but for some reason thoughts of being on the world's biggest roman candle never bothered me as much as being within an enclosed tin can with several other people, jammed together after being through security, and all that other nonsense.

So... Seeing I know the basics aka don't be a dick, follow the rules, be early, and don't make any jokes about 'blasting off' any advice?

[PerrySimm]

Are you looking for tips on travel comfort? Or are you still deciding and need advice on airlines and airports?

[J!!]

How long of a flight are we talking about?

[m4a2000]

5 hours there, 1 stop, and 3 hours back.

[SabreMau]

Turbulence happens, don't worry about it. Just pass the time with book or game or whatever and then it's time to land. Though personally I'm more used to intercontinental flights where there's tons of time for watching in-flight movies and repeated beverage cart visits.

[PapaPalpatine]

I don't know what to tell you. Honestly, my last time on an airplane was pre-911; and the prospects of getting a veritable rectal probing from the TSA goons and still possibly ending up on the same flight as Khalid and his buddies looking to score their 72 has long since dampened what enthusiasm I might've had for air travel.

[PerrySimm]

Don't waste time in the connecting airport, the walk to your next gate is often longer than you'd think. Get to the gate first, then buy things.

[m4a2000]

Don't waste time in the connecting airport, the walk to your next gate is often longer than you'd think. Get to the gate first, then buy things.

I have an hour layover and luckily I'm staying with the same airline the whole trip. ... Airlines normally stick too the same terminal, right?

[PerrySimm]

True, though it's also common for regional flights to be in one area, and hub-to-hub will be in a different section.

Often you can get a decent idea of which gates your planes will go to from concourse listings on Wikipedia or FlightAware. Airlines also post maps of their gates at hub airports on their websites, and in the back of the inflight magazine.

[Admiral X]

If you have a passport, you should use that for ID purposes. The TSA will check it as you enter security along with your boarding pass, so what I usually do is stick the boarding pass in the passport as a kind of bookmark for the page that has your photo and information. Also, don't schedule yourself by the departure time, but on the "plane starts boarding at" time. You're going to want to be at the airport at least an hour ahead of that time, possibly more, just in case security is taking a while. Yeah, it means you might have to sit at the airport for a while, but it's better that than getting there late and missing your flight, or maybe having your bag miss your flight. I usually bring a book to pass the time in the terminal and on the flight.