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Haven't flown since 2000

CB21

CB21

Well-Known Member
Mar 13, 2009
1,944
29
48
Sioux Falls
I'm making a trip to the British Virgin Islands late Sunday night for 2 weeks. I live in Sioux Falls but will be departing from Des Moines headed to Atlanta..and then down to the islands.

Obviously things have drastically changed since the last time I have stepped foot in an airport but are there any things I should know leading up to the process of it? How much time should I allow myself? Are they pretty strict now on what you bring for your carry on? And yes...how about if I want to have a few drinks on the way down there? Does it just depend....?


Has anyone else been down in that area? The island is called St. John but we'll be landing on St. Thomas and will take a ferry over to the villa we're staying at. If anybody has ANY advice it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
any things I should know leading up to the process of it?
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I cant remember specifically everything about how things were pre 9\11 when you last flew, but here's some general things that may or may not be of use:

-Check in online for faster processing at the airport
-Have your id and such ready, they'll usually check it at the main counter and with your boarding pass as you enter security
-in the security line, as you approach the metal detector most places you have to remove your shoes and put them in one of the bins
-if you have a laptop to carry on take it out of its bag and put it in a separate bin from your bag. Also recommend emptying your pockets pre-security line and just dumping them into whatever bag you have. It'll speed up the process of going through security and ensure you dont miss anything and set off the detectors. Also may want to remove belts, the sensitivity is sometimes set higher than it used to be.

Arrival time at the DSM airport.... 90 minutes prior to departure seems like a good amount (dsm airport says 90-120 min)

As for drinks, you should be able to do that with no issues. Get drinks at one of the airports bars or on the plane, a little pricey either way but such is air travel.

 
Also, check out the website for the carrier you are using. They will have info on what you can check thru, carry on, etc.
 
watch what others do in front of you and do what they do. I travel often and it really irritates me when I get stuck behind someone who doesn't know what to do. Last time I flew the guy in front of my had shoes & a coat on trying to go through the metal detector.
 
St John & St Thomas are actually part of US Virgin Islands not British. That may seem minor except you need a passport for BVI but don't for USVI. St John is less touristy and less developed than St Thomas which is why I like it better for just relaxing. Hopefully you do have your passport because BVI is extremely close by and you can make some nice day trips to see sites like The Baths.
 
Carry one liquids, including shampoo, toothpaste, etc., must be in 3.4 oz bottles or less; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger. Have the bag out. Take off your belt, shoes, and jacket and put them through the X-ray, as well as your laptop.

Oh, and don't bring a gun! And if you are a smart-***, jokes about bombs and guns are not tolerated. You'll be delayed and/or arrested.

Don't leave anything in your pockets because of new x-ray scanners.
 
cy4prez7 said:
All liquids in 3 oz or less containers and then put in baggies. (For your carry on.)
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If bigger, then put in baggies in you checked luggage! My husband forgot once and they took the bottle of jerk sauce and threw it away. I have seen them take lighters too.
 
I always wear slip on shoes, it's faster to take on and off. I always have my camera in the carry on bag.

Customs in Atlanta have seemed to move reasonably fast, but be prepared for an hour or so if it is a busy day on you way back. (unless the US islands don't require it).

Check with your airline a head of time on how much luggage you can check and prepay extra before hand.
 
Take your flex card so when they do the rectal exam you don't have to pay from your cash.
 
urb1 said:
Don't leave anything in your pockets because of new x-ray scanners.
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This......I flew about a month ago and had a nice roll of cash in my pocket that I didn't exactly want to flash around. Left it in my pocket because hey, it's freaking paper! It won't get caught by their back scanner! But it did, and they ******* me out for it.
 
You'll also need to take off your belt if you wear one.


This is the position you need to stand in the X-ray scanner:

202346-news-image-body-scanner-20100108.jpg
 
Prepare for the Third World crowding of the entrance of the plane before boarding that seems to happen now. They try to board by section (or group number on your boarding pass), but even if you are invited to board first, you have to fight through the crowd that forms near the gate entrance. I've seen one airline that now has numbered stations for group numbers. Too bad the whole thing keeps moving toward processes that bear resemblance to slaughter houses.

Also, if you plan to take a big carryon, you better hope to board first because the overhead bins fill up fast.
 
If you're younger than 30 and have any facial hair, you will be randomly selected.
 
you are the guy I always end up behind in the security line when I'm running late for my flight.
 
Rabbuk said:
If you're younger than 30 and have any facial hair, you will be randomly selected.
Click to expand...

Friend of mine is a non-muslim American born Indian guy with the very muslim last name of Shah. He somehow gets randomly selected every time.
 
Are you nervous or worried about it? If so, I'd not check in on line.

I'd get to Des Moines 2 to 2.5 hours early. I fly out of Des Moines and often arrive an hour early and once flew to Mexico and overslept and got there 45 minutes before, so if you are comfortable, 1.5 is fine.

The self service kiosks are useful, but sometimes kind of annoying. I can never get them to swipe my passport. Usually my credit card works. If all else fails, just wait in line for the actual person to check you in.

In the security line take off jackets, sweatshirts, belts, shoes, etc. Make sure your pockets are empty. Make sure your ID and boarding pass are still in your hands. Start this process before you are the next one to go through secruity. After you get through security drag your crap with you away from security and sit down on a bench to put everything back. Make sure you still have your ID and boarding pass.
 
Contrary to what most will tell you, you don't need to arrive 90-120 minutes ahead of the departure time. I fly domestically maybe once every month or two, usually with 2 carry-on bags with enough stuff for 4-5 days...it has never taken me more than 30 minutes to get through security in any airport I've been through. I usually get to the airport 45 minutes/1 hour ahead of departure, and usually it's the perfect amount of time to pass through security and grab a coffee before boarding.

That said, there are exceptions. The earliest flights (6-7 am for DCA) seem to have longer security lines for some reason.

Another big tip not already mentioned; don't ever plan on being able to charge your electronic devices at the airport. Most of them are still waaaay behind the curve and have a serious shortage of available electrical outlets (pretty astounding in the year 2013, IMO).
 
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