Flying Help

cyfan964

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2006
5,157
972
113
Going to be taking a trip here in the next few days and was looking for some advice. Haven't been on a plane in a couple of years and looking for some airport advice. I've also never flown with a laptop before. Do i just leave it in my carry-on bag. Can I have a separate carry on for it, or does that constitute two carry-ons? I've heard everything about small sized liquid containers.... Anything else I should be made aware of? Any help is appreciated.
 

cyco2000

Well-Known Member
Nov 5, 2007
1,343
229
63
Going to be taking a trip here in the next few days and was looking for some advice. Haven't been on a plane in a couple of years and looking for some airport advice. I've also never flown with a laptop before. Do i just leave it in my carry-on bag. Can I have a separate carry on for it, or does that constitute two carry-ons? I've heard everything about small sized liquid containers.... Anything else I should be made aware of? Any help is appreciated.

Word of advice--make sure your driver's license is up to date! :smile:

Both my wife and I forgot to renew our licenses. They did nothing out of Minneapolis, but made us go through the thorough search in Charlotte on the way back. Wasn't too bad, but we made sure our licenses were up to date when we got back!
 

4429 mcc

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2007
4,389
248
63
Wall Street
lapper can go in your carry on..you have to take it out before your bag go through xray

You get a carry on plus one..so you can have a small suitcase and a computer case.

Make sure to have all your liquids out and some easy slip on/off shoes (you have to take your shoes off when walking through the metal detector)...DSM is very easy to fly out of you'll look like a pro on your way back!
 
Last edited:

SeattleClone

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2006
6,188
452
83
A laptop bag can count as your "personal item" in addition to a larger carry-on item. You have to take the laptop out of the bag at security and send it through the x-ray machine by itself.
 

4429 mcc

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2007
4,389
248
63
Wall Street
Also if your going on a short trip...think about not checking your small bag (if only taking one) on the regional jets they end up under the plane anyway. This way you wont have to pay the extra 15 dollar checked bag fee. Again remember to take travel size liquids 3oz or under.
 

CycloneErik

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2008
108,158
53,408
113
Jamerica
rememberingdoria.wordpress.com
Going to be taking a trip here in the next few days and was looking for some advice. Haven't been on a plane in a couple of years and looking for some airport advice. I've also never flown with a laptop before. Do i just leave it in my carry-on bag. Can I have a separate carry on for it, or does that constitute two carry-ons? I've heard everything about small sized liquid containers.... Anything else I should be made aware of? Any help is appreciated.

Laptop is your "personal item," and doesn't have to be in your carry-on. It's a separate piece of luggage, so you'd be OK.
 

cyfan964

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2006
5,157
972
113
Has anyone ever taken a tennis racket as carry on before? It isn't listed as prohibited on the TSA web site, but most other athletic equipment is.
 

jumbopackage

Well-Known Member
Sep 18, 2007
5,479
249
63
Here's what I do:
wear pants with easily accessible pockets (cargo pants etc), no belt, and easy to get on and off shoes. Put EVERYTHING in your carry on/laptop bag prior to getting to security except for a photo ID (drivers license) and your boarding pass. Keep all your liquids/gels in the plastic bag, and in an external pocket that's easy to access on your carry on.

Keep the laptop as easily accessible as possible as well. When you get to the checkpoint, put all the small items, as well as your shoes into one tub, your laptop in a separate tub by itself (sometimes they don't make you do this, sometimes they do). All you need once you get to the checkpoint is your boarding pass, so you can put your ID back into your pocket, or into the tub with the small items.

Put your shoes through first so you can put them back on while the rest of your stuff is getting scanned. That's about it.

I don't know about Tennis rackets. I haven't seen anyone carrying one around in a while, but I don't think it would be a huge deal either way. Worse comes to worse, ask the people at the airline counter at check-in. What you DON'T want to do is have to shuffle back and forth to ticketing with stuff.

Good luck! And there will always be someone there who is worse than you at the whole thing too.
 

Angie

Tugboats and arson.
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
28,598
13,598
113
IA
Here's what I do:
wear pants with easily accessible pockets (cargo pants etc), no belt, and easy to get on and off shoes. Put EVERYTHING in your carry on/laptop bag prior to getting to security except for a photo ID (drivers license) and your boarding pass. Keep all your liquids/gels in the plastic bag, and in an external pocket that's easy to access on your carry on.

Keep the laptop as easily accessible as possible as well. When you get to the checkpoint, put all the small items, as well as your shoes into one tub, your laptop in a separate tub by itself (sometimes they don't make you do this, sometimes they do). All you need once you get to the checkpoint is your boarding pass, so you can put your ID back into your pocket, or into the tub with the small items.

Put your shoes through first so you can put them back on while the rest of your stuff is getting scanned. That's about it.

I don't know about Tennis rackets. I haven't seen anyone carrying one around in a while, but I don't think it would be a huge deal either way. Worse comes to worse, ask the people at the airline counter at check-in. What you DON'T want to do is have to shuffle back and forth to ticketing with stuff.

Good luck! And there will always be someone there who is worse than you at the whole thing too.

This is what I do, too - you'll probably want to put your wallet in that first tub with your shoes so you're not waiting for that to come through, too. Make sure to put any coats/jackets/sweaters in a tub, too.

I haven't had an airport lately that doesn't make me take out my laptop and put it in a tub. :sad: It's a huge pain in the butt.
 

jumbopackage

Well-Known Member
Sep 18, 2007
5,479
249
63
This is what I do, too - you'll probably want to put your wallet in that first tub with your shoes so you're not waiting for that to come through, too. Make sure to put any coats/jackets/sweaters in a tub, too.

I haven't had an airport lately that doesn't make me take out my laptop and put it in a tub. :sad: It's a huge pain in the butt.
I meant in a tub all by its lonesome as opposed to in a tub with other stuff.. Unless you have one of those high speed laptop bags designed for TSA checkpoints.
 

dosry5

Well-Known Member
Nov 28, 2006
7,479
6,464
113
Johnston
Take an egg salad and extra red onion sandwich with you in a baggie. Eat it on the plane. This has happened to me many, many times. Love it. Smells great. :yes:
 

GeronimusClone

Well-Known Member
Oct 23, 2008
8,261
616
113
Des Moines, IA
Has anyone ever taken a tennis racket as carry on before? It isn't listed as prohibited on the TSA web site, but most other athletic equipment is.
He didn't seem to have a problem.
geico_caveman.03.jpg
 

Cyclones_R_GR8

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Feb 10, 2007
23,965
25,946
113
Omaha
People mentioned the 3 oz restriction for carry on liquids. They also mentioned they need to be in a plastic bag. To be specific, they need to be in a 1 quart zip lock bag and they are supposed to be out of your carryon when going through security.
 

cyfan964

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2006
5,157
972
113
Just for future reference, salsa is considered a liquid. When I jokingly asked if I could strain the liquid out in the bathroom I was given a 4 minute explanation when they could have simply said, "No." I obviously knew, but I was so concerned about toiletries that I didn't take time to consider food items.
 

balken

Well-Known Member
Apr 14, 2006
2,744
345
83
People mentioned the 3 oz restriction for carry on liquids. They also mentioned they need to be in a plastic bag. To be specific, they need to be in a 1 quart zip lock bag and they are supposed to be out of your carryon when going through security.

Technically, I think the limit is 3.4 oz which is the equivalent of 100 mL.