How to Navigate an Airport and Catch a Connecting Flight

[Thok]

I almost wonder if Courk has more time between flights, but ignored/miscalculated the change in time zones. A half hour is nothing: any sort of bad weather could mess up the connection.

[crk*]

Nothing's official yet, I just entered the most likely information I know into one of those ticket sites -- one of the results had a 30 minute layover as listed by them.

[Quailman]

Page 2

Now for the good stories.

About 1987, I had traveled quite a bit on business the last few years, so air travel was becoming routine. I was on a flight that left Denver for NYC. When we got about to Nebraska, the pilot notified us that we had a hydraulic system problem and would have to return to Denver. Oh well.

I was in an aisle seat with two teenagers (about 18) returning from a ski trip in the middle and window seat. When the plane flew south of town and made a couple of big circles over an unpopulated area, one said to the other, "What are they doing? Why won't they just let us land?". I offered up the they were probably dumping fuel so we wouldn't be so heavy when we touched down. I shouldn't have said that. What I wanted to say was "so the fireball won't be quite so big." They cried and hugged each other until we landed.

We landed on a runway I didn't even know Stapleton had, heading directly away from the terminal. The emergency vehicles were spread out along the runway, just like the old movies. It was uneventful, except for being towed all the way back to the terminal by a tractor. It took nearly half an hour.

[The Potter]

I have found buying tickets from the airline's website to be cheaper than any of those sites. These days I use Priceline to find the flights and then go to the listed airlines to purchase the tickets.
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Artwork | Fractals | Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy.

[Sessie]

Try to get longer than a 30 minute layover if you can. Waiting and being bored is better than scrambling for your flight at the last second! Not that it's impossible to do a 30 minute layover; it's perfectly doable, just more stressful, especially for a first time flyer.
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"I have an everyday religion that works for me: love yourself first, and everything else falls into line." --Lucille Ball

[Courk*]

2 hr layover in detroit on the way there, about 1hr 10 min layover in Chicago on the way back.

I measured my bag -- as long as I don't stuff it to the brim it should be able to be carried on. What's better, though, carry-on or checking it? What are the rules about me packing a small purse in my carry-on bag and taking my laptop as my personal item?

[Neo]

I personally find carry-on superior to checked luggage. In fact, when I fly I never check bags anymore.

There is nothing to stop you from having a bag within a bag for your carry-on.
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_{Ad Astra}

[LordKinbote]

I prefer to fly with bags inside bags inside bags, at least 6 bags deep. Like little Matryoshka dolls. Damn the Man.

[The Potter]

The advantages of carrying everything on
1. It always arrives when you do.
2. No checked baggage fees.
3. It doesn't get tossed around carelessly by other people.

The disadvantages
1. You have to carry it.
2. No prohibited item etc.
3. You have to fit it in one of the overhead bins or in your small amount of foot room.

Oh so you can zone out like everyone else during the monologue of safety information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBlRbrB_Gnc
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Artwork | Fractals | Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy.

[Dread Pirate Westley]

The corollary to Advantage 1 is "Get off plane, go get rental car/taxi/whatever; skip 20 minute wait at baggage claim."

[Courk*]

Tomorrow: Wish me luck

[Death Mage]

Don't walk under big signs.
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* These senseless ramblings brought to you by Insanity™. If you just can't figure the dang thing out, it must be Insanity™.
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[Courk]

Fun fact: akron canton does not have those big flight signs of which you spoke.

[Courk]

Another fun fact: I've made it!

[Thok]