The below advice was written for Elliott, but if this might help you, here you go…
As for what you need to do at the airport? Since you asked, here are some detailed instructions as to how *I* fly:
-If you can pack all your clothes in a backpack and a carryon-sized bag, you rock. I can't do it.
-You will likely want to bring a full-sized bag or two (You can bring 2 for free on SWA! http://www.southwest.com/
the way out, then coming back with two of them.
-This is Con, you're going to buy/get free books there. Don't bring more reading material than you will normally consume in the flight plus the first day there.
-remember all your chargers and bring a power strip and/or extension cable.
-bring snacks even if you think you won't need them. Stuff is expensive at the airport and moreso on the plane. At the convention center, you may need to mortgage your house or sell your soul for a hot dog.
-Put ALL your liquid/gel stuff in your checked baggage. You CAN put items in containers that are 3oz or less in a single clear quart ziplock, but who wants to do that? It's a pain.
-put all your electronics you're bringing in your backpack. You don't want the airline or TSA breaking your important stuff.
-try and get an aisle seat, but punch the sleepy jerk next to the window
till he opens the blind so you can see the approach into San Diego. It's
pretty and kinda scary in a roller coaster way, cause you come very close to buildings on approach.
-23 hours before your flight leaves, go to the airline website and print
your boarding passes.
-get to the airport 90 minutes before your flight is due to leave. Elliott
time may vary. Consult your local Jenn for assistance.
-be security conscious at all times. Pretend every mofo you see but don't already know wants to shiv you and steal everything you have until I pick you up. Then be the same way with your stuff at Con (Especially around Nomad and his friends. Have you listened to his podcast?).
-when you get to the airport, do the self check-in at the kiosk, then get
your baggage tagged by the attendant and you will have to drop it at the TSA screener if they don't do that for you (this changes all the time).
-when you get to the TSA passenger screening line, hand the first person your photo ID and your boarding pass. They will initial the boarding pass and hand both back to you. put your ID away, but keep your boarding pass out and ready to show.
-once in the line after that person, put the contents of your pockets
(phone, keys, wallet, watch, pen–all metal) in your backpack. If you have a belt with a substantive buckle or a lot of rivets, take it off and put it in your backpack, or get ready to put it in a bin when you get up there.
-if you are wearing shoes that you need to untie, untie them before you get to the bins/conveyor belt. Not doing so makes you look like a newb.
-when you get to the bins, put your shoes/jacket/belt in the first bin you
grab and slide it up.
-then grab your laptop and any video cameras out of your bag and put them in a separate bin and slide that one up.
-then put your backpack and rolly carryon after your bins. Make sure that your stuff is going through the machine before you step through. Dumb people bringing drinks or shampoo don't need to get your good stuff lost or stolen.
-wait for the agent to wave you through the metal detector. You should be showing them your boarding pass as you step through. It's like Operation; don't touch the sides or it will buzz and you will look like a newb.
-once you're through, immediately look for your stuff coming off the belt. You're not allowed to touch any bin or item until it's fully out from under the overhang and sliding down the rolly ramp. If you do, you are volunteering for a full cavity search by the largest, hairiest person down there. Unless you're into that sort of thing.
-slide the bin with your shoes down and keep your eye on your electronics. When you have your laptop and your backpack, put your electronics back in your backpack, put your backpack on and if applicable take your rolly carryon off the ramp and keep your leg against it so you know if anyone touches it while you…
-grab your shoes and put them on if you don't have people stacking up behind you. if you do, just grab your shoes and spot some benches close by to get things situated again, including putting your wallet (remember to replace your ID if you haven't already) and phone back in your pockets.
-walk to your gate.
-check your ticket for your boarding group. On southwest they're A through E I think. They will first call special passenger groups, then call the letters in order. When they call yours you should be first in line, especially if you have a rolly carryon, cause you don't want to have to stow it far from where you're sitting.
-likewise, if you are in a row without seats in front of you or you're in an exit row (on some planes) you'll need to put your backpack up rather than stow it under the seat in front of you, which sucks if you want to get your stuff out and use it or get to your snacks.
-you can leave a book or magazines out, but don't forget them in the pocket.
-this doesn't apply to Southwest, but if you're ever get bumped up to first class, take advantage. Food and alcohol are free in first class.
-if you are flying Southwest, diet first.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/
-as soon as your wheels hit the ground, turn airplane mode off on your
phone. Txt me (or whever is meeing you) that you've landed.
-as soon as you reach the gate and hear the ding, stand up and get your
carryon(s) down if applicable and put on your backpack.
-let everyone in front of your row go first, but don't let jerks from behind you bust ahead of your row.
-as soon as you hit the ramp speedwalk like you're in the Olympics to your next flight or to the baggage area if you're done. Text me when you get to the baggage area and which carousel you're at.
-stand where you can see your bags come out and hit the carousel. Don't give thieves a chance to walk off with your stuff. Baggage claim tickets mean jack squat. TSA isn't watching.
That's pretty much all I have to say about that. Fly safely and we'll see you at Comic-Con 2010!
