<p>Yeah, so, I'm brand new to this "airplane" thing, and I have some questions as March 1st approaches.</p>
<p>You know how Martin Travel emailed us the tickets? If we print those, are those the real things? Do we just take those with us to the airport in that form?</p>
<p>How early does one have to arrive at the airport before one's flight? What does one do when one arrives?</p>
<p>How does baggage work? What can be brought on the plane, what has to be stored, is it going to be lost, etc.? Can I bring food on the plane?</p>
<p>You can probably just print off the tickets that Martin travel sent you. At the airport, you go to the check-in (easy to find), give them the e-ticket print-out, and they'll give you the actual boarding pass.</p>
<p>Arrive an hour to an hour and a half early for the flight - depending on time of day (i.e. no reason to arrive at 5:30 am for a 7 am flight) and how busy the airport usually is.</p>
<p>You can bring a suitcase on a plane that is small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Think the size of a small wheely suitcase. It can also be stored in the overhead compartment. If you're only going for a day or two, and don't need to bring pillows or blankets, you should be able to fit everything in a carry-on. (Note, however, that not checking baggage will make you more likely to get an in-depth screening by the airline people. Three basic factors: purchasing ticket in the past 14 days, not checking baggage, and buying a one-way ticket. Yours truly managed all three in one go once and got her luggage torn apart by rabid dogs - well, not quite the last part. :) )</p>
<p>You cannot bring chemicals, bomb-making material, knives, or the like on the plane. Some airport screeners get cranky about things like nail clippers. It's not usual for bags to get lost - it's happened to me a few times, but I fly a lot (and one of those times wasn't "lost," so much as I switched planes in Atlanta and had to switch airlines, so they couldn't get it to me). </p>
<p>Food is always okay, just so long as it's not smelly and stinky. </p>
<p>If you bring shampoo, conditioner, and the like, put it in Ziplock baggies. Often, it will leak on the plane.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Security these days at airports usually takes a long time because of extra precautions. At many airports, you have to take off your shoes as well as your jacket, bag, sweater, etc. when passing through security. Also if someone is dropping you off at the airport they can't go past security, so you'll have to say your goodbyes there. It used to be that they could go all the way to the gate, but that's no longer the case.</p></li>
<li><p>Do not bring sharp objects in your carry-on luggage. I was quite stupid a few years ago and attempted to bring my school pouch with scissors in it in my carry-on...so yeah, my scissors got confiscated. Best pair of scissors I ever had :(.....</p></li>
<li><p>Inflight movies usually suck (from personal experience). Or the airline will try to charge you three dollars for headphones so you can hear the audio to the movie. So bring a book, become adept at people-watching, be prepared to sleep, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Airplane bathrooms are scary, especially to clausterphobes. Try to use the airport bathrooms if at all possible.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I'll be flying into Roanoke airport the morning of the 1st....from what I heard, there's supposed to be a W&L representative meeting us in baggage claim, right? I imagine Roanoke airport isn't too large, so there should be plenty of nice guide signs to lead us downstairs or whatever to that area.</p>
<p>Yeah, there's going to be a representative meeting us at baggage claim, Roanoke Regional is pretty small but quite nice from looking at its website, has a bookstore and a restaurant which might come in real handy for me as I'm flying in at 10:30AM, wayyy early because that's the only flight until late afternoon from LaGuardia.</p>
<p>It will be impossible to "get confused" in Roanoke's airport, not to worry. It is very small and personal, and the baggage claim area is tiny. No signs are needed. Just exit the gates, go down the One and Only Escalator to Baggage Claim where usually only one plane is arriving at a time. It will be easy to hook up with someone from W&L, and it will take a bit more than 30 minutes straight up I-81 North to drive to Lexington. SW Virginia is very homey and not stressful.</p>
<p>My flight leaves at 9 a.m. from Chicago and is scheduled to arrive in Roanoke just before noon (with the time change, of course). Go Canadair! lol</p>
<p>Wow, thanks a lot, guys and gals. I suppose we'll all have to check luggage if we bring a sleeping bag and pillow, unless I underestimate the size of the carry-on space. I think I arrive an hour or so too early because of limited flights out of my small local airport (to Philadelphia, then to Roanoke, apparently).</p>
<p>It's an early morning flight from one of the smallest airports imaginable, so I guess I'll arrive an hour early just to be safe. The only thing I'm worried about (if you couldn't tell) is all the horror stories that circulate about lost bags. Oh well.</p>
<p>Flying direct you usually don't have to worry about lost baggage, you only really have to start worrying about that when your flight requires a stopover and change of planes (I left some luggage in Prague that way :'( ).</p>
<p>Willywonka, I don't know when the W&L reps will arrive to pick us up from the airport, but considering that registration is from 1-4 if I remember correctly, I may be forced to spend as much as 2 hours in the airport (this is where books and mp3 players come in handy). If you're arriving early as well, some company would be nice.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don't see "sleeping bag and pillow, bath towel, casual clothing, appropriate interview attire for Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, a travel alarm clock, a jacket or coat, and a travel itinerary along with personal photo identification" fitting in a carry-on. </p>
<p>I get to Roanoke at 1:33. See you guys there! :)</p>
<p>Guys, a Mom speaking, get a cheap, sturdy duffel and check it with your sleeping bag and pillow. Then put all your clothes, toiletries in your carry-on, particularly your interview clothes and toiletries - that way you will be set, even if your luggage goes to Rapid City instead of Roanoke!
Also be prepared, you may fly a smaller regional jet from whatever hub to Roanoke, they will ask you to leave your carry-on on the jetway, it will be tagged, stowed, and returned to you on the jetway at Roanoke. Don't worry, the flight attendants will explain, if that is necessary.
Sounds like you guys will get to meet and bond before you ever even get to W&L. Have fun!</p>
<p>Cangel is correct...little puddle jumpers are common in and out of Roanoke, although sometimes you will board a roomier plane with overhead storage..don't count on it...and they do ask you to leave your carry-on on the tarmac on the little planes. When you climb down, it is unloaded for you on the spot.<br>
So my advice to boys...wear your blazer, carry your heavy coat over your arm if you have to change planes. If you are not changing planes, you can roll your heavy coat into your duffel with pillow and sleeping bag. (Leave room for dirty clothes on the way home.) You can always get away with a small bag on board for essentials/reading/maps/medication/eyeglasses/contacts.. not bigger than a pocketbook. Enjoy!</p>
<p>My friend flew into Roanoke on a plane that he described as being good for him and three of his friends. :) Yes, they are small.</p>
<p>I met my roommate for the first time at the Roanoke airport. Literally, never having met her but offering her a lift to Lex, I could pick her out in baggage claim. Don't worry, y'all will be fine. </p>
<p>Yes, there is a bookstore (Hudson News type thing) and a coffee shop. One of each.</p>