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One caveat to putting locks on your suitcase: make sure they are the new TSA locks, not just a normal key lock. TSA locks are combination locks with a special symbol and a keyhole. They can be unlocked with your code or by someone in airport security who has a master key. If you use a normal suitcase lock, they will just cut them off if they want to check inside your bag. Some people just lock their suitcase with zip ties. That way no one can put anything illegal in your bag, and you don’t have to worry about your locks being cut off.

Wear shoes that you can slip on and off when going through the security check. Make sure they have no metal on them. Wear a bra with no underwire. It’s not like they won’t let you on the plane if you wear an underwire bra, but these things will save you time and help eliminate the risk of security deciding they need to wand you or something.

Make sure you get there EARLY, like they tell you. Hours early. Have your tickets and ID ready when you check in, when you’re going through security, and when you’re getting on the flight. Be aware of what you can and cannot take on your flight:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Checking your bags will prevent you from having to lug them all over two airports. You will have to go pick them up once you get to your final destination, but in my experience, it’s mostly been worth the hassle. Especially if you have to rush to catch a connecting flight.

When you get off your first flight, know exactly which gate you need to be in and how much time you have to get there. Check an overhead to see if your next flight is on time or if it will be late. Ask someone who works there where you can find your gate if you want. Otherwise, there are signs that will show you where to go.

I don’t know how the O’Hare airport is, but in Portland they have really long pairs of conveyor belts going in either direction interspersed throughout the airport. You can stand on them to rest a bit and keep moving, or you can walk swiftly over them to get an extra speed boost, haha. The airport in Orlando has a monorail that you have to take to get to different places. I think we had to take the monorail to go get our bags, but it’s possible there are airports where you have to take a monorail to catch your connecting flight.

You may want to make a list of everything in your suitcase before you leave. Put a copy inside your suitcase, and carry a copy in your purse. If anything is missing when you get to your destination, or if your entire bag is lost (God forbid), you will know exactly what was in there.

Do everything you possibly can to avoid having to use the bathroom ON the airplane. Start chewing gum as the plane starts moving down the runway, getting ready to take off. Bring a book or a magazine for at least part of your flight, since you cannot have iPods out during take off. Since this is your first flight, I’m sure you will not neglect to check out your safety card which tells you what to do in case of a crash landing. Read it once, say a prayer, and get over it.

Be aware that it will be very loud when taking off and landing, and it IS normal to hit the ground with a big bump and then a really really loud whooshing sound. It is also normal, when descending, to feel the plane do little dips. Depending on how big the plane is, these may or may not bother you. When I flew to Hawaii, we were in a really big plane (there were two aisles and 12 seats per row) and the dips felt like the plane was dropping out of the sky. But it wasn’t. So don’t scream, “OMG WE’RE GONNA DIE!” if you feel it start to do that, hehe.

If the person in front of you leans their chair back all the way and your tray is stabbing you in the stomach because of it, pretend you are really sick. Cough violently and sniff a lot. That usually does the trick.

If you get stuck between a really fat, sweaty, smelly guy and someone who decides to use your arm as a pillow, call the stewardess and ask if there are any other seats available. This has actually happened to me before.

If there is a mix up and your ticket says you have the same seat as some other guy, don’t panic. They will find you a seat, even if they have to seat you in first class. This has happened to me before too. My Mom and sister were stuck next to the toilet seats and my dad and I ended up in first class for no extra charge.

Take a multivitamin and some extra vitamin C (that’s basically what Airborne is, so don’t waste your money) before you get on the flight. If you’re stuck next to a really sick person, again, it’s okay to see if there’s another seat available. But just be aware, you’re going to be exposed to a lot of germs because of the way they circulate the air in an airplane. Buff up your immune system in any way possible before you take off.

If a terrorist ends up on your flight, tackle them and stab them with a pen. Okay, maybe that wouldn’t be an option, but just be aware of what’s going on around you and if there’s anything suspicious, don’t be afraid to alert the stewardess. They may decide to search the plane for 4 hours, but it’s better than the alternative.

If you’re not too freaked out and you’re by a window, open it up and check out the view before you get up into the clouds. It’s kind of cool.

O.O That was like… four times the size of my post. Thank you though!

Chester County and Lancaster County. I used to live in Lancaster. Lititz actually. That’s not far from you!

*considers taking my comment and adapting it into a blog post out of laziness*

Nah…

That’s what happens when I get up early and start looking at blogs. I end up typing really long comments because I have plenty of time and don’t realize how much I’ve already typed.