Plane Delays
Find a Conversation
| Wed, 08-08-2007 - 2:57pm |
Ok, I'm getting kinda nervous. We aren't going to DW until October and taking our 9 year old grandson. Have many of you expirienced plane delays? I remember back in 2002 my husband and I just went the first week in October. The plane we were supposed to fly home on had machanical trouble. they said they would try to have it fixed in an hour. Well, the hour came and went. We ended up having to either spend the night at the airport or a hotel, or wait until a plane arrived from Boston. We waited. We got home at 4am.
I just heard on the news the other night about all the delays and cancelled flights, an I panicing unnecessairly? It's my grandson's first plane flight and I want everything to go well.
Also, did any of you have problems with your carry on's with this new rules about only 3 oz allowed, etc. It's a pain in the arse, but I know it's how it has to be. I read you can't even take in a carry on a half used rolled up tube of toothpaste! It has to be a small travel size.

Pages
Laurel,
I started flying commercially when I was three years old. I am now the 39 yo mother of an almost three year old DS. We travel by plane several times per year, and not all of the flights are quickies. A LOT has changed in the last few decades and NOTHING will ever stop me from traveling the world by plane - not the terror alerts, not the possibility of getting stranded somewhere overnight (which has already happened to us several times), not even the dirty looks of the businessmen who ASSUME that my toddler will spend the several-hours long flight to California kicking their seat. (Like their three-hour long conversation about their business deal is not annoying?!) Traveling is an adventure and should be treated as such. Every time we have missed a flight or connection, been stranted in a strage city with a small child (thank goodness for breastfeeding!), been waiting for hours in some large airport waiting for our plane to be repaired, etc, etc, etc, we just roll with the punches and thank God that we actually have the financial means to be able to travel as often as we do! Besides, these days, if you want to get from point A to point B AND be guaranteed ZERO glitches . . . you better be wealthy enough to charter your own jet! (:
Ruth in FL
My advice is to be prepared for the worst, then you'll feel extra fortunate with any good experiences. Carry a change of clothes, pajamas, swimsuits and toothbrushes and travel size toothpaste from the dollar store, in the carryon. Oh and a travel size sunblock for that first swim right as you get to the hotel! I found I didn't need any other toiletries until later, so everything else could be packed in the checked luggage and therefore could be regular size. Also I'd bring something for the kids to do while waiting. (I let DS pick some old favorites that didn't take up too much room and had big entertainment value, like a "fifteen puzzle", a maze book, and other handheld things like that) and also pack little surprises to hand to them only when necessary (if they don't know about them, they won't be badgering for them!) And snacks that travel well, like granola bars. And, gum or chewy candy (like tootsie rolls) for relieveing ear pressure during takeoff and landing. I had my "for the flight(s)" stuff in a smaller bag that fit into the larger "for the arrival at the hotel" wheeled carryon bag. So I could put the lager one up on the overhead compartment while keeping the smaller one at my feet in the plane. Make sense? It all sounds more complicated than it really was, but I think it pays off to be prepared (and by that I don't mean overpacking for every contingency, but trying to anticipate things and being creative!)
Pages