Travel Thread

[dodint]

I get mine on the front end of the trip. I'm usually the very last passenger to get on the plane. It works because I'm a reasonable adult that doesn't have to carry on a giant bag that I'll never get a chance to get into on the flight anyway. I just walk in and sit down.

[NTP66]

In my last 20 flights, I bet I have only ever put something in the overhead bin once - and that was because we were in a bulkhead seat, so it was required.

[dodint]

The largest thing I carry on is my Kindle.

[RonnieFranchise]

Only time I ever enjoyed someone having their toddler on a plane was also one of the worst turbulence flights. The adults were all turning green but this kid was roaring laughing, thought that was so fun..... yinz bad flyers need to sack up.

[dodint]

I've recently reconnected with a cousin of mine now that I moved back into the area. It turns out we both have the ambition to buy a plane in the next 10-15 years. With some luck and planning, I'm hoping maybe we can team up and accelerate that timeline. If so I can stop flying domestic altogether. It'll take me 2-3x longer to get places but that time will be spent mostly in the air. Tons of legroom when all I need to do is reach the rudder.

[NTP66]

The largest thing I carry on is my Kindle.

lol, I bring a backpack with our three 10" Fire HDs, my Surface Pro 4, all of the power cables, USB cables, snacks, etc. Still fits under the seat.

[shoeshine boy]

The largest thing I carry on is my Kindle.

I'm more than happy to check my bag most of the time but I never get on a plane without a backpack containing 2 days worth of clothes, just in case. so far I've only needed it once, flying JFK to Milan. our bags didn't make the flight and Emirates only does 1 flight to Milan daily so we had to wait until the next day to get our bags. originally they asked, "could you wait an extra day?" no, we're headed to Rome tomorrow afternoon so we'll be expecting the bags by mid-afternoon. they came through.

[dodint]

The inconvenience outweighs to benefit for me. At worst, if I'm carrying a bag for work (meaning I had to login to my laptop from the terminal), I'll check it at the gate. No reason it has to come into the cabin and sit unopened.

We've discussed it before, but I'm 100% certain if the airlines stopped charging for checked bags the amount and size of carry-ons would decrease dramatically.

[NTP66]

Source of the post We've discussed it before, but I'm 100% certain if the airlines stopped charging for checked bags the amount and size of carry-ons would decrease dramatically.

Absolutely.

[robbiestoupe]

Eh, the experience at baggage claim at PIT forces me to carry on. If I can stuff all my ish into two bags, it's going on the plane.

[mac5155]

Front of the plane helps if you have a short connecting flight. Otherwise, you get off 5 minutes early, at the most?

Yeah, that's what I mean. It's a not worth 38 dollars for me to get off the plane 5 minutes sooner. And for the most part if you have a connection will they not hold the plane for a few minutes? I mean I've had like 25 minute connections and never had an issue.

[RonnieFranchise]

Front of the plane helps if you have a short connecting flight. Otherwise, you get off 5 minutes early, at the most?

Yeah, that's what I mean. It's a not worth 38 dollars for me to get off the plane 5 minutes sooner. And for the most part if you have a connection will they not hold the plane for a few minutes? I mean I've had like 25 minute connections and never had an issue.

I don't know for sure but I believe they have a system where they can judge how close passengers on a late flight are to arrival and will hold till they get there if reasonable, although at Dulles one time I was on a late connection and arrived at the gate after they had boarded. Aircraft had not pushed yet- the reason being that the Captain was behind me at the counter. I didn't think they boarded before the Captain was on but I guess they can if the co-pilot is there.

The Captain told them to let me on, because without him on board, the boarding door wasn't closed yet.

I was glad, it was the last flight out so I could either stay over and take my chances in the morning or hope I could rent a car, drive back to Pittsburgh and get home at like 4 AM.

[mac5155]

Southwest announced today a fourth ticket "tier" that has things that "people will happily pay for". Aka more priority boarding likely.

[dodint]

Ejection seats for toddlers?

[NTP66]

I maintain that toddlers are much lower on the problem scale than adults.

[dodint]

We have a specific thread for this if you want to go again.

[NTP66]

Ohh, I found another benefit of booking through Chase's travel portal. Went to purchase MCE seats, and since the tickets are already paid for, I was able to use my wife's miles for the upgraded seats. Saved over $800 in cash.

But still, **** you American, you **** leeches.

[Dickie Dunn]

We tried going through Chase’s portal for our upcoming trip but the prices sucked. First time I’ve ever seen it be cheaper to go directly through the airline’s website that a third party.

[NTP66]

We tried going through Chase’s portal for our upcoming trip but the prices sucked. First time I’ve ever seen it be cheaper to go directly through the airline’s website that a third party.

I saw that last year, where Chase's portal was showing $50 more for the same flights. This year, the prices all matched between the two, so it made sense. Saved a ton of money in an already expensive December, so I'm grateful.

[NTP66]

Speaking of Chase, the free DoorDash benefit expires at the end of next month, so I have to start planning on dropping this card and getting another one.

[Dickie Dunn]

We tried going through Chase’s portal for our upcoming trip but the prices sucked. First time I’ve ever seen it be cheaper to go directly through the airline’s website that a third party.

I saw that last year, where Chase's portal was showing $50 more for the same flights. This year, the prices all matched between the two, so it made sense. Saved a ton of money in an already expensive December, so I'm grateful.

Chase was doing point “upgrades” up to 25% so I just used them for normal expenses to the same effect.

[NTP66]

We tried going through Chase’s portal for our upcoming trip but the prices sucked. First time I’ve ever seen it be cheaper to go directly through the airline’s website that a third party.

I saw that last year, where Chase's portal was showing $50 more for the same flights. This year, the prices all matched between the two, so it made sense. Saved a ton of money in an already expensive December, so I'm grateful.

Chase was doing point “upgrades” up to 25% so I just used them for normal expenses to the same effect.

That’s what I did last summer with Pay Yourself Back, since they had great categories there. Hoping some good categories return soon so I can do it again.

[count2infinity]

I’m getting travel plans cemented for March… am I crazy for considering driving to Pittsburgh so I don’t have to deal with a layover? Just the idea of sitting in an airport for a couple hours has my skin crawling.

Unfortunately, Atlanta isn’t really drivable or I’d be doing that.

[blackjack68]

Meh, depends on how long the layover is, but I usually find a bar and grab a sandwich and a beer or two and then boarding begins for the next flight.

[Nuge]

I don't fly very often, but I do everything I can do get a direct flight. It's worth any other inconvenience and the extra cost to me.