Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with travel and airport

How early should we arrive at JFK for a flight to Barbados?

neushoorn — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:00:59 -0800

How early should two people who will not check baggage arrive at JFK airport for an 8:00 AM flight to Barbados (BGI)? A friend and I will land at JFK in the evening and will spend our 11-hour layover at a hotel that's four miles away from the airport. Our next flight (to BGI) leaves at 8:00 AM.

We'll travel to the airport with the hotel shuttle, which should drop us off at our departure terminal. We're flying American Airlines.

Since it's a layover, the airline will have our luggage. We'll just have our carry-ons.

We're travelling on one American and one European passport.

How early should we arrive at the airport?

Cabin cats or cargo cats?

otolith — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 21:08:28 -0800

My wife and I are moving across the country in a few months with our furballs, Steve and Lola. We're going to fly with them, but I'm not sure if they would be better off with us in the cabin or in cargo. The trip is unavoidably going to involve two flights, the first one will be about 6 to 6:30 hours in length, the second will be 2 to 2:30 hours. The layover between them could be as short as an hour. So total travel time, including getting to/from the airports will probably be around 12-13 hours. In favor of the cabin option, they'd be close at hand and we wouldn't worry about them missing the connecting flight. I was thinking we also might be able to let them out in one of those private bathrooms in the connecting airport and, if we've brought some litter and a folding box of some kind, they might be able relieve themselves. Or maybe they'd just be too freaked out. In favor of the cargo option, they'd have larger carriers and could more easily go to the bathroom in the corner of it if they needed to en route. Any thoughts on which is the better option? Have you done one or the other or both? Which do you think would be less stressful and physically uncomfortable for them? Are there other things to consider that I'm not thinking about?

Do I have to go to Las Vegas or can I stop in Phoenix?

metadave — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 19:15:31 -0800

I have a round trip flight later this year on US Airways that has a layover in Phoenix and then continues to Las Vegas. It turns out that it would work out better for me to just leave the Phoenix airport instead of going on. My return flight would be unchanged ( leaving from Las Vegas ). If I do this ( intentionally miss the second hop of my flight ) will I have problems later? I'm concerned about the possibility that the airline might cancel my return flight or something else along those lines. If you have done this kind of thing (especially on US Airways) please let me know how things went. Thank you.

dealing with two cars at sacramento airport

germdisco — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:59:43 -0800

What's the best way to drive from San Francisco to Sacramento airport, with luggage of my own, meet a couple who are flying in, drop my car off at long-term parking, and pick up the rental car we'll share? I live in San Francisco. A couple I know is flying into Sacramento airport in a few weeks. In a few weeks, we're going on a road trip (departing from Sacramento) in a rental car. My car is small and underpowered for driving in the mountains, hence the rental car.

Getting the right sequence of events is a challenge. I need to move myself and my luggage to Sacramento, meet the two people flying in, then we need to pick up the rental car (all three of us will be driving), and drop my car off at long-term parking.

I've reviewed the parking and rental car info at the Sacramento Airport website. So, I understand the parking options, and the fact that the rental car companies have shuttles servicing the airport.

Here are the options I've thought of so far:

- When I get to the airport, take the car to long-term parking and leave my luggage in the trunk. Meet the flyers, get the rental car, then return to the long-term parking to get my luggage.
- Park my car in short-term parking. Meet the flyers, get the rental car, transfer luggage to the rental car, then move my car to long-term parking.
- Drive to the arrivals area, pick up the flyers and their luggage, drive to the car rental location (not sure if there would be a place to park there; I see the rental companies use shuttles from the airport), transfer luggage, then drop my car at long-term parking.
- Have the flyers pick up the rental car and meet me somewhere near the airport for lunch, transfer luggage, return my car to long-term parking.
- Find some other magical way to transport myself between San Francisco and Sacramento at the desired times for a reasonable amount of money, so I don't have to pay someone to take my car away from me for several days.
- Fly from San Francisco to Sacramento (not seriously considering this).

What would work best? Are there any details about the Sacramento airport that could influence this process?

Can I lay down during my layover in Warsaw?

docgonzo — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:43:38 -0800

Last-minute travel question: Can I leave the Warsaw airport during my layover? I'm flying into Warsaw next Saturday afternoon and leaving on a connecting flight later that night. I'd hoped to book a room at the airport Marriott so as to avoid waiting around in the terminal for 10+ hours. Having never been to Warsaw I don't know if this is possible -- I am travelling on an EU passport so immigration shouldn't be a concern, but a well-travelled friend said Polish authorities might be concerned that I'm leaving the airport without my bags (which will be in transit.) Any info would be appreciated.

What happens in Vegas should happen near the airport and not cost too much.

bondcliff — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:03:41 -0800

Can you suggest a decent-but-not-terribly-expensive hotel in Las Vegas where I can stay at the beginning and end of a road trip? Proximity to the airport is a must. Heading out for a big road trip in April and I'll be flying in and out of Las Vegas. We won't have time to see much of Vegas (possibly a bit on the last day) so it doesn't need to have a casino or anything else.

There will be four of us. Me, my wife, my son (9) and my mom (80).

Things I need, in order of importance:

1) Clean. I've read reviews about places with bedbugs. NO BED BUGS. Got me?

2) Easy to get to from the airport. We will be arriving late and leaving early. Easy cab ride, quick shuttle, whatever.

3) Inexpensive. Doesn't need to be a $50 fleabag but I don't need to stay at the MGM Grand either. If I can get away with $100 - $150.00 per night that would be swell.

4) Not so many of those guys I've heard about who hand out hooker advertisements. See the part above about my son and my mom.

5) Suites would be good, so we all don't have to share one room. Separate rooms are doable if it's not too expensive.

6) Safe area and parking. I may or may not have a rental car with me at either end of the trip.

I don't mind staying at a large hotel or a casino if the price is right and it meets my other requirements.

Also, since we might have a few hours to kill in Vegas, suggestions for one or two family-friendly things to do would nice. Places to eat as well, especially chains like In-n-Out that we don't have here in New England that I should try while I'm out there.

How to get rid of my Virgin America points?

speedgraphic — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:33:31 -0800

What's the best way for me to sell my unwanted Virgin America Elevate frequent flier points? After moving to a city that VX doesn't fly to, I want to get rid of the more than $500 in frequent flier credits that I can't really use any longer. I just found out that I can book travel in anyone's name, but I don't know anyone around me who uses Virgin America.

Is there some site online that facilitates these kinds of trades? I've tried using Points.com, but their service fees are actually greater than the value of the points, bizarrely enough.

How to get to Heathrow in the early AM

buck:fuller — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:40:06 -0800

London filter: I need to get to Heathrow airport Terminal 5. Next Sunday I have a flight leaving from Heathrow Terminal 5 at 7.30 AM.
My hotel is around Hendon Central. I don't want to spend a fortune in a cab. Is there a way to get there on time (2 hours earlier?) or do I have to squat in the terminal since the night before? and would that even be possible? I have one piece of luggage which is moderately heavy. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome.

All airline departures from and to two airports?

terminus — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 05:18:49 -0800

I am looking for a website that gives me all possible airlines departing from one airport in the world to another. Whether they are low cost, charter or standard carrier. I can put 'flights from and to' in Google and it will bring a list up (nice) or go to the Airport wikipedia page (again nice) but I know they miss some things. Is there such a site? This question was asked before in a slightly different way but it is an old link now.

Is it okay to surprise my best friend at the airport?

thatgirl1985 — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:31:33 -0800

Would it be inappropriate to surprise your best friend at the airport who has been on a long international flight? She'll be arriving alone in Abu Dhabi from Toronto this evening. We haven't seen each other in about five months. See further details below: I'm thinking about surprising my best friend at the airport this evening. I'm staying at a hotel near the airport and it wouldn't be too bothersome to pop in the arrivals hall and welcome her to Abu Dhabi. We're both international teachers. We've gotten jobs here in the UAE. We taught together last year and Korea and became like sisters. We've supported each other through good times and bad. It's been tough not being able to hang out because we've been separated by many miles of land and ocean!

I know I would have loved to have been greeted by a familiar face when I arrived to this wild city a few weeks ago. I won't take up much of my friend's time, but I just want to say, "WELCOME to Abu Dhabi!" and give her a hug, a nice bottle of water, and some snacks.

When to fly around Thanksgiving?

duien — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:55:42 -0800

I'm going to be flying from Atlanta to DC around Thanksgiving, and I'm trying to figure out the least painful way to do it. Unusually, I don't actually care where I am on Thanksgiving day—I'm go to an event the following weekend. When will be less crazy at the airport? I'd rather not fly Friday, since it's my boyfriend's birthday (and he's already being very nice to go on this trip), so that leaves the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving itself. I'm sure the Weds. before will be awful, but what will it be like on Thursday? Will there be anywhere in the airport open to eat? It seems like time of day might be very important on Thursday. I've never flown around Thanksgiving before, so I'm not sure what to expect.

A Prince-loving vegan travels to Minneapolis with a CPAP machine. Then some joke of some kind occurs.

(The Rt Hon.) MP — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:37:34 -0800

I'm about to head to the Netroots Nation conference in Minneapolis, and as a vegan traveling for the first time with a CPAP machine for my sleep apnea, I have a few questions - snowflake details inside. I'm really jazzed about going to NN in Minneapolis this year, but the following concerns me:

1. I need to carry my CPAP machine on a flight with me, as it's too delicate to be checked - I'm seeing some conflicting stuff online as to traveling with the CPAP machine at the airport, and I'm wondering: do I need to have any particular documentation with me? I need to travel with the CPAP machine - given it's medical equipment, will I still be charged by Delta for the carry-on? Any general hints for traveling with CPAP?

2. One thing I've had trouble with at Netroots Nation in the past is that the vegan food options provided are slim to absolute none - I'd like to bring some spare meals if possible, but not sure what's most easily to make and travel with, that'll be ready to fly on Wednesday, and stay good for the conference without a guarantee of a fridge at the hotel - or, barring that, some really cheap, healthy options for a fresh lunch right next to the hotel, the Millennium Hotel Minneapolis.

Bonus points: If anyone knows where I can get something really cool and Prince-related for my partner while in Minneapolis, or something Prince/Replacements-related for me to do while there, I'd be much appreciated. (General vegan food recs are also much appreciated!)

(BTW, if anyone else will be at Netroots Nation, would love to see you there, especially at the panel I'm moderating. Thanks!)

Roman Holiday

bad grammar — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 16:35:37 -0800

Can I get from the center of Rome to Fiumicino to catch a plane on Easter Sunday morning? I want to get to Fiumicino about 7:00 a.m. to make a 10:00 a.m. flight, and I don't know how disrupted transportation will be by the holiday. Can I count on the Leonardo Express or should I rent a shuttle? Or should I make emergency plans to stay near/at Fiumicino on the night of the 23rd/24th?

Breaking out of Rome airport in the middle of an indirect flight?!

tomw — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 03:09:55 -0800

I am taking a trip to Japan from London, my flight is via Rome (both ways). On the way back I'd like to just get out at Rome and take another flight which I will book separately. I don't want to pay anything extra. Is it possible without changing my booking? What's the worst than can happen? I will only have carry-on luggage. I am an EU citizen. My main concerns having spoken with my travel agent is:

- Not being expected in Italy by the authorities.
- Being blacklisted by carriers for not completing my booked trip.
- Not physically being allowed to leave the airport at Rome.

Thanks in advance!

Flexible check in times for hotels at Bangkok Airport?

mudkicker — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 18:52:12 -0800

Specific travel filter: Anyone know any hotels, hostels, guesthouses, B&Bs etc at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport that a) can pick up and return my hapless self to the airport (the next day) and b) offer 24 hour check in and out? I get into Bangkok around 7pm, and will probably be at my hotel by 8 or 9pm. Checkout in most of them is around 12 noon, but I'd like to chill for a bit after that and check out around 4pm or so. It's my first ever 'have a bit of cash beyond taking journeys 12 hours apart for the lowest fares', so I'd just like a change from jetlaggedly stuffing all my stuff into my bag at 1159am as per usual. Thoughts and suggestions appreciated, thank you.

Will need a phone

amethysts — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:30:52 -0800

Would anyone confirm or deny that the Vodafone store in the Dublin airport is still there? And you can buy a pay-as-you-go phone for around $50 American? And it's near the arrival hall? In my googling I saw one thing that said it was gone and some reviews from 2007. I couldn't find anything current or on Vodafone's website.

I know you can buy them in a lot of places, but I'm trying to make a simple travel itinerary for someone I know, having never been there myself.

Why are there no clocks at airports?

joshwa — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:09:15 -0800

Why are there no clocks at airports? Yes, there are the little monitors with flight info, but they are few and far between, and require you go walk up to them and squint to find where the current time is on the display.

Why don't they have them at regular intervals in the terminal passages, like next to the wayfinding signs?

Anyone know an airport designer?

Airport scanner with pet?

ThePinkSuperhero — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:39:05 -0800

Can you go through the new airport scanner machines holding a pet? I'll be flying from La Guardia in NYC in late December, and I'm bringing my dog in cabin with me. So, as I've done plenty of times before, she'll be coming through security with me. I've carried her through the metal detectors, but what happens with the new scanners when you're traveling with an animal? Are you prevented from going through the machine, and therefore guaranteed a pat-down?

Travelling to Seville (Spain) next Wednesday need some ideas on what to do.

complience — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:14:31 -0800

Travelling to Seville (Spain) next Wednesday need some ideas on what to do. I'm flying into Seville airport (SVQ) next wednesday landing at 20:50

Im planning to catch a train onward to Cadiz
The train departs at 21:45 - I think there is a good chance I will miss it.

The next train is at 06:38 the following day - so there is a good chance I will have to kill the night in Seville.

Looking for suggestions on what I should do?
A good local hostile might be the best idea.
Open to sleeping in Seville airport or station if they are nice enough.
Or if anyone has some better ideas on what Seville as to offer all the better.

Help me find my parents in Suggestion for a meeHelp me find my parents in Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris, Terminal 1

jeff-o-matic — Sat, 29 May 2010 16:10:48 -0800

Suggestion for a meeting point at Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris, Terminal 1? I'm meeting my parents at this airport in a few days. We arrive on different flights and different airlines around 1/2 hour from each other, both flying in from the US. None of us have been to this airport. Where should we meet up? I've found maps online, but they are vague and I'd like a more concrete suggestion. Ideally we'd all like to arrive, get our bags and go through customs independently, then meet up afterwards. Once we meet, we'll be getting a taxi into the city together.

We also would like to buy some museum passes at the airport, so a spot where this works out would be great. Please suggest a simple, convenient meeting place for us in Terminal 1. Thanks.

Best way to Guangzhou from HK Airport

ajackson — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:28:27 -0800

What's the cheapest way and/or fastest way to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong airport? Train or bus, not plane.

Narita to Shimbashi Station, After 10pm?

milquetoast — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:06:10 -0800

Tokyo Travel: I am arriving at Narita at 9:30pm Saturday night, with reservations at a hotel near Shimbashi Station that evening. Is this trip possible? First of all, I've never been to Tokyo before.

It seems that most if not all of the rail options end at 10pm, and the airport limousine bus (by far the most preferable option) ends at around 5pm. So I guess this is a two- part question:

1. Do you think it's possible to get through immigration at Narita and buy a ticket for the last Skyliner departure (apparently 10.02pm)? I am coming from Hong Kong and will not have checked baggage.

2. Barring that, what are the tried and true methods of getting from Narita to the Shimbashi area -- without a taxi -- after 10pm?

I feel like there's a solution right under my nose, but I'm a bit daunted by the websites. Any further transportation advice for Tokyo proper is also appreciated. (I'll be staying in Shinjuku Sunday and Monday.) Thanks!

One evening in Tokyo

toodleydoodley — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:15:10 -0800

Traveling in Tokyo filter: My nephew, who is in the U.S. Air Force, is traveling to his first posting at Misawa AB, in Aomori Prefecture, in Japan. He will arrive at Narita at 2:55 pm local time on March 17, and needs to get to Haneda airport for a 7:55 am flight to Misawa the next morning, March 18. He'll have one afternoon and evening in Tokyo to do a little sightseeing. Suggestions and travel help? It's been recommended he stay at the New Sanno Hotel, which is a military hotel in the Azabu neighborhood of Tokyo, on the Hibiya line, a few minutes' walk from the Hiroo station.

Luis' plan:
Looks like he can go straight from Narita to the hotel on the train and dump his stuff, then go out and explore a little bit.
Next morning, looks like he can leave the hotel about 5:30 am and get to Haneda around 6:30, plenty of time to make his flight at 7:55.

Once he gets to the hotel, I am thinking he should ask the front desk for an address card, with the hotel's name and address written in Japanese, so he can get help getting back.

So: here are my questions:

- He'll have a duffel, another bag and a backpack once he gets off the plane. Should he take a shuttle from airport to hotel and vice versa, or can he carry that much baggage on the train?

- Do I have the train hookups right for those two trips - Narita to New Sanno hotel (Hiroo station) and New Sanno hotel (Hiroo station) to Haneda? Or should he just forget about trains for the hotel-airport legs (due to bags) and take the shuttles?

- It looks like he'll need to make a reservation at the hotel, and would like to call the information desk. However, the phone codes are confusing to me: what does (DSN) or (CML) in the area code place mean?

- He'll be in uniform for travel, and he is tall, young and latino (in appearance, obviously not anglo). He does not speak any Japanese, but will have a list of polite phrases for please, thank you, and excuse me, etc. Will his appearance help or hurt him, and how can he look most friendly and approachable?

- Where can he get an appropriate phone for the area, cheaply?

- Where should he not fail to visit?

- Also, he is a really good baseball player. Is it baseball season in March, and can he get to a game on this day (March 17, in the evening)?

Thank you for any help you can give us.

I'd prefer not to spend my entire vacation budget on the plane.

Vorteks — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:36:52 -0800

What can I do to get a lower fare from Detroit, MI to Nagoya, Japan? I realize there might not be a great answer to this question, but if there's any chance of saving money I figured it's worth a shot.

I need to book a round-trip flight from DTW (Detroit, USA) to NGO (Nagoya, Japan), leaving Detroit on May 21, 2010 in the evening, and returning on May 29 or 30. I need a direct flight (13 hours on a plane is about all I can take, I can't imagine it taking longer).

I've priced this out a few times from various sources, and the price I'm seeing is always about $1950 USD! I'm shocked that it's so high. The last time I went to Japan it cost me about half of that. Sure fuel prices have gone up, but still....

I know Golden Week is in early may, and late April/early May is cherry blossom season, but I thought I was going late enough to avoid the surge in cost.

I'll pay the $2k if I have to, but I'd really prefer to knock that number down a bit. Does anyone have any suggestions about how I might find a cheaper fare? Would waiting to book until 4-6 weeks before I depart be a good idea? The price couldn't possibly go up... could it? Are there any other travel sites you'd recommend, or coupon codes or anything else I might utilize to reduce the cost of this ticket at all? I've read some previous related ask mes, but didn't see anything too promising.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks MeFites!

How do I get from Berlin Schönefeld Airport to Alexanderplatz late at night?

maryrosecook — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:06:26 -0800

How do I get from Berlin Schönefeld Airport to Alexanderplatz late at night? As I understand it, direct trains from the airport to Alexanderplatz cease at 22.55. I will be arriving at the airport after that time. I have been told that it is possible to take the S-Bahn and then change onto a train that goes to Alexanderplatz. Is this possible? Is there a better way? My German is terrible, so the easiest/most-unfuckupable route is preferable.