Need advice for a stress-free flight

[crabbymelt]

So in a month I'm flying to Japan. It's not my first time- this will be my third but I have not flown in 15 years. So, things I'm sure are different. Plus, this is the first time I'll be travelling with someone else (a friend whose never been on a plane before-ugh). Anyways, I'm very stressed that I will eff up packing somehow or forget to do something that would be extremely useful. So, I have a few questions:

1) You can bring snacks on the flight, right? Or will they confiscate my candy so I'll pay $6 for stale airport junk food?
2) What about meds? Can I pack them? I heard Japan is really strict about meds.
3) What can I do if my friend starts retching non-stop to get him to stop?
4) Since I'm not using my phone for phone service, will the camera function still work? (I did not have smart phone 15 years ago)
5) Any idea what I can pack for gifts that are small, cheap, and still nice?
6) I heard the exchange rate is better at the airport once you get into the country. Is that true?
7) Dear God, do I not want to be next to someone who is barfing for 20 hours. Not a question, just a thought.

I have my passport and all that. I'm just wondering fi there's anything I'm not thinking of. So anybody been flying recently?

[Eunös ✈]

Don't fly United and you'll be ok..

But anyway as a regular flyer let's see if I can help.

1. I've brought my own food and drink onto Airplanes many a time and have never had an issue, so I see no reason why this should be.

Though you will have to purchase it in the airport waiting lounge as you wont be able to get plastic bottles through security.

2. As long as they aren't illegal drugs you should be ok.

3. Not really a lot you can do there if he starts being sick, just make sure sick bags are available.

4. Stick it on Airplane mode and you should be fine using it as a camera.

5. Nope

6. Not sure, I always buy my currency before I go to the Airport.

7. Don't blame you, I was once, it wasn't very nice.

[eDemento2099]

For god's sake, if you want a flight with minimal stress, DO NOT do a layover in mainland China!

[Red Impact]

1. Food can be brought, but it must be in a sealed container and sent through security. Bottled drinks can not, for inexplicable reasons. There are some things you won't likely be able to bring into a foreign country (fruits, for example), but they can be taken into the airport.

2. Yes, medicines should be ok. You'll want them in their original packaging. If they're liquid, you will likely want to send it ahead.

3: Send him to the bathroom? If he's the type that gets sick, have him take something earlier. I've used ginger for seasickness before and it works, but you can't take it right before you'd get sick or it won't really work. Also, have him avoid eating right before take off and avoid anything too heavy.

4: The camera isn't tied to the phone functions, so yes. I've used my smart phone camera on a mountain in Denali where even the notion of getting a signal was absurd.

5: Sorry, I usually know gifts when I see them.

6: As far as I know, nothing in the history of anything has ever been cheaper at an airport. Your best bet is to exchange at a bank before hand.

7: I've been the sick guy before and trust me, it's no more fun on the other end.

[eDemento2099]

Apr 14, 2017 21:38:20 GMT -5 crabbymelt said:

4) Since I'm not using my phone for phone service, will the camera function still work? (I did not have smart phone 15 years ago)

Yes, but what are you going to photograph?

Anyway, all phones have a setting you can enable called 'airplane mode,' which allows your phone to remain turned on, albeit without screwing up the airplane's instruments.

I don't know how common this is, but some commercial airplanes actually have on-board wifi. I've only encountered this once, and that was when I flew using Philippine Airlines. Wifi was free for the first hour of connectivity, and if you wanted to keep using it, you had to pay a very affordable price. The fact that wifi could even work on an airplane is something that surprised me.

[eDemento2099]

As far as exchange rates go, my understanding is that they are better once you land in the country whose currency you want to obtain. HOWEVER, the currency exchange shops at airports charge high service fees. The absolute cheapest thing to do is to go to a local bank as soon as you land in the country and have your money exchanged for local banknotes there. Only problem is that you need some way of getting from the airport to a local bank, and that requires local money, unless there is a local person willing to drive you for free.

Theoretically, you should be able to withdraw the local currency from your bank card at an ATM in the airport, but of course you will incur ATM fees. There's also the risk that your bank card might not work at a foreign ATM, or, in the absolute worst case scenario, your bank card might get 'locked' once you try using it in another country. The worse case scenario happened to me when I tried using my Chinese bank card in North America, despite assurance from the Chinese bank that it would work without any problems in North American ATMs.

[G✇JI☈A]

Apr 14, 2017 22:02:58 GMT -5 eDemento2099 said:

For god's sake, if you want a flight with minimal stress, DO NOT do a layover in mainland China!

To be a bit assuring, I flew with China Southern between Melbourne and Los Angeles and back again. It was a cheap flight cause it involved a four hour stopover in Guangzhou to change planes.. had no problems. Probably cause it was entirely withen the same terminal.

Curious, what issues did you face?

[Cranjis McBasketball]

No matter how many times they tell you to get on the plane, get IN the plane. Let the daredevils get on.

[G✇JI☈A]

Another thing... don't lock your carry on bag(s). On my way back from America I found out the hard way the TSA don't like this.

At Newark Liberty my little carry on roller case was locked. I locked it because I had time after hotel checkout and my flight to do something before heading to the airport, so I locked it and let the hotel hang on to it while I took one final walk around the city. And I forgot I had locked it when I headed to the airport.

So it went through the X-rays, then I was taken aside, to ask to open it, they searched the whole thing, then gave me a pat down. Luckily it did not go further then that. They did apologise afterwards though. But they confiscated a bottle of foot moistureriser I had in there, it was too big apparently. No problem with that.

So yeah make sure you don't lock your stuff if your taking it through security. And my carry on had one of those tsa keyholes so they could have opened it themselves if they wanted.

So to check, no locked bags, and no large bottles of anything I'm guessing.

[crabbymelt]

One other question- I'm worried about my contact lens solution. I was gonna buy a small bottle in a sealed box for the trip. Would that be okay?

[eDemento2099]

Apr 14, 2017 22:22:11 GMT -5 G✇JI☈A said:

Apr 14, 2017 22:02:58 GMT -5 eDemento2099 said:

For god's sake, if you want a flight with minimal stress, DO NOT do a layover in mainland China!

To be a bit assuring, I flew with China Southern between Melbourne and Los Angeles and back again ... had no problems. Probably cause it was entirely withen the same terminal.

Curious, what issues did you face?

I've been working in mainland China for over 2 years. To put this bluntly, the average mainland Chinese person is very, very rude. Even in places with strict rules (like airports), most Chinese people push, shove, and cut in front of strangers instead of queuing up. They smoke indoors, even when there are signs indicating that such behavior is prohibited. Chinese people born since the early 1980s have been spoiled rotten by their parents and grandparents, and as adults, they behave like overgrown children with absolutely no discipline or consideration for anyone but their friends or family. I don't think I need to tell you how undisciplined their children - the current generation of young adults - have turned out.

Everything in China is terribly inefficient, the smell of smoke permeates every public space, and smog has been known to contaminate the country's airports at times. As of right now, the air pollution is still really bad in China, even though it usually drops once spring arrives. (The air pollution has been far, far worse this winter than in the previous two winters, and it's gotten to the point that I will leave this country and never return.)

I've been to a fair number of Chinese airports. They're uncomfortable and unaccommodating, to say the least. (Chinese infrastructure tends to be the same no matter where you go: all train stations are alike, all subway stations are alike, all airports are alike, etc.) You'll be lucky to find a socket to charge your phone or laptop if you visit an airport in mainland China.

In many airports and most train stations, there are no water fountains; there are just these giant water dispensers that ONLY dispense boiling water that'll scold your lips unless you're willing to wait 20 minutes for it to cool down. Those dispensers never have cups around, so unless you bring your own mug or bowl, you literally have no way to safely collect the water until it is cool enough to consume.

In almost every Chinese public restroom, there is no soap or toilet paper in public restrooms. With locals spitting, picking their noses, and (literally) shitting in public, you can damn well bet that every surface you touch is chock full of germs.

Although Hong Kong belongs to China now, that is a technicality. Culturally and functionally, Hong Kong couldn't be any more different than China, so don't hesitate to do a layover in Hong Kong if that will save you time or money getting to/from Japan. The difference between China and Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan is like the stark contrast between night and day.

[eDemento2099]

Apr 15, 2017 7:38:32 GMT -5 crabbymelt said:

One other question- I'm worried about my contact lens solution. I was gonna buy a small bottle in a sealed box for the trip. Would that be okay?

Just don't bring it as carry-on luggage. Put it in a check-in bag and you'll be fine.

[Brandon Walsh is Insane.]

3.4 oz for liquids of any kind. Use a zploc bag for them...

www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule

[Brandon Walsh is Insane.]

Oh and take snacks. Drinks you have to buy in airport though.

And use the restroom before the flight, and before the 1 hour /30 min to land time. Relieve stress literally

[Red Impact]

Apr 15, 2017 7:38:32 GMT -5 crabbymelt said:

One other question- I'm worried about my contact lens solution. I was gonna buy a small bottle in a sealed box for the trip. Would that be okay?

You can have it on your checked back and there shouldnt' be an issue. The liquid size restrictions are for carry ons.

[Hit Girl]

Put some headphones on and listen to Nakamura's theme for the entire flight.

[Citizen Snips]

You friend is flying for the first time, and they pick going all the way to Japan? Goodness. Anyways, force them to take Dramamine. Even if they're all "Oh, but I don't get motion sickness. I'll be fine.", force a couple down their throat.