Explain this to me.

[ysobelle]

Of all the challenges to travelling by myself across the Big Pond, you know what I'm dreading the most?

The hours of waiting in the Philly Airport.

Comments

Makes perfect sense to me...

[o2bacelt.livejournal.com]

The part I hate the most, well two parts when we go visit the inlaws in England, is getting through security with our daughter and all our stuff (car seat, stroller, carry ons, baby) and then getting through customs on the other end. The only good part is that in England since RJ is a UK citizen, we get to go in the shorter line together.

But it makes perfect sense to me...

Have a great trip though!

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Oh, G-d! Customs! I'd forgotten! How bad is it?

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[meekay.livejournal.com]

Customs at both Heathrow and in Philly are pretty reasonable.

Note that because of the new laws passed after 2001, airlines now require that you check in at least one hour before an international flight. The reason is they have to transmit their passenger lists electronically to the DHS before the aircraft takes off. This caused me to miss my flight home from Rome, because I was only 40 minutes early instead of an hour.

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I'm planning on being there about three hours early-- that's what I've been told is recommended for international flights. Ugh.

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[meekay.livejournal.com]

Two hours early is more than sufficient, especially if you're taking the train and don't have to park.

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Cool beans. Less time to schlepp my carry-on around and pace! Danke!

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[o2bacelt.livejournal.com]

Honestly, the worst line we saw was getting your passport checked.

Then you get your bags.

After that you start to walk through the customs area. Don't stop walking just keep walking unless someone tells you to stop. Chance are you won't get stopped.

The major factors on being stopped seem to be if you are:
a. middle eastern or turkish
b. carrying 500 bags per person
c. you are speaking a foreign language that isn't instantly recognizable like french, italian, spanish, or german.

Those people get stopped because they are usually bringing a lot of stuff that they shouldn't like spices and other interesting food related treats that they can't get in England. Or they are bringing in things that they should be getting taxed on.

We walked right through customs without anyone saying a word but we were too pale to be stopped apparently. :)

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I'm not bringing much for just a week. Maybe a corset-- not sure if I'm going clubbing or not. Oh, and my boots, if I get hem back in time. But other than that, nada but clothes and my laptop.

I'll be exhausted, and utterly wired, I'm sure. It's been 17 years!

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[o2bacelt.livejournal.com]

Customs coming back is really easy, you're in the short line, since you're a citizen it's really easy.

We're lucky like that, since I'm a citizen, they send RJ through with me on this end and since he's a UK citizen, we get the short line over there too.

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I've only ever had to go through customs in Bermuda lately. And that not for many a year. I don't think I look like a terrorist or a drug dealer. Though then again, after seven hours in a window seat....

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[bronxelf-ag001.livejournal.com]

Customs at Heathrow is okay. They didn't hold me up. I was through in like 10 minutes and 9:45 of that was just waiting on line.

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[meekay.livejournal.com]

Just don't post in your LiveJournal that you're going to England for drugs.

Re: Makes perfect sense to me...

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweet mother of G-d. I'd forgotten that!


I'm going for the fabric and the architecture-- you think they'll stop me for that? Hm....

[daemionfox.livejournal.com]

You're afraid that there will be a slight delay, resulting in you needing to find some sort of food in PHL, which will wipe out both your cab and underground fare for the entire trip, resulting in you having to hoof it from place to place.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I used to work in that airport-- I know where NOT to eat. I may hang out in the store a while if I'm bored. Or, you know, not.

[emalia.livejournal.com]

Actually,
I quietly sat and talked on the phone, and listened to my music.. It wan't bad really.. Even though it was horrible weather and flights were getting canceled all over the place.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I don't want to run down the batteries on anything-- it's a loooong flight!

[jenny-fur.livejournal.com]

oh gawd don't get me started on the ineptitude of the Philly airport. What I hate the most is wanting to land and having to circle the damned city for 45 minutes or more for one reason or another.

Domestic flights aren't terrible as far as the waiting on the ground goes, but international sucks horrid butt.

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

I haven't been able to hang out in the new international terminal. I'm hoping it's at least vaguely amusing.

One reason or another

[meekay.livejournal.com]

Airplanes take off and land into the wind. In Philadelphia, the prevailing winds are from the west, so most of the time airliners have to land on runways 26, 27L, or 27R. That means that they have to make their approaches from the New Jersey side of the river.

Re: One reason or another

[jenny-fur.livejournal.com]

That much I can gather, but usually it is more of a delay on the ground that keeps the plane circling the city over and over again queueing to land.

[the-lady-rissa.livejournal.com]

Bring a book and pack some food. Have a faboo time!

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll have a bag full of both, I hope! Thanks!

[42redmonkeys.livejournal.com]

it occurs to me that the thing I would forget would be an adapter for the laptop for when the battery runs down. you've thought of that though ofcourse right?

Note To Ysobelle

[deathwardegg.livejournal.com]

You MUST remind me to bring that U.K. PowerBook power adapter that I have!! (Unless you have bought, or will buy, one at the Apple Store.)

I won't be there until Monday AM, so you'll have one night sans computer... or at best a few hours on the battery - but it should be enough to update your Journal and email people that you arrived safely!

Re: Note To Ysobelle

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

You HAVE one? Ooo! Oh, and I'm at the Millenium Bailey's-- did you get that?

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Yah-- I'm getting one. I know, I know. I tend to leave things til the last minute. But I've been, er, a bit busy.

[hennabee.livejournal.com]

I was stuck at McCarran in Vegas for 8 hours. I had a HUGE book in my possession, a wanderlust to explore the entire airport and find all of the hidden artwork they had stashed on the main concourse, AND...I had my beloved MP3 player. Those three saved my sanity. Had I had access to a laptop I would've written the LONGEST LJ post in history, and then probably a few short stories about what I saw in the airport.
But that's me and I'm weird.
Either way...I'm mostly repeating what's been said so heed all of the advice! I actually ended up loving those 8 hours. I remember more about that than parts of the trip!

[smileitsme.livejournal.com]

I've spent over 4 hours waiting for my flight and either read a book or people watched.

People watching can be more fun! LOL

[well-artesia.livejournal.com]

Um... taking the camera out ought to keep things lively, if you get REALLY bored.