Here I Go

[piglett]

well I guess my trip has officially started because I'm sitting at the airport.
I am flying out of Manchester NH & heading to Detroit to board the big plane.
I have already learned 3 things & i have only been here 30 min. +/-

1st weigh your bags
I was 12 lbs over on my checked bag (maple syrup & JD are heavy)
I lucked out & was able to buy a small 2ND bag for $14.99 at a little store in the airport. I transferred out some of the weight & I avoided paying $90 for an over weight bag.

2ND double check your carry on bag for anything liquid.
I had a 8 oz bottle of pepto-bismol & they had to open it, test it, & it hung me up for about 5 extra min.

3rd sit next to the post
That is where the power outlets are
just help yourself & plug rite in, I did.  


piglett

[thekfc]

1st weigh your bags
I was 12 lbs over on my checked bag (maple syrup & JD are heavy)
I lucked out & was able to buy a small 2ND bag for $14.99 at a little store in the airport. I transferred out some of the weight & I avoided paying $90 for an over weight bag.

Piglett, you forgot about the weight restrictions/regualation,  we all spoke about it a few time in the forum. For economy 2 checked bags - 50 lbs each, and the huge premium for overweight luggage.
Luggage scale - it only cost about $5.

Also guys concern your carry-on bag, that bin they have at the screening post is configurated to have a bag 56x36x23cm / 22x14x9 in size fit in there - anything above that size can be refused or have you pay extra as it is above the free baggage allowance .

2ND double check your carry on bag for anything liquid.
I had a 8 oz bottle of pepto-bismol & they had to open it, test it, & it hung me up for about 5 extra min.

3-1-1 for carry-ons. 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin

3rd sit next to the post
That is where the power outlets are
just help yourself & plug rite in, I did.   

All (most) of the airports have somewhere in the waiting area to plug in your laptops. Did you check to see if you can get free wifi from your traveling airline?

[piglett]

Piglett, you forgot about the weight restrictions/regualation,  we all spoke about it a few time in the forum. For economy 2 checked bags - 50 lbs each, and the huge premium for overweight luggage.
Luggage scale - it only cost about $5.
Also guys concern your carry-on bag, that bin they have at the screening post is configurated to have a bag 56x36x23cm / 22x14x9 in size fit in there - anything above that size can be refused or have you pay extra as it is above the free baggage allowance .
3-1-1 for carry-ons. 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin
All (most) of the airports have somewhere in the waiting area to plug in your laptops. Did you check to see if you can get free wifi from your traveling airline?

Hey what can I say I dropped the ball.
I did measure my bags & they were within spec.
But I failed to weigh them, I just didn't think that they were that heavy. Whoops!!
The worst part is that I have a high quality scale from a doctors office, You know the type. My chiropractor was downsizing houses (I guess 5 kids in collage will sometimes do that) & he had no room for it at his new place.   

As far as the liquid goes I thought I had put all of that in my checked bag, but the feds found something i missed. Next time I will NOT let that happen!

I don't need the wifi , I already have a high speed wireless card, I just need power.


piglett

[thekfc]

I don't need the wifi , I already have a high speed wireless card, I just need power.

Great, I was getting free internet while I was in Manila with mine.

There are a lot of Hotspots in Manila so you should get free internet access-depending on what area in Manila you are in.   
 

[Ray]

I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I’m worried about the pig because he broke just about every rule in the books. I hope they don’t roast him alive and make lechon piglett for lunch.

About the only thing he did right was to unpack his underwear to make room for a bottle of whiskey. But when her mama finds out he isn’t wearing any skivvies, she just might toss him out on his ear.

This story will be very interesting to follow…   

Ray

[Capstone]

Another tip - pick an airline and stick with it or one of its alliance partners for all of your Trans-Pacific trips because those frequent flyer miles will add up quickly if you do. These days frequent flyer miles pretty much suck as far as trading them in for free travel however it is all those extra perks that go along with them that makes them worth it. Some of the best benefits are an extra baggage allowance, access to better seating, free upgrades and early boarding, etc. As a Medallion member on Delta I can check 2 bags weighing 70lbs each instead of the usual 50lbs when flying economy - that has really come in handy quite a few times. Plus I always can reserve the best exit row & bulkhead seats in advance which makes a huge difference on a 16 hour flight. 

[bcc_1_2]

I use a carry on flight bag to hold things like my laptop and a change of clothes (travel toothpaste etc) in case I get seperated from my luggage. They make special carry on briefcase/manpurses (yea yea i know... but they work great for travel) that fits well and holds plenty.

My only checked bag is a rolling tote... Product Dimensions 15 in. L x 20 in. W x 10 in. H. Weight 7 lbs

You've just gotta know how to pack. And of course only get small light weight gifts if you need to bring something. I roll my clothes up and tie a belt around them. I wear one pair of shoes and only bring one extra pair. Leave a little bit of room so you can buy a few things. Basically I'm just really good at "making it fit".

If you start with smaller lightweight luggage it helps. Plus don't worry about underpacking. If you need a shirt later you can always buy it... and you can just have your laundry taken care of while you are there as well.

[thekfc]

Yeah cap, I always fly (or will try to fly) in the same alliance - Oneworld Alliance.
AA for Domestic, BA to Europe and now Cathay Pacific to Asia.
With all these promotions (shopping, sign-ups, double/triple miles flying, etc) - I have a lot of AA miles & my Asia Miles are adding up. Also being a member of Oneworld,  I did get to book this upcoming ticket via AA to travel on Cathey.
I also find that the onward transfers are much "smoother" when you are traveling in the same alliance.

I would love to use the F arrival lounge in HK - hopefully when I score an upgrade.

I am also a light traveler but for my trip (s) to Phil, I will using the max allocated allowance (or close to it).

I too am awaiting the reports from piglett.  Hopefully we will have the first Manila report from him before the end of the week.

[robert angel]

Re:

>>They make special carry on briefcase/manpurses (yea yea i know... but they work great for travel) that fits well and holds plenty.<<

Hey!--I have one and FYI, they're called 'murses' or if you prefer, 'satchel bags'--mine is black leather 'Rio Day Bag', 10 by 8.5 inches by 2.5 inches deep and I can fit my i pod, compact digital camera, blackberry, a paperback book and my Glock Model 9mm or Springfield XD 45, 'just in case'. And I still have room for my keys, wallet, even a sandwich! It doesn't look 'fem' at all, I don't think and really don't care if someone does--it's just real functional when I'm traveling, especially overland domestically.

I just have to remember if not traveling by land to take out the gun before getting on the plane....

[Jeff S]

Gee - I always called mine a briefcase.

[Dave H]

Hey!--I have one and FYI, they're called 'murses' or if you prefer, 'satchel bags'

OK Snoop Double "D" "O" "G" I hope you have enough "Machizzle" to pull it off like he does...well almost does! 

[stevjulietb]

Well I guess pigs can fly....best of luck and Can't wait to hear about this trip!

Steveb

[thekfc]

Hey!--I have one and FYI, they're called 'murses' or if you prefer, 'satchel bags'--mine is black leather 'Rio Day Bag',

I can totally see you rocking your murse.

[jm21-2]

Wow, you guys put a lot of thought into packing. I usually take about 30 minutes and throw some stuff into a backpack and duffle bag...

[Ray]

Wow, you guys put a lot of thought into packing. I usually take about 30 minutes and throw some stuff into a backpack and duffle bag...

Is that why you forgot to bring your camera last time?? LOL!

[jm21-2]

Is that why you forgot to bring your camera last time?? LOL!

Always forget something. Forgot toothbrush/toothpaste this last time and didn't bring nearly enough boxers. Things seem to work out though. Only thing that got me was I made some videos on my boat to show her and for some reason either I lost the SD card with them or they got erased somehow .

Airport security is just annoying..they tossed my shaving gel on my first trip. This last trip I worked until about 10pm then the flight left at 2am or so....was pretty fried and the buckle on my belt broke (didn't realize it until too late...retarded thai buckle that took me forever to get off...finally killed the thing at the taipei airport) and I walked through the metal detector with my belt on, car keys in my pocket, and I think a cell phone...no beep. Lady asked me if I had anything in my pocket, I reached in and said something like "yeah, a bunch of stuff, sorry," and she waved me through. Reminds me of my best friend's grandpa forgetting to take off his .45 and not realizing it until he was boarding the plane.

[thekfc]

Airport security is just annoying..they tossed my shaving gel on my first trip.

yep, if it is over 3 ounces - they will toss it. Also if you buy duty-free liquid that are in containers larger than 3 ounces and you have a connecting flight & if this item (s) is not in a special sealed tamper-evident bags - it will not be permitted through security checkpoint.
If in doubt - put the items in your checked luggage.

You only take 30 minutes to pack - no wonder you forget things. I do make a check list & cross things out as I go, but sometimes I still forget something.

[robert angel]

They made me throw out a 4.2 ounce tube of Listerine toothpaste, which costs over $4 a tube.

I'm pretty good at remembering what to pack--I'm usually packed days before.

Plus, it helps that I have a photographic memory, which works great, as long as I remember to put in the batteries....

[Bob_S]

They made me throw out a 4.2 ounce tube of Listerine toothpaste, which costs over $4 a tube.

Every time before our trip, we make a run to the Target store toiletries section.  They have an entire rack of travel-size stuff.  Then while packing, we make 3 packs:
#1, in a sandwich-size zip-lock bag, we put in toiletries for inside the airplane cabin (toothbrush, hand sanitizer, baby wipes) plus enough extras to survive a day in the event that while we are heading one direction, our luggage gets sent in another and it takes a day or so for it to find us.
#2, in a freezer bag or two, enough additional toiletries, a spare roll of TP (in case the public restroom is out or the hotel uses cheap single-ply) & snacks to last a few days of in-country travel (stuff we know the hotels don't supply, though in Japan even the cheap hotels provide lots of complimentary goodies).  This packet is put in our checked luggage, and we get it out when we arrive at our destination airport and get through customs.
#3 is the toiletries we send with our luggage we forward to my MiL's home.  It's not that she lives so far out in the boonies that we can't run to a nearby grocery store for whatever we need, but after all the in-country sightseeing travel, we're going to arrive at her home exhausted and won't want to go out shopping for a few days.
So we have two sets of luggage: one set for in-country sightseeing (typically light weight, easy to roll or wear on your back, carrying just enough clothes to get by for a few days), and one set of more clothes to be sent to the MiL's by the luggage forwarding service.  If your destination country airport has such a service, it's something you might want to think about.  The sightseeing luggage is typically our carry-on, but at first it doesn't carry all of our in-country travel clothes.  We keep all of our electronic stuff in the carry-on, then do some re-packing at the destination airport upon arrival.  It takes a bit of planning, but my better half is very good at that.

[thekfc]

I wonder if piglett is superstitious & wrote down/studied some of these Philippine wedding traditions:

Altar-bound couples are accident-prone and therefore must avoid long drives or traveling before their wedding day for safety.

The groom who sits ahead of his bride during the wedding ceremony will be a henpecked husband.

The groom must arrive before the bride at the church to avoid bad luck.

Breaking something during the reception brings good luck to the newlyweds.

The bride should step on the groom's foot while walking towards the altar if she wants him to agree to her every whim.

Dropping the wedding ring, the veil or the arrhae during the ceremony spells unhappiness for the couple.

A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will be an unhappy wife experiencing many heartaches and tears.

It is considered bad luck for two siblings to marry on the same year.

Throwing rice confetti at the newlyweds will bring them prosperity all their life.

If it rains during the wedding, it means prosperity and happiness for the newlyweds

[robert angel]

Anybody heard from Piglett yet? I can only wonder and imagine, but I'm pretty sure he's going to be--that he is OK--he's probably having a great time and very busy.

 There's nothing like that first trip, that's for sure....

[z_k_g]

I think everyone is waiting to see how things went!

I'm sure he is loving the Philippines on his first trip!! 

[Ray]

Maybe he is preoccupied with his honeymoon (?)





 

[Dave H]

Hey Ray,

Nice wedding picture!

Pig almost looks as good as me in my wedding photo.

Dave

[Ray]

Dave, that dude is OOOOOOGLY!

Even you, me, and Jeff S are better looking than that!

 

Ray