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HI - New York Hostel
Situated near Central Park and Columbia University, the hostel is in a historic
Victorian Gothic-style building on Upper West Side. It organizes walking
tours...more
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From airport to arrival |
Airport X-ray and your film.
According to a specialist in Photography, X-Ray's do not harm cameras. They harm the film. The airport X-ray will not harm your film if it is X-rayed once or twice, but after repeated times your film will be spoiled. So if you know that you are going to be passing through a lot of airport security points, ask the security to hand inspect it. Security personnel are supposed to regard you request in the USA.
But there is an exception on that rule and that relates to the films rated ISO 800 or faster. These can be damaged by even one dose of X-rays. Never take your videotape through the security door, not even once. Either put it with your other luggage or have it hand inspected. So keep that in mind when you have a camcorder. You can buy a small lead-lined bag, which holds a few rolls of film. This would allow you to put your film through the X-ray machines without having to worry that much.
Parking
Once you have arrived at the airport, make sure you go to the correct terminal. If you have someone driving you, long-term parking won't be necessary, but if you are driving yourself you will have to book your car in a long-stay parking. There will probably be a shuttle that will take you to your terminal. Check departures on the screen for flight delays. This will let you know of any changes in your flight.
Look after your bags
Never leave your bags alone. Airport security gets nervous when they see unattended bags. Take them even into the toilet with you if you have to. If the bags are found without you, it is a possibility that they will be inspected and destroyed. It is good to keep an eye on your belongings to prevent it from being stolen, pilfered, or if someone puts something in your bag. At the hostel you can keep your valuables in the hostels safe or security room.
Check-in
Next you should check-in. This will register you with the flight; book your bags onboard the plane, and the reserved seat of your choice. Try and get checked in as soon as possible. If you cannot find your check-in desk ask someone for assistance. Positive things about early check-in: to get rid of you bags, to avoid the queues, to get a better seat and to get a break If you try doing this later you may be caught in the check-in queues, and standing for an hour can be very exhausting. You will be required to present your ticket and passport. If you have already checked-in, label you bags. You will see the tags on the check-in desk. The check-in clerk will weigh the luggage and if it is slightly over the limit, you may get away with it, if you have a good smile. If not you may have to pay an extra charge or have to send your bags separately. For each checked-in luggage, you will receive a receipt. This receipt should be stuck to you ticket; they are proof of ownership and will help you locate them if they are lost. At some airports they will sometimes have your bags closely inspected elsewhere. The clerk will also rip off the larger part of your ticket and take one copy with him. After this they will hand you a boarding pass with your seat number.
Choosing a seat
The seats in the economy section are not that good. But the other classes are a delight, and then there is first class, which is perfect. But there are some better seats to be found in economy and checking-in early will guarantee one of the better ones. Have a stroll in the plane and take a look at the ones you would prefer for the future. On long flights you will probably find a smoking section, although most American airlines don't allow smoking in their vessels unless the flight is more than seven hours. Some other airlines allow smoking but not in the US, because under federal law all airlines flying to or within the US are required to be non-smoking. Now some airlines operate an entire whole fleet of non-smoking vessels. In the airlines that do allow smoking, you can have a seat at the smoking section. Though I say many who've sat there for more than 5 hours even though they smoke, could not handle the air.
Relax for awhile
Once you have checked-in you can just kick back and enjoy a book. But keep an eye on the screen for information on your flight.
Passport control, security inspection & duty free shopping
At some point before your flight leaves you will need to go through a passport inspection to ensure that it is valid. Your luggage before getting on the plane, it will go through the security staff and X-ray. The same goes for your hand luggage. Next you will be asked to walk through a metal detector or by an inspector with a hand metal detector. The bags are available once you have walked through the checkpoint, now in the secure area you can do some duty free shopping. To shop you need to show proof that you are flying the same day. *If you return you will have to go through the same process again.
Boarding
It is worth mentioning that some airports are huge, so huge that they have inner train systems to carry you from what part to another. Sometimes you have to run just to make your flight. If you hear the last call on the speaker, run for it, if you are stuck for some reason let an official notify the gate, and try and get a message to them that you are on your way. Before long if you still haven't arrived, they will start calling your name on the airport speakers. As you go through the gate, the larger part of your boarding pass will be ripped off. These are worthwhile souvenirs. The planes are surprisingly large, and not so high tech, larger planes have two isles, and small ones have one. If you do not know where you are supposed to sit give your stub to a crewmember, he will tell you where to go. Once you are seated store you luggage in the overhead locker. If you want to, you can keep it under the front seat, but that will prevent you from stretching you legs.
Appropriate clothing to wear on a plane.
It is said that people swell while flying. There is no scientific proof of this. Sometimes you need to be very careful in the way you select the clothing you will be wearing while you fly. You have to consider the climate when you are destined. Though an option could be to dress casual with comfortable clothing and put a change of clothing in you bag. That way you enjoy a long flight and have no problem with the weather on the other side. Remember that comfort while on a long flight is the target.
Pre-departure
Sometimes it may take awhile before takeoff that is because of some procedure that has to be followed. The first thing to follow is the instructions by the crewmember. This is very important you will be told how to fasten your seat belt, how to use the air mask, and to know where the exits are. Something about the crew is that they can come across with some pretty detestable passengers. If you treat them correctly they will take care of you. Eventually the lights will turn on indicating you should fasten you seat belt. They might be a few turns before the plane is ready for takeoff.
Takeoff
After takeoff the plane will continue to climb until it reaches its flight level. When the plane stabilizes, you will be allowed to go to the bathroom, unfasten your seat belt, and stretch you legs.
Flying
On a normal flight you can move around the cabin to stretch your legs. But if there is turbulence you will be asked to return to the seats. noises are quite normal and they should not alarm you. If you experience turbulence follow the instructions and fasten you seat belts. Flights during turbulence can be very bumpy. Because of these bad weather conditions some flights may get delayed. The pilot sometimes decides to go around or over the storm. Before you land you will be given a form to fill in with your passport and other information. It is good to know the number of your passport, and date of issue for this reason.
Airline Food
The food is pretty bad in planes. There is no choice in this unless you are flying first class. The food is pre-prepared and heated during the flight.
Landing
The plane does a lot of strange things when preparing to land. It will slow down a lot; almost making you feel it has completely stopped in mid-air. The plane will touch ground and the captain will slam on the breaks, reverse the thrust and so on. There is a lot of noise involved; sometimes to the extent of you feeling the plane is falling apart. In due course the plane will be taxied into its terminal so the passengers can get off.
And Finally
Now you are to a new airport and you know you are closer to where you wanted to go since you hopped on the plane. There area few more things before that and they go as follow.
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