Can someone describe the whole flying experience to me?

Question

I've never flown before and i'm going to for the first time in about a month. I'm pretty excited but a bit nervous, I have to admit. The person who can give me the best description gets 10 points!!

Answer 1

Let me walk you through the experience.

When you arrive at the airport you check in for your flight. You can either go to the counter and check in, or to one of the kiosks. You will get your boarding pass and then you check your luggage if you have more than your carry on. You will then go through security, where they will xray your carry on and purse. Be sure you dont have anything sharp like scissors in your purse.

You will then go to your gate. When they are ready to load the plane they will call you either by seat numbers or by boarding group. You stash your carry-on in the overhead and sit down. The flight attendant will go through a little safety speech. Don't pay attention, she will thrown off if someone does! (I am kidding here, couldn't resist it)

When the plane takes off it will taxi to the runway. Usually you sit and wait for a while. Then the plane will start its take off. You will increase speed as you go down the run way, then you will feel the front of the plane pull up and you are off. Its a bit of a rush the first time you feel it. You will feel pushed back in your seat a bit. Its nothing dramatic.

The plane will climb pretty rapidly to cruising altitude. If you have a window seat you wont be able to see much detail, but mountains and lakes and even cities are fun to look at. At that point you can get up to go to the bathroom or move around a bit. Usually its very smooth at this point, but occasionally there will be a bit of bumpiness. Dont worry! Its all good. The attendants will come around with drinks and maybe pretzels. Unless your flight is very long don't count on a meal anymore, which is OK, as the food sucks. :-)

When its time to land they will announce that you have begun your descent. This usually takes 20 minutes or so. The descent isn't nearly as steep as the ascent. If you are by the window you will see the runway on the approach. You will probably feel the landing gear dropping. Not to worry! Its normal. The plane does the reverse of the take off, flying down the runway, with the rear wheels touching first, then the front wheels. You will brake, and then taxi to the terminal.

When they stop everyone will jump up and stand there hunched over waiting to get off. There is no need to do this. Just sit and wait until it starts moving. :-) I would suggest getting a seat as far up as you can in the cabin. Its a lot noisier in the back of the plane. I fly a LOT and in spite of that, I still get a kick out of it! You will do fine.

Answer 2

well my family owns a plane
and i've been flying in it since
i was still in my mom. but i've
flown commercially three times.
i just did last june. it's really good.
you get snacks and the people
always offer you drinks. though
i suggest you pee right before
the flight since the bathrooms are
tiny. the seats are small too
and you can always hear the
air. it's kinda loud but the time
goes by so fast when you look
outside the window. especially
when you look at the clouds.
you'll have a great time

Answer 3

you won't notice the difference unless you have a window seat. Do try to get a window seat! While taking off and landing you feel a change in pressure, your ears might pop, and your stomach feels "funny" -- in a good way. have fun! where ya going? i assume you will be on a larger jet (727, 747, etc)?
You feel more "bumps" if you are traveling in a smaller "puddle jumper" (porter, cessna, prop planes...)