First time flyer...going alone!?

Question

I am heading the Las Vegas to meet girlfriends who are driving in from LA. I will be flying alone and am scared to death, but not of the actually flight. I have no clue what to do when I get to the airport. I have the a print out with bar codes that was e-mailed to me when I purchased my ticket in March.

I was encouraged to check-in online before I leave home, which I have figured out, but, what does that get me? Where do I get my actual boarding pass, no one has told me this part.

So help me if I am wrong here. From there I am assuming that I will go to my carriers counter to check my luggage and then go through security. Then find my gate and wait to leave.

Then comes my next fear...the connecting flight! I read online that I will have to pick up my luggage but others are telling me that it will be sent straight to my connecting flight. Do I just find the next flight gate and wait there. HELP! Any advise is welcome and appriciated!

I will leave Baltimore...Connect in St. Louis...and then obviously be in Vegas. So any info about those air ports would be great!

Answer 1

1. Arrive to airport two hours prior to your departure time.
2. Check in at passenger check it with your airline at the counter or curbside with a sky cab. If you check in with a sky cab you will need to tip him $1 per bag that you check. When you check in some airports require you to hand deliver your checked luggage to the TSA baggage personnel, other airports will take your bags from you at the counter. They will place the tags on the checked bag to your FINAL destination. You will not see those bags again until you get to Vegas. Also at that time they will give you your boarding pass and seat assigment if you don't all ready have the seat assignment.
3. Leave the counter and proceed to security. Don't put away your boarding pass or Photo ID as you will need to show it to a few security personnel before you get to the gate.
4. Get through security. You will probably need to take off your shoes and they won't let you bring beveages so don't buy any that you cant consume before you go through security.
5. Get to the gate and wait to board plane. You shouldn't need to check in again at the gate but ask at the counter in step #2 just to be safe.
6. Enjoy flight.
7. When the flight is about to land the flight attendant will usually announce the connecting flights and what gate to go to. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE BOARD TO ENSURE NO LAST MINUTE CHANGES.
8. Board connecting flight. You will not need to go through security again. You will need the second boarding pass.
9. Enjoy 2nd flight.
10. Debark plane and proceed to baggage claim. They will tell you on the plane which # carosel the bags are coming in on.
Hope that helps. You will do fine.

Answer 2

If you are going to do some stuff on-line, see if your airline will allow pre check-in online and if so will probably also have the facility to give you your boarding pass which you can print out at home (if not, after curb bag check-in just go inside to the ticket counter.Stay away from the ticket Kiosks) If all this is OK, you need only check your bags before boarding.
First off, BWI should have curb-side baggage check-in. From the curb-side with your boarding pass go to Security and then to the terminal gates. When you get your boarding pass you'll find the gate or you may need to find out your gate in the airport on the departure screen.

That will get you out of BWI. Your bags will connect with you; you need not retrieve them at St.Louis.
St Louis Lambert Field can be a little daunting if your connecting flight is in a different concourse. There is a connector between concourse B and C. The walk or moving walkway from the end of C to D and E is alittle way. Best way is to make sure your have at least 60-80 minutes layover just in case your concourses are a bit separated.

In Vegas Mclaren airport is quite easy and well marked, but the baggage area can be hard to navigate, but is on the same level as cabs, buses, rental cars, etc. It's only spread out so look on the monitor on that floor for you flight No. and the corresponding baggage carousel.

The return trip is just reversed; you know BWI when you get in; McLaren is small, only a mile or so from the strip and Lambert you'll already know.

Have a good time; Vegas is a fun place!

Answer 3

1. Your checked baggage will be tagged to read "LAS". Check that out at the ticket counter when the agent tags your bag.
2. Checking in on-line may offer the opportunity to print out your boarding pass 24 hours ahead of your departure time.
Show that with your photo ID when going through airport security.
3. Once you've landed at STL (St. Louis) the flight attendant will normally give informaiton over the PA system indicating which gate your connecting flight will be at. If she doesn't, there will be a flight departure board right outside the jetway ramp that will show you where to go from there.
4. Upon arrival at LAS (Las Vegas), take the escalator to the baggage claim area. As you exit the escalator you will see a board above your head which indicates the originating city, airline and number of the baggage carousel where you can get your luggage.
Have a good trip!

Answer 4

Your baggage will be sent straight through to Vegas. if in doubt, ask the agent receiving your bags. When you get to the airport, you'll go up to self check-in kiosk area and ask someone to check in your bags. Show them your boarding pass that you printed out at home. They may print you out a new one at the counter. After that, go through security, make sure you have complied with restrictions on carry-on items (the 3 oz liquids/gels rule), and wait in the boarding area. When you connect in St. Louis, listen closely to the flight attendants on your first flight for connection information. they have a list of connections and know that you are connecting. They will announce the gate you need to go to. This may already have been told to you at your originating gate. If you miss both these opportunities, just check any screen in St. Louis. You should already have the boarding pass for St. Louis also, either you printed it out at home or received it when you dropped off your bags or checked in at the originating airport. Once you hit vegas, head outside and grab a cab OR the shuttle into town. Last I remember, it was $8. Above all, don't be fearful. You should be excited! Vegas is an awesome town! DON'T be fearful to walk around there and soak up the atmosphere!! HAVE FUN!!!!

Answer 5

go to the counter and get your ticket then go to the TSA screeners and then you will go to your gate.
sit down and relax.
sure one of the people on your plan will transfer to LV with you and then you are golden. Have a drink on the plane.
Las Vegas or Mc Carren airport is great. You will get a little shuttle train to the terminal and then go to the gound level and you will meet your friend.

Answer 6

specific and no. In my daily existence i'm spiritually visiting on my own. yet fortuitously I certainly have a chum that I met right here, who shares my direction with me from afar. And we help eachother alongside the way. :)