Flying Newbie - I am SO confused!!!!
Only a few more sleeps until we head off on our big adventure to Melbourne. SQUEEEE!!!
I am MEGA excited!!!!!
All except for the flying bit.
I’ve been deliberately trying not to think about that.
You see, I’m flying phobic.
I’m 36 years old and I’ve flown in a plane ONCE in my entire life.
A small 12-seater plane.
I thought I would be pretty safe because it was a short flight over the gulf.
My biggest fear is going down in the water. But I figured it was only a short expanse of water so any trouble and the plane could simply glide across and land safely, right?
Wrong!
Less than 2 weeks after my inaugural flight, the exact same company in an exact same model plane I had flown in had an accident. The plane went down in the water and all onboard were killed. Including our next door neighbours.
On that day I vowed and declared I would NEVER fly again!
And I haven’t.
Until early next week when I’m planning to conquer those fears and fly again.
Not with the same company mind you.
They went bust after the accident.
But firstly in a small plane from Port Lincoln to Adelaide.
Then a larger one from Adelaide to Melbourne.
All with Qantas (yeah, the company that’s been having all the engine troubles in recent times… at least no-one has died though).
But right now, I’m not even thinking about dying.
I’m too confused about what I’m allowed to take and not take.
Particularly in the carry-on section.
So, help me out peoples who are used to flying.
1. Can I take all my medications for the trip on board?
Some places seem to be saying only what you need for the actual flight (or in my case I assume both flights given it’s been booked together - basically flying from Port Lincoln to Melbourne with a change of planes in between). Others seem to say take all your medications on board in case your luggage goes missing.
2. Am I allowed to take my own bottled water on the plane?
From what I’ve read, you have to restrict all liquids to 100ml and that includes water? How stupid! Will they give me water on the plane and will it be nice water????
3. Do I have to put any lipsticks or lipglosses I usually carry in my handbag, into a little clear plastic bag?
Guess I might have to clear the million and one of them out of my handbag and only carry 1 or 2?
4. Will they offer me a gluten free snack or can I take my own?
They won’t allow me to put gluten free in my special requests on the Qantas website as we don’t get a meal. But I understand they still serve some kind of refreshment on the plane (?). The trips are only short (about 45 minutes and then an hour and a quarter) but I like eating when I’m bored and we leave home at 6am and get to Melbourne after 1pm so I’m gonna get hungry at some point!
5. Are they going to strip search me?
Bwwahaahaaa. No, seriously. I’m terrified about all this “security” stuff and I’m not even leaving the country!
6. What if they lose my luggage?
And what if we think they’re putting it onto our next flight (which they’ve said they will do) and they don’t and it’s left sitting in Adelaide? Or what if someone else grabs it and I have no clothes to wear? And what if we get lost in the Melbourne Airport, or worse still, our flight from Port Lincoln gets delayed and we never make it to Melbourne?
Yeah, I’m a worry-wart. 
Please share with me any tips you have for flying, including ways to overcome my fears and relax and enjoy the journey!
I mean, come on, people do this all the time. I don’t want to spoil the trip by being over-stressed about the flying bit.
P.S. My kids are SO jealous that we’re leaving them behind AND that we’re flying - we never fly when we have them with us (I did the sums with them to show them the reason we don’t fly when we have all 5 of us).
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Hmm I just wrote a big long comment - only to have a message say it could be blocked because it contained more than one of the word….. airline!!
Ok, so the gist of it was the following
I’d take a gluten free snack with you just in case. I flew on a few Qantas small flights last year & yes we got a snack inflight. The early morning flight had a gluten free Wallaby Superbar as well as yoghurt & muesli (not gluten free), a later flight had a cupcake & a sesame snack.
I haven’t tried to take a bottle of water on a plane so can’t help you there, I also don’t carry medication or lipstick in my carry on luggage usually. Or had any luggage lost.
No strip searches either. At Sydney airport you walk through metal detectors especially when departing.
When arriving, I’ve noticed the arrivals areas are close to where you go out of the airport to catch taxis buses etc. When we flew to Melbourne we basically walked out of the doors & straight out to where we caught the bus.
Hope you have a great trip - I’m flying next week myself on a smaller airplane. I love flying so can’t help you much with the fear of flying - remembering to breathe & relax as much as possible would be the best advice.
1. You can take all your medications onboard with you and me personally I always take what I’m going to need medication wise in the carry on. Not that they have ever lost my luggage, but just in case.
2. It is only international where you can’t take water on board, so feel free to take your own.
3. That is also international travel, should be no problems carrying them as you usually do in your handbag. But bear in mind your bag will be going through the security scanner at Adelaide Airport before you get on the next flight, so someone will see the contents of your bag on the x-ray thingy.
This is usually not a problem, unless you are me and you happen to be carrying a small moose, a home made camera cable which looks a bit like a bomb detonator but is actually so I didn’t have to spend ungodly amounts on the original Canon one, and about $80 in $1 coins in my camera bag because I won on the pokies while I was away. Oddly enough if you put a lot of $1 coins in a row (like you get them in those paper things when you put them in a till) it looks very odd on the x-ray scanner and they couldn’t work out what it was.
If there is something in there they are curious about they will just ask you, so as long as you can explain why you have a moose in your handbag they’ll be fine.
4. I’d take your own.
5. No they won’t strip search you but they might make you take off your shoes. So just be prepared for that.
If you smile at the staff you will likely be asked if they can vacuum you for traces of explosives. This is only because they have a set number of people they have to vacuum and they would rather ask someone who seems friendly than a scowling evil person.
6. In Australia they have bag matching. 99% of the time if you are on the plane your bag is too. The only time it would not be is if someone makes a booboo, but that is quite rare in Australia. This is not like the USA where they don’t match bags to passengers which is a bit silly, or South Africa where my Dads bag and an entire container of bags belonging to fellow travellers was not loaded onto the plane.
But, to be on the safe side, I always pack one spare set of clothes in my carry on. I have never needed it because they lost my bag, but I have needed it because it was way too humid in Sydney and my original clothes got super stinky, or because someone spilled a drink on me. So it is handy to have in any case.
Domestic travel really is a doddle, you’ll have a great time. My one piece of advice is to take fishermans friends and suck one on take off and landing. This is to clear your ears and sinuses. I prefer the original flavor myself even though they taste evil they work great.
Melbourne Airport isn’t too scary. You can find a map of the airports on the airport websites, so it is a good idea to check that out beforehand and also to print out a copy if you are a bit OCD like me.
I went to Hawaii last October and that was a 10 hour flight complete with screaming kids, it was fine.
You’ll be fine. Enjoy it!
Everything you’ve mentioned can be taken onboard. I bought a bottle of water at Adelaide airport and took it on board with me along with all the medications I had in my handbag. Panadol, codeine, antihistamine, anti-inflammatories, ventolin inhaler, 4 days worth of the assorted vitamins I take. (A single multivitamin capsule makes me burp all day) I think the medication thing is only a problem if you’re going overseas as they might think you’re smuggling drugs. Carry a letter from your doctor just in case. On the way home I had to leave a pressurised spray can of some type of furniture polish that was included in the goodies bag, no biggie since I don’t need it. Then on the plane I did buy a bottle of water but it was $3.50! They prefer you to have the correct money handy if you’re paying with cash, but you can use your bankcards. Take your own snack, I had chocolate bars, at the end of the flight they’ll probably come around with a bag to collect any wrappers from snacks etc, they did on my JetStar flight. Check-in luggage is usually safe, I wouldn’t worry, and if you need to take anything in a spraycan it will be allowed in your check-in luggage, but not in your cabin/carry-on luggage. Carry-on bags need to be able to fit into the overhead lockers and while taking off and landing your handbag has to be stored under the seat in front of you. Well, on JetStar anyway. Check with your airline about carry-on weight limits. Mine was 10kg and that includes the handbag. Okay on the way up, but I worried coming home because I had the extra weight from the goodie bag, but it all came in just under the 10kg, so all was good. Again, I can only speak for JetStar, but I’m pretty sure they’re closely affiliated with Qantas to you’ll be okay. Can you print your E-tickets and baording passes before you go? It’ll save time at check-in and boarding.
My computer playing up so I can’t read what the others have said so apologies if I am repeating it. You aren’t leaving the country, most of the things you are talking about are to do with going overseas….BUT always take your medication with you (anytime you travel) Make sure your luggage has a large tag with your name and also your flight detail on it in big letters (does help to get it on the right plane sometimes) take your own snacks with you on the plane. aerosol in check in luggage only. Make sure your carry on luggage fits the size and weight requirement for both your flights - always make sure you allow plenty of time - especially on the way home - look at what time they tell you to check in and do it, people who leave things to the last minute can be bumped off. Chewy or something if you have a problem with ears popping etc
You can buy water at the airport after check in.
And how to feel better? Eat during takeoff and landing (you can take it on board) and Valium. I am serious. Ask your doctor for some. It totally takes the edge off and calms you down. I would have been lost without it cause I lost my MIND at the thought of flying.
Have fun my love!
Thanks for your help everyone! About 12 hours now until we leave.
Now rest up and enjoy your time alone with your man.. !