Gouda's Cheesewheel

Advice for flying standby, if you must

(Originally composed Wednesday, December 03, 2008 12:30 PM Hawaii time)

While I don’t plan on doing something like this again soon, there are some things I have learned.

Bring food. Make one of your carry-ons a small cooler and bring food with you, whether purchased for cheap or made at home. Airport food is expensive, and few flights serve meals (or even snacks) anymore, unless you’re lucky enough to fly First Class. You’ll be happy you can eat if you have to sit around awhile and don’t know when or if you’ll be fed on a plane.

Pack light. While there are some things—like a comfy set of clothes and a toothbrush—that come in handy in uncertain flying situations, you will want to move around a bit, or even possibly leave the airport if the time between flights is especially long. In the latter case, you might end up somewhere where you won’t want luggage, like a museum. We’ve considered the possibility of visiting Pearl Harbor, but we would have to check the luggage there, and that’s expensive. In the end, if you must bring a carry-on suitcase, make sure it has wheels. We’ve already had to trek across the terminal with all of our baggage once. In larger airports, gate changes can make those treks more frequent.

Bring a laptop! We were fortunate to have access to my mother’s laptop computer, and while it has been one of the less comfortable things to carry around, it counts as your personal item so it doesn’t have to fit into your other carry-on. Laptops serve multiple purposes. This one has been handy for watching movies and Brent’s TV series’ on DVD. Wi-fi is also widely available, which can aid in things like checking upcoming flights and nearby hotels, staying in touch with family, or just killing time on your blog or favorite comics site. Price-wise, access at Honolulu Airport costs $6.95 for 2 hours, $8.95 for 24 hours, and more for monthly subscriptions (which we obviously don’t need). Even better, at some places the wi-fi is free, while internet kiosks are not, so it might even save you a few bucks over the course of your trip.

Plan for the worst. In general, be prepared to be stuck in an airport a long time, but not necessarily with your own consistent space. Have cash on you, as well as plenty of things to keep you busy. Anything essential to an overnight stay should be packed if it is reasonable to do so. Interestingly I had packed a beach towel in my carry-on, and this turned out to make a wonderful blanket or neck pillow (when rolled into a tube). Also, know your airport and what is close by. If you need something—information or stamps or a shower—it’s good to know where to get it.

My experience has been made easier by having a traveling companion in the form of Brent. One of us is able to stay with the luggage or save a seat while the other uses the bathroom or takes a walk. We are also able to accomplish tasks with double efficiency during time crunches, taking care of two errands at once. While traveling alone has its perks, standby has definitely been easier as a pair. The only downside to this option is that you may have to separate from your partner in order to take a flight that is offered to you.

While this entire thing has been a trying experience, it did save us a bit of money, and at least we’re having an adventure.

posted by Greta @ 12:32 PM