Pre-flight Thoroughness!

As I'm flying on Friday I've just noticed how thorough I'm being in checking all sorts of things before I fly. I'm interested to know if I'm being a bit sad or are there others that do almost ritualistic activities before they travel. Let me put this into context:

1) I check Weather.com and .co.uk for a feel of how takeoff and landing will be (usually checking wind speed etc.)

2) I check my inventory, probably every day (for some reason?) to see if anything has changed... not that it ever has!

3) A day or two before I check the airport website for announcements on travel status, delays etc. An example of this was earlier this year I flew when the baggage strikes were on at LGW and refuelling at LHR.

4) I check the availability tools on websites or that nifty little desktop tool to see how busy the flight is. This is usually for the slim hope of an op up!

5) A recent addition is that I check V-Flyer or FlyerTalk for news and updates.

So am I the only wierdo on here or do others of us check in fine detail our details before travelling?

JC.

[Decker]

1) No
2) No
3) No
4) Yes
5) Yes

1) I live in Ealing - we're talking 15-20 minutes from the airport, if I want the weather I look out of the Window!
2) I buy cheap non changeable tickets so why recheck
3) See 1)

So I'm reckoning we're much of a muchness

Yep, bit sad.

Mind you I do most of these too now, especially 4 - so I guess I need a new life.

At the moment I'm constantly checking for availability in W class so I can phone Premier and get a revenue UG as they can only monitor the one flight I'm actually booked on.

Phil (Buffy)

I only do four and five!!
and five is normally done from the clubhouse as I normally start my TR at the airport..

I used to check how busy the flight is for chance of Op Upgrades but now I check in (at the airport) and see..

D'oh... Maybe I am a bit wierd!

I did just put up my 100th post which is cool though, so there is a reward for being just a little sad

I've posted before about how I hate flying so I do 1) so that I can understand how much of a wuss I really will be for the first few hours of the flight. I perform function 2) as I always forget, even though I look at it numerous times, which terminal and the exact time of my flight. 3) I've been jinxed in the past with delays, for example, I waited 5 hours on the runway in 2000 (I think it was then) when they made the big ATC change at LHR [:(]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who checks for availability, although I am flying my first personal UC flight in Dec so I think I'll miss No.4 this time!

Thanks all.

JC.

[fozzyo]

1) No - but do keep an eye on destination for holiday
2) No - but i check my passport packing, on the way to the airport, at the airport, after checking. I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder when it comes to that I think.
3) Not specifically, but am always checking Beeb News so usually see something on there.
4) Dean (Wolves27) generally will, in hope of an Op Up but on recent flights to see if we can upgrade with cash, in SF a visit to the Apple Store to check on-line before heading to the airport
5) Probably

So its not really that sad. My parents do like to have a "Packing Rehersal" a few days before they go.

Foz )

1) No - I live in Chiswick, but I do check the destination
2) No - but I always make sure I have my passport and Centurion card
3) No - I would rely on VS to tell me if things had changed
4) No - but then again I'm always at the front
5) No - not specifically, but I'm on here so often...

So yes, JC, you're the wierdo! Mind you, plenty of us here are rather strange in other ways...

BC

[buns]

JC

1) No
2) No
3) Yes
4) Yes
5) Yes

All done to bring closer the day of the flight and overcome my re-occuring nightmare of missing the flight (yes I really do have them!!)

Buns

I think we can safely say you are not alone!

1) No but I have my destination weather on my personal internet page at work
2) Yes
3) Yes
4) No but usually in UC anyway
5) On V-Flyer almost every day anyway so Yes

In addition:

I check virgin-atlantic seat map to make sure my seat is still booked (every couple of days until going)!!

Since we stopped using travel agents and started booking everything ourselves, we have a spreadsheet that has all the days of the holiday listed and then against each day, any booking references, flight times/numbers, FF numbers, hotel loyalty numbers, car bookings etc etc. One time the spreadsheet went into so much detail with Disneyland/Universal/restaurant visits that I had to ask my hubby if there was a space in there for 'relaxing by pool' LOL

As far as my passport goes I have to have my hand on it, in my bag, as I leave the house and get in the car, I still check it a dozen more times before I get to the airport though!

Sigh... hubby says I'm a nutter and after reading back through this I guess he's right (not that I would ever tell him that) :D

Cheers

Shaz

[Bazz]

quote:Originally posted by shazam
Sigh... hubby says I'm a nutter and after reading back through this I guess he's right (not that I would ever tell him that) :D

Don't worry Shaz, I'll tell him [}:)] - Just kidding!

James,

1.) usually get a five day forecast the day before we fly
2.) only on receipt or to confirm changes
3.) never have bothered in the past, but may do in future
4.) always if flying coach or PE but it can be misleading
5.) well, I'm here most days so I guess so

So I must be half sad .

I understand how you guys feel about your passports though, and do check several times on the day of departure to make sure we still have them, even though I know we do - silly isn't it? I did forget the tickets once on a LGW-TFS flight with Air 2000, but we got replacements issued at the airport, thankfully I had confirmation, etc., with me, just left the bloody tickets at home [:(]

Looks like I fall into the 'weird' and 'obsessive' category. Check weather.com for departure and destination weather (daily, up to a week in advance). Always fly UC nowadays, but still check the VS seat map AND the availability tool to check how busy it's getting (WHY? It's not like I'm going to cancel my trip if the plane's full!!).

I'm on this site almost daily (which makes us all just a tad obsessive, does it not??), so any probs, VS or airport related, I'm always pretty sure I'll be aware of them. As for passports, Mrs. Vips remains fully in charge of those - same for tickets. Then, if anything goes wrong, I always know who to blame...

1) No
2) No
3) No
4) Yes
5) Yes

I do always check the weather on weather.com, bbc.co.uk to see what its like when I'm there. If its later than the 5/10 days look at http://www.wunderground.com for all sorts of tables and weather usefulness.

I only normally pack a day before but do have laid out all relevant tickets, passport and priority pass cards if needed. Once AU I think the latter won't be as important quite as often.

I generally prefer to pack less of what I need, thats what laundry is for in the good hotels. Still always end up not wearing at least a couple of t shirts!

Dean

quote:1) I check Weather.com and .co.uk for a feel of how takeoff and landing will be (usually checking wind speed etc.)

2) I check my inventory, probably every day (for some reason?) to see if anything has changed... not that it ever has!

3) A day or two before I check the airport website for announcements on travel status, delays etc. An example of this was earlier this year I flew when the baggage strikes were on at LGW and refuelling at LHR.

4) I check the availability tools on websites or that nifty little desktop tool to see how busy the flight is. This is usually for the slim hope of an op up!

5) A recent addition is that I check V-Flyer or FlyerTalk for news and updates.

1) Yes - But more the destination than the departure. I live fairly close to my departure.

2) Inventory? Are you speaking of the aircraft? If so, I may check it once or twice before my flight to make sure they have not subsituted anything.

3) Never have done this, but no a bad idea

4) Sometimes, depends on the carrier

5) I do this whether I am flying or not. Just a neat site to browse about it.

And I do not think you are wierd at all. If you saw some of the stuff the folks on the FOF site do (including me!) before a flight, you would be amazed!

1) Yes working on boat's i check the weather every day.

2) Yes i cant not help look at it as it's on my clipboard next to my PC.

3) No if theres a delay i put up with it and i find airport's interesting.

4)No i norm fly PE and most of the seat are good and if there's no room then your one step closer to an op up.

5)Yes i'm here every day.

So i guess your not that weird.

Cheers

Phil

Woo Hoo... not such a wierdo after all!

JC.

1) Nah, don't bother with that, I'll be inside t'plane and don't care what's happening outside I hardly even look at destination weather either....

2) Nope, although I'll occasionally log in to check the seat assignment is still the same (particularly if in UC and wanting my fave seat )

3) Good point, don't do that one either since I'm usually around here and folks here seem to be fairly good on posting that type of news But may well consider that for the future.

4) Definitely do that when not flying UC!

5) See (3) - usually around here anyway

I do have a couple of other things that I do though; like start a bit of a countdown (currently 23 days to my next trip), and making sure I've sent my Dad & my Sister my itinerary & insurance details (just in case), with copies in a file for me to take [:I]

Like others, constant checking of passports & tickets on the way to the airport is a must - even if they're in a zipped pocket/etc...[:I]

Cheers

Michael

quote:Originally posted by mcuth

I do have a couple of other things that I do though; like start a bit of a countdown (currently 23 days to my next trip), and making sure I

Have to say i do that as well[:I] 133 Days 9 Hours 33 Min's till my next trip.

God i'm sad:D


Cheers

Phil

[fozzyo]

quote:Originally posted by mcuth
Like others, constant checking of passports & tickets on the way to the airport is a must - even if they're in a zipped pocket/etc...[:I]

But thats just it - the pockets could have opened and the passport and ticket fallen out. Despite the fact the bag has been on your lap in the car on the way to the airport every since you checked it fifteen minutes ago.

Foz )

[Pete]

Inspired by this thread, and at the suggestion of pegitt, I've added a countdown to the itineraries posts which shows a countdown (in days) up until the day of the flight (when it switches over to "Today!").

Ooo.. and apologies for those on tonight who saw the forum fall over when I put an ampersand in the wrong place in the code.. Oops. My excuse is I'm celebrating the 17th Anniversary of my 21st Birthday today.

Pix.

Happy 21st Birthday

JC.

Phil - glad I'm not alone (big kids eh?)

Foz - that's right, they could be chained to your nether regions, but someone could still have nicked them

Pix - excellent job on the countdown, thanks (now I'm all giddy again ). Oh, and a happy 378th birthday :D

Cheers

Michael