First time flying solo (alone.) extremely important, please answer.?

Question

Currently I am 17.

I will be turning 18 in December and flying back to Florida.

By myself.

I will also be purchasing the ticket by myself.

How can I do this?

I do not have a credit card because I am a minor, if I used my mothers credit card can I do it online (being a minor still) and have it ready for when I'm 18 and leave?

Or to the place I'm going, can they buy my ticket online for me? And just email me or send me to the link of all the information I need, whereas I will print it out? (Give me the log in information, URLs, etc)?

If not any of that, how would I do it offline? (Not at a travel agency, they are rediculous)

I've never done it by myself, what will the routine be once I get to the airport (by cab), what should I expect and what should I bring with me?

Can someone give me a step by step simulation on what will happen after getting to the airport? All help is GREATLY appreciated whereas I will gather all information and use it to plot out a perfect, prepared routine. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

You will get pregnant...

as you asked in your previous questions, before you were going to merry your fiancée, and having had ovary pain as a guy.

You won't believe it, but there are people at Yahoo reading the questions history to find out on seriousness of questions.

Answer 2

First of all, relax, no need ot be nervous, you will be fine.  Yes, someone else can buy the ticket for you, whether it is your mom or anyone else.  The name on the credit card does not have to be the same as the person flying, lots of companies buy tickets for their employees for instance.

When you get to the airport, bring your ticket that you printed out.  Since you are new, if you have a bag to check, just do it outside at the curbside checkin and let the baggage handlers check in your bag.  You can bring on a carry-bag, but watch out for liquids, they have to be in small containers and in a quart sized clear plastic baggie.  Go to the ticket counter if you like, to check in, or if you checked a bag outside, the guy will give you a claim ticket for when you pick up the bag.  then walk to your gate, you will have to go through security, take off you shoes, etc.  Just follow what everyone else is doing.  They will calls out seats to board, usually by "Group" number which will be on your ticket.  Unless you are flying Southwest, there you have a number.

Have fin!

Answer 3

You can definitely pay for your ticket online.  It doesn't matter the name on the card.  Or you could call the airline you are wanting to book your flight with.  If you have a bank account you can use that sometimes to pay for your ticket, over the phone.  My advice would be to search online like at www.cheaptickets.com to find a good airfare, then call the airline itself and inquire about pricing and payment, etc.

When you are in your cab you will tell the driver the airline you will be traveling on (like Delta, Southwest, etc.).  There are specific check-in areas for each airline.  Once the driver drops you off at your airline's gate, you will either see a line at a baggage check-in booth by the curb (outside) or not.   If so, you can wait there to check in your baggage.  You'll need a copy of your itinerary and/or a pre-printed boarding pass (the airline you book with will tell you what you need to bring with you).  And you'll need to show your ID.  

You can check in your large baggage (there's usually a limit so check w/your airline as to how many bags you can check) and then just carry your carry-on baggage with you (airlines have limits to these too).  

If there's not an outside (curbside) baggage check-in you'll just have to go inside, and wait in line at your airline's ticket counter. Make sure you've got an id tag on your bags w/your contact info in case they get lost.  they supply these at the airline counter, and you can fill them out and put them on your bags before you get to the front of the line. They will check you in at the counter, then will tell you a Gate you will need to go to.  

Don't worry--you can ask them how to get to your gate (it's usually a letter and a number like G3).  The airports make it pretty easy to find gates.  Just follow the large signs.  

On your way to your gate you will run into a security checkpoint--usually involving a long line and a difficult procedure to get through.  Read the TSA's guidelines for going through security screenings.  For example, you have to remove your shoes and anything metal, empty pockets, and then put them all in these buckets that go through an x-ray machine.  The security people will tell you when to walk through a metal detector, then you can collect your items afterward.  

Please read up on rules about taking any gels, liquids, even personal care items through security.  No items over 3 oz, and any liquids must be in separate containers, then sealed in one ziploc bag (gallon size), then run through the x-ray machine.  

Well, once you get through security and recollect your things (and put on your shoes--thank you so much airline bombers) just follow the crowd and continue on to your gate.  

If you are very early you may not see a representative at your gate yet.  Your gate will be noted by a large sign saying the gate number/letter.  And you'll see a desk and maybe a screen w/flight info about what time your flight is supposed to take off.  If you're early like an hour or so, just sit in the waiting area until the representatives arrive.  

They will eventually announce when you can get on the plane.  Some airlines do this by seat number.  They'll let you know.  Then you can board the plane, put your carry-on bags under your seat or above in the storage compartments, then sit in your assigned seat, buckle your seatbelt, and relax.  

Just follow their instructions for everything else.

When your plane lands you will just follow all the others to the Baggage Claim, where your bags will be placed on a revolving belt, where you can collect them.  Your pick-up person can meet you in this area.

Ta da!  There's a flight experience.

The most common problems that can occur are if the airline overbooks your flight--they will ask for someone to volunteer to be "bumped."  That means they will put you on the next available flight, and in return give you a free ticket for a future flight, etc.  If this happens just know you will have to somehow let your pick-up person know you'll be coming at a different time.  And make sure they can get you on a flight that day (sometimes they'll say you can stay at a hotel and leave the next day, but that's a hassle you wouldn't want).  But you can score a free ticket if you do this.

Another problem is if you are traveling on more than one plane to get to your destination.  In this case, after you get off your first plane, go right to your next gate (not to the baggage claim).  By going to your next gate you will bypass having to go through security again.  Then you will wait for your next plane to board, just as you did before.

Okay, well, what if your first plane is late?  Run!  You don't want to miss your second plane.  If you do then you will need to find a representative from your airline as soon as possible (anywhere) to get you onto another flight a.s.a.p.  If your first plane knows it's going to be really late you can tell your flight attendant if you think you wi