US Airport?

Question

I'm recently going to travel from Penn. to Beijing, and transfer through Los Angeles. This will be my first time traveling by airplane by myself (I'm currently 16), and I'm wondering whether I can get some advice on the whole sequence of going to the airport, checking-in, etc. + how to transfer (ie. do I need to get my luggage out, or will the airline do this for me?).

Thank you very much!

Your help is much appreciated!

Answer 1

Here's the deal:

1) If you can, print your boarding passes (one for PA-LAX, one for LAX-Beijing.  Not the ones for the trip back to PA, though) at home

2) Go to the airport in PA.  Quickest if you go in the door marked for "departures", "ticketing", and/or the name of your airline

3) Go stand in line at the desk for your airline to either talk to a person or use the self-check-in kiosk.  If you printed BP at home and aren't checking bags you can skip this step.  Some airlines have a line specifically for people who checked in at home but need to check a bag.  By the way, you should now have *2* boarding passes.  If not, you'll have to go talk to an agent in LA.

4) Now head for your gate.  On your way there, you have to go through security.  Take off your shoes, and put anything metal (not earrings, they're small enough) in the bin.  Don't have any of the items listed at www.tsa.gov (click on "for travelers").  The security line can take 5 minutes, or it can take a loooong time.  Just depends.

5) Go the rest of the way to your gate.  You should be here 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time, at least.

6) Get on the plane when they announce that you can do that

7) When landing in LAX they will likely announce what gate the Beijing flight is leaving from, and what gate the flight from PA is going to arrive at.  You will NOT have to mess with your bag in LA, except you MIGHT have to if your PA-LAX flight is on a different airline than your LAX-Beijing.  In that case, they should tell you in PA when you check in at the desk.

8) Regardless of #7, look at the monitors when you arrive in LAX, since the gate may have changed.  Be aware that there will be more than one flight to Beijing, so make sure you look at the right one.

9) Go to that gate

10) Get on the plane when they let you

11) They may pass out a paper customs form when you are about to land.  If so, fill it out, and give it to the guy in step 12

12) Get your bag and go to customs.  Or maybe go to customs and get your bag there (it will be blocked off so you can't go anywhere else - just follow the herd) and wait to talk to the inspector.  They will probably ask you some simple questions - why are you here, what hotel are you staying at, when are you leaving again.

13) Have fun in China

14) Do it all in reverse.  You will need to clear US customs at the FIRST airport you get to in the US (so LAX, if your return trip is like your outbound trip).  You will therefore need to get your bag at that airport.  Again, just follow the herd.  They will give out a form on the plane for you to fill out.  Once through US customs, you'll need to re-check your bag, and wait in the security line along with people who arrived at LAX airport by car.

If you get confused, just ask anybody in a uniform.

Answer 2

Even if you're buying your ticket online or already have it, go to a travel agent and try to find a friendly assistant. Ask your questions as if you are going to book a ticket and need more information as this is a 'first' for you. There's no obligation.