kristenrice
NOT just an ambulance driver
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
We're flying Delta for the first time and I was reading some of the forums over on FlyerTalk and now I am afraid I am going to do something that is "out of line". I always want to be prepared and at least look like I know what I am doing when it comes to travelling. Most importantly, I do not want to inconvenience or insult a fellow traveler due to my own ignorance.
That being said, I have a few questions that I am hoping someone here can answer since the folks over on FT are a little intimidating. We have 2 flights. The first leg is from GRR to DTW and we are on a CRJ700. The second leg is from DTW to MCO and we are on a 757-200(75H). I have not flown on either type of plane before so I am completely clueless about both of them. I've searched YouTube and SeatGuru to try and get as much information as I can, but I still need a bit more help.
First question...we have Comfort+ tickets. I understand that Delta boards in "zones". What exactly do we need to do (or NOT do) at the gate? As I understand it, we have "SkyPriority Boarding"...I have no idea what that means...we normally fly SWA. We only have carry-on bags so overhead bin space is paramount, which is precisely why I purchased the Comfort+ ticket upgrade. I know that on the first leg, our rolling bags will be gate checked since they will not fit in the overhead bins...at least I don't think they will. They are "standard" 22" spinner bags which I have read are too big for the overhead bins in regional jets. I understand the process for gate checking the bags since we did that several times when our kids were still in car seats/strollers. Do we NEED to board early (to make sure we get the overhead bin space) or is our bin space "guaranteed"? The Comfort+ category advertises "dedicated overhead bin space right above your seat" so I just assumed that it wouldn't matter if we got on the plane first or last. Is there any advantage to boarding early and getting settled? Like do they serve you a beverage or something? If not, I'd prefer to wait since I get a little anxious being in the enclosed plane and I prefer to spend as little time as possible on the plane. I have an aisle seat and my daughters have the row across from me so it's not like any of us would have to get situated around another passenger who is already seated. I'm not talking about waiting until the final boarding call or being last in line or anything like that. I'm just wondering if there is any reason why we would want to board as early as possible. If not, I'm fine with hanging back and letting the crowd get settled first. We will be at the gate at least an hour before we leave.
Second question...this one is kind of aircraft-specific...the second plane (757-200) apparently boards from the "middle" and not from the front. The entrance doors are actually behind our seats. So, how does this work when we exit? The first class cabin would be in position behind us to exit the plane, which seems to be a disadvantage for those of a "higher class". When we are ready to get off the plane, the door is only 2 rows behind us, which seems to be very advantageous for a quick exit, but I don't want to cut someone off if I am supposed to wait or something. Along a similar line, since I haven't ever flown in an aircraft with a First Class cabin, I see that there are lavatories in the front, middle and rear of the plane. I am assuming that the lavatory in the front is for ONLY the first class passengers, correct? I wouldn't want to commit faux pas and try and use a restroom that I'm not supposed to use.
Third question...drinks. I get very anxious when I fly and I "treat" it with a drink or two since I cannot handle medication. I am 99% certain that there is no beverage service on our first flight (it's only about 25 minutes at cruising altitude) but on the second flight, do they serve anything before take off for those with priority boarding? Or is that just for first class? I can always have a beverage between flights (we have an hour and 45 minute layover) and then wait until the beverage service on the second flight.
Final question....boarding passes. Our printer at home picked this week to die. Are there kiosks at most airports where I can print our boarding passes or will we have to wait in a line? As I said, we are not checking bags so we wouldn't otherwise need to go to the ticket counter. We all have the mobile app and I plan to use it for our BP's but I still like to have paper copies too.
Sorry for all of the questions, but I appreciate any information that you can provide
That being said, I have a few questions that I am hoping someone here can answer since the folks over on FT are a little intimidating. We have 2 flights. The first leg is from GRR to DTW and we are on a CRJ700. The second leg is from DTW to MCO and we are on a 757-200(75H). I have not flown on either type of plane before so I am completely clueless about both of them. I've searched YouTube and SeatGuru to try and get as much information as I can, but I still need a bit more help.
First question...we have Comfort+ tickets. I understand that Delta boards in "zones". What exactly do we need to do (or NOT do) at the gate? As I understand it, we have "SkyPriority Boarding"...I have no idea what that means...we normally fly SWA. We only have carry-on bags so overhead bin space is paramount, which is precisely why I purchased the Comfort+ ticket upgrade. I know that on the first leg, our rolling bags will be gate checked since they will not fit in the overhead bins...at least I don't think they will. They are "standard" 22" spinner bags which I have read are too big for the overhead bins in regional jets. I understand the process for gate checking the bags since we did that several times when our kids were still in car seats/strollers. Do we NEED to board early (to make sure we get the overhead bin space) or is our bin space "guaranteed"? The Comfort+ category advertises "dedicated overhead bin space right above your seat" so I just assumed that it wouldn't matter if we got on the plane first or last. Is there any advantage to boarding early and getting settled? Like do they serve you a beverage or something? If not, I'd prefer to wait since I get a little anxious being in the enclosed plane and I prefer to spend as little time as possible on the plane. I have an aisle seat and my daughters have the row across from me so it's not like any of us would have to get situated around another passenger who is already seated. I'm not talking about waiting until the final boarding call or being last in line or anything like that. I'm just wondering if there is any reason why we would want to board as early as possible. If not, I'm fine with hanging back and letting the crowd get settled first. We will be at the gate at least an hour before we leave.
Second question...this one is kind of aircraft-specific...the second plane (757-200) apparently boards from the "middle" and not from the front. The entrance doors are actually behind our seats. So, how does this work when we exit? The first class cabin would be in position behind us to exit the plane, which seems to be a disadvantage for those of a "higher class". When we are ready to get off the plane, the door is only 2 rows behind us, which seems to be very advantageous for a quick exit, but I don't want to cut someone off if I am supposed to wait or something. Along a similar line, since I haven't ever flown in an aircraft with a First Class cabin, I see that there are lavatories in the front, middle and rear of the plane. I am assuming that the lavatory in the front is for ONLY the first class passengers, correct? I wouldn't want to commit faux pas and try and use a restroom that I'm not supposed to use.
Third question...drinks. I get very anxious when I fly and I "treat" it with a drink or two since I cannot handle medication. I am 99% certain that there is no beverage service on our first flight (it's only about 25 minutes at cruising altitude) but on the second flight, do they serve anything before take off for those with priority boarding? Or is that just for first class? I can always have a beverage between flights (we have an hour and 45 minute layover) and then wait until the beverage service on the second flight.
Final question....boarding passes. Our printer at home picked this week to die. Are there kiosks at most airports where I can print our boarding passes or will we have to wait in a line? As I said, we are not checking bags so we wouldn't otherwise need to go to the ticket counter. We all have the mobile app and I plan to use it for our BP's but I still like to have paper copies too.
Sorry for all of the questions, but I appreciate any information that you can provide