[JaneYoung]

Hey JulieB:
Congrats on air travel for you and your mom. I hope your flights are smooth and on time.

You have probably inhaled all the information you can get but if you haven't done it, get on line and look at the layouts of the airports you are going to be in. The layouts help me figure out what I'm doing esp. if I'm making connnections.

The airline folks at the gate can be helpful if you have any questions esp. if you get there early. Also once you board and are seated, hit the call button and tell the flight attendant that it is your first time flying. He/she will check on you and your mom during the flight.

Check in your luggage and carry as little as possible on the plane. The storage compartments are small these days. I like to slip right through security so I take off my shoes and let them go through the scanner. I wear very little jewelry so as not to trigger the system. If you or your mom do trigger the alarm, don't panic. They will take you to the side and use a wand to go over you checking for the item that triggered the system. It's usually earrings or a belt buckle or something in the shoe, just stay calm and don't make jokes. Also, I carry very little on board with me, keeping it light for security and for me, I'm not a mule. There are shops and food places along the way for you to pick up what you need but they can be expensive.

If you get cold easily, layer your clothing and they also have small blankets and pillows in the overhead compartment on the plane. When you deboard there will be signs to point you to the baggage claim and you can also ask the person at the gate to help you with directions. If someone is picking you up, make arrangements ahead of time for where you will meet. I like meeting in baggage so they can help with that if they want to. Make sure you exchange cell numbers with the people involved in your travel.

edit - there are emergency exits on the plane at the front and the back.
You might want to check your seat assignments and if they are next to the emergency exit, decide if you want to stay there or be moved to another seat. You can explain that you are new to this and the flight attendant will probably be understanding and helpful with your decision.

Enjoy yourself.
Jane