Travel hacks and advice

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Remember, you can defeat facial recognition software by wearing juggalo makeup.

[bennymac]

I was just contemplating this last week as I packed for a trip to 5 different countries on 2 continents over 9 days - remarking to myself how it’s crazy that a little booklet of paper is vital to being able to complete each step of this journey. I could lose every item I bring with me other than the clothes on my back and be inconvenienced but otherwise fine. But losing a booklet of paper would cause the trip to be ruined. Seems odd that in 2024 there can’t be a better option or at least a second option.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

People kinda freak at the idea of getting microchipped.

[plugboots]

As part of the Schiphol trip, we went to Nairobi and there we had our picture taken and had to do fingerprints, but it was still quick.

[bennymac]

People kinda freak at the idea of getting microchipped.

My face and my retinas and my fingerprints are already in “the system” - so if I lose my little paper booklet just let me show up at the airport an hour earlier, go through some extra level of screening, and let me be on my way.

[zion zig zag]

I was just contemplating this last week as I packed for a trip to 5 different countries on 2 continents over 9 days - remarking to myself how it’s crazy that a little booklet of paper is vital to being able to complete each step of this journey. I could lose every item I bring with me other than the clothes on my back and be inconvenienced but otherwise fine. But losing a booklet of paper would cause the trip to be ruined. Seems odd that in 2024 there can’t be a better option or at least a second option.

My wife loses (misplaces, with furious searches really) everything, and frequently. So when we travel I usually hold on to the passports. I told her that someone is going to think I'm trafficking her because I always hand over her passport right when she needs to show it and then I hold my hand out to take it back immediately after.

[old goat]

^^^Pretty much the same for me coming and going through Schiphol.

When I changed planes in Schipol en route SFO to Stockholm I had to go through an extremely long passport control line. Took an hour. No facial scan or passport kiosk. Human agents. Same changing planes Bergen--Copenhagen--SFO, although the line was shorter.

[zion zig zag]

When I changed planes in Schipol en route SFO to Stockholm I had to go through an extremely long passport control line. Took an hour. No facial scan or passport kiosk. Human agents. Same changing planes Bergen--Copenhagen--SFO, although the line was shorter.

That’s still there. Hit and miss on how long it takes. A few weeks ago it only took 5 minutes. They have agents roaming the line and if you have a tight connection they’ll move you to the front.

[dan_pdx]

I just came back from Italy and the Global Entry line at SeaTac was document free, they just scan your face and wave you through. A TSA (INS?) guy who was there said "your face is your document" as we walked up to the scanners. Cool! But also creepy

[bennymac]

“My voice is my passport. Verify me?”

[Buke]

I was just contemplating this last week as I packed for a trip to 5 different countries on 2 continents over 9 days - remarking to myself how it’s crazy that a little booklet of paper is vital to being able to complete each step of this journey. I could lose every item I bring with me other than the clothes on my back and be inconvenienced but otherwise fine. But losing a booklet of paper would cause the trip to be ruined. Seems odd that in 2024 there can’t be a better option or at least a second option.

If you're going through a city with a US Embassy, even losing the paper booklet shouldn't be that big of a deal. I had to replace a passport in India one time. It took about 2 hours including the rickshaw from the embassy to a place where I could get passport photos and back. Of course, that was over 20 years ago. The system may have changed.

[bodywhomper]

My father was pretty sure he picked up Covid at LAX going through the facial recognition system and standing in long lines unmasked when returning from a trip to Europe. My mother was more diligent about keeping her kn95 mask on except with required and didn’t she didn’t get infected. It was the only opportunity for exposure on their trip where they addressed ppe differently.

[abraham]

Yes, that part floored me, too. I couldn't believe I could just collect my luggage and walk right out to the train station at Gatwick.

Coming home I flew into Vancouver and it was a bit more complex: had my photo taken at an automated kiosk and had to answer a series of questions, but then it was simply hand the printout to an agent and proceed to the luggage carousel, then out of the airport after getting luggage. Pretty quick and simple.

Was there a particular reason to fly in or out of Vancouver? Just curious for future planning since you're nearby.

[nickwm21]

I just came back from Italy and the Global Entry line at SeaTac was document free, they just scan your face and wave you through. A TSA (INS?) guy who was there said "your face is your document" as we walked up to the scanners. Cool! But also creepy

When you enter the arrival terminal on that upper level, before you go down the escalator; there’s an array of a couple dozen facial recognition cameras… CBP already knows who you are before you even get in line.


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[nickwm21]

Was there a particular reason to fly in or out of Vancouver? Just curious for future planning since you're nearby.

Not sure his reasoning but preCovid it was significantly cheaper to get certain international flights out of YVR vs SEA… also much more so TIJ vs SAN… Not sure of that is still the case…


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[jm2e]

People kinda freak at the idea of getting microchipped.

I would be first in line to be microchipped. If I had kids, I would beg to get them microchipped.

Edit: probably the wrong thread for this.
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[plugboots]

Aer Lingus just weighed my carry on. 10 kg max. Guy next to me had to leave the line and resort his shit. I’ve only had carryons weighed for really small planes not an A 300

[anotherVTskibum]

Aer Lingus just weighed my carry on. 10 kg max. Guy next to me had to leave the line and resort his shit. I’ve only had carryons weighed for really small planes not an A 300

Lufthansa weighed my carry on at BOS, headed to MUC, and it came in at something like twice the allowed weight. I'm pretty sure the woman was thinking WTF since my primary checked bag was also well over, albeit within the "pay more and we're okay with it" range. But I knew I was screwed when she weighed the carry on; I didn't expect it to be that far over, but I knew it was over.

I pulled my camera (DSLR w/70-200 lens) out, carry on was within half a kilo of legal weight, and she told me to just use the DSLR as my personal item.

I assume it has something to do with the rating on the overhead doors.

I will say that 8 kg doesn't go very far if you're trying to bring a laptop plus normal carry on stuff.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Yeah, we have a flight coming up on EVA Air and they have a 7 kg. limit on carry-ons. It looks like we're checking bags.

[cat in january]

From what I have read all flights in the EU are moving to having all carry on checked for size and weight

[old goat]

If they let you carry on at all. Last flight to Europe we took they didn't let anyone in the 5th boarding group carry on luggage. (SAS)

[Dromond]

Not sure his reasoning but preCovid it was significantly cheaper to get certain international flights out of YVR vs SEA… also much more so TIJ vs SAN… Not sure of that is still the case…


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Sometimes it still is. I’m flying out of Vancouver next month on an international flight that was nearly half the cost of SEA.

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

From what I have read all flights in the EU are moving to having all carry on checked for size and weight

Great. That's going to kill our carry-on only strategy.

[nickwm21]

Just got back from a carry-on only EU trip.

No issues with one max size roller and one max size under seat for each of us on the Delta flight too and fro.

Small euro carriers once in the EU - one flight we got grief for size and weight of our rollers so we just checked. Other flight non issue. It seems carrier dependent on weight, count, size; no standard to follow… I was prepared to possibly check on those flights anyway…

We did go through some bullshit because my wife had about three ziplocks worth of <100ml liquid products… even though I warned her multiple times when she was packing… but that belongs in the “I love my wife and all…” thread…


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[dan_pdx]

Just did 2 weeks in Italy with under-the-weight-limit carryons only. Most of that time was trekking, so didn't have to worry much about nicer clothes. They weighed the carry ons but not the personal items at check in (Turkish out of SEA). Would be tough in cooler weather though. After my last lost luggage nightmare in Italy (no shorts/jerseys/shoes for a cycle tour), I wasn't going to risk their baggage handling again.