Have any travel tips?

[NamVetsWeeLass]

Ok gang, here is an admission...I have never been on a plane. I have been in a Helicopter, but only for a few short trips. This spring, one of my closest friends wants me to come to NJ to visit. I Haven't even been in a City larger than Pittsburgh, so we are going to go to New York to do the tourist thing. I will be staying with My friend and His 'Husband' of 36 years, so lodging isn't an issue... I have a list of things I want to see, and we will do those things in the time I have there... We are thinking 5day-4night... Anyway... since I know next to nothing about Air Travel, I thought I would ask you guys if you had any ideas/tips/how not to get mugged, stabbed or shot/how not to go to jail in NY...that kinda stuff...
First question... Why does it cost so much more to fly to Newark? I will drive from here to Port Columbus airport for the flight out. These two don't have a car, they use public transit, for that reason Laguardia is out of the question. Hell I can fly to miami cheaper than I can to NJ. Is there a way to find out if someone has frequent Flyer Miles that they can transfer to me...(IE-Give them to me cause well, let's face it, I am poor.) I think a NonStop flight would be better, because I will be stressing a whole lot and having to change planes in say Dulles, would freak me out.... Is this logical thinking? I don't do well with Large crowds and I will be by Myself for the flight out and back. The lowest Ticket Price I have found thus far is like 227... Is there a cheaper route to go? This was an online thing I saw. Columbus is a good choice because of the nonstop flight thing,but it is a two hour drive from my house. I would go to Cincy, but it is even further. Charleston Airport has layovers everywhere, and they use the smaller 50 seat planes, the one out of Columbus will be a 737. I don't know what all I need to know... can you guys help me out????
Thanks
NVWL

[trof]

1. Fly into Newark?

How far are they from there?
Newark's usually cheaper than JFK or LGA.

[NamVetsWeeLass]

2. Why does it cost so much more to fly to Newark?

Nope it is cheaper to fly to Laguardia....

[jdonaldball]

3. All of you, just go to Philadelphia

I can tell you some lovely, peaceful places to go, in Philadelphia.

[amazona]

4. it costs money to get and transfer FF miles...

...so the answer to that one is no. It is never good to ask for a hand-out of people you don't know that well, unless you have something to trade in return.

As far as getting cheaper airfare, you need to install SideStep on your computer (get it at Sidestep.com) and run it every day until the fare drops to what you want. It checks all the routes and flights offered, including tbose who don't want to participate in such services, like Southwest Airlines.

Is Port Columbus in Ohio (taking a guess here)? There are sales pretty often out of Ohio airports, so keep checking. I thought you could drive from Ohio to New Jersey but my grasp on Northeast geography is shaky.

As far as how to fly, pack light. If you have a suitcase weighing over 50 pounds, you may be charged for it. Better to have two 50 pound suitcases than one 80 pound suitcases. Don't let anyone give you an old big bag, it will cost you big time. Flyers must use small bags now.

Don't wear any metal. Don't carry change in pocket. Wear slip-on shoes with socks. Especially if you have metal implants or another issue that takes longer to screen, get to the airport early. Bring some old paperbacks and magazines that you can leave behind for the next person when you get done reading. DON'T BRING WRAPPED GIFTS. Just bring your host/hostess gift unwrapped and put it a bow on it before you get to your friend's house. If your gift is a good bottle of wine, bring it in carry-on and wrap a sock around it in the shopping bag for a little extra protection. Your checked luggage will be inspected and any cash, digital cameras, jewelry etc. will be stolen out of checked luggage so keep that stuff in carry-on. (Hmmm, can you tell I fly out of New Orleans?) Check in online for your flight before you get to the airport if your carrier allows. Print out your own boarding pass on your home printer.

If you get taken aside for a secondary search/patdown, don't assume you're special. We've all been through it at some point. As a new flyer, or someone who hasn't flown recently, you may draw a little more attention than someone who flies all the time without incident. Just be patient, the screeners are trying to do an unpopular and unpleasant job.

Don't make jokes or even discuss such things as hijacking or terrorism. Don't bring reading material about any type of pranksterism or terrorism, even eco-terrorism. (A man was pulled off a flight for having a George Hayduke book!) Bring normal airport reading -- work-related stuff, fun stuff, easy to read suspense stuff. A classy men's magazine is OK but in coach people are seated very close together, so please no borderline porno reading that might give offense.

Can't think of anything else right now.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[EstimatedProphet]

5. Here's a possibility: AirTran out of Akron-Canton

Small airport so there's rarely crowds, and AirTran runs specials all the time.
AirTran is right now running a sale for $83 each way from Akron to Newark.

[mcscajun]

6. "ideas/tips/how not to get mugged..."

Native of NYC here...

The best way not to get into any trouble in NYC is not to LOOK or ACT like a tourist while being one. :)

Seriously, once you're in the company of your friends here in NJ, you should be fine, but when sightseeing in NYC, common sense measures apply. Never put your handbag on the floor in any public place; neither should you hang it off the back of a chair. The most important rules for women in NY? Always know who's behind you, and always know where your handbag is.

Don't open your wallet on the street or flash money in public. Don't ask street vendors "How late are you open?" Don't laugh TOO hard; I had a friend from Florida who did these things in Midtown Manhattan. I managed to get her safely back to Florida. :)

In crowds, keep your handbag clutched close to your body in front of you, and keep your friends just as close :)

Watch your step coming off curbs; not all the streets are totally well-maintained and you could turn an ankle, or worse. Do wear comfortable shoes; everything in Manhattan is farther away than you think it is. :)

All Yellow Cabs ARE out to run you down...Don't Step Off the Curb until you've looked carefully, even if the light DID just change.

Have Fun!

[NamVetsWeeLass]

7. Thanks Everyone... I appreciate it.

And to answer one question... Yeah I could drive there, But... We only have one Vehicle and my husband and baby are staying here, so they need it. Other than that, I've never been in a city larger than the Burgh... I'd probably get run down. I drive really fast, but I also make a lot of sense when I drive. Thanks for all the tips, I am thinking I will do the "fanny pack" thing only with the pouch on the front. I don't generally carry a purse...

Anyway, Thanks everyone who replied.

[democracyindanger]

8. A few tips from a business traveler

Don't use a wheely as a carry on. Use a soft bag to hold toiletries and maybe one change of clothes, in case your luggage gets lost. Using a wheely means you'll have to worry about room in an overhead compartment. Check the rest of your luggage.

Use the curbside porters. A few bucks for a tip is worth the benefit of a quick and easy check in.

Wear comfortable shoes that you can kick off easily (I wear Adidas soccer sandals). Sitting for that long makes your feet swell, and these days you're pretty much guaranteed that you'll have to take them off to go through security. Speaking of which, dress for metal detectors.

Bring a bottle of water. Flights can be dehydrating.

Bring your own headphones if there's going to be a movie. Airplane sockets are just a tiny bit bigger, probably to make you pay for their headsets, but your own will work, with a little jiggling.

The seats with the most legroom are in the exit rows and in the first row of coach. But the seats closest to the exit--and all the seats in the very last row--don't recline.

A pair of 25-cent earplugs is worth a thousand times that. And the smaller the plane, the louder the engine noise.

Above all, don't stress about anything. Delayed flights, rude airline people and passengers, long lines, crying babies--none of it's worth getting upset about. If it happens, it happens, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. As the Zen saying goes, "Just bring it to the path."