I basically fly for a living - you can 100% tell a 'business traveler' from other fliers. What I do:

-It's annoying, but check more baggage, not less. The more stuff you have with you, the worse your check-in process will be. Caveat: I've never had a bag lost, so I might be particularly rosy here, and your mileage may vary.

-Prepare ahead of time for taking off shoes/belt, getting everything out of your pockets, etc. Do this in line, before you actually get to the scanners.

-Again, it's also annoying, but seriously get there 2 hours before your flight. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays are the worst days to fly, so definitely get there early on those days, and don't ever be the "MY FLIGHT LEAVES IN 20 MINUTES OMG PUT ME TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE" guy.

If you're a nervous flier, take stuff to do - this also helps offset the super-annoying 2 hours you'll have to kill before the flight. I take the laptop, my iPod, a Nintendo DS and something to read.

Are you serious? I paid like $15 for each of my pairs.

I don't know if this is an option for you, but I highly recommend half an Ambien (half of a 10 mg pill) or a valium before take off. If you need to go the over-the-counter route, try some Tylenol PM.

All of the above take off the edge and make the flight a little bit more bearable.

I agree with this.

I live on an island so I have no choice but to fly. I'm used to flying, but take off and the few moments right after still drive me nuts. Before I fly I usually pay a visit to the doc, who'll prescribe me Ambien (Valium always makes me feel like shee-it when I wake up), and when I'm flying to the west coast (at least 5 hours), I take a whole pill. I feel fine when I land.

Not sure about that. Every time I have flown in the past year, everyone has taken what ever they were wearing off.

I think it really depends on how thick your flip flops are and/or what airport you're at.

I fly out of HNL, and I've never been asked to take off my Reefs. 90% of the time at mainland airports I've usually been able to keep em on as well.

I agree. I bought a travel vest from Filson. 15+ pockets that one can put everything into and just let it go thru X-Ray.
NOTE:The following is a direct link to vest information. If not interested, do not click. LOL
http://www.filson.com/product/index....entPage=family

At least on pocket big enough to carry Sunday newspaper!

Great for walking around town afterwards.

Y'all, I'm really not at all worried about the flying part - drugging myself won't be necessary :). It's a really short flight.

I'm just neurotic and I hate looking like I don't know what I'm doing...looking for more advice like KSigRC's. I'm transitioning into a job where I may end up flying a lot, and since I'm already younger than everyone else I hate acting like I don't have it completely together.

I've had to take off flip flops since last year sometimes (flying from/to such locations as newark, orlando, honolulu, atlanta, san franciso, and a few others.) I now where sneakers and socks because I know I'm going to have to take off my shoes and I get grossed out by walking barefoot in the airport.

Liquids- yeah, the new rules are annoying. Check everything possible, but remember to put liquids in plastic bags because it sucks when your conditioner explodes all over your clothes, which is why I used to bring it on board but I digress. If you are bringing any acceptable liquids (ie, I'm an asthmatic so I have an inhaler, I also wear contacts so I bring my 4oz of solution on board) put them in a clear plastic baggie and declare it to the TSA employee. I hand them the bag for inspection, somtimes the TSA person says to put it through the Xray machine anyway, sometimes they check it and hand it back to you. Depends on where/when.

Some airports now have the blower type scanning machines that are in place of metal detectors. Just follow the screeners directions; no one really knows how they work yet.

Try to wear as little metal as possible. Sometimes the most random things set off the alarms. Ie- when traveling last year my friend and I had the same victoria secret bra on. Mine didn't set off the alarm, hers did. Who knows.

Get there early, because sometimes even when we get there early things still get messed up. My last flight, I was at the airport 2 hours before hand and still ran to the gate because something happened with the electronic check in system at Newark.

Bring your own travel pillow/blanket...that just might be my nuerotic thing, but I find it kinda gross. I don't know who used it last.

If I think of anything else, I'll post it.

While I have a much longer list of trip and travel sites, the following are comfort and safty related:
http://www.seatguru.com/home.shtml
http://www.seatexpert.com
http://avoiddelays.com
www.airsafe.com
http://aviation-safety.net/index.php
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/index.shtm
http://www.airline-safety-records.com/
http://www.flightexplorer.com/
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm
http://travel.state.gov/
http://www.flightarrivals.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Flights

If you are going to take the MARC remember you can buy your ticket on the train if the lines at the self-serve kiosks are super long. I think there is a $5 fee and you have to pay in cash, but if you think you are going to miss your train it's worth it.

You are going to have to take your shoes off. I even had to take shoes off of the babies.

Also, it's not just liquids, it's gels, lotions, etc. I had to hand over the Eucerin I use for diaper rash cream.

If I'm on a long flight (2+ hours) i always brng my own...good advice

Lipgloss and chapstick also...drove me crazy on my flight from Auckland to LAX....

Question: I once checked my laptop, and of course, it was the one time when I had trouble with my baggage (Dulles, fyi). I was told by an airline employee that the airlines are NOT responsible for checked laptops, even though they will cover the cost of everything else when lost. Needless to say, I've carried mine ever since.

Is this true, or (hopefully) is that old information?

No clue, but I wouldn't risk my laptop being thrown around like they throw around the stuff...it'sn ot worth the risk.

Good timing on this thread because I'm flying for the first time in 2 years tomorrow. Short flight, only an hour and a half. I'll be sure to get to the Pittsburgh airport in plenty of time, but i'm a little wary of being able to get to Louisville in timie on my way home because when exactly the deposition will be done is a little shaky. Thankfully it seems like a smaller airport so it may be easier to get through quickly.

Curse those stupid would-be hijackers... I could easily do just a carry on (only there for one night), but of course I have to check everything. I think i'm going to have to put extra stuff in my suitcase to keep everything from bouncing around, I really don't have much to take.

I'll also be renting a car for the first time... any tips on that? (besides the insurance being a rip off)