S/O Travelling for the 1ST TIME

[kaus&Sanu 0]

My wife's visa is now in her hands!!! SO EXCITING!!

So, now she is going to be travelling for the first time and she's coming solo.. From HYD to Abu Dhabi (3 hr layover in abu shabi) to Chicago... I've travelled many times, domestically and a few internationally... She is a little nervous, I am too for her.. Any thought's for 1st timers, or tips???

[Inky 1,110]

Make a check list of all the things you need to bring with you and check it off as you pack the items that way you wont forget something important. I do that before I travel specially with important documents so I know where i packed them and that they are all packed(generally in carry-on or in my hand)

[kaus&Sanu 0]

Make a check list of all the things you need to bring with you and check it off as you pack the items that way you wont forget something important. I do that before I travel specially with important documents so I know where i packed them and that they are all packed(generally in carry-on or in my hand)

Thanks Inky, she's already doing that...

[sachinky 465]

The first thing I do when I step on to an international flight is to ask for a couple of glasses of wine in quick succession.

That knocks me out and I sleep peacefully through the entire flight.

[kaus&Sanu 0]

The first thing I do when I step on to an international flight is to ask for a couple of glasses of wine in quick succession.

That knocks me out and I sleep peacefully through the entire flight.

LOL, we dont drink...

But, hey is this normal, she has a fully confirmed flight on Etihad Airways.

EY275 - HYD > AUH on seat 18F

EY151 - AUH > ORD NO SEAT ASSIGNED, SEAT ASSIGNED UPON CHECKIN.

Is that normal? TO not have a seat assigned? This is her first time travelling and she's travelling alone, so I dont want her to get denied boarding cause of overbooking or anything. The Airline keeps saying they'll assign it upon checkin...

[Nikita2Charles 32]

This happen quite often, sometimes they don't assign you a seat until you reach the layover point, that said at times you might be able to get a seat confirmation at checking, either way the important factor is that you have a confirm reservation.

Important stuff

If there's an indian store in your town that have all the masala, she doesn't need to bring all kind of Masala, in california you really don't need to bring any, so many indian stores in the bay area, you'll find them here without any problem, she can use that space to bring stuff that are really dear to her.

Have a safe flight

LOL, we dont drink...

But, hey is this normal, she has a fully confirmed flight on Etihad Airways.

EY275 - HYD > AUH on seat 18F

EY151 - AUH > ORD NO SEAT ASSIGNED, SEAT ASSIGNED UPON CHECKIN.

Is that normal? TO not have a seat assigned? This is her first time travelling and she's travelling alone, so I dont want her to get denied boarding cause of overbooking or anything. The Airline keeps saying they'll assign it upon checkin...

Edited March 25, 2010 by Nikita2Charles

[sachinky 465]

No drinks? Ai!

Tell her to relax. She can read/speak English fluently, yes?

Plenty of people to ask for help/directions.

My POE is also going to be Chicago. Let me know how it goes, ya?

Edited March 26, 2010 by sachinky

[Imua 0]

Benedryl (chemical name diphenhydramine - ask for that at the pharmacy in India) will also knock you out - it's an antihistamine that is also used in all OTC sleep aids.

[kaus&Sanu 0]

No drinks? Ai!

Tell her to relax. She can read/speak English fluently, yes?

Plenty of people to ask for help/directions.

My POE is also going to be Chicago. Let me know how it goes, ya?

Hey All! So she's here! She came in last Saturday, and I took the week off, so we both kinda dissappeared from the world and spent some time together, which is good!

Her experience was good, as for the POE, pretty straight forward and simple, same basic questions as asked during the interview in Chennai. Customs, way too simple, the Etihad Airways misplaced her baggage so, all she took through customs was her carry on. So, I'm assuming Etihad Airways had Customs done since they dropped the bags off the following night at about 1:30AM, yes, that's 1:30 AM. The airplane food sucked, AUH Airport is pretty boring, Terminal 1, however Terminal 3 was amazing according to her. The Airline food sucked, but which airline actually has good food, right?

Yes, masala is easily found here in Chicago, ,Devon Ave. is all I have to say, lol

Thanks everyone,

Now, on to filing the I-485! and EAD...

[sachinky 465]

Awesome! My very best wishes to the both of you! May you have a long, prosperous and happy life together!

[jjcentral 0]

The biggest tip you can give is to hang on to your passport and boarding pass and visa like your life depends on it (in fact it does). Many new comers will present everything to the people checking in the flights or immigration officers and will forget to get back their boarding passes or passport. Be very careful about that.

Also Last time I went to India, the immigration officer purposely dropped my connection flight boarding pass and pretended like he didn't notice. I pointed it out and then he gave it back to me without even making eye contact. So be very careful with your travel documents.

Edited April 7, 2010 by jjcentral