5 Tips for First Time Flyers

The wanderlust winds have blown me to LA. This is an unexpected trip to help my niece find herself in life. My niece dreams of becoming  an actress so she enrolled herself in acting school. Her mother who is ill had her call me with help for her ticket to Los Angeles, CA. My niece had never flown on an airplane so I looked at this as an opportunity to give back. I believe in encouraging others to travel. This is my chance to teach someone personally how to travel.

I flew to Richmond, VA to meet her for her first flight. I called her on the phone several times giving her instructions on what to say to the ticket agent, how to check-in her luggage, what to pack in her backpack, what to pack in her checked luggage, and how to go through security.

These are the five tips that I gave my niece on how to prepare to fly her first flight.

1. What to say to the ticket agent: "I am checking in for a flight to Chicago at 2:10 pm." Then show your identification. (State where you are going and the time the flight leaves, and a flight number is possible)

2. How to check-in her luggage: "I am checking two bags to LA."  I told her the airport code for Los Angeles which is "LAX". I instructed her to look at the bag tags to make sure she sees "LAX" on her bags. (To lookup a city's airport code check out http://www.airportcodes.org/)

3.What to pack in her backpack: I advised her to carry an change of clothes. I also told her that she could not carry liquids through security. (TSA: How to Get Through the Line Faster)

4. What to pack in her checked luggage: I suggested that she pack her toothpaste, deodorant and other large toiletries items in her checked luggage. If she had travel size toiletries item those should be in a plastic bag. (TSA: 3-1-1 on Air Travel)

5. How to go through security: I instructed my niece to take off her coat, shoes and backpack to put in bins. The movie "Up in The Air" shows George Clooney in the security is a funny scene. It is a how to go through the security line lesson for first time flyers.

I land Richmond airport to find no niece at the gate. Then I see her in the security line finishing off a bottle of water which she is not allowed to bring to security. She said I forgot to tell her that she couldn't bring bottled water through security. Oh well, I tried to think of everything.

NBA All-Star Magic Johnson Goes Hollywood with AAERG!

Earvin "Magic" Johnson

American Airlines African American Employee Resource Group is "Going Hollywood" with Earvin "Magic" Johnson at the 11th Annual AAERG Convention.

 "AAERG has become a vital component of AMR Corporation since 1996. The group values professional development and community involvement, but also recognizes that African Americans contribute close to a trillion dollars to the economy. We believe that American Airlines can position itself as a preferred airline within the African American community by utilizing employees to enhance marketing and outreach efforts."


I am proud to be part of a company that values Diversity & Inclusion.  American Airlines has received numerous awards and recognitions. One recent award is the 2011 Diversity Leader Award.

2011 Diversity Award

"Diversity Leader Award – This award is given to organizations that share their stories with readers on a regular basis and offer profiles of their thought leaders. American Airlines is recognized as an organization that demonstrates its continued commitment toward diverse culture through its ongoing communications with Profiles in Diversity Journal."

American Airlines shares stories with readers through the American Way Magazine and American Eagle Latitudes Magazine. One of their most recent features was Celebrating Black History Month with Jennifer Hudson on the cover. Please read my blog article Celebrate Black History Month with Jennifer Hudson.

I will be celebrating  Black History Month by attending  the AAERG 11th Annual Convention in LAX. This is a two day event is for American Airlines employees to develop professional skills and network.  The keynote speakers is Earvin "Magic" Johnson,  a NBA All-Star and owner of Magic Johnson Enterprises. Another featured speaker is Sandra Finely, President and CEO of the League of Black Women. I am looking forward to meeting them. I invite other American Airlines employees to join me. 

If you are interested in working for American Airlines or American Eagle a top Diversity Company, then visit  www.aa.com to apply for open positions.

For those of us who are visual learners- traveling is first class!

Mike and DeeDee at Tijuca National Park in Rio 2010

DeeDee Webb

www.easysite.com/dkritype4u

1.      What message do have for students who want to travel?

 I am a visual learner and I am inquisitive by nature.  The best history lesson you will ever have is traveling…period….no book can inspire to appreciate life as much as traveling!

For those of us who are visual learners - traveling is first class EVAH!

2.      What are your childhood memories of travel ?

We never ventured past the Texas border.

3. Where did you dream of traveling when you were a child?

  

  Because my family never discussed their travels or desires to travel, I grew up dreaming Houston was it!

3.      Did you travel as a child?

 No

4.      What did you learn as a child about the expectation for black people to travel?

We just didn’t do it – it was never discussed.

DeeDee on the way  to Rio Platforma Show

5.      Did you admire or know of any Black people that traveled when you were a child?

 No

6.      Why should Black people travel?

For the cultural and rich experience of seeing “us”.  Far too many Europeans have a negative history of Black America.  At times – dare I say, their ignorance shows. But for Black America – we need to stop saying…”Oh chile, I travels [sic]” just because they go to Jamaica, a cruise or the Caribbean. Those places are nice, but after you come from the beach, what is it to do?  Jump the pond and wave at the queen, rub elbows at Versailles, say hey to Napoleon, climb the Eiffel tower, tour the coliseum, the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel! (Yes, I’ve done all that)

Versailles, France 2005 Royal Bedroom

7.      What was your first Trip?

 My very first trip was to the Bahamas, celebrating my 40^th birthday!

8.      How did you plan for it?

Actually, it was a cruise, organized by a friend.

9.      What was your experience there?

  positive experience – I’m not sure if I can say I like the Bahamas because it was a cruise and you are somewhat limited by what you can do – but overall, it was okay.

 negative experience – it was interesting when we got off the cruise ship in the Bahamas.  The school children and braid vendors went straight for my white friend and passed me up completely. See what I mean?  We need to get people used to the idea that Black American’s can travel and we can be a source of revenue for locals.

10.  Was your travel experience what you expected?

 No because I found out that I wasn’t a cruise person or a beach person.  Better to experienced something, than nothing at all….right?

Mike at Rio Platforma Show 2010

11.  How is your travel experience as a Black traveler different from what you perceive as a White traveler?

 I will tell you a story.  I was in Paris in 2005, two weeks before the Riots started when the two African youths were chased by police and in order to escape jumped a fence and were electrocuted.  I was walking down the Seine just before the Latin Quarter.  I passed a restaurant that many individuals has crossed and suddenly out of nowhere, this big black dog lunged at me growling.  The owner came out and secured the animal and apologized, but I looked around at everyone that had passed before me and they were white.  I came to my own conclusion that the dog was trained to attack people of color.  Say what you want, but after 6 years, that is still fresh on my mind. 

DeeDee in front of famous Black American Author, James Baldwin's Apartment Paris, France 2005

  

  Second a White travel writer or vacationer, never gets into the African American experience when traveling.  They seldom venture or plan trips to where they can experience or learn about black culture in other countries – unless it’s for TV, a humanitarian “look at me” expedition or the African safari. 

12.  What is your voice as a Black travel blogger?

 My voice says, it can be done, it must be done and this is how I did it! Traveling should never hurt you physically, mentally or financially.  I make a financial deal with myself to never spend more than 3K when traveling to Europe.  I am not a bourgeois-ghetto type chick.  I stay in B&B, apartments, dorm rooms, or simple accommodations (never hostels).  I take the public transportation and if I don’t pay retail in Houston, then I won’t pay it abroad.  I tell all my friends you can go almost anywhere in the world for less than 3K, if you plan it right.  I have not broke my ritual yet!

Beginning of Rio Platforma  Show

13.  Where do you dream of traveling now? Why?

  My next trip will be in shorter stages.  Since I’ve gotten used to travels in Europe, I am a little bit more comfortable in my efforts to see as much as I can.  My next trip is as follows: 

                                                  i.      1.5 days:    London – probably the last time – if God say the same.

                                                ii.      1.5 days:    Paris – never the last time – this is my European home.

                                              iii.      1 day:        Milan – see the “Last Supper” – nothing else I want to see.

                                              iv.      2 days:       Venice – never been

                                                v.      ½ day:       Pisa – Leaning Tower next to the train station, jump on/jump

off/jump on!

                                              vi.      ½ day:       Pompeii:  Mt. Vesuvius – told it was worth the trip

                                            vii.      2 days:       Rome: Tour the coliseum this time and party!

14.  Anything else you would like to add?

  Check out my travel website….www.easysite.com/dkritype4u.  It’s not entirely finished, it’s a work in progress, but I love it!

DeeDee and Mike in front of Jesus