leaving soon :)

[bluefish1104]

Hi guys and girls.

I'm heading off to Orlando very soon (9th) :) and starting to get ready, after all the trials and tribulations of visa's / diabetes etc. I'm starting to really look forward to it.


And i still have questions... so please advise if you can.

I'm traveling on a 10 year visa, at immigration will i have to produce all the documents i produced at the embassy to support my arrival?

Duty free, does the £340 value limit apply to items purchased abroad? or can it include items purchased at duty free on the way out?

Any advice on how a heavy smoker (me :o) should try and get through the flight?

Any recommendations on keeping 2 kids (7 and 9) occupied during the flight?

Sorry for all the questions, I used to be a very confident traveller for both work and pleasure, but organising this trip has been stressful.

Thanks in advance

[Claire71]

Hi

I think (but others will correct me if I'm wrong:o ) that once you have your visa you are good to go :happy-thumb Visa + passport should be all you need. Plus the usual API details (info on where you are staying etc)
Just had a look at the HMRC website http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD_010220&propertyType=documentand this contains all the up to date info regarding your duty free allowances. Once you are airside for your flight, purchases count towards your total duty free allowance as you will not pay duty on them because your flight is outside the EU. The cigarette and alcohol allowance is additional to the £340 per person allowance.
I'm not a smoker but a friend of mine uses nicotine replacement patches and gum to get her through :o
I can recommend ' Bach's rescue Remedy' great for helping you to relax :happy-thumb http://www.rescueremedy.co.uk/

Keeping children happy on a long flight :eek: Seriously it's not too bad. Airlines usually have some sort of kiddie pack with colouring and puzzle books etc. Can be a good idea to supplement these with some extras, maybe themed around a favourite Disney or cartoon character, a notebook so they can make a scrapbook or diary of their holiday etc. Usually there is some sort of entertainment showing films, cartoons etc and these help to pass the time. when mine were smaller I used to pack juice cartons and snacks such as cereal bars because they didn't always like the food on offer and loads of wet wipes :happy-thumb

Try not to worry, it always gets a bit fraught in the run up to a big holiday and all of us get stressed out with last minute panics but I'm sure all the aggravation will have been worth it and you and your family will have a wonderful holiday :purplejum:purplejum

[Catlady]

Hi Bluefish, I can understand how worried you get before you go, this will be our 12th trip, I don't smoke or have young children to worry about amusing on the flight anymore but I still get worked up..in fact have a funny tummy at the moment which I think in part is due to nerves.
As Claire has said there are cartoons, colouring books etc on the flight. Do you have any travel games? We used to take travel connect (my son loved that game) and my Mum and him used to play that. I always bought a stack of new comics that came out on the flight. Also a new game for his hand held consule (think it was called a Sega Game Gear...this was 16 years ago but if they have Nintendo DS's perhaps a new game each?)
Having never smoked I can't help you on that only suggest nicotine patches as well. Funnily enough a relative of mine has recommended Bachs Rescue Remedy too so have bought some. Boots were doing a "buy two get one free" deal a few weeks ago so got the day drops, the night drops and some pastilles!!! It may help....:D

[Susan Veness]

Another thumbs up for Rescue Remedy! Start using it now. :happy-thumb

Once you have your visa, you're good. You'll just need the visa and your passport.

Not sure about smoking, but I would guess the patch and gum would be helpful.

Do your children have ipods and/or handheld game systems? That and the seatback TVs (if you have them) will keep them pretty happy for the trip. Hopefully they'll sleep on the trip back!

You're not alone (as the others have said) in feeling stressed right before your trip. This last trip over to the UK wreaked havoc on me (it doesn't usually, but every once in a while....). Partly because we were so busy, I was a wreck in anticipation of the flight. So far (knock wood) we've never had a bad flight and they've always been much easier than I think they'll be, but I was seriously stressed about this last one. Turned out just fine, of course!

[Simon Veness]

Just to be clear here, your visa should actually be printed IN your passport, so that's all you need to go through US immigration. They are almost certain to ask WHY you have a visa, but that's all. You don't need any extra documentation or any of the paperwork you needed to apply for it in the first place. The only real difference is that you will need to fill in the white I-94 immigration form en route instead of the green I-94W visa waiver form.

Happy travels!!

[Tiggers Friend]

My wife swears by Bachs Rescue Remedy. :happy-thumb

When we travelled with our son we found a good selection of travel games (Connect, Monopoly, Battleships), plus books and of course, eventually, the seat back was enough to keep him occupied (even if we did get the "are we there yet" 30 minutes after take off and every 30 minutes after that :laughing:).

We also did what Claire says and took snacks just in case he didn't like the meal.

PS coming back is easier as it's overnight and they're tired from the exertions of the holiday.

Editing to say, it's not worth worrying over, just have a good time.

[pitcaig]

Another vote for Nintendo DS, always keeps my two busy for a while. That and a new magazine at the airport.

I dont know if I have been lucky with my two on flights but they seem to just realise that there is no where to go and nothing to do so there is no point in getting restless.

I also second the advise to pack snack as we all know what plane food can be like!!!

As TF says be prepared for the "are we nearly there yet?" questions.

All thats left is to say have a great time and dont worry. Sit back and relax and enjoy the in flight movies!! :purplejum

[Catlady]

Just thought a lot of planes have Sky maps now so you could show them the map and it normally says how long until landing. It probably won't stop the "are we there yet?" questions but will give them something else to look at.;)

[karenp]

Just another thought on the smoking side of things, in the days when i smoked i used the inhalator( its like a cigarette and used in exactly the same way as one) was a godsend.

As pitcaig said my kids were the same they seemed to realise they had nowhere to go so were really good, first went in the days before Nintendo DS's were available :laughing:. Now my daughter has one but usually just watches the seat back TV's. :happy-thumb

[bluefish1104]

Thanks guys (as ever ;) ) you have been most helpful.

As far as i know I don't have to fill an ESTA in before i fly, what are the 'white I-94' forms, will the cabin crew bring one to me? or will i have to ask for one?

Are they still needed if the green forms aren't being handed out?

God.... Just when i think i have this sorted something else springs into my mind.



But thanks again for all the help so far :)

[Tiggers Friend]

ESTA is only if you are travelling on the Visa Waiver Programme, so you don't need to. It is being reported that even with ESTA people are still being asked to fill in the green I-94 (this is the VWP form). The white version is for people with visas. You will also have to fill in one customs form. You should be given these either at check-in or on the plane.