First Time Flying Ever. Help! Plz.?

Depending on what airline you fly with depends on whether they will allow carseat, and how many bags they will allow, find your airline's website online and you can find it written there what they allow for baggage, anything over what they say will cost $$ to bring on.

As for everything else, you should arrive at the airport at least a few hours before your flight since its your first time and you will probably have a lot to figure out. You will have to find inside the airport your airline's desk and they will ask for your flight tickets and luggage to check, they take the big stuff and you keep the carry on luggage. Next after that you have to go to the boarding area and wait till its time to go through security, if you run into problems the few hours before the plane helps to get around, if you are early you have time to wait and relax. Depending on how the airport is set up/etc. next you will have to wait till they open the security lines, etc. and then you take carry on luggage and everything else and get ready to go through. They will tell you how that goes. (READ BELOW ABOUT DRINKS/FOOD) After you go through security you will be in an area just for people flying, and you have to wait till they announce your flight is boarding, usually a half hour before it departs. After that you get ready to board, and that depends on the airport how they handle the process.

As for flying itself, its painless. Make sure you have gum, and chew it right before/during liftoff, make sure you have something for your daughter also, also your ears will pop and it might hurt a young child's ears, make sure you are prepared for that. If you can get seats that are middle of the plane area its more comforting, the view might be "ruined" from the wings but I've found its better sitting in the middle of the plane area.

As for food/snacks, you can pack small goodies in your carry on I believe (that might have changed since I flew) but not drinks, buy those after you go through security (there will be spots to do that.) Also since you have a long flight you will be offered on the plane to probably buy things.

Also make sure you aren't carrying in your carry ons, large big amounts of liquids, you aren't allowed to bring huge things of things on the plane. Read up about "3-1-1" rule I think its called online and what you are allowed for liquids. If you need to bring bigger bottles of things (baby stuff to perfume, etc.) put it in your main luggage.

Once in a while your luggage gets lost so make sure in your carry on you have change of clothes for you both and keep your important documents in them. Also mark your main luggage with luggage tags and colorful duct tape (later on you will be able to notice it better when claiming it.)

If you have connector flights, you have to get your carry on luggage each time (goes above your seat or below and under the seat infront of you) and then find your next flight, but don't worry about your big luggage, the airline does that. Once you reach Japan, you have to go through Customs before anything else, then get your luggage, that will be in the airport and you will find it (don't worry you will!) its usually on a big carousel type of thing around where you get off the plane. Customs will be tricky perhaps, be prepared for lots of questions and such. You might want to make sure besides passports that you bring birth certificates, proof of your husband being USMC, etc. they will want to see it all to know you aren't just trying to live in Japan and not leave after 3 years.

Hope that helps!

When you arrive at the airport, you will go to the counter of the airline on which your ticket is booked. There you will show your ID, check in, and get your boarding passes. You will also check any bags that you have there.

Your boarding pass will have your gate # written on it. Typically this consists of a letter and a number (e.g., A25). The letter is the concourse, or hallway, and the number is the specific gate within that concourse. All of those are clearly marked.

Depending on the size of your airport, you may go through security before coming across any concourses, or you may have to head toward a concourse and go through security specific to that concourse. Either way, follow the signs.

At security you will have to take off your shoes, empty your pockets, and put all of your carry-on bags through the x-ray machine. You and your daughter will walk through the metal detector and pick up your bags on the other end.

Then you head to your gate. You want to allow at least 90 minutes, and maybe longer since you have a child, to do all that.

They start boarding the plane about 30 minutes before takeoff. You may be able to board early since you have a child, and they'll help get you settled on the plane. At takeoff, and also at descent, it might help to have your daughter drinking something to help her ears pop with the altitude changes.

When you land, just follow the crowd. You'll have to go through some sort of customs when you arrive in Japan. Typically you go and get your bags from baggage claim, then you are checked through customs, and then you head out into the terminal where you will be able to meet whoever is picking you up.

As for the carseat, that is up to you. Is she flying on your lap, or does she have her own seat? If she has her own seat, it might be easier to have the carseat on board to help keep her restrained and make the ride more comfortable. But that can be quite a lot to carry, so do what you think is best there. They do make bags that work like backpacks for carrying carseats when traveling, so that might help.

I advise that you bring plenty of snacks, books, and toys for your little one. Portable DVD players can be wonderful for that kind of trip! You can bring snacks that aren't liquid/gel for her with you, but you'll have to buy any juice or drinks that you want in the airport after security.

Most of what was said in the previous two is good scenario of your start before the flight. Couple exceptions are that you collect your checked luggage after you clear customs. Also you need to check and see if your car seat is TSA approved. Not all car seats are. If yours isn't, then it will have to be checked. For the "popping of ears", that is caused by the pressure change of altitude change. Swallowing solves that problem. Many people say to chew gum, but the reason that seems to work is you unconsciously swallow while chewing gum. At 18 months. I'm not sure if your daughter still uses a bottle or pacifier, but if she does, use of either of those will ease the pressure change in her ears during take off and landing. As stated above, you are only allowed to bring liquids in 3 oz or smaller containers, in one 1 qt zip lock baggie, with the exception of items in your diaper bag. You are allowed to bring bottled milk, breast milk, etc for the baby in larger containers in the amount that would be assumed would consumed during the trip.

Have a good trip and enjoy the flight.