OT Questions Cell phone and flying

Had TracPhone in the past and wasn't impressed. Coverage, service, nothing was very good. Granted, that was 5 years ago or so... No idea on the knitting thing, but good luck!

Ginger, DH has a tracphone. He says cheap and basic. He gets 'bars' everywhere. We went up to Hearst castle last month and he got good coverage all the way there and back. That would cover your area I think. He does not chat a lot or text.

I have never > Two questions for this afternoon, my cyber-friends

I use a cell phone simply for me, and emergencies. I do not use a phone all that much. Don't need the cameras and 'net stuff. Cheap and basic - yep that sounds like my cup o' tea

flight is a short trip at last minute to see a family member.

G> Ginger, DH has a tracphone. He says cheap and basic. He gets

On the knitter, As long as the tip is not pointy and longer than 5 inches. You will be ok. Have a nice flight. Just have to take your shoes off and any heavy metal jewelry. Cell phone in the box to go through the xray machine. Jeanbaby

I've used TracPhone for about 7-8 years. It works well for me. I buy the one year contract and renew it about 2-3 weeks before expiration and you don't loose any unused minutes. I've never had trouble with reception. Since I average about 45 minutes a year and I get 300 units with my contract ( 1 point per minute within my area code, 2 points per minute for "long distance") I just save up points in the renewal roll over and use them for quickie long distance calls, that keeps them off my regular phone bill. I've never run out of units. I got the least expensive Nokia TracPhone made available. Make sure the phone you get works in your area......can't remember why, I just remember I had to change my choice of phone because of some reason. I look for coupons and internet specials as renewal time approaches and my cost averages out to about $9 (nine) a month.

Tech support and customer service moved from Montana and Missouri a few years ago......now you'll be dealing with "Steve" or Betty" in Pakistan so be patient if you need to contact them for anything. I do pretty much everything online through their website.

Val

I always try to wear slip on shoes when flying. No small change in your pockets and make sure your trousers are a style that stay up on their own when you take your belt off. Big metal buttons on a jacket can also cause the scanners to beep, but you may need to send jackets through the X-ray machine anyway.

Lizzy

Using TracFone for long time. Service in past was bad but cheap. Used a Nokia. Now have Motorola and love it. Service has been much improved. Call my kids who are scattered along Eastern coast for the price of a local call. Have nothing but praise for them .

No idea on the loom -- but if you plan to carry on your baggage, keep all your "liquids" easy to get to. You are only allowed what will fit in a quart sized zip lock bag. And no individual bottle can be larger than 3 oz I think. Do not bring a water bottle through security -- they will confiscate it -- you may purchase one on the other side. Be prepared to remove your shoes... so if you have comfortable slip ons... I'd wear those. Oversized sweaters or jackets must also be removed. Portable computers must be removed from their carrying case.

Have a safe trip!!

Tip is pointy - very pointy. Funny they say ok to crochet hooks and knitting needles tho. It's just that right now I am on such a roll with this stuff! In the space of the wait at airport and flight I could easily do 3 or 4 more little preemie hats. It seems this is an easier way for me to not eat than doing anything else, including the sewing/quilting. Go figure.

I was planning to wear my hiking boots. Guess that is out, huh? They are soooo comfortable! Dang.

Ginger in CA

messagenews: snipped-for-privacy@57g2000hsv.googlegroups.com...

Is it a short pointy?? They might not even see it If you don't make a big deal. Look at a ball point pen... You can wear your boots just that you have to untie and tie again. Not really a big deal. Jeanbaby

Nowadays, when I travel, I include a plastic shoe horn in my carry on purse, so I can wear tied shoes or what ever I like. I would suggest to Ginger that she pack one extra needle thingie in her checked baggage, so if one is confiscated at the gate, she'd at least have a spare for later on. PAT

jeanbaby wrote:

Anytime I fly I make sure to wear loafers so I can sliip them off and back on, if needed. Besides, they are my most confortable shoes! Barbara in SC

Ginger,

I have been very impressed with the quality of coverage with Trackphone.

My grandaughter has one and I think they're analog. They get 3 or 4 bars in areas where I have no coverage with my phone (Verizon right now, but had AT&T before)

Also, gels are not allowed as a carry on, think lotions and toothpaste.

Good luck

I had it 'bout 4 or 5 years ago and hated it. Mainly, I think, 'cause I'm a talker and it was so expensive and so tedious to buy those durn cards every month (back then, the whole "year subscription" thing was new) ... and Good Lord forbid if you forget to "reup" your card in time - you'd be sayin' goodbye to your cell phone number - the same number that family and friends rely on in an emergency.

Also, it seemed that everyone who had my number called at least 50 times a day (cell phones were still that much of a novelty in my hubby's circles back then) ... I'd go through a single "300 minute" card a month. Which back then, was 'bout $100 month. :-/

I've since switched to Cingular AKA AT&T and they're decent enough ... but they DO drop plenty of calls. Other than that the service is good, reliable and widespread. Hubby even takes his to Europe several times a year and it works like a charm (no dropped calls there).

Are you talkin' 'bout the kind of pick you use with a Knittin' Nancy? A wee, tiny crochet hook lookin' thingie? If so, no worries (I assume) - last time I flew (granted, three years ago) it was legal and I was able to carry it on and finish a wee scarf for my daughter.

Course, it might have helped that the TSA person was a fellow crafter! ;-)

-- Connie :-)

I'm offering FREE patterns and a FREE eZine full of patterns, tips, techniques, and recipes!!

Thank you to all who have responded.

Re cell phone: I will wait until I come back to switch. Looking in to either TracPhone or Virg** Mobile [trying to avoid the spammers and phishers] Both will allow me to port my current number to their system, I will have to buy a new phone, but that is okay, this one is

Re my loom knitting things. I will check one hook, bring another one. They are only $.99 at Michaels so it won't be a big loss, just the time to do preemie caps. Cool news on the caps front - I took in an adult hat i was finishing to work, meaning to send it to my dad ["Ok, make me one, maybe in brown tones so it will make me think I still have hair"] this was oatmeal flecked color mixed with a heathered browns and greens. One of the supervisors bought it from me as I took it off loom! My first sale!! So now I will rush to get my own ne done before the trip and maybe get my dad's done also. Sorry no digital camera, no web page. Oh, and I will maybe figure out to strip some fabric together to crochet some triviets, in case the knitting loom thing is confiscated. Worst case I will have my journal and pens ;)

G> Ginger,

At Wal-Mart I saw where they had fleece strips to sell so you wouldn't need to cut it yourself. It was in the yarn section. Also saw where they are not replacing their yard that is already sold out. Barbara in SC