Flying like it used to be, by which we mean the 1980’s.

Most of you will have your internal Chinese flights arranged for by your agency’s reps inside China, as prices are always higher for bookings made from outside the country (even with “discount airfare” websites.) You won’t be able to choose your airline, or your departure time, or your seats. But you won’t have to take a taxi across town and wait in line at the ticket office, either.

Amazingly, plane tickets are still largely paid for in cash, mostly due to the slow adoption of the concept of credit cards by business and the general public. Airfare will be eating up a big chunk of those dollars you’ll be bringing over.

In 2007, we got paper tickets (how retro!) from our agency rep, and boarding passes printed on old-fashioned cardstock upon check in at the airport. However, by June 2008 all the world’s airlines were supposed to have gone paperless (at least as far as ticketing), and a China Today article in July 2008 reiterated that point.

Chinese airlines have a lower baggage allowance than what Americans have been used to - just 40 kilograms per passenger. If you didn’t have two weeks’ worth of clothes, Cheerios, and gear to haul, it wouldn’t be an issue. Some parents have been charged an excess baggage fee, others haven’t. (We weren’t, nor were the other parents in our group.) Now that US carriers are charging even for your first checked bag, this whole topic is less important. The lesson is: pack as light as you can...

Airport procedures are not that different from what you’re used to back home. You’ll need to have your passport ready for photo ID check before getting in line for the metal detector and hand baggage X-ray. Expect security screeners to be eager to show their superiors how dilligent they are ... your underwire bra could be a weapon, for instance. Any annoyance you’ve had with the American TSA should be expected to happen here.

Once through security, the airport concourse looks like any other. Plenty of signs are in English (even at the smaller cities), so you’ll have no trouble figuring out where the restrooms are or what gate your flight leaves from. There are gift shops and food courts, and on domestic flights you’re allowed to bring food and drink you’ve purchased inside the secure zone onto your aircraft (again, just like the USA.)

Boarding is a fascinating process, much like watching Chinese traffic. You will likely be the only person paying attention to the safety briefing - half the airplane will still be on their cellphones, which will stay on right up to the point where you’re pulling onto the runway.

In-flight service is much better than most of what you’ve experienced in the US recently. You’ll have an extra inch or two of legroom, some airplanes have seatback video in Coach, and best of all, you’ll get an actual meal. For free. Without having to pay for it. (Chicken with noodles, or pork with rice...)

Did we mention the food is free?

Arrival procedures are again similar to back home. Baggage Claim is usually within the secure area, which keeps the crowd down as well as theft. At Guangzhou, be sure to grab one of their very nice (and free) baggage carts - they’re a real lifesaver. Your agency rep will be waiting for you just through the doors.