After discovering that there are direct flights between Madrid-Barajas and Charlotte-North Carolina (CLT) I was able to enjoy my first non-stop trip to North Carolina.
Once bought the ticket, and before going to the airport, you will need to fill, pay, and print the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ETSA). If you do not have it with you when you go to the airport, then you will have to deal with lines and nervousness to do it there. Having the ETSA, the passport, and the address of the place you are going to stay, you should not have any major problems on your trip.
The trip was weirdly extraordinary, there were no turbulences and we even arrived early! I traveled with US Airways and to my great regret, there were no individual screens like in other flights, which makes the trip a lot more enjoyable, oh well. Another drawback was the fact that this company earphone system is not the regular one, so you are forced to buy what they offer for about $4 (even if I heard that you could use the regular ones and hear only from one of the earphones), in order to watch movies / documentaries /TV shows shown in the big screen.
If traveling with this company, keep in mind that you can only check-in 1 free luggage (weighing no more than 23kg or 50lbs. even if sometimes they may allow to have a couple more kg or lbs without giving you any problems, but not always). To check in a second luggage would cost $70. And don't forget you have a carry on!
In any case, before any trip, I would recommend to check with the airplane companies to double check weights, sizes, and amounts. Obviously, if it is a round trip, you need to make sure you have space to bring back everything you get there.
Back to the trip details, keep in mind they will ask a bunch of questions and that you better have the address of the place you are going to stay handy. Once in the US, keep in mind too that they will take your finger prints (all your fingers) and a picture, as well as it is possible that they may or may not register your luggage.
Well, this is the start of my adventure in the US! Being welcomed in North Carolina with a slap of humid air and a summer storm.
