- Aboard the plane, Elaine performs her flight attendant duties, and Captain Oveur takes his seat in the cockpit. We meet Roger Murdoch, the co-pilot.
- Meanwhile Ted's at the ticket counter. When the agent asks if he wants smoking or non-smoking (an actual option in those days if you can believe it), he replies "Smoking."
- She hands him a ticket that's literally smoking.
- Back in Ted's cab, his passenger's still sitting and watching the meter run up.
- Ted approaches the plane, and the dramatic, dissonant score highlights his fear.
- The screen fades to grainy black and white footage of fighter planes, as Ted experiences a flashback in a daze. "The decision to proceed is yours," a voice repeats.
- On board, we meet the "jive dudes" as well as some of the other passengers, including the sick little girl who's hooked up to an I.V.
- Ted reaches his seat on the plane, and strikes up a conversation with his seatmate. "Nervous?" she asks. "Yes," he responds." "First time?" she continues, referring of course to the airplane ride. "No," Ted says. "I've been nervous lots of times."
- Better start getting used to jokes like this one, showcasing the film's trademark wordplay and overly literal humor.
- At last it's time to take off, as pilot Clarence Oveur, co-pilot Roger, and navigator Victor run into some confusion with the air traffic controllers.