14 Things you need to know before your first flight

First flight – now that you have decided where you want to travel and made your courage to buy your plane ticket, maybe you are curious about what happens next.

These are some of the things you need to know before you get up in the air – step by step:

1. Prepare your Baggage

Don’t make your luggage on the last day, because you’re more likely to forget something important. You can even make a list of all the things you need to take, to make sure you packed everything. But do not exaggerate, there are stores wherever you go.

If you want to take with you items that can be hard to replace, for example, medicines, glasses, important documents or electronic items – put them in your hand baggage.

2. Luggage regulation

Each airline has different rules when it comes to the size and weight of the baggage you can take with you. So make sure your baggage fits the criteria in order not to need to pay a surcharge later.

Also, inform yourself about the items you can’t have in your baggage.

3. Liquid rules

As there are rules on the size of the baggage, there are also rules for the liquids you can take on board the plane.

Every passenger’s hand baggage may not contain more than one liter of liquid (cream, shampoo, toothpaste, liquid cosmetics, etc.). It must be divided into a maximum of 100 ml container and the maximum number of containers is 10. All containers must be inside a zipper bag.

If you’ve got a checked in luggage, you don’t have to worry, because there are no limits of liquids for it.

PS: You’re not allowed to have a bottle of water when you go through security. You can buy one after. 😊

4. Online Check-in

Check-in Online is free of charge starting a few days before the flight (the period differs depending on the company you fly with). You fill in your personal details and then print your ticket. Easy!

5. Check that you’ve got everything you need

You don’t want to get to the airport without your identity card. So make sure you get all the papers you need before you leave home: ID card and/or passport, airline ticket, the prescription for some special medications, etc..

6. When to get to the airport

The ideal is to get to the airport at least 2 hours before the plane takes off. You can never know if the road to the airport will be jammed or if there is a queue at the check-in and the security point, so calculate your time carefully.

7. Keep your ID handy

Don’t hide your passport and the ticket in your luggage. You will need them very often: check-in, security, passport / ID checkpoint, before entering the airplane and on the plane.

8. Check-in at the airport

If you check-in online and you don’t have checked baggage, you can skip over this stage. Otherwise, you must present yourself at the check-in desk to leave your luggage.

This is available only if you are flying in the same country or between countries that are in an alliance, eg. Europe. Otherwise, if you are flying in a country where you need a visa to get in, you should go by the check-in desk.

9. Security point

All your objects must be put in trays.

Remove the laptop (or other large electronics) and liquids from your baggage.

Empty your pockets, remove your belt, jacket, sweatshirt, jewels, wallet.

Take off your shoes.

Use any number of trays you need. Be generous and offer your things enough space. Don’t try to clutter everything in one tray.

Push the tray/trays and your baggage through the X-ray machine.

Go through the metal detector.

Be careful of the indications of security people, they will tell you if you need to do something extra.

10. Check from which gate your plane will take off

Check at which gate you must present yourself at least 30 minutes before the plane takes off. The gate number can be found on the plane ticket or on one of the TV screens in the airport.

If the gate from which the take-off takes place changes you will find out by checking these screens, or if you have the flight line application installed in the phone.

11. Duty-Free

If you have enough time at your disposal, you can walk by duty-free. Watching is free, and time will go faster.

12. You don’t have to stand in line at the boarding gate

If you don’t have a lot of hand baggage you don’t have to stand in line at the boarding gate. Sit down and wait until the line shrinks and then simply walk to the plane and to your seat.

To stay at that huge queue can only be worthwhile if you want to put your luggage in the compartment above the seats and you are afraid that there will not be enough space if you get the last one into the plane.

13. When you get on the plane

Try to move quickly and release the aisle so that the other passengers can also get to their seats.

Place the luggage in the compartment above your head and under the seat in front of you.

14. Things you will use during the flight

Try to pre-prepare the things you know you will need during the flight and put them at your feet under the seat in front of you (e.g. phone, headphones, a snack, water, laptop, etc.)

Now all you have to do is watch the flight attendants and enjoy the experience.

And do not be afraid to ask if you don’t know something or you are lost. You surely will find very good people willing to help you.

 

Enjoy your flight!