Anyone who does not want to lose precious time on the road, goes on a trip by plane. Of course, with the help of an air airliner, you can get from one point of our planet to another in the shortest possible time. This vehicle is considered one of the fastest. And this opportunity is used by a large number of people.
But everything once happens for the first time. And those who have never before flown and do not have an impressive body of knowledge about what are the rules of air transportation, are not at a loss to be confused when they first appear at the airport. Until the passenger is on board the aircraft, he will need to go through a series of formal procedures that can lead an untrained person to a standstill. How to behave at the airport? Consider a step-by-step instruction and get acquainted with the advice of experienced passengers.
Ticket purchase
It is no secret to anyone that when planning a trip, you need to pay for it in advance. Air transportation is no exception. In order to make a flight, you must buy a ticket. This can be done online at the airport, at ticket offices, as well as through travel agencies or special agencies. The purchased ticket will be in the air carrier’s database in electronic form.
In the event that the future passenger paid for the flight independently from home, he needs to check the exact entry of passport data (civil or international, depending on the destination). After that, it is recommended to print the ticket purchased on the site. Of course, this can not be done. The absence of a printout will not be a reason for refusing a flight. But it’s better if the paper ticket is with you.
Baggage preparation
So, a journey awaits us ahead. The route is selected, a ticket is purchased, money is prepared, documents are checked. Now you have to collect things, dividing them into hand luggage and luggage. What is their difference? In the carry-on baggage, those things that will be during the flight in the cabin, directly next to the passenger should be put aside. Their list may include any large-sized electronic equipment, for example, a video camera, a camera and a laptop, as well as fragile souvenirs. Putting them in luggage is not recommended, because when loading and unloading they may suffer.
The following items are not allowed in hand luggage:
- liquids placed in vials of more than 100 ml;
- explosive and flammable substances (hairspray, acetone, etc.);
- cutting and piercing objects (manicure scissors, knives, etc.);
- heavy items that exceed the limit in weight for hand luggage.
All information about restrictions is on the airline’s website. It should be borne in mind that at the airports of some foreign countries rather stringent security measures have been taken. For example, in EU countries mascara can be removed from hand luggage.
While at the airport, you should not even try to bring cutting and piercing objects into your hand luggage. At least they will be taken from the passenger. But sometimes such people are invited to a conversation by the airport security service.
When packing your luggage, it should be borne in mind that for business class passengers, their weight should not exceed 30 kg. For the economy class, this figure is slightly less and amounts to 20 kg. The mass of the suitcase or bag itself is also included in the weight of the luggage. If the limit is exceeded, the passenger will be asked to pay extra, based on the tariffs that are provided for in the airline chosen by him for the flight.
In the future, before check-in and baggage drop off, it is recommended to approach special facilities. Here, for a fee, all bags and suitcases will be securely and carefully packed in transparent polyethylene. This will ensure the integrity and safety of things that will be handed over to the luggage compartment and guarantees peace of mind for the passenger during the flight.
Employees of travel agencies, hotels and drivers of almost all countries of the world will understand a person who speaks English. But, preparing to visit a certain country, it is advisable to first study the information about the customs and sights existing in it. At the same time, it would be nice to learn a few phrases in the local language that will allow you to communicate with the police or at the airport in case of any problems. You can write all this on a piece of paper, as well as take a phrasebook or dictionary with you.
Regardless of whether you are traveling to the airport for the first time or as an experienced passenger, it is recommended to put inside the baggage copies of documents that are taken with you on the trip (their originals must be in your hand luggage), and also attach a badge with the name on the suitcase and name, contact numbers. These data will be needed if baggage is suddenly lost. A passenger traveling with a gadget can upload scanned copies of travel documents to their e-mail. If necessary, it will be easy for him to use their electronic copies. On the one hand, this, of course, is a trifle. But it sometimes saves a person, albeit from rare, but extremely unpleasant problems.
Arrival at the airport
So, the long-awaited day begins the journey. When do you need to arrive at the airport? This must be done long before the time of departure. This is understandable. After all, before embarking on a flight, a passenger needs to go through certain procedures. Punctuality of the traveler will allow him to do everything calmly and greatly facilitate the work of staff.
How much before arrival to arrive at the airport? If you answer this question briefly, then in 1.5-3 hours. However, it should be borne in mind that situations are very different. That is why it is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how much before arriving at the airport. Everything will depend on the flight (domestic or international), the requirements of the carrier, the absence or availability of baggage, the ability to check in using the Internet and other nuances. An important factor is the characteristics of the country of departure and the airport itself.
A beginner in this matter, in order not to be embarrassed and not to get confused in a huge hall, should come half an hour earlier than the set time. This will allow him not to be late.
Arriving 20-30 minutes earlier is also necessary for those passengers who plan their trip with animals. The pet will have to be inspected by the airport staff. Moreover, experienced passengers recommend keeping all travel documents at hand. This will not delay the process, but also eliminate absent-mindedness and uncertainty.
As a rule, the beginning of registration is announced 2 hours before departure. But you can go through it online. In this case, it will be enough for the passenger to arrive at the airport just 40 minutes before departure. To clarify the time, it is still better to look at the information presented on the carrier’s website in advance.
When passing through electronic registration, which becomes available 24 hours before departure, you do not need to stand in line. This will allow you to arrive at the airport later.
The end of check-in for a flight, as a rule, occurs 40 minutes (a similar rule applies to both international and domestic flights) before departure. It is by this time that passengers must already be at the airport, complete all the procedures and be ready to board the plane.
It should be borne in mind that flights on domestic flights provide for simpler conditions for all activities that are necessary for the flight. That is why when traveling inside the country, you can arrive at the airport 1.5-2 hours before the departure of the plane. As for international flights, here everything is somewhat more complicated. Arriving at the airport in 2 hours is clearly not enough to go through all the necessary procedures. In this case, it is likely to either be late or spend all this time in a hurry, causing discontent among others.
In order to successfully fly to another country, you should arrive at the airport in 3 hours. This time will be enough to calmly go through all the procedures, look at the Duty Free shops, and then go off without hurry. Extra time will require a flight with a pet. And in general, when traveling on an international flight, it is best to arrive at the airport 3-3.5 hours before departure.
Input control
How to behave for the first time at the airport? At the entrance to the building you will need to go through entrance control. Not only passengers of flights are obliged to do this, but also those people who came to accompany their relatives and friends. To complete this procedure, you need to put things on a tape and go through a metal detector. It should be borne in mind that at some airports that are located abroad, there is no such incoming control.
Those who wish to successfully pass the first inspection procedure should not wrap their bags and bags around the house with foil. Security officials may ask you to show your luggage if you suspect that it contains prohibited items. You can pack luggage when paying for such a service at the airport or by bringing film and tape with you and packing your suitcase yourself after passing the entrance control.
Acquaintance with the departure board. Features of the information provided
How to behave for the first time at the airport? Entering the building, you must first look around. Next, you need to find the departure board. This is a large screen with a table that shows data on the flights closest in time. This includes the number and name of the airline, as well as the destination, time and status. How to quickly find the right flight on the departure board? It is recommended to do this by his number. If you search for a destination and departure time, you may not achieve the desired result. After all, such landmarks cannot be considered reliable. For example, the flight time may well be changed. As for the destination, it can be the same for different aircraft.
If the passenger has found the flight he needs, then in case of registration that has already begun, the check-in will be visible on the same line of the board. But the phrase on-time, located opposite the number, will indicate that there are no changes in the schedule of the aircraft. As a rule, the same line indicates the time when registration began.
Thus, having seen the chek-in inscription on the departure board opposite your flight, the passenger should be sent to the check-in counter. If this field is still empty, then this indicates that the person arrived at the airport in advance. At times, information on the exact time of the start of registration can be given on the departure board. If it is not there, then you should not panic. In cases where there are any problems, the corresponding notes will appear on the scoreboard.
What can I do at the airport while waiting? For example, go to one of the nearest cafes. You must also periodically check flight status. After the announcement of its registration, you will need to go to special racks, specifying their numbers on the scoreboard.
If the flight is delayed, then the screen will additionally indicate the time of exact departure. If there is no such data, you will need to contact the airport information desk. Employees will prompt the necessary information.
In the event that the flight status column says “Canceled”, you will urgently need to contact the airline’s representative office. Its employees must offer a ticket for the nearest flight. They give it out for free instead of the previous one.
What should a passenger who saw on the board say that boarding has already begun on his flight? Such status means that this person was late for the plane. He should as soon as possible approach a separate rack for those who did not have time on their flight. If airport employees cannot resolve the issue, then you should contact the airline’s representative office.
registration
The next step in the instruction for beginners is "How to behave at the airport?" is going to the check-in counter of the desired flight. There are two ways to carry out this procedure. The first one is online registration. The second is traditional.
Currently, an increasing number of airlines offer passengers online check-in via the Internet. This can be done during the day before departure, but not less than one hour before the departure of the aircraft. To carry out this procedure, it is not necessary to come to the airport. You can register from any computer that has access to the Internet. Passing online check-in is possible for passengers with and without luggage, traveling in a group, with children, business or economy class. It is held directly on the airline’s website. After filling out a table on the online registration tab with data on the electronic ticket number, departure airport, passenger's first and last names, as well as the flight date, the system generates a boarding pass. It will need to be printed without fail. It is a document that subsequently needs to be presented when landing on an airplane.
Passengers who have checked in online must arrive at the special counter upon arrival at the airport and check in their luggage. Anyone who flies with only hand luggage, must immediately go for inspection, which will be carried out by the security service, as well as passport control.
Anyone who decided to register in the traditional way will need to go to the desired counter after the announcement of registration. Here you must present your ticket and passport to the airport employee. In the event that the travel document was purchased electronically, one passport is sufficient. The ticket will be found by the airline employee by the last name of the passenger.
Directly at the counter are the scales. They need to put baggage for weighing. Having determined the weight of the bag or suitcase, the airport employee will definitely attach a tag on which the barcode is located. Thanks to this receipt, luggage should not be lost on the way. Hand baggage is also subject to weighing. Some airlines also attach tags to it.
The registration procedure is considered completed after the airport employee has issued his boarding pass to the passenger. Together with him, luggage tags are issued, which are a document that allows you to get luggage after it is discovered if it suddenly gets lost at the arrival point. Such receipts are usually glued on a boarding pass or on the cover of a passport.
Being at the check-in counter, the passenger has the right to choose a place in the cabin for himself. That is why, the sooner a person arrives at the airport, the more chances he will have to get the desired place for him. Those who fly for the first time are advised to take a seat by the window. Then this journey will allow you to get more impressions. The one who is afraid of heights should sit down at the aisle. Tall passengers are better off asking for an emergency exit. There is more legroom here.
Boarding pass
This document, which contains important information, consists of 2 parts. One of them comes off and remains with the employee of the airport. The second is issued to the passenger. This part is presented to the steward or stewardess at the entrance to the plane.
What are the most important points of a boarding pass, and how to decipher it? In the case when the passenger passed the online check-in, this document is printed on the printer and has the A4 format. The boarding pass issued at the airport will be small. It indicates:
- Surname and first name of the passenger corresponding to his passport data. This item must be checked additionally. If this information is incorrectly indicated, the passenger will be denied to pass the passport control service.
- The route of the flight, that is, from where and where the plane flies.
- Landing time. As a rule, it is carried out 40 minutes before take-off.
- Gate Number. After passing all the necessary searches, you will need, focusing on the signs at the airport, go to the desired gate. Sometimes it can be changed even after registration. You can clarify the desired exit in the airport information desk by carefully following the information on the scoreboard and listening to announcements at the airport.
- Seat number and row on the plane. There is a number on the boarding pass. This is a row of seats. The letter is a place in this row.
customs control
For those who do not know how to behave for the first time at the airport, the instructions for beginners indicate that after the check-in desk, holding a passport, boarding pass and hand luggage, you should go to the most meticulous check area before boarding. . , , , , ..
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A security officer shines through all of these objects with an X-ray. The passenger is also invited to take off their outer clothing and headgear. They will also be viewed on an x-ray machine. During such a check, the passenger is asked to go through the metal detector. If the inspection went well, his things are immediately returned to the person. He can move on.
Waiting room
After completing all searches, you can relax. The airport lounge is full of shops selling various souvenirs. Passengers holding business class tickets can head to a more comfortable place. Special rooms are equipped for them, as well as for those who have paid a similar service to airport employees.
There are all the amenities while waiting for a flight.
What is available in the airport business lounge?
- Visit the buffet, which offers hot or cold snacks, as well as drinks for which you do not have to pay. All included in the ticket price.
- Watch TV and read literature.
- Visit the shower for free.
- Use the services of a massage therapist, beautician or hairdresser.
- Allow children to visit the playroom.
While in the waiting room, you must follow the announcements of boarding the plane. After the information about the selected flight sounds, the passenger must go to the desired exit. Here is the attendant who will check your boarding pass and possibly your passport. At some airports, the flight schedule is rather tight. That is why announcements about the start of landing are sometimes not given. Passengers need to keep this in mind. At the time indicated in the boarding pass, he must go to the desired exit. He will get on a plane either by going through a special passage that connects the liner to the terminal building, or by taking a bus along the take-off field.