First Time Travelers

1 – Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours early for domestic flights within the U.S. or 3-4 hours early for international flights.

2 – Navigate to the “Departures” area of the airport.

3 – Check your larger luggage, if applicable, at your airline’s check-in/luggage desk when you enter the airport. The agent will take your luggage, weigh-it, and request payment if the baggage had not been pre-payed during booking or on-line check-in.  The agent will give you a sticker receipt (they’ll have put part of the sticker on the bag you checked-in with them) with a tracking number on it for any checked luggage. Place this sticker in your carry-on luggage for your records in case luggage gets lost. Take your carry-on bag and personal item with you. Items needed to be mobile, such as a wheelchair, can be checked at the gate right before getting on the plane.

Once you’ve completed check in, follow the ‘Departure Gates’ sign and/or ‘Security’ sign.

*You may have to take a train or shuttle within the airport to the terminal and gate at which you will be departing from either before or after going through security.

4 – Get through the security the security screening. Security screenings are mandatory. For this process, your items are placed in trays and x-rayed to search for any dangerous goods or prohibited items. Items in these categories differ for each country so it is important that you research custom laws for both your destination and all transit airports.

• Registering for expedited security screenings can reduce wait time. Check TSA Pre-Check: https://www.tsa.gov/precheck and Global Entry: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry.

While waiting in line, you may be subject to random screening. Keep your boarding pass and passport/ID handy.  Your time waiting in line is a great time to prep for your screening.  To prep:

• Remove jackets, belts and all metal items (sometimes shoes)
• Empty your pockets
• Make sure your drinking water bottle is empty or it may be confiscated
• Electronics must be out

Once at the front of the line, hand your boarding pass and government issued ID to the security officer at the desk, located just before the actual security checkpoint.  The officer will verify that it is in fact the day of your flight and will check that the name on your boarding pass and ID match.  The officer will likely write something or circle details on your boarding pass.

After the officer has verified your boarding pass and ID, proceed to the security checkpoint.  At the security checkpoint you will see trays for your belongings and the security scanning equipment that you and your belongings must pass through.

• Follow the directions of security agents.
• Put everything, including documents, into your bag
• Place your carry-on, personal item, and/or other belongings (such as shoes) in a bin(s).
• Place your LAG* bag and laptop in a separate tray from your carryon, personal item, and other items.
• Place your trays/bags on the conveyor belt and proceed towards the body scanner/metal detector.
• At the security agents direction, proceed through the body scanner/metal detector or alternative screening of a pat down.
  • Comply with random searches (pat downs, body x-rays, bag searches)
• After completing the body screening/metal detector/pat down, collect your items from the security screener conveyor belt.  Your items may be subject to additional search if agents so determine.
• Ensure that you have all of your items before departing the security clearance area.

*LAGs are liquids, aerosols and gels heavily restricted to 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters or less per item which must be placed in one clear, re-sealable plastic bag. This includes creams, deodorants and hand sanitisers – keep it in hand’s reach so you won’t be digging through your backpack for it. 

9 – After collecting your belongings, find and head to your departure gate.

In many cases, your gate number will already be printed on your boarding pass. However, both the gate number and terminal can change, so it’s important that you constantly check flight departure screens for updates.

When navigating the airport, signs above will provide directions to your gate e.g. GATES 31-45 with a left arrow.

• Always find your gate first before grabbing something to eat or drink – the airport may be bigger than expected! *you might need to take a tram to your actual gate.
• When you find your gate, check the display behind the desk to confirm your flight number and time—these displays might get updated before the monitors in other parts of the airport.
• Check flight monitors regularly – a flight may be scheduled to depart earlier than planned or may become delayed or switch gates.
• Listen carefully to the public address system whenever you are near your gate, since the announcements they make are likely to affect your flight.
• Update your clock to the local time zone
• Be at your gate for boarding time, NOT departure time!
• Ask airport staff for directions if needed

10 – At the gate and boarding the aircraft.  Most airlines will begin boarding 20-40 minutes prior to takeoff.  Boarding will follow orders given by the staff at the desk.  Most airlines divide passengers into boarding groups.  The gate attendant will call your boarding group or row number/zone when it’s time to get on the plane.  They will make a priority boarding call for those requiring extra assistance or time, such as those with disabilities or children, first.  You can find your zone printed on your ticket.  If you have questions, ask.

*If the aircraft doesn’t have enough space for everyone’s carry-on items, the airline will gate-check your carry-on. That means they will take it at the door of the plane and you pick it up at the same place upon arrival. Gate checked items are usually not retrieved at baggage claim.  Ask the flight attendant upon exit where to find your gate checked item if you are unsure.

11 – Once you’re on the plane. A flight attendant will welcome you onboard and direct you to your seat. Row numbers are located at eye level, with the A seats being the window on your right (as you walk toward the rear of the plane). Often the aisle seat is labeled C, so if that side has only two seats, there is no B seat.

Once you find your seat, step out of the aisle as soon as you can so that others can continue to board. Stow your carry-on and/or personal item luggage either in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you; anything you want access to during the flight should go under the seat, if possible. Before the plane takes off, buckle your seatbelt across your lap. If you’re wearing a bulky jacket or are draped in a blanket, buckle the seatbelt on the outside of those layers – otherwise, the flight attendants will have to wake you to check it. The flight crew will walk you through the rest of your first flight adventure, from handling small electronics (they should be in airplane mode, and laptops must be stowed during takeoff and landing) to when it’s okay to use the restrooms (try to time your visits to avoid the meal service carts, which totally block the aisle).

12 – During the flight.  You will be expected to remain seated with your seatbelt on for the duration of your flight.  Exceptions to this are to use the restroom and to take stretch breaks to walk around the plane to stretch your legs.  These may be done when the “fasten seatbelt sign” is turned off.

Longer flights usually offer meal service and flights under a couple hours usually offer drink and snack service. Some airlines charge for meals, snacks, and alcohol.  Note that it’s fine to take your own food onboard, but please don’t subject your fellow travelers to heavy odors.

Many aircraft have entertainment systems with TV shows, movies, and music available on longer flights.  Wi-Fi is now available on most domestic and international routes; however, you may need to pay for it and packages can be expensive and speed is typically slow.  All flights are non-smoking, including the use of vapor and e-cigarettes.

1 – Exit the plane.  After you have exited the plane, you will walk through the airport towards the exit and enter customs and immigration.

If you have a connecting flight to another destination, airline personnel will likely be available as you deplane to direct you to your next gate. If not, check the flight boards in the airport to confirm the gate and time. Your luggage will probably be checked through to your final destination, so you just need to go to your gate and wait for your flight, but be sure to verify that when you check your bags.  If your flight is international, you may not enter customs and immigration until you reach your final destination.

2 – If you are traveling internationally, you will proceed to immigration (before baggage claim).  You will wait in line to talk with an immigration agent. Pay attention to which line you are to stand in as sometimes it depends on citizenship. You are not allowed to use your cell phone.  Pay attention and act calm when traveling through immigration.

The agent will likely ask a variety of questions, such as the reason for your visit, length of stay, address during your stay, and where you will be visiting. The agent will also review your travel documents and other supporting documents. The agent, or another agent, may question you more in another room and you might have to provide fingerprints or take a photograph.

After reviewing your travel documents, the agent will stamp your passport.

3 – Follow the signs to baggage claim to collect your luggage.

If you are flying domestically, you may exit the airport after picking up your luggage.

4 – Lost Luggage. If your luggage goes missing, talk to someone at baggage claim or a check-in desk agent.

5 – For international flights, proceed to customs.  After obtaining your luggage, proceed to customs.  Similar to immigration, you will be asked questions pertaining to what you are bringing into the country and review your declaration form (this is filled out on the flight before you land). Keep your passport accessible.  Random baggage inspections are standard procedure at any customs desk.

6 – Exit the airport.  Upon clearing customs, you may exit the airport and continue on with your journey to your final destination.

7- Transportation. Depending on your study abroad program, there might be staff assisting you on how to get to your destination, however there might be an array of options (train, taxi, uber, bus, family/friend).

• Train– Depending on the airport, there might be a train available (most cases in Europe there will be trains directly at the airport). Find the train station, and buy a ticket. You can usually buy a ticket on a machine, from an agent, or online. Check the train’s schedule, and be there on time. Be aware of the different stops, and do your research as to where the best stop is to get to your final destination. Trains from the airport will most likely arrive at a central train station, and from there a taxi can be called, or the metro might be available. Consider your luggage in the metro as it can be crowded, and most likely will have no elevators.
• Taxi– Taxi’s at airports tend to be quite expensive, but if you have a lot of luggage, this might be the best option. Be careful, and don’t overpay!!! Go to the Taxi assigned area in the airport, and get a taxi there. Do not accept a ride from someone not in this area (they usually overcharge, and not as safe). Always ask how much it will be to your final destination to avoid getting overcharged. Also make sure to ask if they take credit card before hand to avoid a messy situation if you are not carrying cash.
• Uber– Uber might not be available depending on the country. If you order an Uber, go to the Uber designated area, and wait there. Uber might be more expensive than a taxi.
• Bus– Taking a bus might be the cheapest option. Keep in mind that buses might not allow large luggage. Go to the bus designated area, and get a ticket. Buses might leave you in random places, so it’s important to check the destination before hand. Some drop off places are not in the safest zones, so avoid taking a bus at night, and especially alone. After the bus, a taxi can be called to the final destination. This is not reccomended for first time travelers, however it is the cheapest option.
• Family/Friend Pick Up– If you are having someone pick you up from the airport, communicate a plan before hand, and before arriving. Most likely, you will not have service upon arrival, so it’s important to know where, and when you will be getting picked up.

NOTE: Each airport has different rules, regulations, and procedures.  Remember to review the specific country’s guidelines. The above description of process is meant to generally explain the process of taking a flight and may not have addressed every situation possible.