Other tips (from someone who travels at least once a week for work):
Get to the airport early!
this will depend on the airport and the airline (look it up on the airline website)
for domestic flights: at least 90 minutes
for international flights: at least 2 hours, maybe 2.5
if it’s a busy airport or a busy travel day (near a holiday), go even earlier
many airlines have a minimum check in time (often 45 min for domestic and 60 min for international), where you won’t be able to check into your flight (esp with baggage) if you’re late
some airports also have a tracker for how long security lines are (their accuracy might not be great)
Be sure to look at the Boarding Time of your flight, not just the departure time
this is usually 30-40 minutes before the departure time
be at the gate, waiting (patiently!) for your turn to board
many airlines board by group number, so check your boarding pass and listen for announcements
planes often close their doors a few minutes before the departure time, so don’t cut it close
This is more for US/Canada security, but:
remove all keys, phones, wallets, etc from all your pockets while waiting in line at security. put them in your bag or in one of the little trays provided
you might have to remove your belt too
all liquids/gels must be under 100 mL or 3.4 oz, and should all be stored in a single clear bag no larger than 1 quart (medium sized ziploc). they will throw out items larger than this
laptops/tablets often must be taken out of your bag and removed from their case, and placed in a tray by themselves
some airports, you have to take off your shoes
Have your travel documents available but safe
you’ll have to pull them out a few times, so keep them accessible
but make sure that the pocket is seal-able (zipper, velcro, etc) so nothing falls out
often, your government will publish travel advisories for most countries in the world
it will have the necessary visa requirements for someone with your citizenship, and often things like needed immunizations, additional documents, health/safety risks, etc
some countries have quarantines on certain things (like you’re not allowed to bring in many kinds of food/seeds/animals to Australia)
Overhead bin space runs out fast
If your plane is full or mostly fun, it’s very likely that by the time the final passengers board, the overhead bins will be full
be prepared to have to check your carry-on bag at the gate (sometimes right to your final destination, sometimes just until you land this connection)
be considerate when storing your carry-ons
place what you can underneath your seat to free up the overhead bins for larger items that wouldn’t fit below the seat
don’t carry more than the (often 2) items allowed. some airlines are strict and won’t let you board with more
Download or print out a map of the airport ahead of time
especially if you have a tight connection, pre-planning your route can save you a lot of time
it can also let you know if you’ll have to go through security or customs again
many airports have a tool to give directions, or tell you the steps required for connecting flights
Check your roaming plan for your phone
it’s best to do this before you leave your home country
make sure that you have roaming available and that it’s not more expensive than expected
some carriers offer data/minute packages, others offer a flat rate per day
Always carry the absolute essentials, even when checking a bag
you never know when your baggage might be delayed, so keep some extra socks, underwear, a shirt, toothbrush, deodorant, etc in your carry-on just in case you have to go a day or two without your luggage
also, many hotels may provide a day or two’s worth of extra toiletries (toothpaste, razors, etc) if you ask
get a little portable charger for your phone, never know when you’ll need another full charge and many airplanes/airports don’t have easily accessible charging
don’t forget your headphones
pack a granola bar, the airlines never feed you enough
please be nice to the gate agents and flight crew, even if there’s a delay
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