You’ve finally booked that dream vacation you’ve always wanted, including your airline seats. But now what? Here are 12 tips for first time flyers from someone who’s done a lot of traveling and knows just how to make this experience for you as pleasant as possible.
Airports can be overwhelming for any traveler, so knowing what to expect can help you prepare for your trip. With these travel tips for first time flyers, you’ll feel prepared to take on any airport around the world and start experiencing what this amazing world has to offer!
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Download Carrier’s Mobile App
When it comes to tips for first-time flyers, downloading the carrier’s mobile app is definitely important. Most if not all airline carriers will have a mobile app you can download to your smartphone. These apps are particularly helpful for check-ins, boarding passes, and guides for the airline. Some of the information we talk about in this guide can actually be accessed in the app itself.
If for some reason the app doesn’t work, you can always visit the airline’s website, it just won’t be as simple to navigate as a mobile app will be.
Set an Alarm to Check-In 24 Hours Before Departure
Airlines let you check in for your flight 24 hours before you leave. This can be done on the website or, you guessed it, the mobile app. Once you check in, you’re given the ability to access your boarding pass, which will be needed to get through airport security and onto the airplane itself.
I find it to be most beneficial to check in to a flight as close to that 24 mark as possible. Airlines assign you a boarding group, which determines when you can board the plane. The closer you are to checking in at that 24 hour mark, the more likely you are to board the plane closer to first. This is super beneficial for airlines like Southwest that have open seating.
Set an alarm on your phone or smartwatch for 2-3 minutes before that 24-hour mark. That way, you have time to get the app or website loaded so you’re ready to check in right when that 24-hour mark hits.
Make Sure Your Luggage Is All Appropriate Sizes
Different airlines have different luggage requirements for their planes. Some allow carry-ons for free, others do not. Some allow checked bags for free, others do not. Make sure you’re aware of how big your personal items, carry ons, and checked luggage can be for your particular airline.
Some airlines like Spirit and Frontier are extremely strict when it comes to how big certain items can be, going so far as to make every one boarding the plane check that their luggage size is compliant. If you aren’t, you have to pay large fees to check your bag, so it helps to plan ahead by making sure your luggage is the right size ahead of time!
Pack Essentials In Your Carry-On or Personal Item
We all hear horror stories about checked baggage getting lost between your departure and destination locations. Therefore, an important tip for first-time flyers is to make sure your most important items are with you on your carry-on or personal item.
I try to carry items such as medications, chargers, electronics, keys, and wallets with me at all times. That way, if something gets lost in my checked bag, I have my essentials with me – I can still take my medications, use and charge my electronics, and buy anything else I may need before my luggage is found.
Bring An Empty Water Bottle
This is one of my favorite tips for first-time flyers. The key word here is an empty water bottle. If you bring one with any liquid in it at all, you’ll have to throw it out as you go through TSA security.
When you bring an empty water bottle, you can take that through security without any issues. Then, you can fill it up with water at water fountains or water refill stations around the airport. This ensures you’ll be able to stay hydrated during your trip without having to pay the crazy airport prices for food and drinks!
Familiarize Yourself With The Airport(s)
Every airport has its own unique layout. Some are larger than others. Some have trains to get from one terminal to the next. Some have multiple security checkpoints, while some may only have one.
Before you leave, familiarize yourself with the airport you’ll be going to for take off as well as the airport you’ll be in once you land. Take note of where the TSA checkpoint is for security. Try to see where your departure gate is and how far of a walk it is from the security checkpoint. Also make note of where restaurants and restrooms are in case you want to grab a quick bite or use the restroom before you leave.
Once you land, it’s helpful to know which direction you need to head to grab your checked luggage. It’s also helpful to know where the exit for the airport is, and sometimes it’s different depending on if you’re picking up a rental car or just using a rideshare service like Lyft or Uber.
Plan Your Transportation To/From The Airport(s)
You’ve familiarized yourself with the airport, but how will you get there? And once you arrive, how will you get from the airport to your final destination?
Depending on where your departure airport is, you may choose to drive your own vehicle and park at the airport. However, since you’ll have to leave your car there for the entire duration of your trip, this can end up being very expensive very quickly. Look to see if you’re close to public transportation that stops at the airport or try using a rideshare service like Lyft or Uber. You could always ask somebody to drop you off as well.
Some airports are easily connected to the local city’s public transportation service, but if this isn’t an option your final destination is far away, you’ll need to figure out another way to get there. Most airports have easy access to some sort of rental car service. You may have to take a train or bus to get there, but they’re usually pretty close by.
Depending on the cost, you may choose to just use a rideshare service to reach your final destination. Just remember that you’ll have to pay that cost to get back to the airport as well.
Arrive Early
A tip for first-time flyers that most airlines will tell you themselves is to arrive early for your flight. The recommendation is to arrive at the airport 2-3 hours before your flight is scheduled to leave. If you know you live somewhere with a busy airport, you may want to adjust that accordingly.
Remember, it’s always better to arrive early than to be late and miss your flight. If you arrive early, you can chill at a restaurant or pay to relax at the airport’s lounge if they have one.
Wear Socks
Many times, TSA will require you to take your shoes off when you go through security. Think about all the people that have walked on that floor and all the places across the world they’ve been. Your bare feet would now be on that same floor. Wear socks through security.
Prepare for Delays
It’s better to go into an airport expecting some sort of delay than to expect everything will arrive right on time. That way, you can plan everything with a bit of a buffer instead of smacking up against each other.
For example, if you’re traveling to a Disney World park that closes at 7 pm, don’t take a flight that’s going to land at your destination at 2 pm. If your flight is delayed, you’ll barely have time to get to and from the airport to your final destination before its closed down. In this situation, I’d recommend trying to get there around 10 am or 11 am.
Flights get delayed for a number of reasons including weather, staffing shortages, and breakdowns. If you give yourself time to account for those possible delays, you’ll be prepared for when they happen. Besides, if no delays happen, then you can relax and take your time getting to your final destination!
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
An important tip for first-time flyers is this – don’t be afraid to ask questions. There are people at airports who want to help you enjoy your experience as much as possible. You can ask people at the departure gate for information related directly to your flight, including questions about plane seating, boarding processes, and luggage.
Oftentimes, you can also ask people around you to help with any questions you may have as well. Usually, if they don’t have the answer, they’ll be able to point you in the direction of somebody who will.
Enjoy Your Trip
Traveling can be a stressful experience, but it doesn’t always have to be! If you follow these tips for first-time flyers, hopefully you’ll catch the travel bug just like I and so many other people have. Just remember that everyone is in the same situation as you – they’re all trying to get from point A to point B as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Sometimes, things happen we can’t plan for, but following these tips should help with some of that. And remember – when something goes wrong, it’s only temporary. When you get to your final destination, everything will be worth it.
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Author Bio: This is a guest post by fellow travel blogger Christian McIlwain of Vertigo Views. Christian has been a fan of theme parks and travel since he was a child. He has over twenty years of experience both researching and working in the theme park industry. He grew up visiting Kennywood Park throughout his childhood. Currently, he lives in Atlanta, GA where he frequently travels and visits Six Flags Over Georgia and Orlando area theme parks.
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