Take off!

 Flying for the First Time – What to expect! 

You have planned your departure for a long time - applied for a passport, applied for a visa (filling of gazillion forms, interview, biometrics, medical (if applicable)), shopping for, booking and buying of an air ticket, packing, goodbyes, the trip to the airport, more goodbyes and finally you're at the security area ready to be frisked and scanned then off you climb that famous escalator that will take you away from your familiar territory!

Here are some important details about flying written specifically for the first time flyer

1. Document safety and personal effects

• The safety of your travel documents cannot be overemphasized. You lose your passport and your flight won't happen! Keep your passport on your person all the time

• From experience, I find that the best way to keep your passport and other documents safe is to use a sling bag, a crossbody bag or a backpack and maybe a purse with a strap for ladies

• In there, you  put all documents - passport, ID, COPR (if you are a Canadian landed immigrant), immunization card, pen etc. You may also put your personal effects like lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, painkillers, earbuds etc. 

2. Clothing and shoes

• Shoes- I find running shoes comfortable to travel in. I prefer shoes without laces if possible because it's easy to take off and  put on especially due to security checks
• Clothes- comfortable sweatpants, t-shirt, sweater or a light jacket (avoid belts if possible again due to security checks)

3. Security and check in/luggage drop off

• You will go through security at every stop from your original departing airport to your destination and also at the transiting airports

• At security check, put all your stuff on a tray including shoes, wallet, glasses, phone etc. Everything gets scanned and if they see anything they aren't sure about, they will ask you to open your bag. 

• Sometimes they swab an item to know what it is. If they ask you to step aside for questions, don't panic. Just answer what they ask

• If you get asked if you PACKED YOUR BAGS, always say YES if you did. If you hesitate or say no, they will pull you aside for more rigorous checks

• For check-in, if you will have done online check-in, you will just present your boarding pass (if you will have printed it). If not, you will give the clerk your passport and ticket for check-in 

• When dropping off your luggage, they will weigh your bags, tag them and put them on the conveyor 

• If possible, get a scale and weigh your bags ahead of time (23kg per bag for Economy air ticket) to avoid disappointments of having to leave some stuff or pay more

• You will not see your checked-in baggage until you reach your destination but you'll board the plane with your carry-on bag

4. On the plane

• After security check, the next step is boarding the plane. Proceed to the boarding area and look for your gate (indicated in your boarding pass) then wait until it's time to board the plane. You will hear announcement in the PA systems nearby

• Boarding the plane is by priority - First and/or Business Class, families with children and disabled people then finally everyone else
• For everyone else, they may board by rows or by categories which are written on your boarding pass. Listen to the public address system and follow the directions

• As you board, they will want to make sure you're the right passenger boarding so they will check your passport and boarding pass. Open the page of your passport with your photo to save time

• Once on the plane, look for your seat number on the side of plane where luggage is put. 

• It's numbered by rows e.g 24  A B C   D E F
• A and F are window seats, B and E are middle seats and C and D are aisle seats on both sides

5. Preparation before take off

• The flight crew will go over safety on the plane and what to do during an emergency. They will demonstrate what to do so pay attention because it is important

• They will also make sure your seat belt is buckled well and the seat is in upright position (for take off and landing - other times you can recline your seat if you like)

• Depending on what kind of plane you are flying, there is entertainment on-flight in most cases

• For overseas flights, usually everyone has their own screen on which you can watch TV, movies, music, comedy, etc. 
• Operating it is not hard, you will figure it out in a short time but if you can't, feel free to ask the cabin crew or your neighbour

6. Food and snacks

• Food is served usually within the first hour of the flight. Some people think airline food is bad but it's not always the case. I have personally eaten some of the most delicious food on an airplane

• They also have drinks including soda, tea, coffee, beer, wines and spirits but do not over drink alcohol because getting drunk on a plane is not tolerated, it could even be illegal

• Try to drink lots of water as opposed to lots of hard drinks because jetlag and drunkenness don't mix well  

• For most long haul flights, they give food to everyone at no extra cost (it's included in your airfare) and in most cases, you will have a choice of what to eat
• Eat before you sleep because you won't be woken up so make sure you wait till food is served before you sleep if you are tired or are the kind of person who sleeps on a plane like myself

7. Toilet/lavatory

• Make a note of where the toilets are on the plane. Depending on the size of the plane, there may be up to 6 or more toilets on both sides of the plane spread throughout the length of the plane

• For overnight flights, there might be line ups by those wanting to use the toilet especially at night before "bedtime" and in the morning like before breakfast or before landing

• When you get inside the lavatory, make sure you lock the door otherwise someone will push it open and find you unawares
• You should see a lock that is easy to operate - you just move it left or right to lock and unlock it

• When you flush the toilet, it will not sound like a regular toilet but you will hear a strange loud sound
• This is because it doesn't use water but a vacuum system instead

8. During layover

• For a long haul flight, unless you have a nonstop flight (like 12 hours or more if you're flying to North America for instance), you will have a few hours layover (rest) in say Europe or Middle East before you take your transatlantic or transpacific flight

• As soon as you get off the plane, you will see screens that show departing and arriving flights

• Check your boarding pass or air ticket for the name and time of your next flight which is displayed on the screens
• There are many "pages" on the screen so look out for yours. 
• They're displayed according to time of flight to make it easy to see your flight.
•  Check which gate your flight will leave from. Make note of that gate

• Sometimes they can change the gate so keep checking the screens and listen to the public address system for changes

• After you know where your gate is, you can walk around the airport but don't go far so you don't get lost

• Check the time of boarding so you can come back to the area near that time

• Watch your bags all the time. If you've to go to the toilet, take your bags into the stall (cubicle) with you. Don't ask anyone to hold anything for you unless of course it's someone you know

9. Disembarking

• Disembarking from the plane is by row

• Wait for your turn then get your carry-on luggage just before you leave - not too early
• For a big plane carrying 300+ passengers, it takes about 30 or so minutes before everyone gets off the plane

10. Customs forms

• On the plane when you almost land, you will be given a form to fill which you have to declare how much stuff you are carrying

• Indicate the stuff you're carrying like hair extensions, tea, spices etc. and put a value - about $150-200 in total so distribute the cost accordingly

• Keep the paper with you as you will need it to scan or enter in a computer (kiosk) at the airport (port of entry)

11. Arrival at your Port of Entry

• "Port of Entry" is the first airport the plane lands after flying in from another country
• These are usually bigger airports like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, etc. (in Canada) or New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Atlanta etc. in USA

• As soon as you come off the plane, follow directions (or follow people) as you all have to go through immigration

• There will be a big lineup, follow the appropriate line which will lead you to a kiosk where you'll scan your passport and the card which you had filled out on the plane
• Directions to do that are given on the screen but if you have problems, there's someone going around who can help you. Just call them

• After that, you'll go through immigration and for the case of Canada, this is where you'll be given your Permanent Residence (PR), Work Permit or Study permit
• For PR, they will ask you to give them the COPR and will ask you a few questions like if you have anything else like property to follow (being shipped) 
• They will ask which address you want the PR card to be sent to so give them an address

12. Luggage pick-up

• After immigration, you'll go to the baggage claim area where you'll get your bags

• Check to make sure you're getting your luggage from the right conveyor belt as there might have been more than one plane that landed at the same time as your plane. 
• Check for signs showing flight number and city it came from
• For instance will see something like AC845 from Frankfurt

• Look around, there might be a cart (trolley) that you can put all your bags in

• Depending on the airport, the cart might be free or might require payment. Most of them are free

• There are people who may want to help you carry the luggage (porters)
• If they help you, they will expect a tip (money for service rendered). Just decline, especially if you have a cart. You will be fine

13. Customs

• After picking your bags up, if it’s the airport you went through immigration (i.e. port of entry), you will go through Customs as the last stage before exit

• Your bags may or may not be checked. If they see something they don’t know or is not allowed into the country, they will ask questions and either take it away or leave it.
• Be calm and explain what a particular product is, if it is food or a spice, just say so
• If they ask what it is for, just say it is for consumption or a present. Never say it is for sale unless you are selling them in which case you might have to pay customs duty

 14. Connecting flight

• If you are flying to another airport (local one), you will have a final or subsequent connecting flight to that city

• You will have to check in your bags again so look for the screens for your new gate or if you have a boarding pass, your gate will be indicated there
• If you don’t have a boarding pass, you will be given one

• You will most probably go through security again so same idea as your first security check in your originating airport or "layover" airport 

• Boarding the plane is exactly the same as other times although this will be a small plane

• If your layover is long, look for something to eat at the airport before boarding because usually, there will be no food offered on the local flight

15. Arrival at your final destination airport

• This is the easier part as you don’t have to go through immigration or customs

• All you have to do is get your bags exactly the same way you did at your port of entry

•  If someone is waiting for you, they will be near the baggage claim area

• If you need transportation, you can get taxis, rideshare or public transit

 Have a safe flight and enjoy your stay!