What to Expect When It’s Your First Time Flying

Flying for the first time can be exciting and nerve-wracking. This guide will help you prepare for your first travel adventure:

• Learn how to prepare for your flight
• How to navigate an airport
• What happens after landing

So it’s your first time flying or perhaps just your first time flying alone.

While setting off on an adventure is exciting, taking to the skies for the first time can also be pretty daunting. After all, it’s not just about the flight itself – you’ve got to work out how to navigate an airport and board and disembark the plane.

This is why we’ve put together a selection of handy tips for first-time flyers, so you know exactly what to expect when flying for the first time.

Preparing for your flight

Enjoying a smooth plane journey starts way before you get to the airport. Read on for seven tips on how to prepare for a flight.

1. Work out how you’re going to get to the airport

Arriving at the airport is not as straightforward as you may think.

First up, you need to find out which terminal your flight departs from, as arriving at the wrong terminal can put you behind schedule. Check the airport website to find out which airlines fly from which terminals.

If you’re planning to drive to the airport, you’ll want to pre-book a parking space at the right terminal. Airport parking is typically pretty expensive, so if you’re on a budget, it’s better to look into other options.

Every terminal has a short-stay drop-off zone, so make sure you know where this is if you’re lucky enough to get a lift to the airport. Most airports also have bus routes that go by each terminal, and some have train stations.

2. Check in online

Most airlines offer the option to check in online ahead of your flight. Simply check in using the airline app – here you’ll typically need your passport or ID number, as well as its expiry date. Your digital boarding card will then be generated in the app.

Checking in online can be a huge time saver. If you’re only traveling with cabin bags, it allows you to skip the check-in queue altogether and head straight through to security. What’s more, if you’re traveling with a budget carrier, online check-in may be mandatory. It’s important to check your airline’s policy ahead of time to avoid being charged extra fees for an in-person check-in.

3. Book a specific seat

As a first-time flier, you may be a little nervous at the prospect of cruising at 30,000 feet. When buying your plane tickets, you’ll be given the option to select specific seats on the plane. It’s safe to say that some seats make for a more enjoyable journey than others.

For example, if you’re tall and need to stretch your legs, it’s worth booking an aisle seat or extra legroom seats. Worried about turbulence? Choose a seat in the front or center of the plane, where you’ll feel it less. If you want to be one of the first people to disembark the plane, selecting a seat near the front of the aircraft is a must.

4. Pack your luggage correctly

Different airlines have different rules and requirements when it comes to luggage size and weight – and if you go over your allowance, you’ll likely be charged an extra fee. What’s more, there are specific items that are banned from cabin bags, but permitted in hold luggage and vice versa. Other items are not allowed on flights at all.

None of the liquid containers you’re planning to pack in your cabin bag can contain more than 100 ml and they must all be placed in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag measuring approximately 20 cm x 20 cm.

This makes packing your luggage a bit of a delicate science. To prepare, check your airline’s size and weight allowances for cabin bags and hold luggage and find out how many cabin bags your ticket permits you to take on board. While transparent plastic bags are sometimes provided at security, you can buy your own bags to pack your liquids ahead of time. Find out more about which items you can and can’t take on a plane here.

5. Pack your cabin bag for an enjoyable flight

The secret to an enjoyable plane journey is often just knowing what to bring on a flight. The items you pack in your cabin bag can make all the difference between a comfortable – even fun – flight and a boring one that leaves you feeling tired and irritated.

Essentials for a cabin bag include:

• A sleep mask and ear plugs for getting some rest.
• Headphones and your phone/tablet/laptop/games console – with pre-downloaded content such as podcasts, TV shows, games, or films.
• Dry snacks so you don’t need to buy expensive food during the flight.
• Moisturizer and lip balm to help keep your skin hydrated while in the air.
• An empty water bottle that you can fill up after security.
• Books and travel games.

6. Dress for comfort

A day of air travel means sitting down in a confined space for a long time. Flying can also bloat you, due to low cabin pressure. Add to this the varying temperatures you’ll experience during the day and it’s clear to see why dressing for comfort should be a priority.

Wear loose, breathable clothes – no tight waistbands or stiff materials – and comfy shoes. Remember to layer too. This way you can stay cool when dashing around the airport, get cozy when the air con is blasting on the plane, and ensure you’re appropriately dressed for the weather upon landing.

7. Remember your passport and boarding pass

Before leaving the house, do a final check to make sure you have your passport (or other ID documents) and boarding card with you – after all, you won’t be getting very far without them. Your boarding pass will most likely be on your phone, so ensure it has sufficient charge and pack your charger in your hand luggage just in case.

At the airport

Arriving at the airport is when your travel adventure truly starts. But n avigating airports isn’t always straightforward – and when it’s your first time flying, you’ll have lots of questions. Here are the four stages of getting through an airport and helpful suggestions on how to ensure each step goes smoothly when you’re flying for the first time.

1. Arrive at least two hours early

How early to arrive at the airport is a hotly debated topic. Too early, and you’ll be hanging around for hours, but too late, and you'll face a stressful rush through the airport and risk missing your flight.

It’s generally recommended that passengers arrive at the airport at least two hours before domestic flights are scheduled to take off and three hours before international departure times. This gives you enough time to get through check-in, security, and passport control and make it to your gate.

If this is your first time flying, it’s a good idea to build in a margin for error. Remember – two to three hours ahead of your flight is the minimum time you should give yourself to navigate the airport. There’s no harm in turning up a bit longer before departure for a more relaxed experience.

2. Checking in and dropping off luggage

How to check in at the airport varies depending on whether you’re checking in online or in-person and whether you need to drop off any hold luggage.

If you’ve not checked-in online before arriving at the airport, you’ll need to head straight to the check-in desks upon arriving at the airport. Large screens around the airport display the numbers of the desks catering to your flight. Simply follow the signs to the right desk and join the queue. At the desk, you’ll need to present your passport and the check-in attendant will hand you your boarding passes.

If you have checked in online, but still need to drop off hold luggage, follow the same procedure. There’s often a separate bag drop queue next to the check-in desks for your flight. If you’ve checked in online and are traveling with cabin bags only, you can skip this step and head straight to security.

Bear in mind that sometimes you need to check in or drop off your bags at digital terminals in the airport. Just follow the instructions on the screen and ask a representative from your airline if you get stuck.

3. Going through security

Follow signs to security. Before joining the queue, pack liquids from your cabin bag into the transparent plastic bags provided. Remove any large electronics, such as laptops and hair straighteners, from your bag too. Then scan your boarding pass to join the queue.

When you reach security, place all your belongings into the trays provided, avoiding overlaps. Take off your coat, hat, jacket, and belt and put them in the trays too. In some cases, a security official will direct you to take your shoes off as well.

As your belongings are moving through the X-ray machine, you’ll be directed to walk through a metal detector. If an alarm sounds, a security official will take you to the side for a more thorough search. You can then collect your belongings from the X-ray machine. If there is any issue with your luggage, a security official will perform a search, remove the offending items and re-scan your bags.

4. Boarding your flight

Once you’ve cleared security, follow signs for departure gates. Look out for screens that tell you which gate your flight is departing from and then follow signs to that gate. The airline app should also display your gate information. In some airports, you will need to go through passport control before reaching your gate. Simply join the queue and present your passport to the official in the booth.

Once you’ve arrived at your gate, join the queue to board. Present your boarding pass and passport (or other ID document) to the flight attendants at the front of the queue and then follow the passengers in front of you.

Boarding varies depending on the airport, airline, and gate. In some cases, you’ll simply walk to the plane and climb the steps to board. Alternatively, a shuttle bus may drive you from the terminal to your plane. In these cases, check your boarding pass to find out whether you should board at the front or the back of the plane. For many flights, you’ll walk through a tunnel that connects the terminal directly to the plane door.

Once on board, find your seat, which will be clearly marked on your boarding pass and stow your luggage either in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you.

During your flight

If you’ve never been on a plane before, this is probably the bit that you’re most excited – or most nervous – about. However, the flight itself is often the easiest part of a traveler's journey. After all, all you really have to do is sit back and relax as you’re cruising at 30,000 feet.

Here are some first-time flying tips covering what’s expected of you on board the aircraft and how you can make those turbulent moments a little less stressful.

1. Take off and landing

Take off and landing are generally the two parts of a flight that first-time fliers are most nervous about.

Before take off, the cabin crew will perform a safety demonstration while your airplane is taxiing to the runway. They will also perform checks to ensure passengers’ seatbelts are fastened securely and devices are in flight mode.

If you’re nervous about take off, after the demonstration, put your headphones in and focus on a TV show, film, or a good book. You’ll feel the plane leave the ground and head up towards the clouds. It’s usually around five to ten minutes before the aircraft levels out again. If you’re not anxious about take off, on the other hand, it’s definitely worth looking out the window – especially the first time!

The pilot will typically announce that the plane will begin to descend around 30 to 40 minutes before touchdown. At this point, the seatbelt sign will come on and you’ll need to fold your tray table away. Other than that, you can continue your in-flight activities until you feel the plane land on the tarmac.

2. Turbulence

As much as passengers dislike turbulence, it’s a natural part of air travel. If your plane hits a patch of cloud or nears the jet stream, you can expect to feel some bumps and jolts.

Turbulence is normally mild, but if you’re keen to avoid it, choose a seat in the middle or at the front of the plane where it’s felt least. While it’s not mandatory to wear your seatbelt for the whole journey, it’s advisable to put it on whenever you’re sitting down. This lowers the risk of accidents in the cabin should unexpected turbulence hit.

If the idea of turbulence makes you anxious, it’s worth preparing some guided breathing or meditation activities on your phone ahead of your flight. Another option is to try to focus on an activity in front of you, such as reading or watching TV to ignore the bumps.

3. Learn airplane etiquette

Just like in all public spaces, there are unspoken rules about how to behave on airplanes. Of course, there are obvious rules, such as respecting queues, not invading anyone else’s space and not kicking the back of the seat in front of you.

However, some parts of airplane etiquette you may not be aware of include:

• The person in the middle seat should have access to both armrests on either side of them, as they have the least room. The passenger in the aisle uses the armrest nearest to the aisle, and the person in the window seat can lean against the wall.
• Ask the passenger behind you before you recline your seat. They may have their tray table down, in which case reclining your seat could spill food or drink on their lap.
• When disembarking, let all the people in the seats closer to the door file off the plane before you leave.

4. Overcoming aerophobia

If this is your first flight, it’s possible you’ve put off air travel due to a severe fear of flying. And if you have a fear of flying, you’re likely looking for tips for first-time flyers with anxiety.

Here are some easy steps you can take while in the air that may help to ease your anxiety:

• Avoid caffeine.
• Do guided meditations and breathing exercises on your device.
• Wear noise-canceling headphones to drown out the sounds of the plane.
• Distract yourself with pre-downloaded TV shows, films, podcasts, games, and books.

Want some more expert advice ahead of your first flight? Here are 24 incredible flying hacks from seasoned travelers.

When you get to your destination

Congratulations! You’ve finally ticked flying off your bucket list. But the journey isn’t quite over yet. Before you can start enjoying your vacation, you’ve got three more steps to navigate:

1. Disembarking

After you land, it will take some time – typically between ten minutes and half an hour depending on the size of the airport – for your plane to taxi to its allocated parking spot and for the staircase or passenger boarding bridge to be put in place. When the doors are opened, wait for all the passengers closer to the door to grab their luggage and file off the plane before doing the same yourself. Then, follow the signs to passport control.

2. Going through immigration

If you’re traveling internationally, you’ll need to pass through immigration when you land. It’s important to check your visa requirements ahead of time. US citizens are permitted to visit some countries without a visa but for others, you’ll need to secure your visa ahead of time, while visa on arrival is an option in many places.

If you’re planning to get a visa on arrival, you’ll typically find a table with visa forms on your way to passport control. Stop and fill in a form and then follow the signs to get your visa. Then join the passport control queue and have your passport and proof of visa (if necessary) ready to go. Simply present your passport to the official in the booth. They will scan it, stamp it, and send you on your way.

3. Collecting your luggage

If you’re traveling with hand luggage only, you’re free to go! If you have hold luggage to collect, follow signs for the baggage carousels. Screens should tell you which number carousel is carrying luggage from your flight. Simply wait for your bag to come around, pick it off the carousel and head for the exit. Congratulations – you’ve just completed your first ever flight!

Mistakes made by first-time flyers

Flying can be complicated and it’s no surprise that first-time flyers often make rookie mistakes. For a smooth journey, follow the first-time flier tips above and avoid the following pitfalls. Make sure not to do do the following:

• Waiting to check in at the airport instead of doing it online
• Not buying your baggage allowance in advance
• Going over your luggage allowance
• Packing banned items in cabin bags and hold luggage
• Not separating out your belongings until you get to the front of the security queue
• Not hydrating enough
• Forgetting to pack snacks for the flight
• Forgetting to download content for the flight ahead of time
• Wearing uncomfortable clothes

FAQs about flying for the first time

How early should I arrive at the airport?

Generally, airlines advise that you arrive at the airport no later than two hours before your domestic departure time and three hours for international flights. However, it’s worth checking your airline’s guidance on the best time to arrive at an airport. As a first-time traveler, it’s definitely worth building in a margin for error into your travel time too – it’s much better to be waiting around than to miss your flight entirely.

When should I go to my gate?

Once you’re through security, you’re free to go to your gate whenever you like. However, you might not want to sit around at your gate and instead prefer to take advantage of the airports bars, restaurants, and shops. Screens around the airport will display your gate number and tell you when it’s time to go to your gate. Remember that, while some gates may only be a five-minute walk away, others could take much, much longer to reach. This is why it’s a good idea to check out the location of your gate after security, even if you plan to enjoy the airport’s amenities before boarding.

What are some things to do on a plane?

There are many activities you can do on a plane, including:

• Watching TV shows and films.
• Listening to music, audiobooks, and podcasts.
• Reading books or magazines.
• Playing video games on your device.
• Playing travel games, such as UNO or mini-chess.
• Do crosswords, word searches, or Sudoku.
• Do in-flight exercises.
• Learn some of the language of your destination.
• Sleep!

What can’t you take on a plane?

When traveling by plane, certain items are banned from cabin bags for safety reasons. Generally, you cannot bring explosives, flammable items (like gasoline and fireworks), sharp objects (such as knives and large scissors), or weapons (including firearms) onto a plane. Additionally, liquids, gels, and aerosols are restricted to containers of 100 milliliters or less and must fit in a quart-sized bag. Other restricted items include self-defense sprays, various tools, and certain sporting goods.

Find out more about what you can and can’t take on a plane and always check your airline’s specific regulations and TSA guidelines before packing to avoid issues at security checkpoints.