Airport Tips for First-Time Travellers

Travelling can be stressful, especially when you aren’t sure what to expect, here are some suggestions to help you know what to expect.

Bring a sweater

Planes and airports tend to be on the cold side and the last thing you want is to be cold for several hours on your flight. Long-haul flights do provide a blanket for the flight but they’re usually pretty thin and won’t do too much against the cold.

Keep all your travel documents and paperwork in one folder.

If you keep everything in one folder then you won’t need to go rummaging through your bag every time you need a document. When you have to dig through your bag for documents, sometimes you take stuff out, and then there’s a risk that you’ll forget it. If all your documents are in one folder, then you’re only pulling out a single folder, and you’re less likely to forget things.

Expect to need it at check-in, boarding, and customs on arrival. Otherwise, your folder can stay tucked into your bag.

Keep your 1-liter bag of liquids and large electronics (like laptops and speakers) near the top of your carry-on

Take note of where everything is in your bag while you’re still in line to get it scanned. That way, when it’s your turn, you can take all the important things out of your bag quickly.

Don't forget to take off your belt and empty your pockets! But don’t worry, jewelry like bracelets, earrings, and necklaces are fine to go through the metal detector.

Check in online before you get to the airport

A big chunk of your airport time would be spent in the check-in line. So, if you can check in at home, then not only will you be able to save some time at the airport, but you’ll also be able to get both a digital and printed version of your boarding pass.

I know that many people prefer the digital boarding pass on their phone, but that might not be your best option. Stuff happens and the last thing you want is for your phone to die and end up running around trying to find someone to print you another one. It’s easier to print a second boarding pass and keep it in your bag than it is to deal with the stress of needing to find another boarding pass.

Avoid noise-cancelling headphones while waiting for boarding

You’ll often hear announcements like gate changes and passengers being called through the overhead speakers. If you’re wearing headphones, there’s the risk that you’ll miss the announcements. The last thing you want is to miss your flight.

If you wear headphones while you’re waiting to board, make sure that the volume isn’t too high and that you can still hear what’s happening around you.

Hopefully, some of these tips help reduce some of the stress and shine a bit of light on what’s going to happen at the airport before you board.