What to do at the airport if you arrive early. First flight on an airplane: step-by-step instructions and useful tips. Preparing for the trip

In order to be on time for flight check-in and go through all the necessary procedures without rushing, you must arrive at the airport 2-3 hours before departure. Passengers must have their passports, child's birth certificate, plane tickets and itinerary receipts with them - these documents will be needed immediately after security at the airport entrance.

Sequential Actions

When you arrive at the airport, the first thing you need to do is find the departure board - it indicates where check-in for a specific flight takes place. During the check-in process, documents (tickets and reservations) are checked, luggage is checked in and a boarding pass is issued - it indicates the boarding gate, go there. Along the way you will go through passport, customs and pre-flight inspection. At the appointed time, boarding of the plane will begin. Now in more detail about each stage.

Departure board

This is a large screen that shows the status of all flights departing in the next few hours. It’s easy to navigate, since all over the world it has the same structure of several columns:

1. airline name;
2. flight number looks like this: AB 123;
3. departure time (time);
4. destination;
5. reception desk (kiosk, desk). Specified as 2 numbers separated by a slash: 1/5. You can approach anyone;
6. note (remarks);
7. boarding gate number.

• “Check-in, open” – check-in is open, the plane will take off without delays, you should go to the check-in counter;
• “On time/Blank line/On schedule/Check-in at...” (will open on time) – check-in has not started yet, but the plane will take off according to schedule;
• “Delayed till.../Delayed” – the plane will take off later, the exact time is usually indicated next to it;
• “Cancelled” – unfortunately, the flight will not take place. You should contact the air carrier's employees;
• “Boarding/Check-in closed/Boarding/Registration completed” – check-in for the flight is completed, boarding is in progress.

Check-in and baggage drop-off

The next step is check-in for the flight. Passengers can do this in several ways:

1. Behind the reception desk, the number of which is indicated on the electronic display.

To do this, you will need a passport and a ticket, upon presentation of which you will be issued a boarding pass. If a large group or a whole family is flying, documents should be submitted together: the likelihood of getting seats nearby will be higher. Sometimes return tickets or visas are checked here if required by the rules of visiting a foreign country.

1. Complete online registration.

Opens one day before departure. On the airline’s website, go to the appropriate tab, indicate your ticket number and last name in the appropriate fields, select a seat on the plane, and then print out your boarding pass, which is sent to your email address. If a printer is not available, the ticket will be printed at a self-check-in kiosk.

1. Via self check-in kiosk.

It looks like a terminal for paying for mobile communications. You can find it by following the signs. The check-in process here is the same as online, and the boarding pass will be printed automatically.

Your boarding pass will be useful to enter the departure area. It indicates the flight, seat in the cabin, boarding start time and gate number.

After checking in for your flight, your luggage must be checked in. Next to the counter is a conveyor belt where suitcases are weighed and then a special tag is placed on them. The exact same one is attached to a receipt or passport. Each company sets its own weight standards. If the baggage does not fit into the accepted parameters, the passenger is issued a receipt for excess baggage, according to the prices determined by the air carrier.

Anyone who has checked in online in advance or used a special kiosk can check in their luggage at the counter of their flight or at a special collection point: "Drop-off" or "Baggage drop".

Passport and customs control

After registration, you must go to the passport control (“Passport control”, “Immigration”) and customs control (“Custom control”) areas.

Customs control is required exclusively on international flights. Here you will have to present your passport, birth certificate for the child, and boarding passes. This meticulous procedure is designed to determine whether a citizen has prohibited items on him: drugs, excise goods and weapons.

If the passenger does not have items that require declaration, he should move along the “green corridor” - sign “ Nothing to declare". If there are things for which a customs declaration must be filled out, you will have to go through the “red corridor” - "Goods to declare". A list of items to be declared can be found on the airport website.

To pass passport control, permission for the child to travel abroad may be required from the other parent.

Pre-flight inspection

Moving along with other passengers, or following signs, you should go to the area pre-flight inspection (“Security check”). The procedure is similar to control at the entrance to the building. Here they go through a metal detector, put hand luggage and all things from their pockets through an x-ray tape.

It is important to keep your boarding passes and passports with you as they may be asked to be checked again.

For inspection, you must remove your shoes, if the heel is higher than 3 centimeters, and outer clothing.

Landing

In the departure area, where passengers enter after security, there are cafes and duty-free shops. Here you can pass the time before your flight. First of all, you need to find a way out - “ Gate» , with a number (for example A01), then check the time on the electronic departure board, and listen to the announcements over the speakerphone.

A few minutes before boarding, go to the appropriate gate and stand in line with your boarding passes and passports ready. The airport employee will tear off the long part of the ticket, leaving the short part in the passenger’s hands. She will be checked again on the plane.

After this, you can board the plane along a special corridor leading to the ramp, or take a bus if the aircraft is parked far from the exit.

After arrival

After the plane lands at the destination airport, passengers will have to go through several more mandatory procedures:

1. Passport control.

Follow the sign with the inscription "Arrival" to the zones "Immigration", "Passport control" or "Visa on arrival". Here again you will have to show your ID, and, if necessary, affix a visa, fill out a migration card and show return tickets.

1. Baggage claim.

The baggage claim area is designated as « Baggage» . The board nearby will indicate the flight number and a corresponding ribbon with bags and suitcases.

1. Customs control.

In the zone « Custom» again walks along the green or red corridor.

It is worth studying in advance the list of items the import of which is prohibited into the country of arrival.

Watch a detailed video: what to do at the airport?

Features of a connecting flight

Connecting flights involve multiple flights on one ticket. It is worth considering several features of such flights:

• Passengers check in for both flights at once and have two boarding passes;
• There is no need to recheck your baggage;
• If the first plane departs with a delay and the passenger is late for the second flight, the airline itself purchases another ticket;
• Passengers spend the time between flights in the transit area.

How to change planes at the airport

Transfer carried out on two air tickets. If the flight is planned with transfers, there are several tips:

• Upon arrival of the plane, go through the border crossing procedure if necessary, receive luggage, check in for the flight, check in luggage, find passport and customs control areas.

These actions are no different from those at the airport for the first landing.

• It is necessary to accurately determine the time of transfers and not be late, otherwise you will have to buy a second ticket again. If the first flight departs late, the transfer may not take place: the burned second ticket will have to be purchased again at your own expense.

Before the transfer, it is worth finding out whether a transit visa is needed for the country or not, otherwise the matter will turn into big problems.

Everything you need to know about luggage

What to do if you lost your luggage?

If the required suitcase does not appear at the baggage claim, there is no need to panic. First you need to find a stand "Lost&Found"(Lost luggage, Baggage Claim, Help Desk), where a report of lost items is issued.

What you need to indicate:

• FULL NAME. and passport details;
• Information from the luggage tag left on hand;
• Describe the lost bag in detail.

The period allotted for searching the luggage is 21 days. If he is found, he will be sent to the airport closest to the applicant, or, in accordance with a pre-written request letter, delivered to his home.

If the items are never found, you need to demand compensation: every kilogram will be paid according to the rules adopted in the country.

What to do if your suitcase is broken?

It is not uncommon for luggage removed from the belt to be damaged. What to do in this case:

• First of all, you need to contact the employee at the “Lost&Found” counter to write a complaint to the airline. You must have your boarding pass, passport, luggage tag and, sometimes, a receipt for your suitcase.
• After completing the document, employees must provide a paper with a detailed description of the damage and a telephone number where they can find out the status of the application for compensation.

If the breakdown was detected outside the airport, you should call the call center and find out how long it will take and where to file a claim.

What to do if you forgot things at the airport?

If suddenly an item was lost or left at the airport or on an airplane, there is no need to worry: after a thorough security check, all lost items are sent to the unclaimed baggage room.

To return an item, you need to contact the airport directly, provide its description, indicate the place where it was allegedly lost and the date of the incident.

Passengers are advised to attach tags to all bags indicating the name, telephone number and address of its owner, so that airport staff can promptly contact the owner.

What not to do at the airport?

The following is strictly prohibited at the airport:

• Be under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• Carrying prohibited items;
• Smoking in undesignated places;
• Hooliganism and failure to comply with the requirements of airport employees.

At the airport, passengers are required to behave with restraint, not panic and behave appropriately. In general, the same rules of decency are observed here as in any other public place.

When you find yourself at the airport for the first time, there is no need to panic: strictly following the signs will help you avoid awkward situations, anxiety and mistakes. None of the procedures should cause difficulties if everything is done on time and according to the instructions.

Takeoff

Sooner or later, each of the tourists decides to try to be a little further from their home. For many, the train is a way to travel short distances, but for longer distances it is much more convenient to use an airplane. Modern airlines offer flights to almost anywhere in the world - everything will depend on your desire.

But few tourists know how to behave during their first flight, what to do at the airport, and what the procedure for boarding is. There are many nuances in this seemingly simple matter, and now we will talk about the main stages of air travel.

Registration

Any flight begins at the airport terminal, namely at the check-in counter. The check-in counter always has the logo of the airline you bought or booked tickets with, so finding it won’t be too difficult.

It is best to arrive at check-in a few hours before departure. Each airline has a different check-in time, but as a rule, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport 3 hours before departure.

Registration

A number of companies are starting to register their passengers on special online services 12 hours in advance, but doing this remotely for the first time is not recommended.

For getting boarding pass you will need to present an itinerary receipt, which serves as proof of payment for tickets, and passport. At this stage, you will be able to choose a seat on the plane. Many first-time passengers choose a window seat, although aisle seats are much more comfortable for economy class.

IMPORTANT: You must keep your boarding pass until the end of the flight, or better yet, until you return home.

At the check-in counter, among other things, you check in your luggage, or hand luggage. They differ in that you can carry hand luggage with you into the cabin, but this must be a bag of limited weight (usually up to 7-10 kg, depends on the airline), as well as limited overall dimensions.

If you are traveling with luggage, but your boarding pass is attached baggage number tag, which you can then use to find your things.

The boarding pass will also indicate the gate from which you will board your plane, but before that you will be awaiting the most important stage of pre-flight inspection.

Pre-flight inspection

Domestic flights

For domestic travel, pre-flight inspection by airport security is somewhat simplified. Although for many who fly for the first time, even such a scheme may seem grueling.

Before entering the security check area, you present your passport and boarding pass to the security officer. After checking your data, he lets you pass further, where the most serious stage will await you.

Passport control

Typically, at this stage you will see a metal detector frame and a conveyor belt with baskets in front of you. In these baskets you must put all metal objects(including wallet and jewelry), mobile phone, as well as outerwear and hand luggage. Along the conveyor, your items will enter a special scanner, where an airport employee will see on monitors whether there are any prohibited items.

When passing under the metal detector frame, you need to pause for a few seconds and move on only upon signal from a security officer. When you leave the frame, you can pick up a basket with your things.

If there are any questions about your belongings, you will be invited to the personal search table. During it, you just need to open the bag and show what is in the department that the security specialist points out. If you don’t find anything prohibited in your bag, you can safely move on.

IMPORTANT: Do not forget that at the stage of personal search you should behave as correctly and calmly as possible. Jokes about bombs, drugs and weapons are not understood at the airport, and they can be kicked off the flight or even detained for several hours.

International flights

International flights will differ from domestic flights in the availability customs corridors. You need to remember that each country has its own rules for importing certain things, so we will only talk about general points.

Green corridor– this is a passage for those passengers who do not have things with them that must be included in the customs declaration. As a rule, these are alcohol, cigarettes, perfume and other goods.

Red channel is intended for those who have things with them that need to be included in the customs declaration, or for which they need to pay import duty into another country.

IMPORTANT: Customs clearance for international flights is carried out BEFORE the check-in procedure.

Waiting hall

Having successfully passed the inspection, you can safely enter the Waiting hall. At large airports, numerous cafes, Duty-Free shops and other establishments will operate here for passengers. But the first thing you need to do in the waiting room is to check the information with the display.

Usually , electronic boards are found here in large numbers. You will also need to make sure that your flight will board at the same gate that is listed on your boarding pass. In addition to the display, this information is duplicated over the speakerphone.

If it happens that the gate has changed, follow the signs to find the correct exit. As a last resort, you can contact an information service employee for help.

Boarding the plane

Before leaving the gate, you will be greeted by an airline employee who will ask to see your boarding pass. Having torn off the control spine from it, you will be shown the doors through which you will need to exit. A bus will be waiting for you there, taking passengers directly to the plane.

In some cases, passengers exit the aircraft through special telescopic bridges, but not every airport has them.

Telescopic bridges

When you get on board, you will see friendly flight attendants or stewards at the gangway, whom you should say hello to – mutual politeness has not been canceled. If you can’t immediately find your seat in the salon, you can ask them.

The flight attendants, after all passengers have taken their seats, can provide a small blanket and pillow. It is your right to refuse this or not.

Before takeoff, flight attendants will conduct briefing in case of emergency landing of an aircraft. You will be shown how to use oxygen masks, where the emergency exits are, and in what order you should leave the plane.

Takeoff and landing

The most dangerous and critical stages for pilots and passengers are takeoff and landing. If everything is clear about the responsibility of pilots, then mandatory requirements will also be imposed on passengers.

When the aircraft engines are running, the seat backs must be adjusted to vertical position, and the passenger himself must be wearing a seat belt. Flight attendants at this stage are turning from smiling girls and boys into strict mentors checking every seat.

All electronic devices will be required before takeoff and landing. disable. This is done for the safety of the dispatcher’s radio signal - mobile phones create noticeable interference.

The window shades are also must be open. This is another flight safety requirement in case of an emergency landing.

IMPORTANT: During climb or descent, people with blood pressure problems may experience discomfort. Most often, this is ear congestion; earplugs or chewing gum can help relieve this - chewing movements relieve tension. Sometimes your feet swell, which can be helped by loose shoes.

Flight

During the flight, passengers can be offered a number of pleasant bonuses completely free of charge.

The main bonus is the food. Depending on the time of departure, it will be called breakfast, lunch or dinner. Before this, drinks are served - sparkling water, coffee or tea. The food is usually hearty and well prepared.

Also, local airlines often offer newspapers or magazines to read during the flight.

Each of us once flew for the first time. For some, the first flight is yet to take place, air tickets have already been purchased, suitcases are being packed, and the logical question “what to do at the airport” is brewing.

This is exactly the question we will deal with in today’s article. So, you can find out how to check in at the airport, how to go through passport control, how to make a transfer at the airport and much more.

A kind of faq for beginners who are about to take their first plane flight.

What to do at the airport

First, let's be clear: How much does it cost to register? I'm at the airport, depending on the flight. 2.5-3 hours before departure on an international flight, behind 1.5-2 hours before domestic flight departure. Therefore, you should arrive at the airport in advance.

If you are going to the airport on a weekend, during rush hour, during the peak tourist season - in general, if there is a high probability that the journey to the airport will take a little longer than expected, and there will be more passengers at the airport than usual, it is better to leave with time reserve.

You might get stuck in traffic. In addition, during the seasonal busy season at airports, a considerable queue may also form at the initial check of passengers at the entrance.

If you are flying as part of a tour package and do not have separate air tickets, you will often have to obtain documents from the tour operator first. They can be found in the “window” with the name and logo of your tour operator. Usually such counters are located somewhere near the entrance, with a row of tour operator names and logos.

If you're traveling with luggage, the first step is to find where the carts are. Or ask the airport staff where to get these carts.

After the baggage issues are resolved, you need to figure out where to go at the airport. To do this, you will have to find an electronic scoreboard; usually it is located not too far from the entrance.

This very board at the airport shows which flights (numbers and point of arrival) depart from the airport. Find your flight number on the board; if check-in has already begun, it will be indicated opposite the flight. The check-in counter numbers for your flight will also be indicated there.

How to check in at the airport

The electronic display has been found, all the information has been received, all that remains is to find the check-in counters at the airport. As a rule, this is not difficult.

The check-in counter numbers are usually “hanging” from the ceiling on large information boards. To find out where to go at the airport to check in, you only need to find these same “boards” with numbers.

If you can’t do this yourself, you can always contact the airport staff.

According to the check-in procedure at the airport, at the counter you will need present documents and air tickets. If it is a domestic flight, a civil passport is sufficient; if it is an international flight, a foreign passport is sufficient.

If you arrived at the airport with electronic air ticket, no need to present it. Just documents are enough.

During check-in at the airport, your luggage will also be collected. A ticket will be affixed to your hand luggage. Make sure that airport staff attach a luggage tag to your luggage.

Along with the documents, after checking in at the airport, you will be given a boarding pass, as well as a baggage receipt.

According to the procedure, check-in at the airport for international flights usually ends 40 minutes before departure, for domestic flights - 30 minutes before departure. You cannot be late, even if you are only a couple of minutes late for check-in, the established procedure for you is unlikely to be changed. Because this threatens to delay the flight.

By the way, registration can be done in other ways. At the airport you can do this yourself using an electronic terminal. Or even check in for your flight at home, online. Many airlines today provide this opportunity on their official website. In addition, you can usually check in online on the website of the departure airport.

During the check-in process at the airport, it is worth checking with the staff where you should go next for passport and customs control. So as not to worry in vain later on the question of where to go at the airport.

Customs and passport control at the airport

We already know how to check in at the airport, now let's find out what to do next.

Firstly, customs control.

If you do not have things that require declaration, you are in the “green corridor”. Regardless of the inscriptions, the information board indicating the “green corridor” has a characteristic color - green, of course. Through this very corridor you will go to passport control.

If you are transporting things that need to be declared (you can find out on the airport website; the list also depends on the point of arrival), you will have to fill out a customs declaration and go to passport control through the “red corridor”.

At passport control at the airport, you will need to present your passport (regular or international, depending on the flight). For children, you must have a birth certificate in hand.

Security screening at the airport

Once registration and passport control have been completed, you will have to go through a personal search.

In the inspection area, take a tray (or basin), put your hand luggage, outerwear, shoes, belts, phones, keys, chains, hats, children's toys, etc. there. You will have to go through the metal detector yourself, and then you may be additionally searched by airport staff.

That's the whole procedure for passport control at the airport. But keep in mind that airports are different, and, accordingly, the screening procedure may be slightly different. Here, for example, is how security checks take place at Burgas airport.

Boarding lounge

Boarding begins 40 minutes before departure on international flights, and 30 minutes before departure on domestic flights. Here you can remove all documents and air tickets, and leave only your boarding pass for boarding. You won't need anything else.

When you arrive at the airport waiting area, don't miss the announcement of your boarding. And it’s better to look around in advance where your boarding gate is located, it is indicated on the boarding pass.

Otherwise, while walking through duty free shops, you can easily forget about time, and then run around the waiting area in search of your boarding gate.

It happens that for one reason or another the flight is delayed.

Upon arrival, do not forget to collect your luggage, if you have any. You can find out where to get your luggage on the information board that hangs above all the baggage belts, and through the speakerphone.

Docking and transfer

While we're on the subject of what to do at the airport, let's take a look at connecting and connecting flights.

Let me start with the fact that many people mistakenly believe that a connecting flight and a connecting flight are the same thing. This is not at all true, and how to behave at the airport depends on which of these two methods you fly.

What to do when flying with a connection

A connecting flight is one air ticket.

For example, you decide how to get to Costa Rica and realize that there are no direct flights to this country. There is an option to fly on a connecting airline flight to San Jose Airport via New York. You choose this option and buy a ticket.

So, you have a plane ticket to San Jose in transit through New York. This is a connecting flight.

In this case, at the departure airport you need to go through the standard registration procedure, passport and customs control and personal search.

During the check-in process, you will be given not one, but two boarding passes. Save both, they contain all the information about the gate, flight number and your seat on the plane. In our case, one boarding pass will be for a flight to New York, the second - from New York to San Jose.

There is no need to collect luggage for connecting flights. The airline will do everything for you.

After arrival, you will need to go to the transit or transfer area; inspection is possible, depending on the specific airport. In the hall for transit passengers, the information board should contain all the information about departing and arriving flights. Be sure to check the information on your boarding pass and the board, because the boarding gate number may change, as well as the departure time.

You no longer need to register. But if the transit is long and you decide to walk around the city (if your visa allows), you will have to go through border control.

Flight with transfer

This travel option is significantly different from a connecting flight. Let's take, for example, air tickets to Paris via London.

By the way, this is not an example out of nowhere; it really makes sense to fly, because the cost of a flight with a transfer is several times less than a direct flight on the specified route.

So, from point A we need to get to point B. And we find out that it is cheaper to do this through point B. So, we buy air tickets from point A to point B. And additionally air tickets from point B to point B. Bottom line, from us two air tickets means two registrations, two controls, etc.

How to make a transfer at the airport?

We follow the standard scheme: check-in for the flight to point B, then control and inspection. Upon arrival, following the signs, we go to get our luggage.

Next, with luggage in hand, we look for a board where you can see information about the next leg of the journey, that is, the leg from point B to point B. Found it, we go to the check-in counter, again we go through all the stages already familiar to us.

Before checking in your luggage and carry-on luggage on the second leg of the journey, be sure to remove all luggage tags; they can confuse the staff and your luggage may not go with you.

If you are flying with a transfer, choose your flights so that you have plenty of time, unless you are going to walk around the city.

Keep in mind that baggage claim may be delayed, the flight may be delayed on the first leg of the journey, etc. So the time between transfers should not be less than three hours.

And another piece of advice - when flying with a transfer, it is better to get acquainted with the airport maps at home - in a calm environment. So that already on the spot you will at least know approximately the route of your movement.

To prevent your flight or trip from being marred by unpleasant problems, it is better to clarify some points in advance.

In particular, find out in advance what restrictions your airline imposes on carry-on and baggage. At the same time, restrictions may apply not only to weight, but also to dimensions, and also to pieces of luggage.

That is, if, for example, one airline ticket allows baggage up to 20 kg, and there are two of you, this does not mean at all that you can take one suitcase weighing up to 40 kg. For such amateur activities, you will have to overpay at the airport, as if you were overweight. At the same time, there are international norms limiting the weight of one piece of luggage - up to 32 kg.

Also, pack your hand luggage in advance. It is better to put fragile items in your hand luggage - laptop, camera, phone.

There are restrictions on carrying liquids in hand luggage. The total volume should not exceed 1 liter, and each vial individually should not exceed 100 ml. All this beauty must be packaged in a special transparent bag.

Pressurized containers - varnish, aerosols, antiperspirants - are not allowed in hand luggage.

All necessary documents should be placed close so that they can be easily reached for verification.

Do not try to joke at any stage before boarding. I mean jokes like “it's a bomb” or something like that. Such jokes are punishable according to Article 207 on false reporting of an act of terrorism.

If you are planning to fly to another country on vacation in the summer, but are wondering: “I’m flying on an airplane for the first time, what to do at the airport?”, then this article is for you. We will tell you how to behave at the airport, as well as what to do in an unclear situation - for example, if you lose your luggage or ticket.

When arriving at the airport for the first time, a passenger must clearly know what to do so as not to get lost and not be late for the flight. You need to prepare for this in advance - prepare your luggage for the flight, documents for inspection and clearly know the sequence of actions at the airport.

Buying tickets

Tickets can be purchased in the traditional way - through the box office or by purchasing tickets online. If you are not a professional in this matter, then it is better to go and buy tickets at the box office. In this case, you can clarify the information you are interested in with the cashier. If you are an experienced computer user, then you can order tickets and even register with any device that has Internet access. To buy tickets online, go to the airline’s website and find the “check-in and purchase tickets online” section. There you need to enter your passport details and pay by bank transfer.

Once you have purchased your tickets through the site, you will have an e-ticket to which you can attach a receipt, but this is not required. Your information will already be in the system, and to register you will only need to present your passport.

Important! You can buy tickets a day before the plane departs.

Preparing for a flight does not begin at the airport, but long before, at home. You need to carefully check your documents so as not to lose or forget your passport or ticket. Pack luggage according to the prescribed standards: hand luggage (things that will be next to you) no more than 7-8 kilograms, baggage (things you check in the luggage compartment) no more than 20 kilograms for economy class, and no more than 30 kilograms for business class .

Find out in advance about the customs and prohibitions in the country you are flying to. Its restrictions on the import of certain things (for example, strong alcohol in some countries) can create big problems for you when landing and going through customs control.

Do not place fragile items in your luggage; they may be damaged during transportation. It would be better to take them with you as hand luggage.

You should always have your passport and ticket with you or in your hand luggage, but under no circumstances in your luggage. Cases of lost luggage are not uncommon, and if this happens, you will be left without documents, and this is a very unpleasant situation.

To reassure yourself, you can put a copy of your passport and ticket inside your suitcase. In case of lost luggage, this will greatly facilitate the search and return of your items.

Important! Even if you're nervous about your first plane ride, you shouldn't drink alcohol or sedatives before your flight. Many passengers believe that the fear of flying will be drowned out by alcohol. In fact, if you decide to drink alcohol before departure, you may be kicked off the plane without explanation.

If you are afraid of flying, tell the flight attendant after boarding the plane. She will provide you with the necessary sedatives from those allowed when flying on an airliner. Air travel may limit the passenger's use of certain medications.

If you need to take medication during the flight, but it is of a narrow profile, for example, an asthma spray, then it is better to keep it in front of you during the flight.

Airport check-in

Check-in for the flight begins 2 hours before departure. During this time, you will have time to go through all the necessary procedures, but it is better to play it safe and arrive two and a half hours before departure. For the first time at the airport, you can easily get lost and waste extra time. With half an hour or an hour to spare, you can quickly find the terminal you need and prepare your luggage for inspection.

Upon arrival at the airport you need to go through 5 procedures:

1. customs control, before registration;
2. customs control after registration;
3. check in and check in your luggage;
4. passport control;
5. inspection of your belongings by the security service, personal search if necessary.

Important! The security officer will definitely ask you whether you are carrying prohibited items (sharp objects, etc.). You shouldn't joke about this. Even if you jokingly say that you are carrying a bomb, this will serve as a valid reason for a personal search and removal from the flight.

Read in advance on the airline's website or at the airport information desk about prohibited items. Each company and country has its own rules, so in Europe, for example, you may be subject to a body search for having lipstick in your personal belongings.

Some nuances you didn't know about

Once you get to the airport, the first thing you need to do is go through a metal detector. The procedure is quick, but it can be delayed due to the fact that suspicious metal items are found in your luggage. To minimize the procedure, it is necessary to put all metal items in one backpack so that, if necessary, it can be presented quickly and without delay. If prohibited items are found on you, such as a knife or scissors, the outcome may be different. At some airports you will be asked to put these items in your luggage, while at others (international) they will take them away without returning them.

The main place at the airport before boarding is Information table, which displays upcoming departures. If your flight is not there, don’t panic, you may have arrived too early and your flight is not yet on the upcoming departures program.

Important! From the time of boarding the aircraft until disembarkation, the use of mobile phones is prohibited.

One of the rules of any airport is a ban on the use of mobile phones. The radio waves that the phone emits during operation interfere with the operation of the aircraft's on-board systems. Therefore, you need to put the phone in flight mode, or simply turn off the power.

Information table

The most important thing you need to find on the scoreboard is the inscription Departures- “departures”. Next, we look for an inscription of numbers - this is the flight number and the city of the final flight point. If all this data matches yours, then this is your flight. You can also find the departure time on this board. The time does not necessarily coincide with what is indicated on your ticket; flights are often delayed due to weather conditions at the departure or landing point. Be sure to take these readings into account on the information board, and check the data at short intervals (10-15 minutes).

Next to the plane's departure time is written rack number, where you can register. Go to the counter under your number, present your air ticket and passport. You can choose seats from those available in your class. Choose a place based on your body characteristics, for example, it is easier for tall people to ride near the emergency exit - you can stretch your legs. Now hand over your luggage and hand luggage. It will be weighed and labeled with the necessary data. Be sure to check them before handing over your luggage.

If the weight of your luggage or hand luggage exceeds the established standards, you will be offered to leave them in a storage room, or pay extra for the excess weight. There is no equal payment for an extra kilogram, so it is better to find out such details at the information desk.

Boarding pass and customs control

The boarding pass, which you have already received at the check-in counter, contains information about the flight number, gate number of the boarding area and seat number in the airliner cabin. If you are afraid of getting lost, listen to the speakerphone - the next flight is announced every 7-10 minutes.

Important! The exit number of the boarding area is indicated by the English word Gate. If you can't find your landing zone, then look for this sign. For example, at Domodedovo airport it is written in large letters and highlighted in green.

Now the most difficult procedure is the customs control zone. The purpose of this procedure is to identify the presence of items prohibited for transportation, for example, rare items of special value, prohibited substances, weapons, large sums of money. All this needs to be declared, but in most cases (99% of tourists) ordinary citizens do not carry such things and this item is not necessary for them.

Important! To avoid confusion, all airport corridors are highlighted in green or red. If you do not need to fill out a customs declaration, then go along the green corridor. If necessary - in red.

If a customs officer has doubts about the items you are carrying, he may ask you to go to customs control for a thorough inspection. In practice, this rarely happens, but if it happens, don’t worry, the procedure is unpleasant, but short-lived.

Passport control

After checking, you immediately go to the passport control area. A border officer will check your passport and boarding pass. If everything is in order, you need to go for a personal search. This procedure ensures the safety of passengers during the flight. You will also need to go through another metal detector.

Important! If you have implants, such as a pacemaker, please inform the airport staff and you will be examined separately.

After that you go out to Waiting hall. At this point, all procedures are completed, and you can go shopping. In the lounge of international airports there are duty-free shops where expensive items (for example, original perfumes or cosmetics) are much cheaper than in a regular store.

After your flight is boarded over the loudspeaker, approach the gate attendant. To board the plane you only need a pass, or in rare cases a passport. If boarding is not announced, and the time has already come, do not get lost and go to the exit yourself. There may have been some changes to the departure time, or you simply did not hear the announcement over the speakerphone. In any case, it’s better to come up and ask again than to be late.

In most cases, boarding a flight occurs by traveling on a bus along the tarmac. But it happens that they board the plane using a retractable covered ladder (sleeve). You will be informed in advance about how you will travel to the plane.

Important! If you get lost at any stage, do not be afraid and just approach the airport employee. He will definitely guide you to the right exit.

What to do if you lost your ticket?

If you lose your ticket, the main thing is not to be nervous. If you are nervous or behave inappropriately, you will immediately be detained by airport security. Therefore, in case of loss, please contact the information desk immediately. Provide documents confirming the purchase of the ticket (receipt of payment on the Internet, for example). Even if there are no such documents, provide your passport and your ticket will be restored.

What to do if you lost your luggage?

If you lost your luggage in the airport building, there are two options. Either your luggage is still untouched, or it has already been surrounded by sappers and dog handlers. In the first case, you better ask the airport staff for help, explain to them where you last left your luggage and what the suitcase looked like. If your free-standing suitcase is mistaken for a suspicious object, then you urgently need to present all the documents you have and, without opening the suitcase, explain what is in it. If everything is in order, then this check will not take much time.

I'm afraid to go to the ladies' room and not hear the boarding announcement.

This phobia is quite common among airport passengers. But this is just a phobia. At the airport, the speakerphone is so audible that it is impossible not to hear it even if you are in the ladies' room. In addition, if you are gone for 10-15 minutes, the flight will not depart without you.

I'm afraid I'll get seasick

People with poor vestibular apparatus really have this danger. But everything is resolved quite simply. If you feel seasick, ask the flight attendant for help and she will provide you with a bag.

What if I can't sit by the window?

This also happens quite often. The passenger hopes that he will look out the window and watch the clouds, but an attack of fear begins. In this case, the main thing is not to panic, but simply ask the flight attendant to change your seat. If the plane is not taking off at the moment, you can safely transfer to any other free seat. If there are no seats, the flight attendant will negotiate with other passengers to change the seat.

In any situation, there is nothing to worry about. If you cannot solve a problem, then first of all contact the airport staff and flight attendants. They, just like you, are interested in ensuring that you receive only positive emotions from the flight!

At the airport, to board a plane, a passenger does not need a ticket, but a boarding pass. It is this document that gives the right to fly and carry baggage; it indicates the passenger’s seat in the aircraft cabin and the gate number (GATE).

When should I register?

Typically, check-in begins 3 hours before departure and ends an hour for international flights and 45 minutes to half an hour for domestic flights. Since you need to check in at Sheremetyevo Airport, for example, two and a half hours for an international flight and two for a domestic flight, it is advisable to arrive at the airport three hours before departure. This way you won't have to stand in line for long. Before checking in at Vnukovo airport, you need to go through passport control; without it you will not be allowed into the terminal. In this regard, check-in counters open 12 hours before departure. Sometimes, depending on the country of departure and country of arrival, political situation and weather conditions, the registration time may increase.

It is important for the passenger to arrive before the check-in counter closes, so you need to be at the airport in advance. If you didn’t have time to check in, that’s your problem - they won’t delay the plane because of you, especially since there are always a huge number of people who want to take your place on the plane.

Airline rules

Many airlines provide a service such as a “wait list”. The passenger reserves a seat in the cabin, knowing in advance that all seats have been purchased, and can only get it if one of the passengers does not show up for the flight or is late for check-in. Airlines also have clearly stated rules for passengers in case of no-show for a flight. Depending on the fare rules, the passenger can either change the ticket by paying a fine, or without a fine, or cannot change it at all. It is also possible to cancel the ticket, but again, either with or without a penalty, or, if the ticket is not refundable, the passenger will receive nothing except a few unused taxes, usually a tenth of the ticket price.

What do you need to check in for a flight?

Before checking in for a flight at the airport, a passenger needs to check that all necessary documents are available. Standardly, this is a foreign passport (for international flights) and a ticket. The ticket can be in paper or electronic form. You can do without a ticket at all, but there is a possibility that the passenger will not be on the electronic lists in the system, so it is better to play it safe.

How to find the reception?

If you are flying for the first time and do not know the airport layout, then first of all you need to find the information desk and find out where your terminal is. Sometimes ignorance of the airport causes you to miss your flight. You can also ask the staff where and how to check in at the airport. Once you are sure you are in the correct terminal, follow the signs.

All information necessary for passengers is contained on electronic displays in the airport halls. On them you can read when check-in for your flight begins, how much time is left before departure, and which gate you need to go to to get on board your plane. Carefully study the information on the monitors before registering. At Domodedovo Airport you can check in your luggage and get a boarding pass at counters 23 to 42. Check-in counters for domestic and international flights may be located in different terminals or in different parts of the same terminal. Since you can check in at Domodedovo Airport in one terminal, you need to carefully read the airport map. Check-in counters are located in islands throughout the terminal building.

Usually the reception desk can be seen from afar. In addition to the fact that signs direct you to it, there will be a huge queue of passengers wanting to check in to help you. There are usually always a lot of people at the airport, but there may only be a queue at the check-in counter. There are separate counters for different classes. So, if, for example, you are flying business class, then you do not need to stand in the same line as those who have an economy class ticket.

What do we have to do?

The process of check-in and issuance of a boarding pass is a fairly quick procedure; baggage check-in takes much more time. You need to know the baggage allowance. It is divided into hand luggage and, in fact, luggage. Each airline has its own rules and regulations regarding how your bag will be checked. After weighing, a tag is attached to your luggage, and you are given a coupon, which, upon presentation at the airport of arrival, you can receive your items.

You need to pack your luggage not the way you want, but the right way. Checking in at the airport with incorrectly packed items is quite problematic. This is especially true for hand luggage. All personal hygiene products must be in containers not exceeding 100 ml in volume, in original, unopened packaging. In addition, some airlines do not allow gels. You are strictly forbidden to take shaving foam and hairspray with you.

If flying is a new event for you, then before packing your suitcases, you need to clarify information regarding luggage with the air carrier or airport staff.

What to do after registration?

After receiving their boarding pass, passengers are allowed into the customs inspection area. Passengers must be prepared to go through a metal detector. You may be asked to remove your shoes and belt. Items from pockets are placed in a specially provided basket.

After the security check, passengers go to a “sterile area” where they wait to board their flight.

Since sometimes you have to wait a long time, in this area there are cafes and gift shops, the goods from which, including alcohol and cigarettes, can be taken with you into the aircraft cabin (if you have a receipt). While waiting for a flight, it is important to constantly monitor the information on the monitor and the announcements over the public address system.

Is there an alternative?

Most airlines allow passengers to check in online. This saves the passenger time. You can register for a flight on the airline’s website one day before departure. This procedure can reduce your waiting time at the airport and makes it possible to select seats according to the cabin map.

Indeed, online check-in is not as difficult as checking in at the airport, but this only applies to the passenger himself. Unfortunately, luggage can only be checked in at the check-in counter, so don't think too much about this alternative.

Self-service kiosks

Another option is to register at kiosks. Information and step-by-step instructions on how to check in at the airport will help you navigate the place. The function of such kiosks is to relieve the congestion at the reception desk. In this case, you need to check your luggage separately, again at the check-in counter.