Flying for the first time?!

First time flying on a plane, what to expect when arriving at the airport?

I remember my first time on a plane — I flew out of the country SOLO on a 14+ hour flight! I felt anxious and excited all at once. There’s nothing to be afraid of, everyone has a plane to catch and there is always staff at the airport that will point you in the right direction.

…So, you already purchased your airline ticket and after the long wait, it’s time to head to the airport!

Going through the airport for domestic or foreign traveling:

• Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight - there might be traffic on the way to the airport or lots of “human” traffic getting inside the airport. (Expect an increase in traffic when flying out during holiday seasons).

• Getting to the airport - most airports separate the “arrivals” and “departures” flights to keep traffic flowing smoothly and to prevent congestion. Look for BIG road signs indicating “departures” and the airline of your booked flight. If you accidentally arrive at the “arrivals” section, just note that it will take some time to walk to the departure section (or vice versa). The airports do a good job of separating the two sections to minimize congestion. Typically, the airport separates the sections by “upstairs to downstairs” or “left to right” method — either way, locate the directional signage when you are inside if you are lost.

• Arriving at the airport, checking in

  • Most airlines offer a mobile boarding pass option (aka your plane ticket) which will be a QR code that shows your airline, gate and seat #. I strongly encourage you to take a screenshot of your boarding pass on your phone just in case there is a hiccup with the phone app, or internet connection or your phone battery is running low.

  • Self-service boarding pass — some airlines will have the option to print a physical ticket at a self-service kiosk station in the airport. Locate a station, plug in your contact info, and reservation number, and print your boarding pass.

  • Checking in at the main counter — mainly use this method if you need to check in your luggage AND get your boarding pass at the same time. Most commonly used for foreign travels or if you just have luggage that needs to be checked in if you don’t plan to use the carry-on method. Otherwise, there will be no need for you to wait in this line. Locate your airline counter, and you will be serviced by a staff member. They will take your luggage, tag it with your destination and you will be presented with a physical boarding pass.

• Going through security checkpoints — you should now have your boarding pass in your hands. Then, you will then head to another section of the airport for a security screening (aka Transportation Security Administration, TSA). Look for BIG signs in the airport that will direct you to the TSA screening. EVERYONE flying will be required to pass through this screening. This will take about 15-20 minutes of your time.

  • Faster screening process if you are TSA pre-approved, you can learn more here — it’s optional but not required. If you travel often, this saves so much time going through the checkpoint, especially for domestic flights.

• Locating your Gate # — woohoo, you have made it through TSA! Now, look for the gate number listed on your boarding pass and be near that area when they begin boarding. Your boarding pass will always show you the TIME they begin letting passengers on the plane. If you have an assigned seat, the airline staff will announce the order (in groups) of boarding (typically board first-class/disabled passengers FIRST, then starting with seating from the back to the front end of the airplane).

  • Note: Gate number may change depending on the airline (due to delayed flights or change of airplanes) so do not heavily rely on the gate number listed on your ticket. Stay alert and listen when announcements are made over the intercom OR check the live plane listings on their monitors leading up to your flight. If the gate number changes, the QR code on your ticket is NOT impacted — just be sure to show up at the new gate so you don’t miss your flight! Some airlines will send notifications through their mobile app or by text message.

*Disclaimer: All the information presented is based on my personal experience from foreign and domestic traveling. Not all airports or airlines are subjected to follow these methods mentioned above or in the same order*