Flying for the first time or flying after a long time? Both reasons are enough to give you the jitters. While you may love to appear cool as a cucumber, you can still feel the nerves kick in.
And to top that, you have a list of unanswered questions. How do you check in a bag, or what should you expect when you go through airport security? The list is endless.
Given you are in such a situation, what do you do? Well, before your first time travelling on a flight, it's crucial to review these tips and plan accordingly. This will ensure that you feel prepared and in control when you fly, leading to the best experience possible.
If people could, they would pack everything they like when going on a trip. But, in reality, that's impossible because every airline has limitations.
So, if this is your first time travelling on a flight, one of the best advice we can give you is to visit the airline's website and review its limitations. By doing this, you can ensure you are ready rather than caught off-guard at the airport.
Who doesn't like to travel light? That's why most people try keeping a minimum of things in their carry-on bag. But now imagine a situation wherein, for some reason, your checked-in bag cannot be found. While no one would want that to happen, for an emergency like that, be prepared and keep prescription medicine, contacts or glasses, or essential paperwork handy.
Another flying for the first time tip is to keep things like a laptop, headphones, a book, or a magazine handy, so that you are not bored in flight.
Remember when our parents used to tell us to be on time? If it's your first time flying, apply the same rule for air travel. You need time to get your boarding pass, check your bags, and go through security before boarding. While sometimes that might be a quick process, during peak travel season, it can be quite the wait.
When it's your first time flying, you would want to do everything to make it smooth and hassle-free. This is where our next tip becomes extremely important: keep your ID handy. This could be your driver's license or Aadhar card, but keep it handy so that you don't keep everyone else waiting in line.
Often, during security checks, you need to take your jacket or sweater off. Hence, a great tip here for those flying for the first time would be to opt for clothes that are easy to remove.
Just like you, there are many people travelling, and if you hold up a security check, it can cause quite a ruckus, so to avoid that, wear easy-to-remove clothing.
While you might be flying for the first time, it's important to understand this basic rule of flying.
Travelling etiquette is as simple as regular etiquette: you don't crowd someone's personal space if you are sitting at the very end of the plane, you don't try to jump and get ahead, and you don't try to get ahead when taking stuff out from the overhead bins.
Certain things are within your control, and some are beyond your control. But the best way out to avoid an in-flight faux pas is to respect people and their space.
Now, coming to the most important flying for the first-time tip- what happens if you miss your flight? While it's something no one would want, there's always a possibility. Coming back to the question, what do you do over here? First, take a deep breath, you have missed your flight, and there's no way to get on it now. But here's what you could do:
1. If you miss the flight because of unanticipated circumstances, the airline might put you on hold for the next flight without charging additional money. But do inform them as soon as possible so that you can get on the next flight either for free or for a minimal fee.
2. If you missed the connecting flight because of the airline, you can rebook that flight free of charge and even get some free meals or hotel vouchers for the hassle.
You are not the only one flying for the first time; there are many others like you. Who knows, you might meet someone like you on your flight. While it's okay to be nervous, remember the tips we have shared and take it easy.
This way, your first time flying can be a breeze, and you can be confident the next time you travel because, by now, you will have gained enough experience to know what to do and what to avoid.
GMR Group's CSR arm, focusing on building social infrastructure and improving the lives of communities near the Group's locations.
.svg){kind=logo}
