Tips for flyingImage:Departuresboard.jpg|thumb|Departures board at Cologne/Bonn airport Airplane flight is one of the most common forms of international travel. These are some tips for making your flights safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable.  ==Planning your trip== * Ask your travel agent to help you. When you are making the bookings, the travel agent can reserve a particular type of seat for you (e.g. window seat so you can see out, or an aisle seat so you can't be boxed in by other people.) It may be possible to ask for an emergency row seat (see below) at this time although you might have to pay extra. They can also arrange for any special needs you have during travel - diabetic meals, wheelchairs at the airport etc. It's too late to get to the airport and say 'I can't walk as far as terminal 369'. * Avoid booking flight segments close together. Major airlines consider a connection as tight as 35 minutes to be a valid connection, but this is often not enough time if there are long lines at security! If travel time is not critical, consider allowing at least two hours to make each connection. If you are not delayed, you can use this slack time to eat at the airport, where the food is likely orders of magnitude better than what you may (or may not!) get in the air. See also Travel topics for articles on discount airlines. ===Reservations and ticketing=== From the moment you first book your flight to the moment you step on the plane, there's a lot going on in the background. The following may be helpful in understanding what is happening. * The first step is to make a '''reservation''' for your flight. This means that the airline will '''hold''' a seat for you until a given date, typically a week or so before the flight. If you do not pay up before the expiration date, the booking will be cancelled and somebody else can grab the seat. Reservations can be changed and cancelled freely. ** A seat reserved just for you will be listed as '''confirmed''' in your reservation, and will not be taken away. You can only confirm a single seat in each direction per ticket. *** ''Tip'': If you're not sure what time you can make it to the airport, book the last flight of the day. This way you can always try to fly standby if you get to the airport earlier than expected. ** If you try to get on a fully booked flight, you can make a '''waitlisted''' reservation. If the waitlist "goes through", meaning that somebody else cancels and you get their seat, the waitlisted reservation becomes confirmed and any previously confirmed seats on other flights are cancelled. You can waitlist multiple flights. * Turning a reservation into an actual ticket is called '''issuing''' the ticket. An issued ticket must be paid for and, depending on ticket type, some or all of following restrictions may now apply: ** '''nonchangeable''': you cannot change the flight time and date (at least not without paying a heavy change fee) ** '''nonendorsable''': you cannot fly another airline if your airline has problems (for serious cases like flight cancellations this is usually overruled by local legislation) ** '''nonrefundable''': you cannot get your money back if you don't fly ** '''nonreroutable''': you cannot change to another route, even if the destination is the same ** '''nontransferable''': you cannot sell the ticket to somebody * If you are still waitlisted for a flight that you would like to board, or if you would like to take an earlier flight than you're booked on, you can try to fly '''standby'''. This means simply showing up at the airport check-in counter and asking to be put on the next flight. If there is plenty of space, you'll be checked in right there. However, if the flight is looking full, you will have to wait until the flight is '''closed''' (typically 30-60 minutes before departure) and the airline can calculate how many seats it has left. * If you don't check in by closing time, you will be declared a '''no-show'''. Your seat can now be given to somebody on standby and your ticket is forfeited, which depending on the ticket and airline may mean either total loss or, at a minimum, a hefty no-show fee if you try to rebook. Note that many discount airlines streamline this process considerably so that no reservations are possible, only fully paid and issued tickets. Flight restrictions are typically draconian — some companies even ban standby changes — so you'll have to pay lots to make any change and have no hope of getting a refund. ===Health and security concerns=== * Check official government travel warnings. Whether or not you are a US citizen, you may be interested in the US State Department's [http://travel.state.gov/travel/warnings.html travel warnings]. * Be sure you have all required vaccinations and travel documents. You may want to photocopy important documents (such as your passport) and store copies separately in case the originals are lost. * Airplanes fly at high altitude and cabin pressure is lower than on the ground. This is particularly problematic if your nose or ears are clogged due to a cold, so if at all possible avoiding flying when sick. ==Frequent flyers== Many airlines offer a '''frequent flyer''' loyalty program, rewarding patrons who fly regularly with them or who fly long distances. The loyalty schemes work on a '''segments''' or '''miles''' basis: you get rewards after you fly a certain number of trips ('segments') or after the total distance of your flights exceeds a certain amount. Business and first class passengers may receive bonus miles for each journey. If you are not a member of a frequent flyer program, consider joining one - especially if you travel to an intercontinental destination or plan to take additional trips. You may get something out of it, at the price of having your data profiled and used for advertisement. The frequent flyer rewards typically include: * '''Free flights'''. These are 'purchased' with earned miles, typically every twenty-five miles flown will buy one mile for free. * Access to '''airport lounges''' in which you can wait for your flight and relax, read newspapers, have a drink, or in some lounges even have a simple meal such as sandwiches or breakfast rolls. Lounge staff are often very helpful in e.g., calling the gate every hour to check if your flight is still delayed. A few lounges have free internet access. Lounges are open to members of airline clubs and holders of some credit cards: [http://www.dinersclub.com/en/DCIHome/airport.jhtml Diners Club]; GlobeCard Platinum; Master Card; and American Express. You can also buy yearly access to the lounges: you will typically get free access to them when your mileage total reaches about 50 000 miles. * If you collect enough points in a year you can become an '''elite member''' (often denoted as silved, gold, platinum etc). This can give you advantages such as checkin at the business counter, early boarding, priority in waitlists, etc. Check that your miles will be credited by giving your frequent flyer number to your travel agent. Also check at the check-in desk that the flight has been credited to your frequent flyer account. You can usually claim miles for flights up to 12 months after you've taken them, but you will need to keep your boarding pass stubs. It's easier to register your number at the time of booking. Your airline of choice may be a member of an '''airline alliance''', which allows you to earn and use your miles on other airlines as well. The big three alliances are [http://www.staralliance.com Star Alliance], [http://www.oneworld.com oneworld] and [http://www.skyteam.com SkyTeam]. You may also be able to claim points from '''other sources'''. Credit cards affiliated to a program are particularly useful, as you'll typically get miles every time you use them and this can quickly rack up to a free trip per year, but hotel stays, car rentals and even mobile phone bills may garner you points. Check your frequent flyer program for details. For more information on collecting miles on frequent traveller programs check [http://www.flyertalk.com FlyerTalk], a busy free site dedicated to frequent flyers around the world. ==Packing== From the point of view of an airline there are two types of luggage: checked and carry-on. Checked luggage is given to airline staff at check-in time and stored in the hold of the aircraft, carry-on luggage is taken on board the flight with you. The weight and size limits for carry-on luggage are typically very restrictive: they're designed to let you take on board a few essentials for comfort and anything small and easily damaged. So usually, unless you're travelling very light or for a short period of time, you will check most of your luggage and pack a few essentials for the flight in your carry-on luggage. However if you do not really need loads of luggage, it may be worth considering taking carry-on only, especially that more and more airlines, especially the low-costs, relax their restrictions on cabin luggage. It's faster if you do not have checked (or registered) luggage and certainly carry-on luggage is less prone to get lost. Travel light if you can ! If passing through the U.S., you may want to read the Transportation Security Administration's [http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=176 Prepare for Takeoff] guide. ===How much should I pack?=== * Don't take more luggage than you can carry by yourself. Airports generally have baggage carts for rent, but you have to have local currency (usually coins) to use them. * Don't overpack. It may be tempting to take as much as you are allowed, but you will want to purchase souvenirs enroute and you will inevitably have more baggage on the homeward route than when you left. * Beware of luggage weight limits. The ''usual'' limits are: ** Carry-on luggage anywhere: 1 piece, maximum weight 7 kg, maximum size 20x40x55 cm (9x14x22 in.), some European lowcost airlines don't have the weight limit on it, however. ** Checked luggage on international flights outside the United States: 1 piece, maximum 20 kg (44 lbs) ** Checked luggage on international flights to the United States: 2 pieces, maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each ** Checked luggage on domestic flights in the United States: 2 pieces, maximum 23 kg (50 lbs) each :Not all airlines have the same weight and size requirements. Low-cost carriers in particular apply lower limits, while elite members of frequent flyer programs are often allowed more. If in doubt, check with your airline. It is quite possible to get halfway around the world with your two bags and then to discover that they are too heavy/bulky for your next airline to carry them. If you are planning a long trip, make sure that your luggage meets the strictest limit before you start. ===Carry on vs. checked luggage=== *Don't have any sharp or other prohibited objects in your carry-on baggage because they are highly likely to be confiscated at the airport. This includes scissors, nailscissors, metal nailfiles, pocket knives, Swiss Army knives, screwdrivers or similar tools, and so on. Go through your manicure kit and take them out, and stow them away in your (check-in) suitcase. Carefully pack them so they don't stab an unsuspecting baggage handler. If passing through the USA, check the [http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=177 list of prohibited items] from the Transportation Security Administration. *Be sure to check for restrictions on toy weapons, which tend to make security personnel nervous. "Convincing" looking toy weapons are illegal in some countries anyway. **Pressurized containers, explosives, and hazardous materials are likely to be prohibited in the cabin or entirely. For the USA, see the TSA's guide to [http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=178 Transporting Special Items]. * If you are carrying any valuables, put them into your carry-on bag rather than your checked luggage. Your checked luggage will be thrown around in transit: if you have something that wouldn't survive a good solid landing from ten feet, take it in carry on. Note that some travel insurance policies will not cover fragile items in checked luggage. * If you have a bag with an unusual amount of electronic equipment (for example, a walkman, headphones, a power adapter for your laptop, plus a power adapter for your cell phone), it is more likely to be opened and manually inspected. (Bombs often have electronic timing devices which your electronics may resemble under X-ray.) * If you carry a laptop computer, make sure the batteries are not completely drained. You might be asked to turn it on. This is rare, but happens. * If you have a large umbrella (not the folding kind, which you could store in a carry-on bag), either leave it home or check it. If you do check it, it may be delivered to a special baggage claim area because it will not travel well on the conveyor belt system. Due to the special handling, it may take extra time to arrive. British airlines seem especially wary of umbrellas, perhaps because of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgi_Markov assassination of Georgi Markov]. Or perhaps just because they are long and potentially sharp. The best idea may be to get a small fold-up umbrella, or buy one at your destination. ===As I'm packing my bags, any tips ?=== * Pack things in plastic bags inside your check-in luggage. Because it may be sitting in the rain for a half-hour waiting for the airplane to come in, and for its luggage to be unloaded. Make sure to press the air out of the plastic bags while packing as it takes up the valuable volume in your luggage. * Put an identification tag on your bag: name, next-door-neighbor's address, telephone number, flight number, date you are travelling, point of departure, aircraft changes, final destination airport, and destination hotel. Put the same information on a sheet of paper at the top of the bag (in case the tag is lost). * Consider customizing the outside with colored tape, so it doesn't look exactly the same as everyone else's bag when you reclaim it at the end of your journey. * In your check-in luggage pack separately items that will be rejected as carry-on. Now if a particular airline is unable to check-in the luggage and forces you to treat it as carry-on, you can easily remove and dispose of the items. This has been happening with certain European airlines. Be prepared to either have those items confiscated, or prepare a postal envelope to post them somewhere before the security check. ===Locking your bags=== * If traveling in or to the United States, don't lock your bags when you check them in at the airport. All bags passing through US airports must be either X-rayed or manually inspected. If your bags need to be manually inspected and they are locked, the TSA will break the lock. If you are worried about the security of your baggage enroute to the airport, unlock the case at the counter before you check it in. After inspection and xray, bags are generally 'locked' with a plastic tie so that nobody can tamper with them. * Be aware that the main part of your suitcase will be tied shut with an unbreakable plastic tie when you get it back at the other end of your flight. If you're prepared you'll have a pair of nailscissors in the outside pocket of your suitcase so you can get the tie off - they do NOT usually secure this smaller outside pocket. ===What to carry on=== * Take a large bottle of water with you. Airliner cabins are very dry and you need to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. * Take plenty of nonperishable snacks, especially if you are hypoglycemic, diabetic or have bloodsugar issues. Don't count on being able to buy it at the airport either. If you have a tight connection and have to cross an entire airport, there is no way you'll have time to stop at the cafe as well. If you're traveling to the United States, Australia or New Zealand, don't bring more fruit than you can eat before you arrive - these countries have strict rules about bringing food in. ** You will probably be fed on the plane, or offered the chance to buy food, but not necessarily. ** In these days, more and more airlines are NOT offering meal services - at least in "economy" class. * If you have an allergy, bring decongestants. Otherwise, you may find the change in pressure to be very annoying. Cabin air can also be a problem. E.g. in planes going to Australia and New Zealand, the cabin air may be sprayed with pesticides. * Keep yourself occupied. Some planes have the latest in-flight entertainment systems, music on tape, and onboard games to keep you amused, but others may not have anything at all. Twelve or fourteen hours is a very long time to be bored. Treat yourself to a good book or two for the flight. * Take a soft jacket. This can be used as a blanket or pillow if these items are needed but not available. Sometimes the outer edge of the cabin can get rather cold (due to the very low temperature at high altitudes). ==At the airport== You need arrive at airports well before your flight as there are a number of procedures you need to complete before boarding: check in, security check and immigration control. Airlines will typically have departure boards indicating a flight's status. The most important status indicators are '''Go to gate''', which is a sign that you should complete check-in and proceed through the security check, and '''Final call''', which means that you should board the flight as quickly as possible. Reduce stress - get to the airport a half an hour before the recommended time. (Check with your airline. In the US, the recommended time is usually 1 hour before takeoff for domestic flights, 2 hours for international.) This will ensure that you will not be stressed while standing in long queues for check-in, security, emigration and more security. It also gives you a buffer for delays on the way to the airport. If for some reason you are delayed and you're worried about missing your flight or the flight status indicates that you are in danger of missing your flight, find a member of your airline's staff or talk to staff at the security gate. If you are really in danger of missing your flight, they can arrange for speedy check-ins and for you to be moved up in queues. But they won't notice if you don't tell them. ===Checking in=== The first thing you will need to do at the airport is '''check in''' for your flight. Present your ticket (if you don't have an electronic ticket) and some form of id (passport if travelling internationally) to airline staff at your flight's designated check-in counter or at common checkin counter, depending on your airline. With some airlines you will receive a '''boarding pass''' with a seat assignment, while some other do not assign seats. You may need a boarding pass to present to the security staff and later when boarding the flight. At this time, your checked luggage will be weighed, labelled and handed off to airport staff. An increasing number of airlines are implementing a self-checkin system at certain airports, although it might be restricted to passengers without checked luggage, and to passengers who do not have a physical ticket. These systems involve small kiosks in which you can enter your booking reference and which will print out a boarding pass for you. It is also often possible to checkin via Internet. * If there are several flight "legs" between you and your destination, ask check-in staff if they can check your bags all the way through so that you don't have to pick them up and re-check them at every stop. It's important that you know when you will and won't have to transfer your bags yourself: some countries insist on incoming international passengers retrieving and re-checking all luggage before transferring to another flight. On the other hand, you don't want to have to wait around for your bags only to find that they were booked through. * Consider asking check-in staff for an emergency exit row seat. Seats in the emergency exit rows have significantly greater legroom than standard seats. However, all your hand baggage has to go in the overhead compartment if you are in these rows. In theory, passengers in these seats are required to help attendants with the door in an emergency: you might not be able to sit there if you are physically unable to help; if you are deaf or blind; or if you are pregnant. Some airlines now charge extra for exit row seating using the name "Economy Plus" or similar. If you're very tall you may sometimes get these seats without paying but don't count on it. ===Overbooking=== Almost all airlines overbook their flights; this may mean you have the chance of obtaining compensation if you volunteer to be bumped, or this may mean your day is made hell as the airline refuse to board you, despite having a prepaid and confirmed flight ticket. Compensation for E.U. passengers in this case is very low. One way to reduce the risk of overbooking is to check-in very early, either by internet or by telephone before arriving at the airport. ===Security check=== Aviation security is no laughing matter. Even before 9/11, most countries have taken it very seriously; but since the terrorist attacks on New York (city)|New York, security regulations have been tightened, procedures improved, and airport security personell will be very strict on implementing these regulations. * Above all else: '''Always''' keep your luggage with you. Airport security takes unaccompanied suitcases very seriously. If one is found and the owner is not within reach to claim it, this will almost immediately trigger an alert resulting in a closing down of the affected area, and inspection of the suspicious piece of luggage by experts. The result will be serious inconvenience for a lot of people, and for you a delay, and maybe even fines or the total loss of your luggage. * Depending on current procedures, you may be more likely to get a supplemental personal security check (being taken aside and examined with a handheld metal detector) at U.S. airports if you are travelling alone, buy a one-way ticket, pay cash, buy your ticket at the last minute, or change destinations on the day of the flight. This might take an additional 15 minutes or so at the security checkpoint. * Be proactive to avoid getting stopped by security. Before you go through the queue for the checkpoint: ** Take off your jacket; it will need to be X-rayed. ** Take out all the metal in your pockets (including cellphones, keys, change, etc.). Instead of fumbling with the provided plastic bins, put loose metal objects (especially change) in a bag or jacket pocket that will go through the X-ray machine. ** Remove any large objects from your pockets that create a suspicious bulge. They will probably be uncomfortable to keep there on the plane anyway. ** Don't wear a belt with a large metal buckle or other metal ornamentation, or if you do, take it off. ** Don't wear hiking boots or other shoes with large metal loops og steel plates in the soles, or be prepared to take them off. American security is especially wary of shoe bombs after the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Reid Richard Reid] incident. ** If in the US, get ready to unload your laptop if you're carrying one. It will need to be put through the X-ray machine by itself. * While your bags are being checked through security, keep an eye on them at all times, especially if you have put valuables inside. Security personnel are supposed to allow you to watch the entire inspection process, so even if you or one of your bags is being searched, any other bags you might have should be within sight. Security personnel are focused on keeping the terminal area secure. They won't necessarily notice if a stranger grabs your bag or takes something out of it, especially since they probably won't know who it belongs to. * Don't make jokes about bombs, weapons, or other security threats. There is no room for humor on this topic; security personnel will take any such joke as a serious statement. You will be checked more thoroughly, or even escorted off the premises in extreme cases. ==On board== After you proceed through security you will reach the departure area. Depending on the airport this may be bare or full of shopping and entertainment. Your flight will have an associated '''gate number''' where it is boarding. ===Before boarding=== * Find the gate where you are boarding: be there no later than 15 minutes before the flight's scheduled departure, and preferably a little earlier. At the gate, airline staff will check your boarding pass and may also want to see photo ID. At this point, you will be registered as being on-board the flight. The departure area may be quite large: some contain up to fifty gates. * Switch off your mobile phone ''before'' you board the plane. Using a mobile phone on board is a violation of air travel safety laws, even during boarding when the plane is still on the ground. The crew will ask you to turn off your phone, and if you do not comply you ''will'' be escorted off the plane. ===During the flight=== * Count the number of seat backs between your seat and the emergency exits. If you ever need to evacuate an aircraft in an emergency you will probably need to do it in a darkened cabin that is full of thick black smoke. If the aisle is full of people you will at least know the number of seats you need to climb over to get out in that one in a million emergency. Even if you ignore the safety briefing, do this. * Read the emergency instructions and watch the safety briefing - every time. It may be boring but if (when) an emergency happens you will remember what to do, rather than having to read the emergency card first. * Wear your seatbelt whenever you are sitting in your seat. While you may not think you need it in smooth level flight, aircraft can make sudden unexpected manouvers even at cruising altitude. Air turbulence can occur without warning even in clear air and can throw you from your seat. Unexpected turbulence is the most common cause of serious injury in the air. * Don't sit completely still. The human body isn't designed for sitting completely still for many hours. Try to adjust your seating position as often as possible (you do this in your sleep anyway). Try to stretch, move your toes in circles, anything you can do in your seat. Many airlines will now periodically show video programs you can follow to get some exercise in your seat. You can follow them, or do your own thing (or both). People have actually died of sitting too still in their seat, as they have developed deep-vein thrombosis, more commonly known as blood-clots. By changing position, and moving around a little, you make sure every part of your body get the circulation it needs. And you'll feel better. * Ensure you stow any loose items before landing. Put magazines and books in the seat pocket. Do not leave them lying on the empty seat beside you. Under heavy braking on landing, even seemingly light article can become projectiles that can travel the length of the plane. * Always follow the instructions of the flight attendants. They are not simply waiters, they are responsible for your safety. Do not argue with them. They are always right. Any conflict or object you have to their service should be resolved on the ground. If an "unruly passenger" becomes a serious problem, the captain of the plane ''will'' make an unscheduled landing, and the passenger will be taken off the airplane. First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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