Step by Step Guide to Airplane Travel for Beginners

Traveling by air on your own or for the first time can be overwhelming and scary. Follow this step by step guide and you’ll be just fine!

Planning ahead will save you a lot of stress. Air travel can actually be very enjoyable if you are not rushed and choose to enjoy the journey.

Planning

These are a few things to keep in mind as you plan your trip.

Have you given yourself enough time to get to the airport 2 hours early? Don’t push it thinking you can get from class or work to the airport at the last minute.
The larger the airport, the longer it’s going to take to get through check-in and security.
If you are traveling on a holiday plan a LOT of extra travel time to factor in crowds and delays.
The bigger the airport, the longer the layover you might need. I won’t book any flights with less than a full hour layover when I go through Chicago.
Plan ahead for how you will get to the airport, and how you will get from the airport to your final destination.

Recording Your Reservations

Pull out your calendar and on the date and time of your first flight write in the following:

Airline, Flight #, Departure Time, Departure City, Confirmation Code

In the notes of the calendar entry copy and paste your reservation or add the following:

Departure time, Departure City
Arrival time, Arrival City
How long your layover is
Departure time, Departure City, Airline & Flight #
Arrival time, Arrival City

Add a calendar entry for your return flight with the same information.
The arrival time will be listed in the time zone of your destination. Sometimes your phone’s calendar will automatically switch time zones, sometimes not, depending on your settings. That’s why it’s a great idea to list the departure times in the main heading of the calendar listing.

Luggage

A small piece of luggage is called a carry-on. Airlines have strict size limits because it must fit into the overhead compartment on the plane. On all but the very cheapest airlines you don’t need to pay extra for a carry-on. You are usually allowed one carry-on and one “personal item” such as a handbag. Your second item must fit under the seat in front of you. Make sure all your luggage has a tag with your name and contact information on it. It will make things much easier in case any of it gets lost.

Carry-On

Strict size limit, if it looks too big they will measure it and make you pay for checking it.
Never weighed unless you are flying internationally.
Only one allowed – plus an under-seat “personal item”. It doesn’t matter if a third handbag is the size of the pocket, they will call it out. Consolidate everything into two bags.
Backpacks or duffels are easier to squish into an overhead bin, but heavier to cary around all day.
I like to have a medium sized pack with a small bag inside of it containing my tablet, charger and cords, book, phone, notebook, whatever I want out during the flight. As I arrive at my seat I pull out that small bag before I stuff the pack under the seat.
Anything (other than a purse) you are wearing doesn’t count so many people just wear their neck pillow around their neck as they travel.
DO NOT try to bring knives or liquids larger than 3oz in a carry-on. They will be removed at security and lost to you forever. (More on this in the Security section.)

Larger Suitcase

Must be checked when you arrive at the airport.
Unless you are flying SouthWest, will cost anywhere between $25 and $65 per bag.
It must not be heavier than 50lbs. Don’t guess. Weigh it at home and leave yourself at least two pounds extra in case your scale is off. The charges for overweight bags are a LOT.

Packing

Pack as light as possible. You never know when your luggage will be lost, or you will be stuck dragging around for hours. Most things you might forget can be purchased or borrowed at your destination.

It never hurts to have a spare change of clothes bundled into your carry-on in case your checked bag gets lost.
You can pack liquids in checked luggage.
Shaving creme, lotion, and many toiletries are counted as liquids. If you are only bringing a carry-on, get travel sized or little (less than 3oz) containers for your shampoo, and other toiletries. Put them all in a quart sized ziplock bag and pack it on top. You’ll need to pull it out to be examined at security.
Sharp things must go into checked luggage or they will be confiscated at security.
Bring your water bottle but make sure it is empty. You can’t take ANY liquids through security on the way in. You can buy a disposable water bottle after you go through security but it’s expensive. I usually fill my water bottle at the first drinking fountain I see after I pass through security.
If it’s winter I like to leave enough room in my carry-on for the coat I wore to the airport, because it’s too hot to wear inside. You can also wear it as you travel.
You may bring food with you but it can’t be liquid (yogurt) and you don’t want anything to squish. I pack an orange and nuts/dried fruit or snack bars. Don’t pack anything that will smell strongly or make YOU smell strongly. You never know when flights will be delayed, or you’ll be stuck on a tarmac so having emergency snacks in your pack is highly recommended. Oh, chocolate is always appropriate.
It doesn’t hurt to pack a few things like breath mints, chewing gum (helps your ears with changes in air pressure) and sinus medicine like Sudafed if you have allergies. Facial tissue too. The change in air pressure as you take off, and especially as you land, really hurts if your sinuses are stuffed up. It won’t hurt to take one an hour before your flight leaves to help clear out your sinuses.

Choosing Your Seat

Where

FRONT -If you have a connection of less than an hour try to choose a seat as close to the front of the airplane as possible. Sometimes it can take up to half an hour after landing to get off the plane if you are seated in the back.
FRONT – If your seat is the very first one after first class you won’t have any underseat storage.
WINDOW – Do you love to stare out the window? Try to get a seat in front or back so the wings in the center of the plane don’t obscure your view.
SLEEP -Are you able to sleep on a plane? It’s more comfortable to lean against the wall and nobody will wake you up so they can get up and go to the bathroom.
AISLE – Claustrophobic or absolutely can’t imagine asking strangers to move so you can get out to go to the bathroom? Sit in an aisle so you don’t feel blocked in. And also realize that if you try to be friendly and assume people are nice (which they are) then people don’t mind standing up for a minute.
AISLE – If your flight is late at night or super early, your seat mates might be sleeping and if you need to go to the bathroom often you might get stuck unless you don’t mind waking people up. Sometimes people really don’t want to wake up.
MIDDLE – Nobody wants to sit in the middle, but sometimes you just have to deal with it. It will be fine.
SOUTHWEST – This airline doesn’t have assigned seating. You choose your seat after you get on the plane. You will have an assigned boarding number which tells you what order to get on the plane. If you end up getting on near the end, relax. You’ll probably have to sit in a center seat. Scan to see what is available then find at the fist available row with at least one smaller person (usually a woman) in it and take that center seat. Make sure to smile and greet your fellow passengers and nod to the seat. That is the signal for the aisle passenger to stand and let you in. Be organized so you don’t hold things up as you take your seat.

When

Sometimes you can choose your seat when you purchase your ticket.
For many economy fares you’ll have to pay extra to choose your own seat. In this case you will be assigned a seat when you arrive at the airport.
Sometimes you will be assigned a seat when you check in online 24 hours before your departure time.
If you didn’t need to check luggage and went straight to your gate without a printed ticket, walk up to the agent at the desk before you board your flight and they will print a ticket with an assigned seat for you.

Checking In Ahead of Time

It’s always a good idea to download your airline’s specific app. You can check you flight status, check in easily, and often watch movies on their wifi during the flight.

Set an alarm/notification and check in 24 hours before your departure time. You cannot check in earlier than this.
Open the app or find the airline’s website and locate “check in.”
You will need your name and the confirmation code, a six character combination of letters and numbers.
Sometimes you can choose or change your seat during check-in.
Pay attention to the options they ask you to consider, most are an extra charge.
If you have a bag to check you can pay for it now or when you check in at the airport.
On Southwest, the time you check in determines your boarding order. The earlier you check in, the closer to the front of the line, the more choices you have for seating. All of group A paid for an early spot in the line. You can pay for it to if you wish.
After checking in on an app, add your ticket to an iPhone’s wallet, or you can just use the ticket in the app.
If you check in on a computer you can have an e-ticket emailed or print off your ticket.

Arrival

Plan to be AT YOUR GATE 30 minutes before departure. Your ticket will often have both a boarding time and departure time. The doors to the airplane shut BEFORE departure time and they won’t open them back up once they are prepared for leaving the gate.

What to Wear While Traveling

You’ll need to quickly take off your shoes to go through security. Make sure your socks aren’t embarrassing and choose something you can run in (you never know if you’ll be racing to catch a connection) but that isn’t too hard to remove.
Layers! I’ve boarded planes that had the AC blasting so high that you could see ice crystals. And I’ve boarded airplanes that were absolutely stifling hot. The temperature is always more comfortable once you are in the air but for some reason they don’t have nearly as much climate control on the ground.
My favorite travel piece is a large silk scarf/wrap. I easily pack it, I can wear it like a light weight scarf or wrap it around my shoulders. It’s tightly woven charmeuse so it can keep out cold air if I use it as a blanket and sometimes I wrap it around my neck and over my head if I’m trying to sleep and don’t want to be disturbed.

How Early to Arrive

Find a map of your airport online and find which terminal your airline flies from.
Determine how long it will take you to travel from your location to the airport, considering the time of day and traffic. Then give yourself EXTRA time.
Make plans for your travel, arranging a ride, taxi/uber, train, etc.
Two hours before your departure is enough time after arriving for most airports. If you know your airport is large, or it is a holiday season, add in extra time.

How to Check In

If you need to check luggage, or just want a printed ticket, head to your airline’s ticket desk. Sometimes there will be a long line here. You must check in luggage no later than 45 minutes before your departure or they can’t guarantee it will get on your flight.
Sometimes there is a touch-screen kiosk before you get to the desk. You will need your e-ticket, printed ticket, or your name and confirmation number. Follow the instructions on the kiosk. It might print a ticket and receipt for you.
Some kiosks will print out your luggage sticker and you will need to put it on your checked-bags handle before getting to the desk. Watch how other people do it while you are waiting in line, or ask for help. Read it to make sure that it lists your final destination.
Wait in line to be called to the desk. Airlines without kiosks might have a touch-screen kiosk at the desk for you to check in with. Same procedure.
The desk agent will need to see your State ID, Passport, or driver’s license and ticket. You will put your luggage on the scale. If it weighs more than 50lbs you will either pay a fortune or hold everyone up while you open and dig through your suitcase to find something you can take out and stuff into your carry-on. Double check the luggage sticker to make sure it says your final destination on it.
If you aren’t sure, ask which way security and your gate is. Sometimes they can tell you the best choice if there are multiple security checkpoints in a large airport.
Keep the little bar code tickets from your luggage stickers. Tuck them away in your wallet, just in case your luggage gets lost.

Security

If you don’t need to check luggage or print a ticket, head straight to security.
Make sure your water bottle is empty.
If needed, hit the restroom now because the security line might be loooong then you might be rushing to your plane with no time to stop.
Sometimes this line is looooong. If you still have an hour before departure you should be OK.
You will need your State ID, Passport, or driver’s license and ticket at the end of the line. Once the guard checks your ID you can put it away. You won’t need it for the rest of your flights. If you are wearing a mask, you’ll need to take it off for a moment so they can check your photo.
Head to the line screening tables. Watch what the people in front of you are doing and listen to the guards. Often they will be giving instructions and sometimes you hear a surprise “leave your shoes on” if they are trying to speed things up.
Empty your pockets. Put everything into a coat pocket or your purse/pack pocket and zip it shut.
Take off your shoes. Many belts have metal buckles and those will have to come off too.
Carry-on’s and larger zip-shut bags can lay right on the table/conveyor belt.
Pull out at least one bin and place Coat/Jacket, shoes and a small bag in it.
Pull out the zip-loc bag with liquids in it and lay it on top of the bin.
If you have a computer, you will probably need to pull it out and place it alone in a separate bin. Sometimes tablets go in too, listen to the guards or ask about them.
If you have metal in your body let them know where it is. They will use a wand to check it out.
Follow instructions and go through the metal detector. If it’s a “step in and raise your arms” just watch what people in front of you do.
If there is something they can’t figure out in your bag as it is screened, they will pull it aside. Take your other things with you and follow them. They’ll open your bag at a different table and check things out. If you forgot a keychain pocket knife or have a water bottle, say goodbye to it.
If you are traveling with a stroller and little ones, don’t be afraid to ask the guard for instructions and ask strangers for help. People want to get everyone through as quickly as possible so they are usually happy to help. You’ll need to empty the stroller out and fold it up then carry your baby through. Have everything bundled accordingly. If you are traveling alone with toddler that bolts, alert the people on the other end if they ask the child to come through without holding your hand.
There are usually benches/seats on the other side of security so you can sit down and reassemble yourself.

Getting to Your Gate

Your early check-in ticket might have a departure terminal and gate number on it, or it might not. If you checked in on arrival they will have given you a ticket with your terminal and gate.
Right outside security you will find departure/arrival boards. Look for your first destination city and find your flight number then follow the signs to your gate.
Fill your water bottle at the first opportunity.
If you have plenty of time before BOARDING (not Departure) feel free to get a bite to eat. Be aware that food service can be very slow in an airport so time things accordingly.
Find your gate, check the signs to make sure the city you are traveling to is listed, and have a seat and relax.
f you are really early (sometimes the lines aren’t long – it can be unpredictable) there will be another plane leaving from your gate first. This is when it’s good to have an app to check. I use the airlines apps but I also like FlightTracker because it will update gate changes and flight times. It also has maps of all of the airports so you can check how far apart your gates are on your layover.
Keep an eye on the time. Take a walk. Charge your devices. Watch people. Read something. Eat something.
If the flight is packed full, they might ask for passengers to volunteer to check their carry-on because there won’t be room for them all. If you already have checked luggage, go for it. You just got a second bag checked for free and you don’t have to deal with it until you arrive. If you are in the last boarding group (see below) you might be forced to check it anyway if the overhead bins are full.
You can purchase food and bring it on the plane to eat, but please be aware that the rest of the plane probably doesn’t want to smell your pizza the whole flight. Get something clean, and non-odiferous.

Unexpected Delays and Other Problems

Weather happens. Nobody can control it so be patient and understanding and roll with it. Mechanical issues happen. Be grateful that they won’t let a plane go up unless ALL the systems check out perfectly. Air travel is one of the safest forms of transport because of this.
Listen to announcements, follow directions, check your apps. Sometimes you’ll get a gate change so don’t ignore the announcements and keep half an eye on what people around you are doing.
If a flight delay is going to make you miss your connecting flight, go straight to the gate agent and ask them about it. They might be able to change your second flight or rearrange your travel. Remember to be very polite, understanding, and especially be kind. It makes a huge difference. If you are impatient or angry with a worker who doesn’t have any more control over the situation than you do, you aren’t going to be well served. Be clear with what your problem is and don’t be afraid to tell them your situation. ie. “This is my first solo flight and I’m not sure what to do.” They will do their best to help you. Be patient.
(Story break – I was traveling on a day when storms across the entire east coast had shut down airports everywhere. My flight was cancelled at the last minute. Airports were full of stranded passengers, some of whom had been trying to get home for days. When I went to the agent to rearrange my travel three passengers in front of me were exhausted and mean. One was yelling obscenities at the agent. When it was my turn I smiled and opened with “This has been a very horrible day for you, I’m so sorry. I need to rearrange my travel, but is there any way I can help you?” I ended up with flights and two meal vouchers without asking for them. The horrid man in front of me didn’t get any of those things.)
Relax. Read something. You will get there eventually and most likely it will still be faster than driving yourself.

Boarding the Plane

Your ticket will have a boarding group number, usually determined by how early you checked in.
Listen for when they call your group and follow directions for where and when to stand in line.
If your ticket is on your phone, make sure the light is set at brightest and enlarge the QR code if needed. Watch how people scan and copy what they do.
If your ticket is paper they will probably scan it for you.
Be prepared to wait in line again in the tunnel. It takes a while for people to get to their seats and stow their things.
Know your row and seat number, have your bags ready to arrange. If you have a water bottle and a little bag, have it ready to pull out of your under-seat pack.
Smile and greet the pilots and flight attendants. They have a tough job, let them know you appreciate them.
If you are stowing a carry-on overhead and you are boarding near the end of the line, especially if your seat is in the back of the plane, look for any empty space in the overheads and stow your bag. If all the seats in front are full and there is space overhead, take it. There might not be any room for your bags once you get to the back.

In Flight

Say hello to your row-mates. Quickly settle in. Relax. Pull out some gum if you need it.
Buckle up if there are no empty seats on your row and you won’t need to get up to let someone in.
Don’t be embarrassed to look around and check where the exits are. Find the nearest and count how many rows away it is. Listen to the flight attendants presentation. If you are on Southwest it can be entertaining because they are allowed to go “off script.”
When it’s time to take off, turn your phone on “airplane mode” so it doesn’t drain your battery. Put away computers. Tuck everything around your feet under the seat in front of you. Once you are up and cruising you can pull things out.
Remain buckled unless you need to get up to use the restroom. Only do so if the seatbelt light above you is turned off.
You can adjust the airflow with vents above you, and turn on reading lights if it is dark.
You won’t be getting a meal on board. You will be offered a small snack (nuts, crackers, cookie). You don’t have to take it if you don’t want it. You will be offered something to drink. They have water, soda, juice, and even alcohol (which you have to pay for.) It will be poured into a small cup with ice, but feel free to ask for no ice, or for the whole can. If you aren’t paying attention but aren’t fast asleep, they will interrupt you to ask you if you want anything. I usually smile and shake my head no since I have a full water bottle and snacks I actually like.
When they bring your drink you can pull down your seat tray if you wish. You’re stuck with your trash until they come get it. Watch for the attendants to come by and be helpful by having trash gathered up.
Relax. If you have a window seat, look out often. You can see amazing things up there. Be patient with the people around you. If a baby is crying, it’s parents probably want to cry too. Help out any little kids around you if you have the opportunity.

Disembarking

When it’s time to descend the captain will announce it. It will still take some time to get down.
Once you have landed it might take a while to get to your gate. It could be another plane is late getting out of the way, or it’s a very big airport and you have a long way to go. You don’t need to gather everything up right away, especially if you are in the back of the plane.
Turn your phone back on and check where your next departure gate is. They will probably have announced which gate you are arriving at. You apps might show you a map of how far apart your gates are.
When you arrive at the gate it will still take a little time to get the tunnel ready for you. Be ready but be patient. If you have a very tight layover it doesn’t hurt to smile and let the people around you know you are worried about making your next flight. They might let you out in front of them.
Getting off the plane takes a while. Waiting for everyone in front of you to pull out their carry-ons and get down the narrow aisle can seem like forever. There isn’t anything you can do to make it go faster so be patient.

Layovers

If you don’t know the gate where your next flight leaves from, look for a board or ask the gate agent at the desk right when you get out of the tunnel. Don’t stop and hold up the people behind you, step aside and tell them your next flight # to what city and ask directions.
In some large airports getting from one place to another can be tricky (Chicago I’m looking at YOU!) so ask directions. Ask again along the way if needed. Most airports have efficient transport to get you from one terminal to another. Sometimes your gate is just a few steps down from where you landed.
Unless you have a loooooong layover, get to your next gate before you take a break. You’ve got this now. Do the same boarding and flight process you did for your last flight.

Final Destination

Once you’ve landed you can turn your cell/wifi back on and call your ride to tell them you’ve just landed if you have someone waiting for you. They will probably have an idea of how long it will take you to get to them.
Relax, you made it! Make sure you have everything with you. Once you leave the terminal through security (no lines or checks this time) you can’t go back in.
Follow the signs to baggage, even if you didn’t check a bag.
If someone is waiting inside the airport for you they will be near baggage.
If you don’t need to pick up anything, doors to ground transport or getting picked up will be near baggage.
Listen to announcements or look for signs telling you which baggage station your flight has been assigned. Go wait there if you checked luggage. It might take a while. It might not. Grab your bag when it comes around and off you go.
If you’ve waited, everyone from your flight has left, and you are sure you are at the right baggage claim – but your bag hasn’t arrived – don’t panic. Look around for an employee and ask where “lost luggage for __ Airline” is. Go there and talk to the agent. Pull the luggage stickers out of your wallet. It’s possible they pulled your bag out before you got there. It’s possible it’s lost. Follow their instructions. They will usually have you fill out a form and leave your contact information. Make sure you have a number that you can call as well. Most of the time they will be able to track it quickly. It is their job to bring it to wherever you are and usually that happens within 24 hours. Ask what they provide. It might be cash for an extra set of clothes (good reason to have an extra in your bag!) or just hand you a little pack with toothbrush and a comb in it. (In my experience lost bags have been delivered within 24 hours.)