First Flight Manual
This is so simple manual for anybody who will have a first flight. For veteran frequent flyers, this article is just not for you. However, everybody must have had an experience travel by commercial airline for the first time. Someone might be lucky by flying with their parent since they were kids. By all means, I never thought that there are as many as 50 steps traveling by plane until I write it down.Before and at check-in
1. Prepare all the travel document then take a good night sleep. Donò€™t worry; Travel by plane is the safest way to travel.
2. Getting to the airport before the plane takeoff at least 2 hours or even 3 hours in US.
3. Checking for the right terminal before for airport you are unfamilier with. Many airports have up to 4 terminals.
4. Arrive the airport. If you are smoker, smoke before you go in the terminal.
5. Take the airport cart to carry your luggage.
6. If necessary, exchange the currency at destination, however, you should exchange in advance because you will get the better rate from the local bank.The exchange rate information that I use is XE Universal Currency Converter
7. Check at LCD monitor by looking for departure monitor which will give the information of flight number, departure time followed by check-in counter information. Usually, check-in counters are ordered alphabetically (A, B, C, D, E and so on).
8. Prompt to show your passport and ticket at check-in. You also may be asked for the credit card used for buying the ticket.
9. Check the allowable luggage. There are different between airliners. As my experiences, most of Economic or Y class allows 20-30 kg load on the aircraft. You can load one luggage for short haul and two luggages for long haul. You can also take one carry on however donò€™t bring over 100 mg. of liquid product on board.
10. Put the luggages in the weight counter then check at the digital display. It is better to pre-weigh your suitcase at home in order not to experience an unpleasant surprise at the check-in counter of the airport.
11. Now, you will get the boarding pass. check out the gate number where will you be on board, the seat number and most importantly the boarding time.
12. Enroll on Mileage program ahead of time. Donò€™t forget to re-inform the airline officer at check-in by showing the mileage card. Itò€™s all benefit.
Immigration and security check
13. At immigration checking, go into the right row.Usually, there are three categories; residence, foreigner and diplomatic officer.
14. Prepare the passport, boarding pass and departure document.
15. Yawn if you are sleepy.It might take half an hour in some airports.
16. Stop at yellow line before your queue.
17. At security check, you are required to take off jacket, wallet, watch, cell phone, belt, note book or any other metal objects.In the worst case, you may be requested to take off your shoes.Then, place all objects in the tray, keep the tag with you and walk pass the detector. Donò€™t worry, if the detector alarms, the security will need to check and touch you a little bit.
At Departure area
18. After pass the immigration and security check, look immediately at departure screen again by checking out the gate number on the screen with the boarding pass. If they are different, you should believe the gate showing on departure screen because the airport might change the assigned gate for their convenient.
19. Shopping at duty free as you can, however, check out the price on the street before you buy. Some countries have the rule limiting the amount of certain kind of product such as you could not bring in 20 packs of cigarette.
20. Again, if you are smoker, find the smoking room now. Take 3 or 4 if you take a long haul flight. However, most of airport smoking rooms are terrible.
21. Go to the gate or departure lounge 10-15 minutes before boarding time. Go to toilet have a good seat, bring out your book, PSP, IPOD or Notebook to kill time.
22. The airline officer will announce boarding. The disable and elderly person will be boarding first. Then first and business class passengers followed by the economy class passengers. They will board from the back row first.
23. Donò€™t worry, if lots of people are starting to form the line, wait for them to get in. I always sit until thereò€™s no line.
On-boarding
24. Take newspaper and magazine.
25. In the gate, go into right door which are first & business or economy.
26. Show your boarding pass again to flight attendance at airplane gate. They will guide you to the right aisle (walkway, corridor).Usually you will turn right.
27. Look at the row number at the overhead compartment (storage, self closed cabinet). It will be very small as 2 by 4 cm.
28. If your compartment will have been occupied, thatò€™s not the end of the world. Take your carry-on to nearby compartment is OK.
29. Sit down and relax. Then the safety procedures vdo will show up.
30. Take out your PSP or IPOD for long haul. Many airlinesò€™ in-flight entertainment (IFE) are great but some are below the standard.
31. Flight attendant (FA) will give you a headset. Plug it at the arm rest then enjoy.
32. Check out the aircraft lay-out before you travel. You will see how to go to toilet. Watch out some bad seat at emergency door.The online guide for selecting the good seat is at Seatguru.
33. Fasten your seat belt.
34. Put the pillow and blanket under your seat, if you are a big guy.
35. Take off; be chill. You can read the magazine.
36. After 15 minutes or when seat belt sign off, you are free. Take off seat belt, go to toilet if you want, activate your electronic device then enjoy.
37. Never touch FA.
38. Donò€™t eat too much; no one blames you if you skip the meal. Having too much gas at 36,000 feet is not a pleasant moment.
39. You can ask for any beverage they have and unlimited.
40. Toilet are very small, itò€™s not easy to have sex in the toilet. However, there is a club called milehigh having tales about having sex on airplane.
41. If you have meal, turn the knob under the monitor located at front seat. You will have the dining table set now. Remember, you got to put your seat straight when having meal.
42. Before landing, FA will give you arrival card. Write it down on the plane. You will need the passport number and the address you will stay at destination.
43. Fasten seatbelt again when landing.
44. You donò€™t have to rush, you will never get out immediately when the plane parks. Get your luggage, sit and wait for others start to move then sneak in the line.
Arrival
45. If you are connecting, check the departure screen again. Where is the zone or the gate to go? Remember watch the departure time first. (many decent airlines have staff to wait for you at the door)
46. If you are not connecting, look at LCD indicate your flight and the luggage claim belt.
47. Go to immigration. Yawn again.
48. Take the cart. Pick your luggage at assigned belt.
49. Pass the custom, your face stays calm and walks thru it.
50. Look for person who will pick you up. You can go the public transport. Decent airports have the hi-speed train into the city.
Have a good flight!!!!
Article by Thaitravelhub.com