I was traveling internationally for the first time in September 2023. It was my first journey, and I didn’t know the Airport Procedures or what to do after entering the airport.
It was so difficult for me to understand what to do and where to go first, and then also which documents are needed to finally reach the flight.
I started to read some blogs and YouTube videos that explained to me what is the flight check in procedure and what I have to do at the airport. After my first successful experience, I think I have to share and explain the process and procedure at the airport so it can be helpful to someone.
Due to a lack of airport procedures knowledge, someone may miss their flight, and airlines may not refund them. So let’s know some important points about the pre- and post-arrival procedures.
Table of Contents
1. Pre-Arrival Airport Procedures
Booking & Ticketing
The first step is to book you tickets using any online platform or from any agent.
To get some discounts, there are several ways.
- Book at the festival because, during that time, online platforms provide big discounts.
- Check multiple dates because not all dates have similar prices.
- Not search continuously on the same online platform because they have some algorithms. If you search for the same destination on the same date continuously, it will hide cheap flights that you found previously.
- Book off season if it is OK for you
- Check the price of luggage with and without luggage, and then add luggage externally and compare the total price. Sometimes, it will benefit.
Before paying for your tickets, please double-check your destination and dates once. So after payment, you don’t have to pay extra to change dates, and you don’t have to cancel your ticket and lose all your money.
If your return date is also fixed, then try to book return tickets; sometimes there are some discounts for two-way bookings.
Documentation
This is the most important part of your airport procedure because without a document, you can’t board the flight, so be careful with all documents.
Required Documents:
- Passport
- Tickets
- E-Visa (If required)
- Transit Visa (If connecting flights)
- Return tickets or other country tickets
- Hotel or Hostel booking
- Any one ID of your country
- Currency Cash/Credit Card (UDS or Specific Arrival Country Local Currency)
- Travel Insurance (Not required all time but I suggest must)
- Itinerary Details (Not Mandatory all time)
- COVID International certificate (May be not required now but good if you have)
For required travel accessories, you can visit: Click Here .
Packing Tips
First and main part of packing is checked your airline baggage allowance once and at the start of your packing.
This is important because at the time of boarding pass airline officials check your weight of baggage. If they find extra weight, then it will charge you extra money. So, before that, we must check the total weight and pack according.
There are two types of baggage weight: check-in & hand baggage. Example: Check-in baggage 20kg (This baggage go to the flight directly, and you can collect it from destination) and hand baggage 7 kg (It can be carried with you on flight).
2. Arrival at the Airport :
Airport Entering : At the airport terminal gate, officials check your tickets and passport and give you entry into the airport.
After entering the airport, you have to find your airline counters. There are all airline counter, so you have to find them and go over there.
There are screens everywhere in the airport with which the flight’s departure time and boarding counters number. Check your flight number and boarding counter.
Check-In Process :
There are some options where you can check in for your boarding pass, like online, self-service kiosks and check-in counters.
At the time of check-in you have to check your baggage weight and after that, airline officials give you a boarding pass in which you can see your seat number, Gate number and time of departure.
Then you have to go to the security check.
Note: If you want a window seat, then you can request at a boarding pass counter. If available, then they can give it to you.
Security Checks :
Sometimes there are big lines for security check because security checks are common for all airlines. So you must go there and do your security check, so you can be free after that, and you can walk around freely.
But for security check you have to remove your shoes, belt and all electric accessories and put them in one different a tree.
And you have to wait for security officials to call you for a check. So just go, and they check with the detector and if all looks okay then you can go ahead and collect your bag and accessories.
If they find any suspicion of you, then official can check you and your baggage further. If they find anything which is not allowed, then they can restrict you from getting on flights.
After successfully completing security check, there are two parts, like if you go on a domestic flight, then directly ahead to your gate number. But if you go internationally, then one more step is immigration.
Note: Any liquid form is not allowed more than 100ml.
Immigration :
At immigration, the officials check your visa, passport and boarding pass.
Maybe they can ask you some questions like
- Where are you going?
- Give your destination name
- Why are you going?
- Give your purpose, like tourist, business
- You have a visa?
- If you have, then show otherwise tell about on arrival visa and show documents
- Do you have a currency/ credit card?
- Where are you staying?
- Give hotel tickets
- Return tickets?
- Your itinerary.
After some questions, they allow you to go ahead to your gate number which is provide in your boarding gate.
Navigating the terminal :
You must check the airport layout before, so it will be easy to reach your boarding gate.
There are many lounges which you can access if you have some type of credit card. You can go and relax in the lounge and eat something for a minimum fee.
You can see a digital notice board where you can check your flight boarding start or not. After starting the boarding process, airline officials scan your boarding pass and allow you to go to the direct flight, or they provide transport to the flights.
THEN RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR FLIGHT.
3. Arrival at Destination
Immigration
After landing at your destination, just take your handbag and go to the immigration counter if you have handbag.
But if you don’t have an E-Visa, then there is a separate counter or space for an Arrival Visa before the immigration counter.
Go to the immigration line and wait for your turn. Local immigration officials call you and ask for your visa and passport. With confidence, provide all the documents they ask. Maybe sometimes they ask some questions and just give an answer with confidence.
After checking your visa, they stamp on your passport, and then you can enter in the country.
Baggage Claim
There are several digital notice board where you can see your flight number and belt number.
The belt number is like the belt you can collect your baggage.
If you don’t find your baggage in that belt on then, after sometime, check the notice board with your flight number. If it is changed, then go to that belt and collect your baggage.
If your baggage is missing then there is one counter called “Lost Baggage”. Just go there and provide your details, and they can help you with your baggage.
Connecting Flights
Connecting a flight means from departure to the destination you have to stop where your flight land, and you have to catch another flight from that stop.
After arrival at the stop destination, you have to through the same process which you followed at the time of departure.
Like you have to collect your baggage, then go to security, then immigration and all repeated process.
After all the process, you can go to your gate number and wait for your second connecting flight.
Transit Visa: This visa is required if you want to go outside the airport. Note: Make sure between two flights you have minimum of 2 to 3 hours’ time. It will help you to complete your process and reach your boarding gate.
Make sure you have to check your baggage weight and all required documents.
So you can find why airport procedure knowledge is more important.
Note:
- Arrive at the airport early to avoid last minutes of running.
- Check if you buy something from an airport duty-free area with a bill.
- If you have long layovers, then you can relax at lounges.