Never been abroad but new job requires international traveling

[neverabroad]

I have never been abroad or on an aeroplane for various reasons. It's something I do want to do but there has just never been a good time for it.

My new job will require international traveling. I'm not sure how frequently and whether it will be alone or accompanied, I imagine it will be pretty infrequent and accompanied to start with?

Do you think it will be easy to manage/cope with going on a plane for the first time alone having never done it before? Is it quite complicated? I'm worried I will embarrass myself. Should I tell my employer I've never been abroad?

(Obviously this is all hypothetical right now, especially with COVID).

Don't worry. The airport staff will put you right. There are signs up everywhere with instructions where to go and what to do. There will probably be others for whom it's the first flight as well. We all have to start somewhere.

Congratulations on the job and my tip is the enjoy every minute of the international aspect.

I think travelling alone is much easier. Only yourself to worry about and like a pp said if you can catch a train you can catch a plane. You will only have to do it a few times and you'll get used to it.

My first few trips abroad on a plane were alone for work, as I'd never had the opportunity as a child or young adult, apart from a family driving trip to Spain, so not alone and not flying.

It's fine, you get used to it and may even come to enjoy it. I spent a lot of time studying the airport website so I'd know where to go, what to do, where to park etc and allow plenty of time so you don't feel rushed or panicked. I have made mistakes but just about everything is fixable.

I remember the first time, I followed everyone else getting off the plane and unintentionally went from airside to landside before I'd picked up my hold luggage, which is a bit of a no no and the person I was going to meet was right there so I couldn't not admit to what I had done, but fortunately he was well known at the airport as he was a Government official in the place I'd gone to so he sorted it out for me and got me back airside with no fuss.

I love travelling alone, wandering through an airport and looking in the shops without having to not lose your travelling companions, sitting having a drink and watching the planes, reading, people watching or just having a snooze or looking out of the window on the plane. It's nearly two years since I've been on a plane for work or leisure and I miss it but I might get to do trips for both in the next few weeks, fingers crossed.

Not an altogether serious suggestion, but if you're really worried, you could always take a day trip to somewhere like the Isle of Man, Belfast or Dublin for not a huge amount of money to try out the experience.

Have you thought about taking a short weekend away, perhaps somewhere like Dublin so not too far and within restrictions before you start?

Airports usually have the same format.

Check in (may be done online if hand luggage only)
Security (the faffy bit, items on conveyor belt, walk through following instructions)
Departure lounge
Go to gate area when your flight is called up on the tannoy/ screens
Board plane

At the other end, collect luggage from the carousel if needed, go through security, depart.

There can be quite a bit of hanging around but it's fairly straighforward and airports are well signed.

I've done a few solo flights including a long haul transfer.

Travelling abroad by plane is generally very easy.

Plane tickets generally come with instructions, and you can read the airline website which covers what you can and can’t pack in hand luggage, how far in advance to arrive, luggage weight limits etc. I imagine most simple queries you have can be answered by a friend or a quick google.

I’ve regularly, pre COVID, flown to parts of Europe for the day or one night. Airports are generally, well sign posted in English, even outside the UK and easy to navigate as they are designed for infrequent visitors.

I just did a quick search on youtube - there a few videos that deal with catching an international flight for the first time. Also asking trusted friends who have travelled could be helpful.

Congratulations on the new job 😊

Getting on a plane is easy.

You go to the airport in good time and go to the counter for your airline (or you can use a self check in) you hand over your passport and ticket, you will be asked some simple questions ie whether you packed your bags yourself. This is where you say it's your first flight.

You put your baggage on a conveyor belt and they enter a magic black hole.

Keep hold of your purse / handbag and then go to security, put your hand luggage in a little plastic box on the conveyer belt along with anything else they ask, shoes, keys etc.

Walk through the magnetic 'dooray', pick up your things from the conveyer and go through passport control, this is where someone looks at your passport and looks at you to see if you match.

then go do some shopping or get a drink until it is time for your flight.

Go to the gate and the staff will make sure you get on your plane.

The seat rows usually start at the front with 1 and the seats are identified by A - G, this depends on the plane you might only have seats A and B on a very small plane.

On planes lik Easyjet there is just one class but if there are 2 or 3 the first / business will be at the front of the plane.

There are overhead lockers to stash the things you bought, sit in your seat and put on your seatbelt.

Don't be scared to ask for a drink when the cabin crew pass.

At the other end do everything in reverse.

I went on my first flight at 16, I was on my own and I went to Australia.

Actually, the biggest issue may be how you feel about flying, all the practicalities are easily resolved. However, if you have any fear/nervousness of flying, I would be concerned and do a practise trip. Soon as permitted fly to somewhere local like Amsterdam, it’s under an hour flight, navigate your way into the city centre for lunch and to see something that interests you then back to airport and home. Can all be done in a shortish day.

Make sure you apply for a passport well in advance of when you need it.

A new colleague joined my office about 5 years ago in a similar position. Had never had a passport before etc, never been on a plane. We were all surprised how he got the job with no experience in any of the regions and a bit concerned as his role would involve extensive international travel to very difficult locations, but we figured he must be really keen on the role as otherwise why would he apply to that type of job.

Everyone treated him very kindly and no one patronised him, just assisted him with practicalities when asked and after a year or so he was a fully seasoned world traveller. He's so keen he's probably travelled more than I have by now. Enjoy your new job, it'll all be second nature soon enough and you'll be as bored of the airport as the rest of us!

You will need a passport, obviously, and a smartphone which is by far the easiest & most convenient way to store tickets, boarding passes, Covid vaccine certification, test results etc.

As others have said, it would be a good idea to book a weekend in Dublin, Amsterdam, Barcelona or wherever so you can experience how modern air travel works without the pressures of being with work colleagues.

Read the airline’s rules on baggage carefully. This is a revenue source for them and their rules on size & weight are strictly enforced. You will have to pay fees if you don’t comply. Also read the airport’s security rules carefully. There are very specific restrictions on what you are and are not allowed to take onto the aircraft and these are also strictly enforced.

Good luck!

I wouldn't expect you to be accompanied your first time (or on any of your trips) - finding your way to and around foreign cities is just standard when you have to travel.
You definitely should do a practice flight/weekend somewhere before you start your job.

IME the bit you need to think about most is what you do when you get to your destination.

Presumably you will have your expenses paid, so you can get a taxi from the airport to your hotel.

Some hotels will arrange transport for you, but you'll have to enquire about that first, and then book it - and make sure you have a contact telephone number for the taxi firm as well.

If they don't offer that service, then get an airport taxi - make sure it's a genuine service - there is usually a taxi queue outside the airport, which will be signposted. Often there's an official there, managing the queue and they will tell the driver your destination.

Make sure that you have your hotel name and address on a piece of paper, so that you can show it to your driver. (And don't make the mistake I did when I went to China of only having it in English, rather than in Mandarin!!!)

Official taxi drivers usually do know where all the bigger/international hotels are, so you should be fine. But sometimes - like China - they don't always.

It also helps if you have printed off a map of where your hotel is, with directions from the airport, just in case. (I've actually needed this, but it makes me feel safer to have that).

And obviously make sure you have enough cash to pay the driver. When you get currency from your employer (or a bureau de change if you have to organise it yourself), make sure you get smaller denomination notes so you won't have to faff about waiting for change. And always, always check the meter on the taxi - that it's been switched on when you start your journey. And get a receipt for the amount you have paid.

Sometimes airports offer a system where they will give you a pre-printed receipt, so you know exactly how much your journey is going to be.

One other thing to try and do, if you can, is a bit of sightseeing in your destination - if it's trips to Europe you probably won't have any or much spare time, but a guide book to the city/place you're travelling to is a good idea, even if it's just to be able to go out for a walk nearby.

If you're flying long haul, especially if you're going to somewhere like Australia, make sure you build in enough time to recover from jet lag and to deal with the time difference. For example, when I was doing work in Australia, I'd fly out on Friday evening, which meant arriving on Sunday morning (because of the time difference). Ideally then I'd aim to start work on Tuesday, if I could.

Above all, although it probably seems intimidating to you right now, aim to enjoy it! I got to go to some great places that I'd never have been to if I was travelling for leisure reasons.

Also worth looking at the website for the airline you're travelling with, so you know what your luggage allowance is (they're not all the same and there are some bonkers rules that don't make sense), the rules on liquids in hand luggage and whether food and drink on the plane is free as with some airlines or charged for (and expensive) on most low cost carriers like Ryanair, Easyjet etc.

Sorry:

It also helps if you have printed off a map of where your hotel is, with directions from the airport, just in case. (I've actually needed this, but it makes me feel safer to have that)

I've never actually needed this, it should say!

A good summary by @BIWI but also check your employer's rules and allowances on travel. Mine are nowhere near as generous as that and we generally aren't allowed to use taxis, or add more than 24 hours to each end of a foreign trip for sightseeing or even jet lag recovery, even if we did pay the extra costs ourselves.

Check whether the country you're going to uses cash or cards or a mix of both. Some are virtually cashless, others completely the other way and cash is expected far more than cards. Cards are generally more secure and you don't have to worry about carrying large amounts of cash.

Presumably/hopefully you will be travelling business class? If you are, you should get access to your airline's lounge, which is really worth having. You can get something to eat/drink there (for free) and there are plenty of places where you can plug in/charge your phone/laptop, with free wifi. There are also toilets/bathrooms inside.

If you're not travelling business (sometimes with European flights it's not really worth the extra cost) then it is worth buying membership of Priority Pass which means you can use their lounges even if you're flying economy. They generally have lounges at most airports around the world. The facilities can vary hugely, but it's always nice to know that you've got somewhere relatively quiet where you can sit while you wait for your flight - especially if your flight is delayed (which does often happen). You will also be able to take guests in, so I use it if I'm travelling with DH - I think it costs £20, so it isn't cheap, but it's really made travelling more enjoyable to have it.

Similarly, some lounges allow you in if you have a particular credit card - there's one at Sydney airport that does that - and admission is totally free. (Oh, and if you haven't already got a credit card, make sure that you have one for your international work. Halifax Clarity is a good one as they don't charge commission on foreign currency.)

I also print all my travel documents. I CBA hunting through phones for the right boarding pass etc and there's always the risk of loss, theft or flat battery. I find it far easier to keep my boarding pass for the flight I'm about to get onto folded up in my passport.

Good points @BarbaraofSeville

Thankfully all my companies were pretty generous. Especially when it was my company

Oh! Another thing (sorry, keep thinking of things ) - plug adaptors. I have ones for different continents and always take at least two with me.

If you check airport websites then some have video walkthrough guides of that particular airport you can watch. They also have some on YouTube. They can be aimed at travellers with disabilities, such as autism, but they’re helpful for anyone who hasn’t travelled through that airport before.