Can I ask some very basic questions about air travel?

[Limth]

It's been 10 years since I travelled on a plane. I'm rusty but heading to Germnay soon.

Are planes still freezing cold? It'll be mid-September. I plan to wear thermal leggings under trackie bottoms to keep warm!

Do you still have to have liquids in little 100ml bottles?

Do these 100ml bottles still have to be in a clear bag or pouch and separate from hand luggage?

Can I take a bottle of water or do I need to buy it in the terminal?

Do I have to take shoes off to go through security?

I'll have a laptop with me. Will I need to take that out when I go through security?

I'll check in online. So I go straight to security and show them my boarding pass which is now on an app. Is that right?

Sorry for the very basic questions - it feels like the world has changed a lot since I last went on a plane.
I did ask AI but I wanted some human input!

Are planes still freezing cold? Depends on the plane, layers are best.

Do you still have to have liquids in little 100ml bottles? Not for Heathrow and Gatwick but check for coming back, every airport has different rules.

Do these 100ml bottles still have to be in a clear bag or pouch and separate from hand luggage? Again airport dependent see above.

Can I take a bottle of water or do I need to buy it in the terminal? You can fill up at a water fountain airside. You can take one through, depending on the airports rules, again see above.

Do I have to take shoes off to go through security? Again depends on airport, not at Gatwick or health row,

I'll have a laptop with me. Will I need to take that out when I go through security?
again depends on airport. See above.

I'll check in online. So I go straight to security and show them my boarding pass which is now on an app. Yes. You badge through with your boarding pass then show your pass port at the next check point.

Planes are variable - take layers that are easy to add and remove. A large scarf or pashmina is a good idea.

All your other questions are airport specific with the exception of the large bottle of water question. Yo can take an empty bottle and fill it airside.

Look up the restrictions for the particular airports you're travelling through - some have new scanners now so you're not restricted to 100ml liquids.

For water, you'll either need to buy a bottle after security or take an empty reusable bottle through. There's usually a water fountain you can fill it from somewhere, although sometimes it takes a bit of hunting down!

Oh and I think you'll be sweating with thermal layers on a plane in September! In Copenhagen last December I took mine off as soon as I got to the airport.

Cabin temperature is an "it depends" (usually it can be varied to some degree 😉by the crew.)

Same with the 100 ml rule and laptops.."it depends" - on the airport.

On-line check in, no hold bag, then yes, straight to gate with boarding pass on app.

Planes can vary in temperature. I don't find them freezing but might be worth a jacket at the beginning or end of a flight.

Liquids depend on the airport. If the rules have been updated with new scanners then you can take as many liquids as you like maximum 2l bottle of something.
If the 100ml rule is still in place then yes they need to be in a plastic bag and taken out at security.

Water again depends on the airport. If they have the new scanners you can take bottled water through otherwise buy after security. You can also take an empty bottle through and fill it up airside at any airport

Some airports want lap tops out

Depends on the shoes whether you need to take them off. I usually wear trainers and don't have to take them off but thicker boots you would.

If you just have hand luggage you just go to security after checking in online and scan your boarding pass.

Enjoy the trip!

The whole liquid and laptop thing depends on the airports! But keep them in 100ml pots in a bag and you are prepared.
Shoes depends on airport.
Bring an empty water bottle with you and fill airside or buy airside.
Planes are gold but not freezing. Jumper and trousers will be fine.
I flew from LHR yesterday. No shoes off and everything stayed in the bag.
yes, just keep pass on phone.

Just remember most things are fixable and there’s always a plan B, so if you make a misstep, someone will tell you. The worst that will happen is you’ll go to the back of the queue. Give yourself plenty of time (again airport dependent but we fly all over, short and long haul and never arrive more than 2h before takeoff). You’ll be fine, enjoy!

Thank you so much! I'll have a look at liquids for the airport I'm flying from.

Not your question, but I've found everything is much more self-service now.

Depends on your airline, travel class etc, but often you check-in online beforehand so at the airport, you weigh your own bag and stick the labels on yourself, then find where you put our own bag through.

Depending on your passport, its often just electronic gates and not an actual border security human. There are normally staff nearby to ask, but it feels very much like sainsburys or tescos 'unexpected item in the bagging scale' at the self check outs 😡

When you say that you weigh your bag and put labels on yourself, is that for hold baggage? I'm only taking hand luggage

Yes, checked in luggage only.

Where are you flying from and to?

Planes are dry and hot or dry and cold! I travel in loose trousers and cardigan, vest and scarf, unless it’s a short flight I may wear a dress.

From my experience (I fly once or twice a month)

Are planes still freezing cold? It'll be mid-September. I plan to wear thermal leggings under trackie bottoms to keep warm! - Not always can sometimes be roasting depending on the weather outside. Recently it's been a sweatbox. Layers, but you certainly won't need thermals!

Do you still have to have liquids in little 100ml bottles? Depends on airport now - but be mindful that even if on the way out you can take whatever you like, you might not be able to bring it back...

Do these 100ml bottles still have to be in a clear bag or pouch and separate from hand luggage? As above - check individual airport requirements, both home and return.

Can I take a bottle of water or do I need to buy it in the terminal? Depending on the above - you may have to buy it. Or take an empty one and most have refill stations.

Do I have to take shoes off to go through security? Boots or high-tops yes, otherwise only if they ask you. They do pick people at random.

I'll have a laptop with me. Will I need to take that out when I go through security? At some airports yes. Again it varies.

I'll check in online. So I go straight to security and show them my boarding pass which is now on an app. Is that right? Yes that's right - either printed pass, on an app or add to your Apple wallet

Plane temperatures have not changed in my experience over the last ten years or even longer.

The main things that have changed depend on who you fly with. Especially the check in and boarding pass process. Also worth checking if you rely on a phone or tablet for a boarding pass what your mobile phone plan is and if there are roaming charges.

Are planes still freezing cold? Not in my experience but best to have layers. I think you’ll be too hot in thermals unless
you’re going somewhere very cold

Do you still have to have liquids in little 100ml bottles? Yes although I think that may change very soon

Do these 100ml bottles still have to be in a clear bag or pouch and separate from hand luggage? Depends on the airport, not at Bristol, you can leave them in your bag now. Best to check.

Can I take a bottle of water or do I need to buy it in the terminal? You can take an empty bottle and fill it from one of the filling stations once through security, and you can then take it on the plane. In fact if you buy a coffee after security you can also take that on. No need to buy on board.
Do I have to take shoes off to go through security? Sometimes, not always, they will ask you if you need to.
I'll have a laptop with me. Will I need to take that out when I go through security? Again, depends on the airport. Possibly.
I'll check in online. So I go straight to security and show them my boarding pass which is now on an app. Is that right? You’ll use your boarding pass to scan through a gate before security. You can use it in the app or save it from the app to your Apple wallet, or even screenshot it as a photo of you prefer.

You may find your app tells you the gate for your flight or you may have to consult the departures boards. You’ll need to show your passport and boarding pass.

Some airports allow you to take your own bottle of water through now, Bristol for example, but remember you'll probably not be able to do the same on return!

Read all you need to know on airline or airport websites.

Agree with everyone else that the answer to most of your questions is 'it depends'. I'm usually cold on planes but have been on a couple recently where it's been roasting.

Check your passport is valid for entry into the EU - best enter the dates into here:

Passport validity - Check UK Passport Validity Online | TUI.co.uk

Better than asking for 'human input' where you'll get as many wrong answers as right ones.

Don't forget about the entry/exit system. I've been to Spain a few times and Germany once since this was brought in. Despite all the horror stories about hours long queues at places like Lanzarote, Malaga and Alicante if was very quick for me getting in and coming back, but German passport control took ages, as did the exit check on the way out - nearly an hour each way.

I’ve just come back from Spain so it’s fresh in my mind.

yes my hands were freezing both there and back so I wore a woolly cardigan.

200ml allowed flying out but coming back from Spain was only 100ml. I didn’t put them in a clear bag but it wouldn’t hurt to.

Birmingham airport has water refill stations so take an empty water bottle or you’ll have to buy one after security checks.

yes they will ask you to remove laptop from your bag. They asked me to remove my trainers but it was random checks. Not everyone was asked.

i had a large bag to check in so went to the check in desk first to check that in but otherwise go straight to security if you just have hand luggage and have checked in online.

But only if OP is going from your airport. Some don’t ask you to remove laptops. Some terminals are different from others in the same airport. And when you come home the destination airport will probably have different rules.

And some planes are stifling and others are freezing. Sometimes both in one flight.

🤯 🤣

Every flight I’ve been on lately has been crazy hot. I wear as little as possible and bring some layers if it’s long haul.

and yes - airport dependent. Just flew out of edinburgh and didn’t have to do anything at security but have it all scanned. I bring an empty water bottle to fill up and use that for the rest of the trip.

Also look at rules for the airport you’re flying back from!

I flew out of Bristol recently (no restrictions). Didn’t check for Amsterdam and had all my toiletries confiscated at Amsterdam airport security when returning home.