First time going abroad need advice!

[Manisha1234ma]

Hi,
In 3 weeks I will be going marrakech for 5 days and not sure what to expect at airports or how things are done. This is making me feel anxious and really panicky.
Please can you let me know stage to stage on what to do at the airport (going from Stansted airport) and what to do in the destination airport as I’m really clueless.
I’m sorry if I sound stupid for asking and all but I’m really nervous about not knowing what to expect especially since it’s my first time.

Online check-in means you can save time and fuss at the airport. Check in opens online 24 hours before your flight leaves. You can find the portal do to this on the airline’s website and you just need your booking reference or ticket number, you might need to enter passport details too. You can print your boarding pass or save it to your mobile device.
Arrive at the airport 3 hours before your flight departs. How do you plan on getting to the airport?
If you have luggage to check, you’ll do that when you arrive at the terminal. Look for signs or display boards telling you which area the bag drop for your airline is located in. Queue up at the signalled bag drop.
To get to your departure gate, you have to cross security. You’ll place your carry-on, along with shoes, belt, outer jacket and pocket contents in bins for scanning. Liquids in your carry-on must meet the 100ml rule and be in a clear plastic bag. Once you are through, collect your items from the tray and head into the main departure lounge. Most airports have a designated bench or seating area so you aren’t clogging up the security line as you put your shoes on and compose yourself.
Look for screens telling you what gate your flight is going from and what time boarding starts. Don’t worry if it isn’t displayed yet. You could spend your extra time, if you have any, browsing the retail section or grabbing a bite.
Once you have confirmed your gate number, head over in that direction. When your gate, all that’s left to do is wait. If your flight is running late or is delayed for weather or technical difficulties, you may be waiting awhile. Pack something to help you pass the time and stay close to your gate area so you’ll be within earshot when it’s time to board.
When your boarding group is called (as noted on your boarding pass), the gate agent will scan your boarding pass and you head to the door that leads to the plane. A flight attendant will welcome you onboard and direct you to your seat. Row numbers are located at eye level, with the A seats being the window on your right (as you walk toward the rear of the plane). Often the aisle seat is labeled C, so if that side has only two seats, there is no B seat.
Carry-ons can be stowed in the compartment above the seats or under the seat in front of you. If the aircraft doesn’t have enough space, the airline will gate-check your carry-on. That means they will take it at the door of the plane and you pick it up at the same place upon arrival. Gate checked items are not retrieved at baggage claim.

When you reach your final destination, follow the airport signs through immigration where you’ll be asked to show your passport. After that head to the baggage claim area. Find the baggage carousel labeled with your flight number and collect your bags.

Hope this helps x

OK, step by step:

1. Check in on line if you need to, you will probably get a text or email from the airline asking you to do so at the appropriate time. You can check on their website whether you need to do this and when. You should either print your boarding pass or get it sent to your phone.

1. Arrive at the Departures section of the airport. I' not very familiar with Stansted, but it looks like you can download an interactive map of the airport onto your phone, which would give me more confidence about finding things. Give yourself plenty of time, if your feeling nervous it's better to have a nice relaxing coffee once you are through security etc than to be rushing. Ignore experienced travellers who say you only need to go an hour ahead, follow the advice of your airline.

2a. If you haven't checked in on line go to your airline's check-in desk, there will probably be a queue. They will want to see your passport and usually they can do everything from that. However its a good idea to have a printout of your booking conformation with you, just in case. They will print your boarding pass and check in any bags going in the hold (they will weigh them, so make sure they are not heavier than the maximum weight for your airline). They may check that your carry on bag meets the size limits as well, make sure it does.

2b. If you have checked in online, but you have a bag to go in the hold, then you need to go to the Bag Drop desk for your airline to get the bag checked in. Its been a while since I did this, I think they either look at your passport of your boarding pass to do this.

1. Once you have checked in and or dropped off your hold bags go to security. Here you will show your boarding pass, either paper or on your phone, usually at an automatic gate that scans it.

Before you get to the scanners you will need to sort out your liquids. Anything larger than 100ml you will lose, so don't bring them, this includes water bottles which need to be emptied (you can refill on the other side so its a good idea to take an empty water bottle). All other liquids need to o in a sealable plastic bag of the right size (1 litre). There should be information about this on the airport website. Usually you can pick p a free bag in the airport but you get more robust ones if you buy a set of travel bottles that you can decant shampoo etc into.

Look for the signs that tell you what to do to go through the security check, you will need to take off your jacket, your belt if you are wearing one and possibly your shoes (wear easy to remove shoes). You will have to take any larger electronics - iPad, Kindle out of your hand bags and also your bag of liquids, these go into a tray on the conveyor belt and go through the xray machine with your bags. Its a good idea to take off watches and chunky jewellery, normal rings and thin necklaces don't usually cause a problem.Don't worry if you get something wrong, ask the staff if you aren't sure, I travel a lot and still get shouted at about half the time.

Once your bag is sorted you go through the scanner, follow the instructions of when to go through and what to do. If something shows up on the scan, or if you get randomly chosen you may be hand scanned, patted down, your hands swabbed, none of this is anything to worry about. They may also look in your bag if something looks odd on the xray.

Pick up your stuff from the conveyor belt, make sure you have everything end get sorted, usually there are tables you can take your tray too to sort yourself out in your own time.

Now you are airside and the worst is over.

1. Check the departures board to find the gate that your flight is going from (this might be on your boarding pass as well) and the time it will be boarding. Aim to be at the gate half an hour before the boarding time. Until then browse the shops, have something to eat etc. Go to the loo before you head to the boarding gate.

1. The boarding gate is basically a waiting area with seats and a desk leading to the boarding door. The staff will announce when boarding is happening, just follow their instructions. To board you will need your boarding pass and your passport, have your passport open at the photo page for them to scan.

1. On the plane find your seat, put your bag in the overhead locker or under your seat as quickly as you can, try not to hold up other passengers by blocking the aisle.

1. Sit back and enjoy your flight.

Hints and tips:

1. If relying on your phone for boarding passes etc make sure you have a charger with you in your hand baggage, or a power pack.
2. If in doubt ask a member of staff in the airport, they all want to get people on to their planes on time and will help you get there.

monumental cross-post!

I think you have had good advice. My tip is to be organised so you don't get stressed - have a small bag (eg cross body) with passport, boarding passes, tickets, hotel reservations, insurance etc printed in case your battery dies, carry a power pack for your phone too, I take headphones. Depending on airline, online check in may be essential, it opens up to a few weeks ahead depending on the airline so check my logging into your booking. You can carry food from home on board but no drinks, you can take an empty water bottle through security and fill up the other side (I got the coffee bar to do mine, think it was Starbucks)

Most of all enjoy - you won't be the only first time traveller at stanstead that day I can almost guarantee, the staff will help you

The small bag is a great idea.

I'd like to be the "first time traveller"

I prepare for security when I pack my carry on. Laptop easily accessibly. Fluids go into a clear bag at the top of my carry on at the packing stage. Beauty products (nail clippers etc) go in the hold.

Get to the airport, drop off hold bags at bag drop. Follow signs to security, then at security I know there's nothing sharp. Liquids and laptop take seconds to get out as already prepared.

Get there early especially if you've never done it before. You loose nothing by having ages of time, cutting it short will stress you out. As soon as you've done bag drop go through security. Nothing to be gained by waiting outside of it - other than the risk the line will suddenly get long. Most airports have more entertainment after it than before it.

If you do have a hold bag I would suggest putting all liquids in that to simplify things. I forgot about sharps, anything with a blade - scissors, penknives etc will be confiscated at security, so either they need to be in a hold bag or don't take them. There will be a list of prohibited items on the airport webpages.

Great thread, thanks Manisha
We're flying abroad for the first time in July and this has been a great help.
Will keep reading everyone's great tips.

You need to be at the airport 2 hours minimum before you fly. You need to allow time for delays on the road or rail.
Don't forget passport, money, travel insurance, hotel information
If you want to charge your phone abroad in the hotel, you probably need to buy a plug adaptor, some countries have 2 pin plugs

Visit Marrakesh market during day & again at night. Also visit Yves St Laurent garden, which you can walk from the market

One more point specific to stansted: the gates can take quite a while to get to (some a fair walk, others a monorail ride) so leave plenty of time to get from the shopping bit to the gate especially since it's your first time and won't know the way (it is signposted tho). Enjoy!

Wow, thank you all for the advice and tips I really appreciate all the replies. I took a screenshot of the list and tips.
Once again thanks lovely people I feel much more calmer and less anxious about the trip to marrakech

Stansted is quite a manageable airport. Remember to pack any liquids going in your hand luggage in a clear bag (like a freezer bag) I think they've stopped giving them away at stansted, last time I was there anyway. So sort it out in advance.
Are you getting the stansted express / dropped off / parking? There is a £3 charge I think to go through and drop someone off so if someone's taking you make sure they're aware they may need cash. Getting the train is nice and easy if you're doing that, the station is just underneath the airport.

Go to your gate as soon as you have gone through security and it's been announced on the big screen as some gates are a fair walk away. There's costa and stuff near to the gates anyway so no point hanging round the main terminal. Nearly missed a flight once, taking too long to get to the gate!
It will be busy over half term if that's when you're going, so try and get there 2.5 hours before the flight time if you can. Have a wonderful holiday!! How exciting.

I would also add
Go to the loo before you board. Toilets in planes are interesting! Also, it might be a while after take off before you can get out of your seat.
Take a snack for on the flight.
Wear comfy clothes-leggings and loose tops, as you can swell up when flying some times.
Flying is a noisy business, I always take noise cancelling headphones. The noise comes from the engines, lots of beeping, crying babies, hen and stag parties 🤣
Don't expect staff at security to be friendly, they are there to do a job and when it's busy they can appear to be quite narky.
Don't try to crack any jokes about having a bomb or being a hijacker! You'll get arrested.
Expect to see armed police walking round the airport.

I haven’t been to Marrakesh airport, but goes for all airports - on arrival follow everyone else off the plane. Don’t rush to stand up the second the seat belt signs go off as you may be standing in the aisle for yonks waiting to get off. Make sure you gather all your stuff as they won’t let you back on the place if you forget anything. You’ll need to go through passport control so have you passport in an easily accessible location. If you checked in in luggage follow the signs for baggage reclaim - there will be a board telling you which carousel will have your luggage.

Have you planned for how to get from the airport to your destination? Look into that now so it’s not something else to worry about.

Take some cash with you to exchange, just in case there isn’t an atm working. I think you can change the currency here but the rate is rubbish.

Enjoy your holiday!