What to expect at the airport!

[LittleFeetJo]

Due to lots of long-winded reasons I haven't flown or been to an airport of any kind for over 20 years.

Have just booked myself a week away in Italy in October and have now realised... I have no idea what I'm doing! I'm like a first time flier all over again and I'm aware things have changed hugely since 9/11 attacks.

Could anyone who has flown recently give me a run down of procedure?

(I don't want to be needy and ask for baby steps but... I need baby steps! 😂)

It might vary depending on airport/airline and destination ....

Are you checking luggage or just taking a cabin bag?

I'd recommend downloading the app for the airline you're flying with and checking in online when it opens. Then when you get to the airport you can just go to bag drop (if checking a case). They will check your passport and possibly covid vaccine proof (print out if destination requires it as easier).

Then you go to security. You can't have liquids over 100 ml I think, and you must put all liquids and gels into one of the clear bags that they provide, and be able to shut the bag, so don't take too much. You'll get those out of your bag as well as any iPads, kindles or laptops. You'll also have to take off any coats and boots, maybe shoes it depends. Staff are very helpful but don't be that person who hasn't sorted yourself out before you get to the front of the queue and hold everyone up

Once you're through enjoy much eating, drinking and window shopping keeping an eye on the boards which will tell you your gate, head to gate when available, get on plane and have a lovely holiday!

Often now you can check in online 24 hours ahead of the flight. Then you get to the airport, check in your baggage and go towards the gate. Check on the screens which gate and head for that. Keep your passport and boarding card handy. Then sit around until they say your plane is boarding. I always make sure I buy a bottle of water once I've gone through check in because you can't take more than 100ml in hand luggage through the checks.

When you arrive you go to bag drop or if you don't have hold luggage you go straight to security. You need your boarding pass and passport for bag drop and security (recently all airports I've been to you can your BP to get through gate.

Pop all your liquids in a clear bag (they provide them) or if over 100ml needs to go in hold. Everything in your pockets and bags go through the scanner and you walk through the arch- they might wand/pat you.

Once through security you get a drink or mooch in the shops until your gate opens. Go to gate- again, you need passport and boarding pass and they'll get you to the plane ... take off!

Enjoy!

Oh yes, I always go and get a bottle of water and some sweets from Boots or Smiths when through security

Ah yes, definitely check in online ahead!

Who are you flying with, and from where?

Keep as much with you as you can because luggage losses seem to be at a high. Bring food from Pret etc on board especially if it's easyjet. There's a water fountain after security, you can't take drinks through.

First things first, OP : Have you got your covid vaccination passport? If not, you need to download the NHS app to your phone and get it set up.

If you are flying with Ryanair be sure to check-in online at home. Bring print-out or your phone to airport. If printing, ensure your printer is set to highest quality setting to be certain that the scanners at the airport can read the barcode. Make sure your phone is fully charged.

Having checked in online, you will need to go to bag drop for checked-in luggage. You will need your boarding pass for this and your passport.

Then join queue for security. You can usually check the likely waiting time for security on the airport's website. Things are improving significantly since the madness of June/July queues. You will need your boarding pass here.

Both airports/airlines that I used this week had the normal post 9/11 security procedures in place.

Liquids to be placed in 1 litre zip-lock bags, they were available at the airport. Normal individual limits apply. Best to place toiletries in your checked-in baggage.

You can't take drinks through security but you can buy them at the other side.

You will need to remove portable electronic devices from your hand luggage and place them alongside the bag to be scanned. Do a little number count - bag, phone, jacket, belt - 1,2,3,4 to ensure you retrieve the correct number of items at the other side.

Make sure there are no coins or keys in your pockets. You will have to remove jacket and possibly boots/shoes and walk through a scanner.

Even if you don't trigger alarm walking through security you may be selected for a random pat-down.

Take note of the departure gate number and allow yourself plenty of time to get there - ours was 2 minutes on the way out but 12 minutes on the way back.

Have a look in duty free. Be mindful that the airline may be fussy about extra bags in addition to your allowed hand luggage. Check whether you can leave your purchases at the airport and collect them on the way home.

Your seat will be allocated on your boarding pass, so there is no need to jump to your feet and queue for the boarding gate once it opens, sit and relax, just keep the queue in view.

You will need to show your boarding pass and passport at the departure gate.

Be mindful that the cabin crew may want to take your large cabin bag from you at the top of the steps for putting into the hold for the flight. For most people, that won't be a problem but be sure you are holding onto any medication or passport in your small handbag.

There's rarely any free food or drink on board, maybe on charter flights. Expect to pay through the nose. Duty free is available on board.

Hope this helps!

Eeek! So much to think of 🤦‍♀️

@stockpilingallthecheese Definitely taking luggage, a case and then a sort of 'onboard' bag. (Oh god, I don't even know the terms!)

@Soontobe60 Going from Manchester with Jet2.

@PlanetNormal I've had all my jabs for Covid but no idea I had to have a jab passport. I will download the NHS app now. Thank you 😊

And thank you all for the replies! (I think I'm going to screenshot yours @SageRosemary and have it with me on the day 😂)

Apologies once again for sounding about twelve, I promise I'm not, just a bit daunted by it all! 😁

Very few places need a vax passport now so check you actually need it!

But if you do print/ save copies on your phone in case the app isn't working like it wasn't one day last week!

Some airports (eg Gatwick or Heathrow, can't remember which) have guides for people with autism that are also useful for people not used to flying.

They explain what happens at each stage and have photos.

Re: liquids rule, you can have 1 clear resealable bag max size 20x20cm and any liquids, pastes, gels you are taking into the cabin need to go in it. Each container needs to be 100mls or less.

I use a small resealable freezer bag rather than a bag from the airport. That way you are prepared before you get there.

We flew on Sunday.

Online check in

bag drop and print/attach your own luggage tags

Through to security - have all your carry-on liquids already bagged - I have no idea why people STILL wait til the security line to do this! You may not have any but for us it was baby formula. Dump out/drink any water bottles bigger than the limit before going through as it will be taken from you. Signs were saying take shoes off but we didn’t have to - nobody else was and we asked and the guy said not to. Show passport/boarding pass at security.

Had some breakfast, go to loo, use water fountain to refill water bottles

Find gate

Board (show passport and boarding pass)

Find seat - there was no row 31 which was meant to be our row, so that was fun but I’m sure you’ll be fine 😄 we were.

That was with 3 kids and it was minimally stressful - big queues for bag drop at 5am and talking to other people here the queues were much better later on! You just never know. Have fun!

oh and I meant to say, no one was wearing a mask and there was no mention of covid passports or anything through the whole airport/flight. Barely thought about it tbh so just as well as would have been a problem 😄

We flew from Manchester last week and it was very straightforward and queues were not a problem. If it’s with Ryan air they have self service machines that weigh your bags at the bag drop and print your luggage pass. You then go and show your boarding pass and give these bags to a desk after. There are lots of people around to ask/ help.

I always bring an empty water bottle through security and then you can refill it the other side rather than buying plastic bottles.

Manchester with Jet2? Few bit of what's posted already doesn't apply then. You can check in online up to 28 days (or 30, loads more than a day anyway) in advance and its very likely that you'll get a decent seat without paying, they're not Ryanair.

Also Jet2 use T1 and T2 so check which terminal and be mindful that T2 doesn't have a Boots, so don't rely on that - there are a small amount of toiletries in WHS but not the full range. As you have hold luggage, I'd take suncream at least, as it's always expensive abroad and you'll still need it in October (hopefully!)

Do you know how you're getting to the airport and have you booked parking if driving?

Jet2 have a really good 'have you done X, Y and Z' and destination guide on their website, so have a look at that. I think Manchester also has information on getting through the airport, maps etc so also look at that.

Travel insurance?

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements

Italy doesn't seem to need proof of vaccine now. Check your passport meets all rules for EU travel:

Under 10 years old on date of departure from UK and 3 months remaining when you leave Italy.

Leave loads of time to get through security, it's better to be waiting around at the gate than running/stressed and potentially missing your flight.

While you're in the queue look at the instructions on the posters and listen to what security staff are saying. It reduces the risk of having to wait for the second search, mostly due to people failing to follow simple instructions.

I think the water fountains are in the corridor just before the start of the big duty free shop (T1) and at the entrance to the toilets (T2).

Have you checked your passport is valid and uploaded the details? I think you have to do that while checking in anyway.