First solo flight from Edinburgh to New York, step by step advice

[River2907]

I will be travelling from Edinburgh to New York next year as a solo traveller. I have never flown before and would be really grateful for a breakdown of everything I need to know prior to going. Every bit of information would be really helpful as I am understandably a little bit nervous about the process.
If any frequent flyers could break down a step by step of what I need to do prior to arriving at airport, what I do at airport (including getting on/off plane), information about flight and then what to do at airport (JFK) on the other side. Literally, every small detail would be helpful and will help a bit with my anxiety. A step by step guide for babies would be amazing as I really know very little.
Additionally, do people use their credit/debit cards abroad or is it more normal to get a travel card? Is it only the ESTA visa that I need and where best to get travel insurance?

If you go onto edinburgh airports website and look under special assistance there are step by step picture guides to this. Although they are desigbed for ND etc you may find them helpful.

Check in online, goto the airport, drop your bags off, go through security, use the boards to keep an eye on your flight, goto the boarding gate, get on the plane. Get off, collect luggage, clear customs, get a cab.

Make sure you wear compression socks, drink plenty of water when in the plane, and get up and move frequently to avoid getting blood clots.

First of all are you flying direct from Edinburgh to New York? Some flights are via Dublin which has pre clearance. Advice and info will depend on which you are using.

How nasty

Look on YouTube for videos walking through Edinburgh and JFK. I find airport videos helpful because it's not always obvious what to do or where to go once you've checked in

Is someone meeting you at JFK?

IMPORTANT - there are a huge amount of scams in New York that can catch you out if you aren’t watching for them. @River2907 please be mindful of these:

1. Airport After you have landed and collected your luggage, people inside the airport will try to shepherd you toward very expensive private taxis, the yellow cabs outside are a fixed rate and will not scam you, use these!
2. Times Square Characters - avoid them at all costs, do not let them get into your photos, do not interact at all. If you try to get one in a photo, more will all get in the back, you’ll pay the one you wanted, and the others will aggressively demand more money whilst the one you paid disappears.

These are my most hated two, but if I think of any others I’ll pop back.

Check if your airline has an app you can download, if it does it will have a lot of information about the airport and the flight on it. It will also have your boarding card which you can add to your apple wallet ( or similar)
You can also use it to check in and upload all of documentation needed. You will still need your physical passport.
The app will have updated information on your boarding gate and can track where your luggage is ( in theory)

Can you tell use which airline OP?

If you’re flying Delta eat before you fly and take snacks or a meal deal type thing onboard. The food on the flight was horrible when we flew in February.

You don’t need to take your liquids out your bag for security at Edinburgh now.

Make sure you have your passport and boarding pass ready. You’ll need your boarding pass to get through the first check which is as you enter security. Security is upstairs in Edinburgh. When you’ve cleared security you’ll walk through duty free and then out into departures. There are lots of screens which will show you what gate to go to.

Book an airport lounge to sit in while you're waiting for your flight. Last time I flew from there all the sit down restaurants were absolutely rammed and we couldn't get seats.

For my first flight, my dad took me to the airport a week before and talked me through it. Do you have a friend who could do that for you?

Practice !!
You have plenty of time to take a few solo trips before the big one!
Have you taken a train or bus on your own?
Yes? Or no?
If not then start there. Take a train to glasgow and back. On your own.
Next. Take a short flight on your own
book a cheap short flight for a weekend to get familiar with airport processes.any relative you can go visit by plane. ?
Or book with jet2 for a weekend city break to malaga with airport transfers and a rep.
You will do luggage passport control etc.(book hold luggage for the practice run jet 2 includes checked bag)

Additionally, do people use their credit/debit cards abroad or is it more normal to get a travel card?

get eg revolut card you can have different currency acvounts
Or uf easier a post offuce travel card

Is it only the ESTA visa that I need

check online but yes most likely you xan apply now.

and where best to get travel insurance?

Anywhere. Big names like staysure insureandgo etc . Or ask your bank. Will be expensive ( might be up to 300£ for an annual global policy) to cover usa but depending on your age and existing conditions but you can get an idea from moneysupermarket.com . If you young and no conditions then cheaper

Take the course!

Hidden post says there is fear of flying /confidence course at edinburgh run by british aways on 24 october includes a flight

EDI is a very straightforward airport.

1. Get your airlines app now. Put in the reference number so you can see your booking. Check in once it opens and choose your seat.
2. Arrive. Try for 3 hours before flight so you are relaxed. There are screens as you enter. Find your flight and it will tell you where to check in/bag drop. Otherwise look around and you’re see the banners for your airline
3. Queue at counter. Have your passport ready hand it to the staff when you get there. They can find you with just that. They will guide you when to pop your bag on the scale. They will tag it and off it goes. They will hand your passport and boarding pass back to you.
4. Find signs for departures. Walk through.
5. You are now in security. You can’t go wrong here as you will be funnelled into the correct location. Usually there is a machine where you need to scan your boarding pass or passport or you show a person. Then join another queue for the bag scanners. Listen to what the staff say but usually you collect a tray and put your bag in it. I also suggest you remove anything metal so belts, watches hair clips. They may ask you to remove coats, scarves or shoes too. Some airports need you to remove laptops and liquids too. Check the EDI airport website on the liquids thing. As a frequent flyer I make sure I dress without a load of metal bits and am prepared for anything so any liquids are in one of these plastic bags already.
6. Your bags will be scanned while you are. Look at the staff on the other side of the gate and they will beckon you forward. You can keep walking unless it beeps in which case they will ask you to step aside and they will use a wand to see what caused the beep. Sometimes instead of walking through the gate metal detector you have to stand in an open cubicle while a machine scans. 5 seconds and the staff guide you.
7. once done your bags will be at the other side. Sometimes they get pulled for a check (mine did recently as I had 3 lighters in there!!). Grab your stuff and you walk into duty free probably or the departure lounge. As soon as you are there check where your gate is and how long the walk is and then find somewhere to relax.
8. Pay attention to the boards. Your gate will go to ‘gate open’ meaning ‘feel free to walk down and sit by the gate’ but no rush at this stage especially if it’s very close by. Your boarding pass will have an estimated boarding time so make sure you are at the gate before this time. The board will show ‘boarding’ when the flight is boarding and will then move to ‘final call’. Don’t wait for final call!
9. At the gate you will sit and wait until the flight boards. Have your BP ready and passport open at the photo page. The crew will scan it.
10. walk down the airbridge. The crew will welcome you onto the plane and point you to your seat. The seat numbers are above the rows so 4c is row 4 seat c. Seat a starts on the right so will be a window seat.
11. Put anything you don’t need for the flight immediately in the overhead locker. Any big bags need to go up there plus coats etc. Don’t feel rushed. Get in your seat and there is a seat back pocket for your things. Any bag will need to go under the seat in front of you for take off and landing.
12. you will probably have headphones, a pillow and blanket. Plug in headphones for the The seat back tv.
13. put on your seatbelt. The captain will tell you about the route and introduce the cabin crew.
14. Doors are locked and you taxi to the runway. You cannot get up or use the loos access your bags while seatbelt signs are on. They will go off once you are at a cruise so maybe 15-20 mins. Everyone stays in their seats unless accessing bag or loo or walking around briefly for a stretch.
15. cabin crew will come round with drinks and then food. Usually there is a menu in your seat back pocket or the cabin crew announce options. They then come round to collect trays.
16. Everyone settles down to watch movies or sleep. CC often come round with water. If you want another drink use your call bell or wander to the galley
17. About 90 mins out from JFK you might get an another snack and drink.
18. Seatbelts for landing. Get off plane and you will queue at US immigration.
19. After that you enter the baggage hall. There will be boards that show which carousel your bag comes in on. Find that and wait for your bag to appear.
20. welcome to NYC.

Also OP there is nothing stopping you going to Edinburgh airport and having a wander around departures. See where the check in counters are for your airline. See where the departure gates are (you can’t go through there obviously but you can get your bearings.) It means you have a clear picture of the first few steps in your head. Read the airport website for any restrictions in your carry on luggage and just make things simple for yourself. Bring as little as possible into the plane and just things you will need for a flight. I have a small tote bag with my own headphones, phone, wallet and keys, a book, a small plastic bag of my make up, lip balm, maybe a scarf and my passport. Super easy and fits under the seat in front.
Airports do not want confused humans wandering about or people making errors so they are very clearly signposted and there is always a person helping and giving you directions. They can sound a bit gruff sometimes but it’s just so they are being direct and clear. Follow other people. It really is easy and you can’t go wrong. Don’t panic or feel rushed. If you are confused or worried ask airport staff.

Study the lists of what is allowed in hand luggage, hold luggage, and can be brought to the US.

Electronics, bateries, weaponizable objects, some kinds of food (including mrat and vegetables!), all have rules.
Do your best to follow them

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Understand that being taken on a side/your bag needing extra check is pretty normal, not a sign of a problem.
Still, follow the rules about liquids, keep any medication and powders in original containers, to minimise

Some additional checks are based on random selection and many on something absolutely innocent - in my exeperience a paperback book and a plastic hairbrush managed to show as unclear profile at the scanner and lead to extra check of my backpack.

I flew solo to JFK last year.

Check what terminal you're flying into in JFK. I think Terminal 4 is arrivals. The other terminals don't have shops or cabs. There's a sky train that takes you between terminals.

I had set up roaming on my phone and I was connecting to the partner network in NY but the connection kept dropping. I had to connect to the free WiFi to make calls.

If someone is meeting you in NY it won't be too complicated, but if you are getting into the city by yourself you need to have a plan for that.

If you have a chance to go to the airport prior to your trip, its worth it to have a look around, figure out how you will get there, etc. You won't be able to go through security without booking an actual flight, though.

You can't take any liquids in containers larger than 100ml through security, however you can take your usual water bottle to the airport, drink the contents (or empty it out), then go through security, and refill it at a water fountain in the lounge or shopping area. Saves spending ££££ on 250ml water airside!

Pay the additional for fast track security.
At Edinburgh you can take bottles of up to 2 litres through security now but metal water bottles should be empty. However remember that coming back JFK only allows liquids up to 100 mls and must be in a clear plastic bag.
There is a body scanner at Edinburgh you will go through at security - but I have always found the security staff at Edinburgh friendly and helpful. Watch what every one else does and you’ll be fine.