Can anyone answer some (probably very stupid) airport questions?

[PumpkinPie2016]

Please forgive my ignorance/stupidity! I am not a seasoned flyer. I flew a couple of times as a child and 13 years ago to Dublin with DH but that's it.

We are flying Manchester to Salzburg with TUI in August. We are not booked on a package holiday as we wanted to book the hotel ourselves. TUI do one direct flight a week from Manchester which we are booked on. Otherwise we would have to change planes in Frankfurt which I didn't fancy.

I'm having a bit of a stress about the airport/flight and hoping someone can help.

I can do online check in 48 hours before we fly which I plan to do. It says you enter your passport details when you do it.

As our flight is in the morning at 7.30am, we can go and check our bags in the afternoon before. As we don't live far from the airport, we are planning to do this to save having to do it on the day. I am totally paranoid they will lose/forget our bags though 🙈 I will spread mine, DH and DS things between our bags so if one is delayed, at least we have some stuff. I can also put some small things in hand luggage as we have 10kg each.

Has anyone used day before bag drop? Did it work OK?

So, assuming I check in online and do day before bag drop (and this is the stupid Q bit!!) What do we actually do when we get to the airport?

The website says head straight to departure but I assume we still need to go through security? Or is that done when you check in online?

I'm so puzzled 🤯 I am a nervous flyer which really isn't helping 🙈 I just want to land in Austria with as little stress as possible (don't we all lol).

Any help/advice is much appreciated 🙏 DS is 9 BTW.

You will still go through security, you can just skip the bag drop part 😊

Usually you'd queue to drop bags, then queue for security.

Used to do day before bag drop all the time when travelling to the US, never an issue. The only real issue I’ve had with luggage has been when travelling with skis, they only seem to make it back with us about half the time!

Yes you head straight to departures so no need to queue at bag drop/check in desks - but you have to go through security to get to departures. No other option. Airports are always very very well signposted though, it’s hard to get lost as long as you can read English signs! :)

That time of year I would still allow two hours at the airport before your flight. Ignore check in and bag drop and follow signs to departures and security will be there. If you're not a seasoned traveller make sure you check what can and can't go in your hand luggage/carry on. Also don't bother changing up much currency if any as a lot of places in European cities don't even take cash these days.

Thank you both so much! That makes sense now 😁

Glad to hear back drop has been OK when used.

Some airports have face to face baggage drop, others you scan boarding card, weigh bag and self tag.

I haven’t done the bag drop the day before, never heard of that! Yes you will need to go through security before going to departures/ the gate. For security, have your liquids ready. They will ask you to take off your coat and possibly boots. Take electricals out. Some things differ between airports. If you have anything in your pockets (e.g. phone/ keys) stick it in a bag to go through the scanner. I try to wear minimal metal to prevent setting off the detector (e.g. I wear a bralette rather than underwire bra and remove my glasses). I think they have body scanners at Manchester though.

Once through security check board for gate. I don’t tend to go to the gate immediately as usually there is less there (in terms of cafes/ shops/ seating) but don’t know Manchester well. I’d go to the gate about 45 mins before departure.

I’m sure it will all be fine! I’ve flown a lot and never had my luggage go missing. It seems to happen more on long haul flights, I think sometimes the connections are missed etc. Although I’m sure it does happen sometimes on short haul too. Enjoy!

Online check-in 48 hours before sound like you haven’t pre booked seats on the plane ?

Remember you need to be at the airport a couple of hours before even with no bags, 7.30 is when the plane leaves, you actually get on about 45mins before.

Its security (bags through scanner etc) then depending on airport its the departure lounge or passport control (some airports have passport control at the gate). In departures you can buy snacks and drinks for the flight and go to the toilet while checking the boards for gate info. (You can't take drinks through security)

This thread is making me feel so much better - thank you all!

@tanstaafl I have paid for and booked particular seats. It said online check in for all and if you haven't chosen seats then, they will be allocated 🙂 I will triple check though!

I fly quite a bit.

I have a backpack with a laptop/iPad pocket and I always keep my passport and liquids in a front pocket for easy access so I can unload quickly at security. I always keep spare undies, phone and watch chargers, jewellery, headphones, makeup pouch and book with me.

Liquids are small bottles of 100ml or less in a 1-litre clear plastic bag (if you don't have one with you, you can almost always get one at security). One bag per person. FYI Lipstick/eyeliner doesn't count as a liquid and won't usually be picked up. You can pack nail clippers and small nail scissors.

For a short trip of less than a week, I'd just bring essential liquids - foundation, toothpaste, perfume, favourite hair product - and make time to stop at boots once you're through security. Then you can add as much deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mouthwash, sunscreen etc as you want and if you get it in travel size bottles, you will either use it all or you can bin anything you don't want to carry back with you.

You will need to show/scan your boarding pass at security, and again if you buy any goods in duty free, but you won't need to show your passport until you are actually boarding at the gate.

When you check in a day or so before, save your boarding pass to apple wallet if you have an iPhone or download it to your email and make sure it's easily available when your phone is offline. Some airports are a bit rubbish for phone signal and you don't want to risk it failing at the wrong moment. Do this when you are abroad as well using your hotel wifi. Before you leave the house on the day of travel, switch your phone to low battery mode so it should last you all day, but if you forget or are running low there are often charging points in the airports so make sure your phone charger is in easy reach, eg in your hand luggage.

If you tend to have ear trouble/ear infections, bring a few hard sweets for the descent - swallowing will help pop your ears. Flying is very dehydrating - don't forget to buy water when you're airside (passed through security) or pack an (empty) water bottle you can fill up later at a water station when you're through security.

Above all, try to have fun! X

Salzburg is a beautiful place. Have a wonderful holiday OP.
Relax and enjoy your flights.

Check and double check what’s classed as liquids ( I got caught out with small tin of Vaseline I didn’t know I had) as if you get pulled and have to have a manual search it can take a long time

yes as PP said you don’t need your passports till boarding which felt really strange and made me worried I’d lose it before boarding so keep them close

print or get two copies of boarding cards on separate phones if you can. Somehow getting to the boarding gate my iPhone decided to brick itself and wouldn’t restart. It did eventually but caused me some panic at the time

have a fantastic time and enjoy yourself

A bit late to this OP, but I did bag drop at Manchester specifically around 3/4 years ago and it was great, no queue at all and I think I even avoided paying for parking because it was so quick. Still get there early on the morning of the flight (I'd be aiming at least 2 hours before) to clear security in plenty of time and have chance to chill out. Hope you have a lovely time. We loved Austria!

Hi OP.
Flew jet2 from Manchester T2 on Monday morning, used their Twilight Drop service on the Sunday evening ( until 9 ).

Might be different for TUI, but Jet2 allow one person to drop bags for up to 6 people so long as that person has all the passports and boarding cards.

Monday morning we parked car in T2 long stay and just headed to departures once in the terminal.
First thing is security which you need your boarding pass to enter.

By August I believe there will have been a relaxation on liquids and electronic devices going through security so that could speed things up.

Once you’re through security, the route into the main body of T2 takes you through the duty free shop then that’s it, you’re into T2.

T2 is brand new, plenty of space, toilets, shops and eateries, plenty of seats.
Keep an eye on the boards for your gate information.

Have a nice trip!

The liquids rule isn't due to change until mid 2024. So for hand luggage it's a clear resealable bag max size 20x20cm (a small freezer bag is around the correct size). Each item in the bag needs to be 100mls or less and its liquids, pastes and gels that go in there.

Basic rule of thumb is if it spreads it counts as liquid. So jam and marmite would count too. Know someone who got caught out taking a mega pot of marmite to a Brit abroad.

@dementedpixie
2024? Apologies, I thought I’d read May this year!

Inhalers are also counted as liquids.

You don’t need to remove hearing aids to pass though security but you do need to remove belts even if they’re plastic.

@tanstaafl the deadline is June 2024 so it will depend who installs the new technology/scanners first. Knowing the UK it will be towards the end of the deadline!