Travel Tips for First Time Fliers

can of ginger ale next to cup on airplane tray

If you’ve never traveled by plane, this post is for you! And if it’s been a while, a refresher never hurts… I actually compiled a similar list of tips for a family member who was getting ready to fly for the first time and was having more than a little anxiety about it. I personally like to be as prepared as possible for just about everything; and if you think about it, the whole experience can be pretty intimidating if you have no idea what to expect. I’m also surprised by how many people I know, or have met, who have never flown. So, I put together some tips that I hope are helpful for first time fliers. Wishing you fun and safe travels!!!

Packing Prep:

Print out your boarding passes at home, or have the person at the ticket counter do so when you arrive. Don’t just rely on your phone or app.
Download a travel app, or sign up for text messages with your airline, so you’ll know of any delays or changes.
Refer to TSA Guidelines on liquid amounts, what is and is not allowed on the plane, and so forth. Keep in mind that rules and regulations change all the time so always be sure to check beforehand.
Weigh your luggage at home to make sure it’s not over 50 pounds.
Put all liquid and gel items in a clear quart-sized bag if you plan to pack them in your carry-on. You’ll need to take them out at the security checkpoint. And even if you put them in your checked luggage, baggies are still a good idea because shampoo has a way of leaking onto your stuff.
This is super important: pack all medication in your carry-on bag (coming and going). Do not take them out of their original containers either.
Same goes for jewelry. Don’t pack anything that can’t get potentially lost in your checked luggage.
If you can fit it, pack a change of clothes in your carry-on and maybe some toiletries. Lost luggage is no fun, but it happens.
A backpack or small roller bag (that can fit under the seat) is ideal for a carry-on, in addition to your one personal item that you’re allowed (like a purse or laptop bag). Not only will it be easier to manage lugging through the airport, bathroom breaks can be quite a challenge with cumbersome carry-ons.
Note that many small planes will make you check your carry-on luggage plane-side unless it will fit under a seat because they don’t have enough overhead storage. This means that you will have to give it to an airline employee when you get on the plane and retrieve it when you deplane (as soon as you walk off the plane). So, you definitely don’t want your camera, laptop or any other devices that are breakable in said bag (or your snacks!). You can also simply convey that your bag has breakable valuables.
Make sure you have luggage tags on all your bags with your contact info. If you don’t have one, they have paper tags at the ticket counter.
It’s also helpful to have some kind of identifying mark, tag, ribbon, etc. on your luggage (especially if it’s just a black nondescript bag) to help with spotting it at the time of luggage pickup.
If you want to put a lock on your checked luggage, make sure it’s a TSA approved one. (They have a master key.) Otherwise, it will get cut off.
Wear comfy shoes that you can easily slip off for security checkpoint. Or wear your biggest shoes to free up packing space.
Bring a hoodie or jacket to wear on the plane because it can get cold.
You can pack snacks but not drinks. You can pack an empty water bottle to fill after security checkpoint.

Traveling Tips:

When booking, be sure to allow for at least a 45-minute layover so you have enough time to dash through the airport to your next gate. And planes aren’t always punctual…
Arrive to the airport two hours early. Yes; seriously. Checking bags, printing boarding passes, bathroom breaks, and security checkpoints take longer than you’d think and they start boarding the plane about 30 minutes prior to takeoff. Unless it’s a tiny airport, then maybe give yourself an hour and a half…
Make transportation arrangements such as parking for your car, taxi, and/or reserving a car rental.
Check in at the ticket counter to get your boarding passes and check your luggage when you arrive at the airport.
Make sure you don’t have any weapons or liquids on your person or in your luggage before going through security. That includes pocket knife key chains and forgotten bottles of water (I’m guilty of both, haha!).
You will need your drivers license and/or passport along with your boarding pass for the security checkpoint.
At security checkpoint, put baggie of liquids, electronics, shoes, metal items (such as belts, zip up hoodies, etc.) in the plastic containers provided to go through the scan.
After you get all your stuff back together and your shoes on, find a Flight Information Display System (huge screens with all the flights listed on them) to check that your flight is on time and what gate to go to. You can find this by the city or the flight number on your boarding pass. Do this at your layover too.
Go to the bathroom before you board. The one on the plane will be ridiculously tiny.
On the plane, put all your electronics in airplane mode.
Chewing gum helps with the pressure in your ears. And sipping ginger ale helps with nausea. If you’re really worried that you’ll need that doggy bag in the seat pocket in front of you, I recommend taking motion sickness medication prior to takeoff – just in case…
Taking off and landing can be a bit alarming/jarring, but it’s normal – as is turbulence. (Okay, it’s a little scary.) That might not necessarily make you feel better about it, but it’s some consolation that it’s at least not out of the ordinary.
Seats at the back of the plane are “bouncier” than others. The front is ideal if you need to deplane quickly for your next connection. And isle seats are nice for more room.
You should look out the window at least once because it’s really cool.
When you get to your destination, you’ll pick up your luggage at baggage. If it’s a large airport, you can find which carousel is yours by a sign indicating your flight number. Sometimes the flight attendant will tell you before you deplane.