A Few Tips for First-Time Flyers

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We all know that flying can be a stressful experience. Since the world has opened up a little bit from the height of the COVID pandemic, many of us are doing a bit more traveling. I’m here to help make your first (or next) flight as easy and enjoyable as possible with my quick guide of tips for first-time flyers.

These are reminders for lapsed flyers as well!

In this blog post, there’s information on what to expect on your flight — from airport check-in, security screening, COVID rules, boarding the plane, in-flight service, and more.

Booking Your Flight

There are numerous ways to book your airline ticket. Because of that, it can seem overwhelming – especially for first-time flyers. But if you start searching ahead of time and are willing to do some research, it is possible to find reasonable airline ticket prices.

Some of the methods to buy tickets include: directly through the airline itself, through an online travel agency like Expedia, through comparison aggregator sites like Kayak, or through an actual travel agent/travel agency. You used to be able to bid for tickets on sites like Priceline or Hotwire, but those functions aren’t available anymore. These sites now function similarly to other discount sites.

I have utilized each of these methods at some point in my travel career. I tend to buy directly from the airlines most of the time – I like the security of using the official airline site. However, I have had reasonably good experiences with all the other methods as well. I am just more cautious when buying tickets outside of the airline sites.

Here are some general online buying tips from dummies.com

• Check online (online travel agencies or aggregator sites) to determine what tickets and prices are available.
• After you find a ticket (or two) of interest, check the specific airline site for those specific flights. Sometimes, you can find web-only deals for that particular flight.
• Also check the surrounding airports near your destination to see if there are cheaper flights. You may have a longer drive though. The discount to make the extra distance worth it usually has to be well north of $100 beause of additional travel, time lost etc. so keep that in mind. However, if you are on a tight schedule, this might not be a good option for you.
• For complex trips – including complex international trips requiring several stops, check with a travel agent. They often have the ability to find routes that you can’t.

More Tips for First-Time Flyers

• You may see stories about the best time to buy a ticket (for example on Tuesdays) but you may waste a lot of time trying to chase all the potential rules. But in real life, airline ticket prices can change quickly. If you find a fare that you love, you may need to buy quickly to secure that price.

• Try to plan ahead. While you can sometimes find reasonably-priced tickets if you decide to take a quick trip, it is best to buy a few months ahead of time if possible.

• Know that your ticket includes. Today, many airlines are charging for checked baggage which can add $70 or more to your fare for 2 pieces of checked luggage.

Final Booking Thoughts

Remember when booking your flight to be frugal, not cheap. To me, being frugal is different than being cheap.

I like to save money, but it has to make sense, right? It may seem like a good deal to save $140 on that flight, but after you factor in the 12-hour layover and the amount of money you’ll spend on food and other goodies during the layover, you may find it’s not a great deal after all.

Plus, how uncomfortable is a 12-hour layover? Boo. Not worth $140 after you factor everything in.

Before Your Flight   

Download the airline’s app onto your phone so you can keep up-to-date with gate changes, flight delays, and any other information the airline may need to tell you about your flight. Sometimes, you can change your seat (for a fee) well ahead of the actual flight date.

Does the hotel you’re staying at offer shuttle rides to/from the airport? If so, be sure to call and get details about that ahead of time. Answers to questions like “How often does the shuttle run?”, “Is it free?”, or “Does the shuttle run even in the middle of the night?” are important to know.

Also, find out if you need to upload any information to your app before your flight like your passport if traveling internationally. And for international flights in this time of COVID, you may need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test before you can enter your destination country. To reenter the US, you need to have proof of a negative COVID test 72 hours before your flight or documentation from your physician that you have recently recovered from a COVID infection. The airline may ask you to upload that information to your app as a part of your check-in.

I just traveled to Mexico last week. I didn’t have to provide a COVID test to enter that country but I did have to have (and pass) a COVID test to get back into the US. So, check out the requirements if going out of the country so you can make arrangements as needed.

Airport Check-In

For a better experience, your check-in actually starts before you get to the airport! There is the info mentioned in the previous section which is actually part of your check-in. But there are other parts of check-in that you should be aware of as well.

For most airlines, you can check-in before the flight (generally around 24 hours before your flight departure time), check your seat selection (and possibly move to another seat — for a fee), check and pay for your luggage (if needed), and verify your citizenship and COVID status (if needed). Doing these things ahead of time makes your time in the airport a wee bit less stressful.

Airport Transportation Considerations

If you live near the airport, you can have a friend drive you or catch a rideshare like Uber or Lyft for less than $20. But if you live further away, the rideshare may be more expensive. Compare that to how much it would cost to park at (or near) the airport to decide which is the best deal for you.

If you have to park at the airport, it can get expensive. Look for parking around the airport instead. Most parking lots near airports offer free shuttle service, just make sure you factor in extra time as shuttles may only run once or twice per hour – especially if you’re flying out of a smaller airport instead of a big city.

Once you get to your destination, find the rideshare or taxi area unless your hotel offers shuttles to and from the airport. The airport should have signs directing you to the loading areas for rideshares. If you don’t see them, ask any airport employee and they will point you in the right direction.

Airport Arrival Tips for First-Time Flyers

Arrive at least 2 hours ahead of time for domestic flights, and 3 hours for international. Check your flight’s status to see if it is delayed before you leave for the airport. If your flight is delayed by 5 hours, for example, you don’t need to leave for the airport quite as soon.

Keep all important documents safe and within your reach, such as your ID, passport, etc. Take a screenshot of your boarding pass or print it out, just in case you can’t pull it up on your phone because your phone’s signal is weak when it’s time to board. It happens!

Wear comfortable clothes on your flight. Breathable clothes that can easily be layered are ideal. You should also carry a jacket — the air conditioner on the airplane can get rather chilly. I try to avoid the airline blankets!

Don’t forget your mask! Federal law says you have to wear a mask on the plane – the entire time. Even when eating — you can pull your mask down to take a bite or drink. On the airline we used, they told us to pull the mask back up while chewing. Most airlines will provide a mask for you if you need it. The flight attendants will remind you multiple times on the speaker system.

Note: If you refuse to wear a mask, you can be fined or face stiffer penalties depending on your behavior!

Security

Dealing with airport security can be intimidating, especially if the staff is yelling or unfriendly (it happens). For best results, know the rules ahead of time of what you can and can’t bring in your carry-on. Your bags — and you personally — may get searched, but most of the time it’s painless. I got patted down because I have my hair in braids. I guess they wanted to make sure I wasn’t hiding anything in my hair!

Chilling at the Airport

Bring something that helps you pass the time such as a book, magazine, or laptop/iPad/Kindle Fire just in case. There may be a long waiting period like an airport layover or a car ride to your destination city. Do not forget to bring an extra charger for your phone, just in case you lose it or forget it at the airport or hotel.

Boarding Your Flight

It can be a bit scary walking down the runway to board your first flight. There are sights, sounds, smells, and lots of people… what an opportunity to get overwhelmed! Take it one step at a time and remember everyone else has been in the same position as you are. They know what it’s like to be nervous for their first flight and will be sympathetic.

Possible Flight Issues

Be prepared for possible issues that can happen on any flight:

• Turbulence – this is when the plane ride gets bumpy.
• Loud, smelly, or rude passengers – unfortunately, it happens. On my departure flight last week, two women started arguing loudly. The flight attendent talked to them and then noted that if this argument escalated, they would have to divert the flight! The women got quiet then…
• Delays in taking off or disembarking – you could get stuck on the tarmac for a few hours if there is a traffic jam of planes, or inclement weather. On that same flight above, we were originally delayed (which made the suggestion of diversion so potent!) because there was a problem with the plane. We had to disembark, wait at the gate for a couple of hours, and then get back on a new plane.

Baggage Claim

Getting your bags after your flight can be a little nerve-wracking. For instance, there are a lot of black suitcases in the world. Put something distinctive – scarf on the handle or a colorful handle grip — on your luggage to make it easier to identify your bags on the luggage carousel. Obviously, you can use your baggage claim slip to check as well.

Make sure you don’t throw your baggage claim slip away once you get your bag. Occasionally the workers will check your slip as you leave to make sure it matches your suitcase.

Cheers! You did it!

Whew! The landing on your first flight is a feeling like no other. My first flight was well before I can remember — around age 2 or so. But I do remember on a later flight around age 10 sitting by the window and being so excited to see the clouds and the tweeny tiny buildings as we flew!

When you’re planning your first time flying or if you haven’t flown in a while, it can be a little overwhelming. There are so many things to consider like possible flight issues or rides from and back to the airport. There’s also packing for an entire week (or however long) away from home!

With these tips for first-time flyers, I hope that this will make traveling less stressful for you as well as help avoid any potential setbacks along the way.

Tell me about your first flight in the comments below! 🙂

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Loving Life — The Reboot!

Dominique