#scanner. sign pointing to where the bathrooms are. ride service

[themightyrancho]

It's amazing how much I ruined my own life lol

[yournewapartment]

URGENT!! How do you airport? I’ve traveled before but this is the first time I’m flying home alone as an adult and it’s LAX which feels like airport hell

How to Airport

Some General Tips

Make a Travel Timeline beforehand. Sit down a week or two beforehand and figure out how long everything will take you. Plan how early you’ll need to arrive at the airport, how long it will take you to get through airport security, etc. I always get to the airport way in advance, because check in lines can sometimes before LONG! I recommend arriving at the airport 2-3 hours in advance, depending on the type of flight.

Try to avoid the pitfalls of purchasing things at the airport. I know all those smart travel acessories look tempting, but airports sometimes charge three times an item’s regular price. Avoid the $16 sandwich! If you’re flying domestic, you can bring food and drink with you, as long as it’s unopened and packaged clearly. If you have to purchase food/drink, shop around for the cheapest price to make something worthwhile.

Utilize free airport resources! Charge your phone and laptop, explore any shops or displays to pass time, and if the airport has free wifi, get on it! Not all airports in America do, and those that do often have shitty wifi. But I’ve had good luck in Europe connecting to free wifi. As a rule- American airports SUCK compared to airports in other countries. Take some time to explore if you are traveling abroad.

If you have a layover, plan your time wisely. Do NOT plan a layover that is less than an hour and a half. Airplanes are notorious for running behind schedule, and missing a flight is stressful. If you have an international layover, you WILL have to go through customs in the country you have a layover in, so plan accordingly. Most airlines will not allow passengers to book layovers that are too short. If you are waiting in line when your plane is about to depart, airline personnel will try to find you and get you on the plane. Try is the key word here.

If you DO miss your flight for whatever reason that is the airline’s fault, the airline responsible will book you on the next available flight or will put you up in a nearby hotel. If you have a short layover, call the airline ahead of time and find out when the next flight is as a precaution.

If you’re confused about something, ask airport personel who work for the airline you’re flying on. Policies differ from airport to airport and REALLY differ in other countries. (An example- in America, plane gates are announced way beforehand. In Europe they’re not? I don’t understand how airports can just not know what gate planes will be arriving at until fifteen minutes before boarding? I feel like it’s lies??) Don’t get bogged down asking random workers for help. Go straight to the source if at all possible.

Getting On That Plane

The first step to your airport travel is to “check in”. Most airports have “check in” kiosks that you can use for self-service if you feel confident. Otherwise, check in with personnel who work for your airline. This is where you drop off any luggage that is not a carry-on. You will also get your plane ticket here (they’ll call it your boarding pass) which includes all of your flight information like your gate and departure time. Unless you are traveling in EUROPE!

After that, you will go through airport security. You’ll present personnel with your ID (driver’s license, passport, etc) as well as your boarding pass. They will sometimes ask you to verify your DOB or ask where you’re flying to and why.

After that, you and any carry on luggage you might have, will go through a thurough security point. Follow instructions from airport personnel. You WILL have to go through a full body scanner. This step is stressful because you’ll likely be waiting in line for a while and will be unceremoniously hurried along by airport personnel. But they explain all of the steps to going through security for you, and you can ask questions if you are confused.

After you’re through security, you’ll be in the main part of the airport. Usually some sort of food court and shopping area. Food stalls, vending machines, stores, and bathrooms will be placed sporadically around the airport. There will be a larger variety of food available when you first walk out of airport security. Less food will be available closer to your gate.

Follow signs to your gate and get settled! Sometimes it’s a hike. JFK in New York airport has INSANE distances from the main area to your gate

When your plane is about to board, flight attendants will make many announcements over the airport loudspeaker. Boarding is usually done in stages, passengers who paid for priority seating or who need assistance boarding will go first.

In America, you walk out of the aiport and directly onto the plane. I can’t speak for boarding at every airport, because it varies. But be wary those of you traveling through Portugal! For some unknown reason, they take you from your gate, pack you onto a bus, and then drive you to your plane. Your bus ride may be two minutes, it may be twenty! You then wait on the bus for anywhere from five minutes to ten minutes to be let off. It is TERRIBLE!

Board the plane! And off you go. There have been many posts made about traveling on planes. This is my favorite one by @howtogrowthefuckup