Long flights. First flight on an airplane

Air tickets have been purchased, suitcases are packed, there are only a few days left before the start of your vacation, but instead of joy, you begin to worry. Excitement is growing every day, because you are flying for the first time and all you are now worried about is how to behave at the airport, how everything will go, will you get lost, will you mix up the plane, etc. You can stop worrying, you have just found the most detailed instructions “ first time at the airport” for beginners, which will answer all your questions.

So, before departure, after purchasing an air ticket, before boarding the plane, you need to go through the following necessary procedures:

1. Customs control, before or after registration
2. Check-in and baggage drop-off
3. Passport control
4. Security screening

Everything is easy and simple, it’s extremely difficult to miss a plane or get lost at the airport, the main thing is to carefully read and follow our most detailed instructions.” first time at the airport“.

And so - the route is chosen, the plane ticket is purchased, things are packed, money is prepared, documents are checked several times (your personal signature must be in the passport). You didn’t forget to put money on your phone and activate roaming. All this needs to be checked before leaving home. Items are divided into luggage and hand luggage. Carry-on luggage is part of the things that will lie next to you in the cabin during the flight. This can be large electronic equipment (laptop, camera, video camera), fragile souvenirs. It is strictly not recommended to check them in as luggage - they may be damaged during loading and loading.

Do not try to carry the above items in your hand luggage

It is prohibited to carry in hand luggage:
- liquids in bottles over 100 milliliters
- highly flammable and explosive substances (acetone, hairspray, etc.)
- piercing and cutting objects (knives, nail scissors, etc.)
- heavy items exceeding the established weight limit for hand luggage

Information about these restrictions should be read on the airline's website, especially if you are flying with a transfer. Some foreign airports have strict security rules (for example, in European Union countries, mascara may be confiscated during security control).

Under no circumstances should you try to carry sharp objects in your hand luggage. At a minimum, they will be confiscated from you; at a maximum, you are guaranteed a conversation with airport security. A box for assembling sharp cutting objects at the airport in Lima, Peru

Please note that if you are flying in business class, you are allowed to carry no more than 30 kilograms for free; in economy class – no more than 20 kilograms. Keep in mind that the weight of the bag or suitcase is included in the luggage weight. If you are overweight, you will have to pay extra at airline rates. Before check-in, there are special facilities in the departure hall where, for a fee, your belongings will be carefully and securely packed in transparent polyethylene. This guarantees you the inviolability and safety of your belongings checked into the luggage compartment and maximum peace of mind during the flight.

Almost everywhere in the world (hotels, transport, travel agencies) you will be understood in English. If you are flying abroad, it is advisable to carefully read information about the country, customs, and attractions on the Internet. Learn a few phrases in the local language so that you can communicate at the airport or with the police if a problem arises. Or prepare these phrases on a piece of paper; you can also take a dictionary or phrasebook with you.

Whatever you are first time at the airport or you are a regular air passenger, we suggest putting copies of all documents inside your luggage and sewing a badge with your name, surname and contact phone number (for the paranoid, in several copies and in different places) to the suitcase, in case your luggage is lost. For the advanced, it is useful to upload scans of all travel documents to your email, and if necessary, use electronic copies. This little thing will save you from extremely rare unpleasant accidents in the future.

Carry-on luggage on an airplane. Always put passports, important documents, money and plastic cards in your hand luggage

Important! Never put documents, money or plastic cards in your checked baggage.

So you are ready for many new and interesting experiences, let's start registering. Moreover, you can check in at the airport in two ways: online check-in and check-in the old way.

Option 1 – online check-in at the airport:
More and more airlines are offering online check-in via the Internet. It can be completed at any time during the day before departure and at least an hour before scheduled departure, without arriving at the airport. In this case, you can register from any computer with Internet access. All passengers can check in online: those flying with or without luggage, in a group or with children, regardless of whether they are flying economy or business class. To complete online check-in, you need to open the airline’s website, find the tab that says online check-in and click on it. Then fill in, usually this:

Electronic ticket number or booking code
- departure airport
- first and last name of the passenger
- departure date

After entering the necessary information for registration, the system will generate a boarding pass, which must be printed (this will be the document that must be presented at the airport gate when boarding the plane). At the airport, for online registered passengers, you need to check your luggage at a special counter and avoid standing in a huge general queue, and if you are flying only with hand luggage, then go straight to security and passport control.

Option 2 – regular registration:
You decide to use the traditional check-in form upon arrival at the airport. Check-in for a flight usually opens three hours before departure and closes 50 minutes before scheduled departure. First timers should arrive 2 or 3 hours early to avoid fuss, rush, worry, confusion and anxiety. Departure and arrival times on air tickets are always indicated only as local times. You need to remember this when preparing for your trip. Otherwise, you may miss your plane or even ruin your trip.

Regular check-in at the airport with a queue

When entering the airport, you need to go through a metal detector; your luggage will be scanned on a self-propelled belt - this goes quickly. Inside the airport there is a board (information monitor) with departures. It says Departures in English. In the printout of the electronic ticket we find the flight number Flight (for example UN777) the destination city and on the board we find our flight. Once again, we clarify the direction and remember the number of the check-in counter, where they will exchange the air ticket for a boarding pass, which is a pass to the plane. Note – if you arrive too early, your flight may not yet be shown on the board.

Approaching the check-in counter, you present your passport, ticket and voice your wishes for a seat on the plane (at the aisle, at the emergency exit, at the window, etc.) Taking into account your wishes and capabilities, you will be given a ticket with a seat. Then they will weigh and accept your luggage. A tag with a number will be affixed to both the luggage and the ticket. Make sure your luggage is tagged with your name and flight number, and your ticket has a baggage receipt.

The boarding pass contains important information - the date and time of departure, flight number, boarding time, gate number of the boarding area (Gate) and most importantly, the number of your seat in the aircraft cabin. Boarding times will be repeated repeatedly over the airport's public address system. Loud and clear every 10-15 minutes.

Boarding pass. Click on photo to enlarge

With your passport and boarding pass, proceed to the customs inspection area. This is the most meticulous check before boarding. Customs control is required to find out whether you have antiques, large sums of money, drugs, weapons, excise goods, etc. on you. You must declare this in your customs declaration. Therefore, before passport control, fill out a customs declaration if there is something to declare, but if not, a declaration is not required.

For the convenience of passengers at international airports, there are two types of border crossings: green And red corridors. You choose the corridor yourself. 99 percent of tourists have nothing to declare, so you can freely go through the green corridor.

Green corridor sign for exiting the airport. This corridor is suitable for 99% of tourists

Customs officers have the right to ask you to present your luggage for inspection, but this is an extremely rare practice. Therefore, before passport control, they fill out a customs declaration if there is something to declare, but if not, a declaration will not be required. Then you need to go to the passport control area. The border guard will check your boarding pass and passport.

After passport control you need to go through a personal search. When going through security you must present your passport, boarding pass and ticket. Aviation security staff will tell you what to do. Attention! If you have implanted devices, do not enter the area of ​​a stationary metal detector. First, contact the aviation security inspector and explain your situation to him.

After passing security, you enter the boarding lounge. Now you can relax and stroll around the waiting room, buy souvenirs and wait for the boarding announcement. After the announcement, you need to go to the gate indicated on your boarding pass and present this pass to the attendant. You will only need your boarding pass and possibly your passport. Airports with heavy traffic sometimes do not announce the start of boarding. Therefore, you must always remember about the landing time and at the specified time independently go to the desired exit (Gate). Boarding the plane takes place either by bus or through a special accordion connecting the plane with the terminal building.

After landing at the airport, you go through the same procedures as when landing. First, passport control: the border guard will check your passport, boarding pass, visa or entry permit. Then you receive your luggage and go through customs control. If your luggage is not found or is damaged, you must contact an airport employee (Lost and found).

You see nothing complicated, even if you first time at the airport.

Fly with pleasure!

So, you are flying on an airplane for the first time and have already purchased tickets, expensive or not. For the first time, the upcoming first flight sometimes scares you to the point of trembling in your knees. Don't panic - our tips will help you.
The main thing is don't panic! It's just fear of the unknown. Armed with knowledge, you will lose at least 50% of your fears. So read on!
By the way, you can find cheap air tickets using the calendar on our website.

Low price calendar

A few rules for those who fly for the first time on an airplane

• To everyone who flies on an airplane for the first time, we advise you to get to the airport early. Check-in for domestic flights begins two hours before departure, for international flights - three hours. It ends in 40 minutes.
• Be careful, especially if you are flying on an airplane for the first time: being late for check-in usually results in the airline refusing to refund money for an unused ticket.
• When you get to the airport, you may have to go through security - less rigorous than when boarding a plane, but often with long queues of mourners, passengers and staff. Remove mobile phones, keys and other metal objects from your pockets in advance.
• Then find the monitors indicating your flight and check-in number. At the check-in counter, check in for your flight and check in your luggage if necessary. Please note that some airlines check in non-EU citizens at a separate check-in counter. By the way, free baggage weight when flying within Russia does not exceed 20-30 kg in different airlines. They will find out in advance to avoid overpayment.
• At the security control, your belongings will be passed through a scanner, and you will go through a frame - and find yourself in the duty-free area, where you need to find a board with the gate number from which you will board your plane. Typically, queues at the gates form within 50-60 minutes. What should you do if, during a search, an item is found in your hand luggage that is prohibited from being carried on board the plane? Don't argue - it's useless. To avoid having to leave these items behind, read the lists of items allowed in hand luggage in advance.
• If this is your first time flying on an airplane, we remind you that during takeoff and landing you need to turn off all electronics, including your mobile phone. Don't smoke on board the plane! Even if you try to do this in the toilet, you will still have to pay a fine upon arrival at the airport.
• If you are flying for the first time on an airplane and during takeoff your ears feel a little stuffy - swallow saliva, yawn or chew gum (candy). Food and drinks are provided on long flights. What can you take with you? Eliminate drugs, weapons and dynamite. You can take water with you to drink, purchased in the duty-free zone. A book or laptop to avoid boredom, or a player if the screams of children make you nervous. You can take slippers to prevent your feet from getting numb. Neck inflatable pillow for comfortable sleep. The most nervous ones are advised to purchase a talisman that will relieve panic and problems on the road - an eagle.
• Upon arrival, go through passport control and pick up your luggage.

That's it, the first flight is over. We hope that these simple tips have helped everyone who is flying on an airplane for the first time.

Takeoff

Sooner or later, each of the tourists decides to try to be a little further from their home. For many, the train is a way to travel short distances, but for longer distances it is much more convenient to use an airplane. Modern airlines offer flights to almost anywhere in the world - everything will depend on your desire.

But few tourists know how to behave during their first flight, what to do at the airport, and what the procedure for boarding is. There are many nuances in this seemingly simple matter, and now we will talk about the main stages of air travel.

Registration

Any flight begins at the airport terminal, namely at the check-in counter. The check-in counter always has the logo of the airline you bought or booked tickets with, so finding it won’t be too difficult.

It is best to arrive for check-in a few hours before departure. Each airline has a different check-in time, but as a rule, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport 3 hours before departure.

Registration

A number of companies are starting to register their passengers on special online services 12 hours in advance, but doing this remotely for the first time is not recommended.

For getting boarding pass you will need to present an itinerary receipt, which serves as proof of payment for tickets, and passport. At this stage, you will be able to choose a seat on the plane. Many first-time passengers choose a window seat, although aisle seats are much more comfortable for economy class.

IMPORTANT: You must keep your boarding pass until the end of the flight, or better yet, until you return home.

At the check-in counter, among other things, you check in your luggage, or hand luggage. They differ in that you can carry hand luggage with you into the cabin, but this must be a bag of limited weight (usually up to 7-10 kg, depends on the airline), as well as limited overall dimensions.

If you are traveling with luggage, but your boarding pass is attached baggage number tag, which you can then use to find your things.

The boarding pass also indicates the gate from which you will board your plane, but before that you will be awaiting the most important stage of pre-flight inspection.

Pre-flight inspection

Domestic flights

For domestic travel, pre-flight inspection by airport security is somewhat simplified. Although for many who fly for the first time, even such a scheme may seem grueling.

Before entering the security check area, you present your passport and boarding pass to the security officer. After checking your data, he lets you pass further, where the most serious stage will await you.

Passport control

Typically, at this stage you will see a metal detector frame and a conveyor belt with baskets in front of you. In these baskets you must put all metal objects(including wallet and jewelry), mobile phone, as well as outerwear and hand luggage. Along the conveyor, your items will enter a special scanner, where an airport employee will see on monitors whether there are any prohibited items.

When passing under the metal detector frame, you need to pause for a few seconds and move on only upon signal from a security officer. When you leave the frame, you can pick up a basket with your things.

If there are any questions about your belongings, you will be invited to the personal search table. During it, you just need to open the bag and show what is in the department that the security specialist points out. If you don’t find anything prohibited in your bag, you can safely move on.

IMPORTANT: Do not forget that at the stage of personal search you should behave as correctly and calmly as possible. Jokes about bombs, drugs and weapons are not understood at the airport, and they can be kicked off the flight or even detained for several hours.

International flights

International flights will differ from domestic flights in the availability customs corridors. You need to remember that each country has its own rules for importing certain things, so we will only talk about general points.

Green corridor– this is a passage for those passengers who do not have things with them that must be included in the customs declaration. As a rule, these are alcohol, cigarettes, perfume and other goods.

Red channel is intended for those who have things with them that need to be included in the customs declaration, or for which they need to pay import duty into another country.

IMPORTANT: Customs clearance for international flights is carried out BEFORE the check-in procedure.

Waiting hall

Having successfully passed the inspection, you can safely enter the Waiting hall. At large airports, numerous cafes, Duty-Free shops and other establishments will operate here for passengers. But the first thing you need to do in the waiting room is to check the information with the display.

Usually , electronic boards are found here in large numbers. You will also need to make sure that your flight will board at the same gate that is listed on your boarding pass. In addition to the display, this information is duplicated over the speakerphone.

If it happens that the gate has changed, follow the signs to find the correct exit. As a last resort, you can contact an information service employee for help.

Boarding the plane

Before leaving the gate, you will be greeted by an airline employee who will ask to see your boarding pass. Having torn off the control spine from it, you will be shown the doors through which you will need to exit. A bus will be waiting for you there, taking passengers directly to the plane.

In some cases, passengers exit the aircraft through special telescopic bridges, but not every airport has them.

Telescopic bridges

Once on board, you will see friendly flight attendants or stewards at the gangway, whom you should say hello to – mutual politeness has not been canceled. If you can’t immediately find your seat in the salon, you can ask them.

The flight attendants, after all passengers have taken their seats, can provide a small blanket and pillow. It is your right to refuse this or not.

Before takeoff, flight attendants will conduct briefing in case of emergency landing of an aircraft. You will be shown how to use oxygen masks, where the emergency exits are, and in what order you should leave the plane.

Takeoff and landing

The most dangerous and critical stages for pilots and passengers are takeoff and landing. If everything is clear about the responsibility of pilots, then mandatory requirements will also be imposed on passengers.

When the aircraft engines are running, the seat backs must be adjusted to vertical position, and the passenger himself must be wearing a seat belt. Flight attendants at this stage are turning from smiling girls and boys into strict mentors checking every seat.

All electronic devices will be required before takeoff and landing. disable. This is done for the safety of the dispatcher’s radio signal - mobile phones create noticeable interference.

The window shades are also must be open. This is another flight safety requirement in case of an emergency landing.

IMPORTANT: During climb or descent, people with blood pressure problems may experience discomfort. Most often, this is ear congestion; earplugs or chewing gum can help relieve this - chewing movements relieve tension. Sometimes your feet swell, which can be helped by loose shoes.

Flight

During the flight, passengers can be offered a number of pleasant bonuses completely free of charge.

The main bonus is the food. Depending on the time of departure, it will be called breakfast, lunch or dinner. Before this, drinks are served - sparkling water, coffee or tea. The food is usually hearty and well prepared.

Also, local airlines often offer newspapers or magazines to read during the flight.

A flight is the fastest, and often the only way to get to a distant but desired point on the map. Of course, there are people who have flown tens of thousands of kilometers and know airports like the back of their hand. But what if this is your first flight, and you have only a vague idea of ​​what should happen between buying a ticket and taking off the plane?

We have prepared for you detailed instructions on using airports.

1. Tickets

Any trip starts with a ticket. You can buy a ticket on the airline’s website, or on special websites that allow you to choose from several carriers at once. If you buy a tour, the agency will most likely handle the tickets. In any case, the ticket will be electronic - this means that information about your trip is stored in the airline’s electronic database.

Before boarding the plane, you will be asked again to show your boarding pass and passport. You will be left with your boarding pass, which will also indicate the row and seat you will occupy on the plane.

Depending on the airport, passengers are taken to the plane by bus, or the plane can drive up to the building, and then boarding is carried out through a telescopic bridge (sleeve).

Both airlines and airports strive to make your flight as comfortable as possible. All airports have signage and navigation systems, and every member of staff will be happy to assist any passenger with any question.

Pleasant flight.

Some people don't fly on airplanes just because they've never done it before. This is not a fear of danger, not a fear of heights, but simply panic in front of something unknown. And many do not understand what pleasure they are depriving themselves of, because flying is very pleasant and interesting, and most importantly - fast. And in many cases, this is the only way to get to the right place. Do not neglect technical progress, because horses and carriages, weeks and months of travel are already far in the past.

Personally, at first it was not the planes that scared me, but the airport. How to get into it, where to run, how not to confuse anything, and in general... Let's imagine that you find yourself at the airport for the first time. The procedure will be approximately the same, except that inspection and passport control in some cases change places.

First time at the airport

What time do you need to arrive? Check-in for the flight begins two hours before departure. Why so early? You need to have time to go through a large number of time-consuming procedures. You can arrive even earlier just in case. But it’s better not later, especially if you’re flying for the first time.

Entrance

In our country, unlike many others, anti-terrorist security has been strengthened. Therefore, try to budget for the time you will spend... going inside the airport. There are often queues there. You will already be examined there and your things will be scanned, even if you just came as a guide. You can go back out, but you can only get back to the airport through security again.

Scoreboard and registration area

The departure and arrival board is perhaps the most romantic object at the airport, and it has even been praised more than once. The board indicates the number, destination, and departure time of the flight. Be sure to check your flight number. Once we almost got confused with flights that departed 15 minutes apart.

Sometimes several flights may depart at the same time, so keep an eye out. What makes it even more confusing is that airlines often operate codeshare flights. Do not rely on the name of the airline, and even sometimes time is not an indicator. The direction and number are what you need to see. The board also indicates which registration desk you need to go to and what state the registration is in: whether it is open or, God forbid, has ended. Check-in for the flight, as I already said, begins 2 hours before departure and ends 40 minutes before it.

Baggage preparation

I haven’t found any useful information about preparing luggage on any “good” portal.

Usually, “smart” life hackers write about prohibited items and the weight of luggage somewhere in paragraphs about inspection, not taking into account the fact that we part with luggage much earlier, and this implies a completely different sequence of actions.

Baggage flies separately from you

You can fly without luggage and put all your items in hand luggage if the airline allows it. This is what I usually do, it significantly speeds up leaving the airport upon arrival. In this case, your suitcase or backpack must fit certain dimensions and not exceed the weight limit.

Oversized and oversized luggage

Dimensional - suitable for standard sizes. In Russian, a standard suitcase or bag. Oversized fits in weight, but not in size, and is issued separately. By the way, it is oversized luggage that is most often lost.

If you are concerned about this topic, then feel free to go to the airline’s website and check what they can and cannot do. No other way. Because different airlines treat luggage differently. It is clear that items such as a guitar, a huge box or a plasma TV can hardly be called oversized luggage. You will not be asked to pay any extra money for handling oversized luggage.

Extra bed

You can purchase additional luggage space, it costs extra money. But no one has canceled cheating, for example, the Aeroflot gold card allows you to carry two pieces of luggage at the same time for free, and, in principle, such a card is rubbish and envy.

Package

Suitcases are usually thrown onto planes in a rather barbaric manner, so if you want to extend the life of your traveling friend, you can pack it for a fee. Luggage will be wrapped with special film by specially trained people in special places. They are not difficult to find.

If you are carrying something valuable, it is advisable to wrap your luggage. At the airport there are usually several packages with different prices. Naturally, the most expensive ones are located closest to the main entrance. They will wrap you for about 700 rubles, or 10–15 EUR. In addition to official packers, there are also “spider-men” who will offer the same service at 2-3 times cheaper. Wander around the airport a little, looking meaningfully at the packing sheds, and these enterprising cunning people will find you themselves.

Overweight

If you (oh horror!) have an advantage, then prepare your money. Well, the time it takes to check in additional luggage and overweight will take from 20 to 40 minutes for sure.

Your luggage should be of the dimensions and weight, as I already said, acceptable in a particular airline, and it is also advisable to put in it everything that cannot be taken on board, that is, liquids, aerosols, and sharp objects.

Feel yourself. Money, passport, other documents and boarding pass must be literally glued to yourself. Under no circumstances leave money in your luggage (there are such cases), and without a passport you, in principle, will not fly far. It is best to keep such necessary items in a small bag or pocket, generally with you.

Registration

You can check in for your flight from home in advance. This provides certain advantages. For example, you can choose the best seats on the plane.

Registration is easy, Watson. When checking in for a regular flight, they usually don’t ask for anything other than a passport: the employees already have all the data, because Big Brother has been watching you for a long time... The only time the Spaniards asked for a printout of my electronic ticket, because in their database my name was not written with that letter. But this is the exception rather than the rule. At check-in you temporarily say goodbye to your luggage. The luggage is placed on the belt and weighed. After all this, you are given a boarding pass indicating your gate (exit), your seat on the plane and a baggage claim tag. Never lose your boarding pass. Now he is your king and god.

You may be asked what you take on the plane. Any belongings you bring on board are called carry-on luggage. Here's what you shouldn't have in your carry-on luggage:

• Liquids. Some people think that in principle nothing liquid can be brought on board, but this is not true. You can safely carry up to 100 milliliters of any liquid substance with you.
• Sharp, piercing and cutting objects. If you have scissors, corkscrews and knives in your hand luggage, then most likely you will be asked to part with them at security. We learned about diabetics. Syringes are possible. But if you have (quote) “a free-form doctor’s certificate.”
• Aerosols. All varnishes, sprays and sprays must fly in the luggage compartment.

Hand luggage can weigh up to 10 kilograms. All airlines have approximately the same size requirements. There are even special suitcases that fit the size of hand luggage. In fact, if you're flying on a scheduled flight, you can bring almost anything on board. One day we were carrying a huge basket, a giant hoop the size of a hula hoop and... sheaves of straw. They were light, but voluminous, and we were almost invisible behind them. However, Aeroflot employees treated the sheaves with loyalty and even wished us to have a good event.

In addition to a special suitcase, you can take a fairly large bag or backpack on board. Since we carry a lot of props on business trips, all personal items usually fit in a small handbag.

Search

You can lose quite a lot of time at the security check, as there will be people there who are not only in a hurry to catch your flight. You take a special tray and put everything on it: hand luggage, things, gadgets, a laptop (in Europe they ask you to take it out of your bag and call it a laptop, for a moment!), all metal objects and shoes, if they have thick soles or heels. It is easy to part with liquids or aerosols here if their volume exceeds the norm. For example, if you are trying to smuggle a liter of shampoo, it will most likely be confiscated. Creams, gels, toxic substances, sharp objects - say “adios” to them if you haven’t put them in your suitcase. So we parted with Enterosgel at Heathrow airport, it was very strict there.

This whole story is connected, again, with anti-terrorist security; similar rules were introduced in 2007. On board (once again) - no more than 100 milliliters of liquid in total, that is, you can take with you a small cream, a spray for a runny nose, a perfume sampler and liquid for lenses, in general, a bunch of liquids, but the main thing is that there is not a total of them more than a hundred ml. Yes, and it is advisable to forget about jokes about drugs and weapons. They don't understand jokes at the airport.

If you don’t want to waste a lot of time and make yourself nervous, and also embarrass women with sad faces and scanners in their hands, then, in principle, you shouldn’t hang all the iron jewelry left over from your gypsy grandmother, belts with massive buckles, and put on shoes thick soles or heels: they will strip you and take them off like there’s nothing to do. And this, you see, is not the most pleasant procedure. Here, by the way, is a link to a wildly funny video where a friend did not understand what they wanted from him and was scanned along with his luggage.

Passport control

Keep your passport and boarding pass with you, preferably in your hand. It is also better to avoid stupid jokes at passport control. Taking photographs of the passport control area is prohibited. Therefore, if something suddenly seemed funny to you (for example, your own face and you sawed yourself), you will be asked to delete the photos.

The official in the booth may ask questions. For example, about the purpose of the trip. He will leaf through your passport looking for visas and stamps. I was remarked several times that, they say, I don’t look at the border guard all the time, but fiddle with my phone (it’s better not to be distracted by anything extraneous from this important process), and that my passport is dirty (yes, I dropped it once to Kuru in , and several seals blurred). And you just might not like you. By the way, if you have a biometric passport or visa, you may be asked to place your finger on an infrared reader.

The waiting area

When re-reading my own text, I quickly replaced the word “desirable” with “required.” You absolutely must immediately find your gate (exit). Sometimes it can be difficult. Sometimes special trains run between gates, as in Madrid Barajas or London Heathrow. Sometimes they write scary numbers: how long to get to the exits. Sometimes this is the number 15, that is, minutes. But breathe out: this has never happened at Russian airports. Your ticket will indicate the gate number and boarding time, that is, the start time of boarding. It is better not to wander too far from the desired exit, otherwise you may miss important information. The gate may change, the flight may be delayed, or who knows what else. Take control of the situation.

There is usually something in the waiting area. For example, Duty Free. What “Duty Free” is does not need to be explained to the Russian tourist, who usually begins to prepare for a vacation by drinking alcoholic beverages from this shiny, tasty-smelling and shining market. The belief that it is cheaper at Duty Free is just a belief. For example, alcohol and snacks are often more expensive than in supermarkets, cigarettes are sold only in blocks, and cosmetics correspond to the market price. However, what should not be doubted is the quality of the products. It is better to buy good perfume, professional cosmetics, and gift packs of chocolates at Duty Free. By the way, when purchasing you will be asked to show your boarding pass, so don’t take it too far away.

And, of course, there are all sorts of cafes in the waiting area. Unless you're in Berlin's Tegel, for example, which is more like an Ikea place to pack your groceries. It's not cheap to eat there, but I usually get water from the machine. The air on the plane is dry and you feel thirsty. Anything purchased in this area is suitable to be brought on board.

Boarding the plane

Depending on the airport, your route from the gate to the plane could be like this:

• telescopic ladder,
• bus,
• on foot.

If the airport is small, you can walk, usually a short distance. Sometimes you have to wait for the bus; it’s hot and cramped. Ideal if you are walking along a telescopic ramp - this is an air bridge from the airport to the plane.

If you have a lot of hand luggage, it is better to get in line at the gate early so that you have time to occupy the luggage racks. Sometimes there may be no empty seats next to you, so you will have to look for an empty shelf away from your chair. At smart airports, there is a division into groups to avoid queues at the gate. In this case, your group number is also indicated on your boarding pass. But personally, I like to wait until the last minute: I jump at the gate when the bulk of people have already boarded the plane.

First time on a plane

And here you are, so happy, sitting on the plane and, perhaps, shaking with fear that this colossus is about to take off into the air. This won't happen instantly. You'll be packing for a while. The crew will be preparing for some time. Then the beautiful flight attendants will begin to show how and what to do in an emergency. At this time, the plane will begin to move towards the runway. Previously, I always loved the moment of takeoff, when the iron bird accelerates so that it presses you into the chair, and then takes off from the ground, but now I often fall asleep even before takeoff. The main thing is, if you are scared, take a comfortable position. Good luck if you have a pillow under your head, because external and internal comfort are inseparable.

Places

When it comes to seats inside an airplane, a simple law applies: the closer you are to your head, the less you will be shaken by turbulence. Turbulence, or bumpiness, is the vibration of an aircraft caused by vortex wind flows, downward and outward. It's not scary. The usual bumpiness that occurs when flying through some types of clouds is not dangerous. The aircraft is designed to withstand the resulting overloads. In general, when a plane shakes, it is not a technical failure, and the pilot is not crazy, it is just a temporary phenomenon that needs to be accepted and forgiven. And don’t set yourself up for horror: I’ve flown many times without shaking at all. Since there is less shaking at the front of the plane, business class is located there.

As for “by the window or not by the window,” the point is controversial. If you have never flown, then it may seem to you that a fascinating picture is created in the window throughout the entire flight. However, it is not. The most interesting thing is the takeoff and landing, when you see the city that has turned into a toy city. And then the plane gains altitude and rises above the clouds. Outside the window there will be monotonous blinding white clouds if you are flying during the day, or endless darkness if at night. If you are not a big fan of sticking your forehead into the wall and snoring, then there is no need for a window. There is nothing wrong with choosing a seat near the aisle - it is convenient to go to the toilet without stepping over your sleeping neighbors.

Great if you're flying on a half-empty plane. After takeoff, when you are allowed to wander around the cabin, look in the rear section: there may be three free seats there. I call it "reserved seat". You can stretch out on them, cover yourself with a blanket and sleep. No one will say a bad word to you - it’s been verified.

A special chic during check-in is getting seats at the emergency exit. Ask and they will give if they are still available. On most planes, the distance to the next seat is very far, and the table extends out of the armrest. Of course, you will have a great responsibility - to save passengers in case of emergency evacuation, since you will be the very first one to the exit there. But you can stretch your legs and have fun.

Food

It all depends, of course, on the airline and the specifics of the flight. If you are able to register in advance, you may also have been asked to select a menu. Major international airlines offer special menus: kosher or vegetarian. I haven’t tried ordering the menu in advance, but I know it’s possible.

I once had a vegetarian lunch on board British Airways. The quinoa, avocado and tofu salad was much better than the usual lunch that included a stale bun with mayonnaise. However, in any case, do not expect culinary delights from economy class. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to fly business class, but insiders know that it’s delicious, especially if it’s Aeroflot. Fortunately, the latter’s food is delicious even in economy, and sometimes there was also red fish.

The funniest airplane meal of my life was organized by the German subsidiary of Lufthansa, Air Berlin. Unfortunately, they stopped flying from Moscow. For the rest of my life I will remember a wonderful packed lunch consisting of very spicy chips and a glass of juice. And the worst lunch was at Air Moldova: some kind of indistinct sandwich.

If you fly during the day or evening, your chances of eating better are much greater: at night and in the early morning, you can count on a bun at most. Of course, a lot depends on the flight time. The usual proportion is that the longer the flight, the more food they will give. In any case, airplane food doesn't pretend to be anything incredible, so if you have the opportunity to bring something on the plane, grab it. There are usually no complaints about chocolate and cookies.

And, of course, it is worth saying that at altitude we eat and drink completely differently than on earth; food seems tastier. By the way, there is a whole stereotype that people most often drink tomato juice on a plane. They say it tastes better to us than on earth and quenches our thirst better. On a plane you always want to drink because, I repeat, the air in the cabin is very dry. Plus, rich tomato juice has a richer flavor that we love. It is always better to stock up on a bottle of water, most importantly, not before the security check area, but after: you can bring water purchased in the waiting area on board. As for alcohol, almost all international flights have wine, champagne, and beer. The flight attendants may simply not offer you this. But if you have a strong desire to get tipsy, ask, and they will organize a can of good beer for you - tested by British Airways.

Takeoff and landing

If your plane takes off and everything goes well, you can relax until you land. According to statistics, 90% of aircraft malfunctions occur during takeoff and landing. That is why singer Elka passionately wishes that the pilot “takes off well and lands extremely successfully.” During takeoff and landing, you are asked to fasten your seat belts, bring the seat to an upright position, remove the tables and open the curtains. All this is done so that in an emergency there are fewer obstacles to the implementation of the rescue program.

When an acquaintance flew with me for the first time, he really did not like the maneuvers of the plane, when the side turns and turns out to be one wing lower and the other higher. If you saw this and got scared, know that nothing terrible is happening at this moment, the plane is just turning.

If you're flying to a resort, you'll likely descend right over the blue waters. Again, panic in this case is unnecessary; the resort airports are really located right on the shore. Land will appear, don't worry!

Some people believe that the softness of a landing depends on the airline or type of aircraft. Nothing like that, everything is controlled by a pilot, or rather pilots, since control is usually divided equally between them. The best way to get me into Montenegro was the unloved, bankrupt and otherwise notorious airline Kogalymavia, when they had a contract with the operator TUI.

Important detail: time it correctly. As soon as the plane lands, it will travel along the runway for some time, circling around the airport until it stops. It will be some time before you are allowed off the plane. Passport control on an international flight and baggage claim on any flight will take about another half hour (or more). Therefore, you should not order a taxi before your arrival.

Don't immediately jump up and run out of the plane. You don't even have to get up. For some time you will wait for the “doors to a new country” to open.

At the airport of the country of arrival

Next, you will find almost everything the same as upon departure: boarding ramp or bus, passport control and baggage claim. Get in the line that says All Passports and you'll get a stamp (finally!) with the name of the airport. Next, we follow the arrows to the luggage, which probably already misses you as much as you miss it. Above the baggage belt they usually write the flight number and where the plane came from, so it’s difficult to make a mistake. In addition, it very rarely happens that two or more planes arrive at the same time, so you will probably go where the most people are standing. If the airport is very large, then there is a board indicating where to look for luggage.

If the tape has already scrolled a hundred hundred times, and your suitcase still hasn’t appeared, and all the passengers have left, then something is wrong here. Then you go to the representatives of your airline with your boarding stub (it is on it that the tag with your baggage number is on it) and most likely everything will be resolved safely. Well, then you, stamped, enriched and happy, can head to the exit (following the arrows) and begin to conquer new lands!

I hope you were able to learn something new about air travel and are now looking forward to the moment when the flight attendant announces that your plane is ready for takeoff.