As the title says, I’ll be flying for the first time and I spent some time online looking at all the procedures, but I didn’t find a ,all in one list", instead one site explains only baggage related stuff, the other one the security check,etc. so I’m kinda scared of how complicated it may be and I have a bunch of questions.
Can someone write in simplest possible way step by step what do I do once I buy my ticket and arrive at the airport? I will buy my ticket at a tourist agency, with all the taxes and stuff paid, so I’ll have a ticket (or something) before I arrive at the airport. Also, I’ll be going to a neighboring country (from Serbia to Montenegro) that doesn’t require a visa, nor a passport, just a national ID.
How much baggage can I take on the plane, both the one that I carry inside and the one I put on the baggage carousel thing? I know that it depends on the airline, but I don’t know what airline I’m going to be using, so just in general.
Where is the baggage carousel where I put my baggage, near the exit for my plane or is it a carousel for the entire airport? If it is for the entire airport, how do I make sure that my baggage will end up where it’s suppose to? Are there some sorts of tags you put on it?
Can I take some sort of food like sandwiches and bisquits inside the plane? Also what about a water bottle or two?
If you can’t take food&drinks with you, do you get water and food on the plane if you go with the economy class? (again it probably depends on the airline, but I’m asking in general)
Do you have to be inside the plane for example half an hour before the flight or can you hypothetically enter a few minutes before? I’ve read in a lot of places that you should be there like an hour before, but I am not sure whether that is just a tip to make sure you’re not late or if you are actually required to board the plane xx minutes before the flight.
Toilets, any rules or are they like any other toilet in a supermarket,etc.?
Smartphones, as far as I understood, you can still use them if you turn on the airplane mode? What about Wifi, does it exist in planes?
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That’s all that I can remember now, maybe I’ll ask additional questions later if I forgot something.
Can someone write in simplest possible way step by step what do I do once I buy my ticket and arrive at the airport? I will buy my ticket at a tourist agency, with all the taxes and stuff paid, so I’ll have a ticket (or something) before I arrive at the airport. Also, I’ll be going to a neighboring country (from Serbia to Montenegro) that doesn’t require a visa, nor a passport, just a national ID.
At the airport there will be a computer terminal where you enter your details to ‘check in.’ It will print out a boarding pass, without which you won’t get on the plane.After that you can take your bag to the bag drop station for your airline, where they will weigh it and send it off to be stowed in the plane. After that you should head for the security check where they will make you take off your shoes, put all metal objects in a tray and X-ray your carry on.
When your flight is called (watch the notice boards) go to the gate, where you will be directed on to the plane. Just watch what the others do.
How much baggage can I take on the plane, both the one that I carry inside and the one I put on the baggage carousel thing? I know that it depends on the airline, but I don’t know what airline I’m going to be using, so just in general.
That varies from airline to airline and you need to check their website. Checked bags are normally around 23Kg and carry ons around 10 - but you should check.
Where is the baggage carousel where I put my baggage, near the exit for my plane or is it a carousel for the entire airport? If it is for the entire airport, how do I make sure that my baggage will end up where it’s suppose to? Are there some sorts of tags you put on it?
The clerk at the bag drop puts labels on and you won’t see the bag again until you arrive. There will be signs directing you to the correct carousel.
Can I take some sort of food like sandwiches and bisquits inside the plane? Also what about a water bottle or two?
There are strict limits on liquids and again the airline website will have the detail. On such a short flight you are unlikely to starve.
If you can’t take food&drinks with you, do you get water and food on the plane if you go with the economy class? (again it probably depends on the airline, but I’m asking in general)
Yes they will offer you drinks and snacks - you may have to pay.
Do you have to be inside the plane for example half an hour before the flight or can you hypothetically enter a few minutes before? I’ve read in a lot of places that you should be there like an hour before, but I am not sure whether that is just a tip to make sure you’re not late or if you are actually required to board the plane xx minutes before the flight.
You should aim to get to the airport a couple of hours before the flight time to allow for all the checking in and then security. Seasoned travelers can cut it shorter, but you need time to find your way.
Toilets, any rules or are they like any other toilet in a supermarket,etc.?
More like a toilet on a train.
Smartphones, as far as I understood, you can still use them if you turn on the airplane mode? What about Wifi, does it exist in planes?
You will be told what to do with your phone. Once in the air, you can use it for games etc, but no wifi.
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That’s all that I can remember now, maybe I’ll ask additional questions later if I forgot something.
Many of these things vary by airline and even by country.
Regarding what luggage you are permitted, you really need to look on your airline’s web site.
Generally speaking, you can have one checked bag, which has a maximum weight. Usually you can also have one carry on that is limited by size.
You check your baggage at the airline counter when you enter the airport.
When you check your bag they will put a tag on it that will code it for your destination. Be sure that you put your name and contact information on it. Beyond that there’s nothing more you can do. You have to rely on the airline to get it to your destination. When you arrive, your flight will be assigned a baggage collection location (or carousel).
Sure you can bring snacks and water with you. Usually water is also available on the flight. Depending on the airline and the length of the flight there might be a snack provided.
The toilets are tiny. Very very small. And they can get stinky pretty quickly. The flush is vacuum-powered, so don’t flush while you are sitting. Stand up, close the lid, then flush.
Arrive early. Most flights stop boarding at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time. They absolutely won’t allow you to board at the last minute. (Well, maybe they will but don’t count on it)
Go to your airline’s ticket counter at the airport. Give them your ticket and explain that you’ve never flown before and would like assistance as to where you go next, where your gate is, and what you do when you get there.
I don’t know where Acsenray has been flying, but in my experience you absolutely CANNOT bring water through the security checkpoint. You can bring an empty bottle and fill it from a drinking fountain after you pass through security. Or usually there are shops available after the security checkpoint where you can buy bottled water and other conveniences.
You should put a tag on your checked luggage with your name and phone number written on it. They should have blank tags available at the airport but it will be one less thing to worry about if you do it at home.
When I land at the destination, what do I do then, step by step? Is there some sort of a check-in, security check, border check,etc? Or do I only exit the plane, get the luggage and leave the airport?
100% of the questions you ask depend on which countries and airlines and airports are involved. All of them. There is damn near nothing about air travel that’s universally standardized. Except that it’s noisy, confusing, crowded, and not as convenient as you wish it was.
For as lost as you are, you really need to give us more details to get the level of detailed answers that will dispel your concerns.
If indeed you are starting in Serbia and ending in Montenegro, substantially everything everyone has written so far is wrong since they assumed you are flying domestically within the USA.
Nitpick… your name and phone number should be on a separate tag on your bag. There’s loose, blank tags around (on the check-in counters) for this purpose. I doubt you’ll ever touch the sticky, coded tag that the attendant affixes to your luggage. I usually throw a business card or other identifying info INside the bag, too.
They usually say, “your bag is checked all the way to Canberra” or wherever you’re headed. I like to listen to that as well as visually confirm the 3-letter code (CBR) on the bar code (if i can see it) on that sticky tag.
Come on, peeps. He said he’s going from Serbia to Montenegro in the first post.
JakeRS, don’t worry about it too much. You’re going to spend barely an hour in the air. When you land, just follow everyone else and pay attention to signs. If there’s some sort of immigration checkpoint, just present your ID and boarding pass if they ask. If you have a passport, it doesn’t hurt to bring it along, just in case there are any questions.
Hundreds of thousands of people fly every day, so the procedures are designed to be pretty straightforward. If in doubt ask someone, especially airline personnel. They will always help you.
If you have check-in baggage, then first go straight to the check-in counter for the airline you are flying with.
They will take your luggage and label it, and give you a boarding pass.
Go through security, and go to the gate on your boarding pass about half an hour before the flight, and wait in line to board. There will be screens showing flight, boarding gates, etc. and signs showing which gates are where.
Put your carry-on luggage in the nearest overhead rack to your seat that has some space in it. If you have a very small bag or a laptop case, you may be able to fit it in at your feet, instead of an overhead rack.
When you get off, follow everyone else to the baggage carousel. There will normally be screens showing which flights should go to which carousel.
Yeah, unless someone shows up with detailed knowledge of how it’s done in Serbia and Montenegro we’re kind of guessing here. Some places do things a bit differently than others.
You asked about the bathrooms. You have to be in your seat, with the seat belt fastened, when the plane is taxiing, during takeoff and climb, and again during descent and landing. If you need to use the bathroom right away when you get on, you’ll be out of luck. On a one-hour flight, there may only be 20-30 minutes when you’re allowed to get up and walk around. There’s a light that the pilots turn on or off to let you know when. Sometimes when they know the flight will be bumpy they’ll leave it on.
Interesting topic for a thread, though. For someone someone who’s flown a few times it probably all seems pretty basic, but when you start to explain it, it can get rather involved.
On some international flights, you pick up your checked bag and then go through customs or border control. No idea if that will be necessary for Serbia->Montenegro.
Lots of fliers these days pack everything into a small suitcase and take it on the plane with them. If you just follow the crowd when you get off the plane, you may be with a group that’s not going to the baggage carousel.
At the carousel, you’ll need to find your bag among quite a few others. Some people tie a colored ribbon to the handle, or do something else so they’ll recognize it.
Assuming that you are flying with Montenegro Airline from Belgrade, you should go here to get much of the information you need. Note the size limits as well as weight limits for baggage.