Flying for
the first time? Keep these things in mind.
Boarding a flight has its fair share of rules and formalities depending on the country you are travelling to. You should reach the airport at least two hours before your flight time. And for international travel, ideally you should reach the airport at least three hours before your flight time. This helps you to avoid traffic jams and complete the formalities comfortably without having to rush through...
Most people have travelled by inter-city buses and
railway trains, where one has to book the tickets, and on the day and time of
travel, one has to go with his luggage and board the bus at the given bus stop
or the railway station closest to you and travel to your destination. Travel could be for few hours or a overnight journey. It’s as
simple as that. But flying by plane is a bit different and especially for people
travelling by air for the first time.
Travelling and boarding a plane for the first time
is an unique experience. It’s exciting, a bit confusing and overwhelming seeing
the big airport, display boards, counters and crowd for the first time. You are
thrilled and anxiously waiting for the day of travel. Unlike boarding a bus or
train, boarding a plane is a bit different as one has to complete a few
formalities for both domestic and international flights. Domestic and
international formalities and documents vary a little bit.
Firstly you have to book your flight tickets online
or through a travel agent, preferably in advance. F or domestic travel you may
book one way or two way tickets. For international flights, visitors and
tourists normally need to book two way tickets unless you wish to proceed from
your destination to some other country. Apart from tickets, you need a valid
visa for the country you are visiting.
Boarding a flight has its fair share of rules and
formalities depending on the country you are travelling to. You should reach
the airport at least two hours before your flight time. And for international
travel, ideally you should reach the airport at least three hours before your
flight time. This helps you to avoid traffic jams and complete the formalities
comfortably without having to rush through. And in case you forget some
document or it’s incomplete, you have sufficient time to get it, complete it or
even rectify.
Normally for domestic travel, the luggage rules are
check-in baggage allowed is 15 kg and handbag 7 kg per person. For
international travel, generally the baggage rules are for check-in allowed is
25 kg and hand bag is 7 kg per person. So don’t over-pack. You will be charged
penal charges for every kg of additional luggage. It will be expensive, so keep
it within prescribed limits.
Kindly note, you must carry your laptop, mobile
phones, charges, power packs and other electronic gadgets and accessories in
your hand bag. Don’t put them in your check-in baggage. If anything allowed is
not found in your suitcase, you will be asked to open your baggage and remove
it and also give an explanation at the scanning point. Also make note not to
carry foodstuff, drinks, knife or spray bottles in the hand bag. Every airline
has a strict luggage policy and go by it.
While entering the airport, you are required to
show the relevant documents, get your luggage scanned, then check-in,
submitting the luggage and getting the boarding pass. Next undergoing a series
of security procedures to check no unauthorized item gets through. Hopping on a
plane is not as easy as getting into a bus or train, it’s a bit time consuming.
Domestic travel – it is mandatory to carry the
following documents. Flight tickets, identity card and health certificates. For
international flights, you are required to present flight tickets, valid visa,
passport and health certificates.
Remember not bringing any of the documents may land
you in trouble and you may not be allowed to board the aircraft. Always carry
both original and a photocopy of the documents. Presently due to the pandemic,
all passengers are required to wear mask in the airport and inside the aircraft
during flight.
For international flights, apart from the above
mentioned routine formalities, you have to go through immigration check. Here
the official checks your passport, visa, etc and stamps your passport with the
date of departure. Immigration check is done at both points, at the departure point
and the place of arrival. Keep your passport handy in the hand bag so as to
remove it easily when required. When abroad it is advisable to carry a
photocopy of the passport when you are out sightseeing.
After you have checked-in at the airline counter
and deposited the luggage, collected your boarding pass, through with the
security check and putting your hand bag under the scanner, the next step is
finding the gate mentioned on the boarding pass from where you will board the
flight. Once to reach your gate you relax on the chairs opposite the gate. When
it’s time to board the flight, an announcement would be made for passengers to
stand in the queue to board the aircraft.
Once you are airborne, you can relax on your seat
or take a small nap. On reaching the destination, after getting down from the plane
you will have to collect your bag from the respective luggage belt. From here
you can take the way towards exit to take a taxi or get into the waiting car.
It is advisable to wear loose fitting clothing.
Sitting on the seat for a long time or few hours of flight makes it an easy and
comfortable journey. Tight clothing makes your travel uncomfortable. Wear
proper footwear as you will be sitting for a long duration without much
movement in the plane.
Nowadays most of the domestic airlines have done
away with meals, snacks and beverages. Though you can order in flight and pay
for the items you order or you may carry dry snacks to eat during flight.
International flights offer you the choicest meals and snacks, vegetarian and
non-vegetarian food during the flight. They also offer juices, cold drinks,
beverages and alcohol making your travel pleasant and enjoyable.
If you have found this blog informative and useful,
do comment below and forward it to your friends.
While discussing about creative writing and
designing with a friend, we touched upon the subject about creative designing
for homes and offices. Though, I am not a qualified designer, but a
professional from the creative field of advertising and communication, with a
fairly good sense of space, aesthetics, colour and dimensions. And understand a
bit of interior design. As a hobby I have helped design a couple of my friends’
home and office on a small scale.
I am still of the opinion that qualified interior
designers make a home or office into a hotel, unless the designer has a
creative instinct. I have a friend who isn't a qualified designer but has
become one with good observing skill and self training. He is doing well in his
chosen profession of interior design, mainly because of his creative instinct
to think out of the box and provide his personal touch. There’s a lot of innovative
touch in his planning and design. You can distinguish his designs between a
country home and an apartment flat in a modern city.
Be it creative designing, writing, painting, art
and culture, the creative instinct is the x factor that gives a special
personal touch to the subject or offering relevant but different options
depending upon the taste and liking of the occupants in case of a home. The
same thing applies to writing, painting and all types of art including performing
arts, the creative instinct being the x factor!
If
you feel that Aneela Nike Post is making a difference to your life, do take a
minute to consider a comment or contribution. We would also value your
suggestions as how to make ourselves more relevant to you. Please write to akn929@yahoo.com to give your
valuable feedback.
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