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? Need to get through a large number of procedures that require time. 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, but put all your things 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, gold card Aeroflot 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 store these necessary items in a small bag or pocket, in general, with you.

Registration

You can check in for your flight from home in advance. This provides certain advantages. For example, you can choose best places in airplane.

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 not be someone near you free seats, so you’ll 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. I used to always love the moment of takeoff when iron bird accelerates so much that it presses you into the seat, and then takes off from the ground, and 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 vibration 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 are flying to a resort, you will most likely begin to descend directly 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. Something else time will pass before you are released from 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.

Instructions

Different airports have their own check-in times. Approximately, passengers are advised to be at the airport 1 hour 30 minutes before the departure of a domestic flight and 2 hours before an international flight. When purchasing tickets, please check the specific time. Registration ends 40 minutes before takeoff. If the passenger has not checked in for the flight before this time, then he most likely will not fly, and the airline has the right to dispose of his seat at its discretion. In the event that you arrive just before the end of check-in, hurry to the special counters for late passengers.

You must have your passport or other document with which you purchased the ticket, and the ticket itself. IN Lately Increasingly, it is being replaced by an itinerary receipt received after purchasing a ticket via the Internet. Children must have a birth certificate.

After arriving at the airport, look for the electronic board with flight schedules. It indicates whether registration has begun and at which counters it is taking place. Follow the signs to the required counters. First and business class passengers are served out of line or at special counters.

At the check-in counter, ground staff will check your documents and ticket. Instead of the latter, a boarding pass is issued, which will serve as a pass to board the plane. It shows your seat in the cabin and the gate number for boarding the plane. If you are traveling as a family or group, submit all documents at once during check-in to ensure you get seats next to each other. There is one more little trick! Arrive at the airport in advance: at check-in you can ask for the desired seat in the cabin, for example, in the front or by the window.

At check-in, you will have to check in your baggage, except luggage, so prepare your bags and suitcases. If desired, pack them in film in advance using special machines at the airport. Your transportation tariff provides for a certain weight of luggage. Usually this is 20 kilograms per passenger. If your luggage is heavier, you will be asked to pay for the excess. An identification card will be attached to your items. The second part will be given to you, attached to your boarding pass or passport. Don't lose your baggage pass: you can use it to pick up your items at the airport of arrival. You can ask for a special tag to be placed on your hand luggage.

Alternative methods of check-in for a flight, for example, via the Internet or airport terminals, are becoming increasingly common. This design has its advantages. You can choose your own seat in the cabin and formally avoid the queue at the check-in counter. But the mechanism for checking in luggage during self-check-in is still poorly developed. Abroad, special racks called “Baggage drop off” are provided for this purpose. They are still rare at Russian airports. More often they offer to check in luggage in the same queue for regular check-in, less often - at the first and business class counters. Check with your airline to see if they offer self-check-in and how to handle luggage. And then decide on the registration form that is convenient for you.

There is a first time for everything, including flying on an airplane. Before boarding the plane, for example, at Domodedovo airport, you will have to go through a number of formalities that can confuse an unprepared person. This is where it comes to the rescue step-by-step instruction so as not to get confused and have time to sort out the formalities before boarding the flight.

The thorny path to the plane

So, tickets are in hand, what to do next at the airport? At this stage, people who decide to fly on an airplane for the first time are lost. Knowledgeable and experienced travelers have also been through this, so it’s no big deal that when arriving at the airport for the first time, many feel stressed, not knowing where to go. First you need to decide on all the routes from the airport to the plane. There are only a few of them:

• check-in;
• baggage check-in;
• passing customs control;
• passing passport control;
• security control.

This sounds scary only to those who are at the airport for the first time. With proper skill, all these stages can be completed easily and quickly.

If a person is at the airport for the first time, detailed instructions will teach you what to do step by step.

Checking in for a flight if you have tickets can be done in two ways – online and at the airport. If you decide to fly on an airliner for the first time, it is recommended to check in at the airport counter. During check-in, the passenger will be able to ask all questions directly to the employee and, in case of difficulties, ask for advice on further actions. As a rule, airline employees are willing to help and will always tell you where to go next. Check-in and weighing of luggage also takes place at the counter.

Then the passenger receives a boarding pass and proceeds further to go through customs control (if the flight is international).

The passenger is then subjected to a security check.

Another important stage for international flights is passport control, where the passenger must present a foreign passport. This stage occurs either between customs and security checks, or after security control, depending on how it is organized at the airport.

After completing all the formalities, you need to go to the waiting room and wait for the flight announcement.

Important! Many people worry: “I’m flying on an airplane for the first time and what should I do at the airport?” If the passenger is confused, information can be obtained at the check-in counter.

Check-in features

When you get to the airport, you should carefully look around and find the information board that lists the nearest flights and departure times. It represents big screen, on which the table presents data on the nearest flights: number, airline name, destination and status.

Important! You should search for a flight by its number. Departure times and destinations are not reliable references as flight times may be subject to change and the destination of different aircraft may be the same.

If check-in for a flight has already begun, next to its number in the line on the board there will be the inscription “check-in”.

If the “on-time” sign is visible next to the desired aircraft, this means that the flight is departing on schedule and there are no changes. Usually the registration start time is written next to it. The inscription “delayed” next to the flight indicates its delay.

Thus, you should go to the check-in counter when the “check-in” sign is visible opposite the flight number. In all other cases, registration is not available. The start of check-in for a flight is always marked with a corresponding inscription.

The number of the check-in counter required by the passenger is also indicated on the information board in the line corresponding to the flight number. The next step is to go to the desired registration desk.

Check-in opens on average three hours before departure and closes 30-45 minutes before the flight.

You must provide your own passport and ticket at the reception. If the ticket was purchased in in electronic format, you only need to present your passport. An airline employee will independently find a ticket based on the passenger's last name.

Next to the counter there are scales on which luggage is placed for later weighing. After determining the weight, a special tag with a barcode is attached to the luggage, thanks to which the luggage will not be lost along the way. Hand luggage is also weighed. Some airlines also attach tags to hand luggage.

Check-in is complete when the airline employee issues a boarding pass and baggage tags, based on which you can claim your baggage upon arrival at your destination. To prevent tags from getting lost, it is customary to stick them on the cover of your passport or on your boarding pass.

You can choose your seat at the reception desk. The earlier a passenger arrives at check-in, the higher the chance of getting the desired seat. To make a passenger's first flight on an airplane memorable, it is recommended to take a seat by the window, but only if you are not afraid of heights. If you feel stressed at high altitude, sit in the aisle. The emergency exit has more legroom, making these seats comfortable for tall passengers.

What is “customs control”

When making international flights, after registration you must go through customs control. How customs control proceeds depends on the passenger’s luggage.

There are a number of items that are subject to duty. A detailed list of declared items should be found on the airline’s website. As a rule, large sums of cash, expensive antiques or weapons are subject to duty.

If we don’t have any such items, we go to the green corridor. This direction is indicated by a large green sign and the corresponding inscription “nothing to declare”, so it is impossible to confuse it.

If a passenger is carrying dutiable items, they must go to the red corridor and fill out customs declaration. You should familiarize yourself with the sample form to fill out in advance, as there are many nuances there.

Passing security check

Before passing through security control, passport control is carried out. The passenger must present an identification document - a passport of a citizen of the country for domestic flights and a foreign passport for international flights. At some airports, this step occurs after going through security.

Before passengers are allowed on the flight, they will be checked by security staff. This rule is mandatory for everyone and is observed at any airport in the world. The procedure is aimed at preventing objects that could be used for a terrorist hijacking of the airliner from getting on board the aircraft.

It is at this stage that cold and firearms, explosive and flammable liquids.

To pass security screening, passengers must turn off any electronic items. All items you have with you, including hand luggage, phone and watch, should be placed in a special container. One service employee X-rays these objects. At the same time, the passenger must take off his shoes (shoe covers are issued instead), hats and outerwear. These things are also x-rayed.

While the check of personal belongings is ongoing, the passenger must go through a metal detector, under the control of a second security officer. If everything is in order, the passenger’s things are returned and he is allowed to continue. Don't worry, the staff will tell you everything you need to do.

If, for religious or other reasons, a passenger does not want to take off his outer clothing and shoes, these items can be checked directly on him using an X-ray. At the security control stage, all liquids that are packaged incorrectly are confiscated from passengers. There are a number of restrictions on how you can take liquids on a plane. They should be studied very carefully, otherwise you will have to leave your property when passing control.

Important! Not everyone knows how to behave at the airport. Jokes about the presence of prohibited items are inappropriate and can serve as a reason for the detention of the passenger, so you need to be serious when going through control.

Boarding the plane

After successfully completing all formalities, the passenger enters the waiting area from which they board the plane. Legally, the border has already been crossed, since the waiting area for boarding a flight is neutral territory. This duty free zone is Duty Free. A shopping trip at Domodedovo or another airport will help you pass the time before your flight is announced.

While waiting to board, you should listen carefully to all announcements so as not to accidentally miss your flight.

Having heard about the beginning of boarding the airliner, you need to proceed to one of the exits (“gate”). The special gate number is indicated on your boarding pass. At the exit, an airline employee will check the boarding pass and tear off the main part, leaving the passenger with a stub indicating the seat number.

There are two ways to get on board the plane: by telescopic bridge or by bus. The method of transporting passengers on board usually depends on the size of the airport. At large airports you need to walk along a telescopic ramp that leads to the aircraft. At smaller airports, transportation is provided by bus.

Important! Finding your seat in the cabin is very easy. The row number and the letter designating the location are written on the spine. Seats are marked on top of the seats. If a passenger is flying on an airplane for the first time, the flight attendants will always help and advise if something is not clear.

If a passenger cannot sit in his seat or another person has already sat in it, he should contact the flight attendant.

Everything you need to know about luggage

Each airline sets its own baggage rules. Typically, a passenger can carry one piece of hand luggage free of charge (weight 5-10 kg, depending on the carrier), and up to 20-30 kg in the luggage compartment. The exact standards for free baggage allowance, as well as size restrictions, should be found out in advance when booking air tickets. Everything you need to know about transportation regulations is presented on the airline’s website.

Low-cost airlines (low-cost airlines) allow only hand luggage for free transportation; you will have to pay extra for a large suitcase flying in the luggage compartment.

The website of any airline provides a list of items prohibited from being carried on an airplane. Find out in advance to avoid a number of misunderstandings.

Most often, misunderstandings arise when transporting liquids in hand luggage. The transport of liquid substances is controlled very strictly. So, you can take liquid on board with you in a transparent container with a volume of up to 100 ml.

Important! The restriction on carrying liquids in the cabin applies to decorative cosmetics and medicines. You should take everything you might need during the flight into the cabin.

There are often mishaps and luggage gets lost along the way or arrives at the wrong airport. If your suitcase is lost, the following rules will help increase the likelihood of being “reunited” with your own luggage:

1. Before checking in your luggage, it is recommended to take a photo of the contents of your suitcase and make a detailed list of all your items. If your luggage is lost, having a photo will help you get compensation from the airline;
2. It is recommended to place your coordinates inside the suitcase, including email. You can also purchase a special name tag and attach it inside the suitcase;
3. It is better to remove the straps and wheels from the suitcase. These items often cause luggage to be delayed on the transport belt;
4. The suitcase should be bright and memorable, but not obnoxiously expensive. According to statistics, expensive suitcases are lost more often than cheap ones;
5. It is not recommended to check in valuables (jewelry, documents, expensive equipment) as luggage.

Once you receive your luggage at your destination, you should immediately check its contents. If something is missing or damaged during a flight, it is recommended to immediately contact airline representatives and write a complaint. The sooner a complaint is written, the sooner the carrier will respond to it.

Important! You should never write your home address in your suitcase or on your name tag to avoid becoming a victim of scammers. To contact the owner of the suitcase, it is better to provide a phone number and email.

Video

It’s not difficult to deal with all the worries that happened to a passenger at the airport. The fear of being at the airport for the first time, familiar to everyone, is easy to overcome. The second time, registration will go quickly, and all other formalities will take a little time to resolve when you already know all the nuances.

Hello everyone, my dears! I remember my first visit to the airport: you get lost in the huge halls and don’t know where to go or what to serve at the check-in counter. Now, of course, everything is different. But so that the airport does not turn into an unknown labyrinth for you, I decided to write for you a detailed algorithm of actions at the airport.

I should reassure you: the registration rules are very simple. Basically, difficulties arise only on the very first flight. As a last resort, you can turn to any airport employee for help. However, I am sure that you will be able to navigate on your own and catch your flight on time.

First, remember that check-in for an international flight starts 3 hours before and ends in about 50 minutes. And for domestic flights they announce check-in two hours in advance, but they finish in about 40 minutes. It’s better to arrive at the airport early, I’m telling you that for sure.

In addition, starting to talk about the procedure for boarding a plane, I hope that you have already been able to resolve the issue of packing your luggage. If you haven't packed it, find the appropriate counter at the airport.

In this article:

1. Look for the information board

So, you find yourself at the airport, but don't know where to go? First, find information monitors. They look something like this:

Do you see how many lines there are? Carefully study the information that is indicated on them, it is very important. Here you will find:
— flight number (the same as in or, as it is correctly called, in the itinerary receipt),
— departure time (or delay),
- reception number
— and whether that same registration has begun or not.

The latter can be understood by the color of the line (it is highlighted in green, and the lines below are red, for example) or by the time that is indicated in it. In general, if you determine that check-in for a flight has already begun, remember the counter number and start looking for it.

2. Proceed to the check-in counters

It's time to check in for your flight, to do this you need to find the check-in counters.

I’ll make a small digression and say that registration can be done in advance via the Internet or at the same airport through special terminals. This is done to save time.

So if you have already checked in online, printed out your ticket in advance and you don’t have luggage, then you can go straight to boarding. But if you didn't print out your ticket or if you have luggage, you still need to go to the check-in counters. It’s just that you can do this not 3 hours before, while standing in line, but a little later, when the line has already melted.

But today we will pretend that you have not gone through any registration and will go the traditional way. Check-in counters look approximately the same at all airports in the world:

These are numbered racks with a luggage receptacle. Look for the same number that you saw on the scoreboard. Found it? So this is your stand. Above it there is a small board that indicates which flight is currently being checked in.

3. Present your passport and check in your luggage

When it is your turn to register, present your passport.

Here you can ask to allocate a certain place for you: by the window or closer to the opening if you are traveling with a child. If such places still exist, you're in luck. In general, then you need to pre-register via the Internet in order to reserve the necessary seats in advance.

This is where you need to check in your luggage. Place it on the belt: they will weigh it and attach a special tag.

All this takes a few minutes. Afterwards you receive a boarding pass with a tear-off stub, on which an additional sticker with information about your baggage is usually affixed.

Don't forget to take your passport and your hand luggage.

4. Security control and customs control

Usually the path from the check-in counter leads directly to the boarding area, but at large airports this rule is not always the case. So don't hesitate to ask during registration where exactly you need to go next.

And then you need to go through security before boarding. Typically the check goes like this. You take off all your belts and shoes and put them in special containers. Then go to the scanners through which all your things are passed.

This is where they will throw away your nail scissors, razors, bottles over 100 ml in volume and tell you that you packed your cosmetics incorrectly, so you will have to say goodbye to them. Therefore, do not be lazy, read the rules for carrying hand luggage.

You yourself will also be searched: either manually using hand-held metal detectors, or in special cameras. Nothing complicated, just go inside the transparent chamber, place your feet shoulder-width apart, also raise your arms to the sides (there are special signs inside the chamber) and you will be scanned for dangerous things.

And if your flight is international (flying to another country), then in addition to security control you will have to go through customs control.

To pass it, there are “green” or “red” corridors. If you do not have things to declare, go to the “green” (Nothing to declare) corridor. Otherwise, you should go to the “red” corridor (Goods to declare). Here you will be asked to write an application for a declaration of goods and fill out all the necessary documents.

5. Go to the waiting room

Well, all the formalities have been completed. Now go to the waiting room. There you can sit in a cafe or go to duty-free shops.

When you hear the boarding announcement, head to your gate and join another line. Again you will be asked to show your passport, a coupon (which was given at the check-in counter), from which you will receive a stub (it contains all the information about the flight). Under no circumstances should you throw it away; be sure to keep it until you claim your baggage.

6. Boarding the plane

Immediately after your passport and stub have been returned to you, you will be shown the path to boarding: either through a special sleeve directly onto the plane, or by bus. Have a nice flight!

Actually, that’s the whole procedure for boarding a flight. I hope my short instructions will be useful to those who have decided to fly for the first time. I would be very glad if you share your very first flight experience in the comments.

P.S. If you liked my blog and want to receive even more interesting articles, then be sure to subscribe to updates.

To go through passport control and check in for the plane, you will need an ID card, as well as an air ticket or a prepared itinerary receipt. Sometimes security staff will ask you to present it at the entrance, so it is better to always print this document.

Check-in at Domodedovo begins no later than three hours before departure, but often even earlier, especially on international flights. This procedure ends 40 minutes before departure. It is best to arrive at the airport a little early.

It is recommended to arrive for domestic flights at least two hours before departure, and for international flights approximately five hours before departure. Some destinations may require lengthy checks, which are usually additionally announced when purchasing a ticket.

Registration in Domodedovo

When entering the airport, you need to pass your belongings through the baggage scanner and go through the frame. You will then be taken to a large hall where, right next to the entrance, you can see a board indicating the check-in counters. Find your flight there.

From a check-in point of view, Domodedovo is the most convenient airport in Moscow, since it is not divided into several terminals, which usually cause confusion for inexperienced passengers. All reception desks are located in one place. They are numbered, so finding your flight will be very easy.

Present your documents at the counter and check in your luggage. You will be given a baggage receipt (a small sticker with a number and barcode) and a boarding pass. The gate number on the ticket is the boarding gate number. After registration you need to go to passport control. The airline employee at the check-in counter will tell you where it is.

Passport control

Usually there is a queue at the control. Do not cross the yellow line while waiting - you will see a warning about this on the spot. Next, you need to hand your passport to the border guard, he will check your document, and then put an exit stamp on it. That's it, you have officially left Russia. Now you need to go through inspection and customs control.

If you are exporting something valuable that needs to be declared, you will be given paperwork that needs to be filled out. Those who don't have anything special should simply place all metal items and carry-on luggage in the tray, place it on the belt and go through the scanner. Domodedovo has scanning devices that do not require you to take off your shoes: a nice touch.

Landing

After passing through control you enter the duty free zone. Here you can do some shopping, have a snack or relax if you have time. No later than 30 minutes before departure time, you need to go to your gate so as not to be late for boarding. Signs with exit numbers are everywhere, making it very difficult to get lost. If in doubt, you can ask any airport employee.

When boarding begins, the final check awaits you - scanning your boarding pass. One part of it will remain with the airport employee, the other will be given to you. All that remains is to get on the bus that will take you to the plane. Often, a special ramp is provided to the plane, along which you can get inside directly from the airport building.