 | This entry is correctflightPart of the basic introduction. |
Before actually boarding the plane and rushing to the sky, the time at the airport was exciting and disturbing. This entry will cover all aspects of the time from arrival at the airport to boarding the plane. Checking in, security checks, immigration and customs checks on international flights, waiting for boarding and finally boarding are normal boarding procedures, but you also have to learn to deal with unexpected situations such as overbooking and flight changes. If you want more specific content to penetrate your itinerary, it is better to check the main airport entries covered by Wikivoyage.
arrive
If you don’t want to be scorched, pleaseAt least one hour before the closing time of the counterArrive at the airport. Please check with your airline about the closing time of the counter. This time it takes only 20 minutes for a domestic flight (if only hand luggage) to depart from a small airport to theU.SorIsraelInternational flights last up to 3 hours, and passengers going there will encounter additional scrutiny by airlines. Departing early can also provide a buffer for ground traffic delays.
If you are expected to be late, miss the flight, or the flight status indicates that you are in danger of missing a subsequent flight segment, please find a member of your airline or talk to the security staff. They can arrange to go through relevant procedures quickly. But if you don't tell them, they won't notice you. When you are on your way to the airport, you may be able to get advice on fast customs clearance by calling the airline. The plane usually won't wait for you, but if you are one of the 50 transit passengers whose flight is delayed, most responsible airlines will wait. But some notorious airlines do not even wait for their airlines to delay transfer passengers.
Even in a city with a good bus system, it may be difficult to get to the airport. Some cities do not have subways that extend to airports far from the city center. And based on geographic location and market demand, transportation to the airport often costs much more than normal movement within the city. The price range is usually very large, because some cities offer first-class or express trains to the airport, such as Shenzhen, London and Tokyo.
In a city with more than one airport, you mustRemember the specific name of the airport and your terminal in that airport. The distances between airports are very long. If you arrive at the wrong airport, it usually takes more than an hour to get to the correct airport. There may be cases where there is no trail connection in the terminal building, so you have to arrive at the correct terminal building. The official website of the airport or the airline will indicate which terminal they are in. For the above reasons, when taking a taxi to the airport, do not just mention the city name (for example, London Airport), but the name of the specific airport and terminal (for example, Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5). An airline may have business in multiple terminals, especially when it has domestic and international business at the same time, telling the driver that you want to go to a terminal operated by a particular airline may not be enough. If you use the rail service to get to the airport, also note that some cities have multiple airport stations or even different terminal stations.
On-site traffic
At large airports, passengers often need to walk quite long distances, and it may take nearly half an hour to walk to the farthest end. Fortunately,Singapore Changi AirportMost large airports will provide automatic walking paths or small trams in long corridors. If you have some movement difficulties, you should consider seeking help from the airport in advance. Some airports may need to take a bus between the terminals, which cannot be reached on foot.
Area division
The aviation industry divides the airport into two sides: the "land side" for check-in, checked baggage, and public transportation services, and the "air side" for flying. In order to enter the airside, passengers must undergo security checks, and there are immigration and customs controls between the airside and landside of international flights. In other words, it takes time to go to a different area, and it should be done only once, and it is strictly forbidden to go back to the other side without permission. People who forget that something is on the other side need to contact security personnel.
Since the landside is usually open to the public, it can be relatively crowded, dirty, and more prone to pickpocketing and other crimes. Relatives, friends and others who do not hold a boarding pass will not have permission to enter the airside.
Usually, duty-free shops and most restaurants are on the airside. The souvenir shops and general supplies shops may be on sale on both sides.
Check in
boarding pass
The plane ticket itself does not allow you to board the plane. In order to board the plane, you need oneboarding pass. This is usually issued by the airline after the passenger has completed the check-in procedures. The boarding pass will at least indicate the passenger's name, flight number, and flight date and time. During the security check, only passengers with boarding passes are allowed to enter. In most cases, the boarding pass and checked baggage are all done at the airline counter. You can also save time by applying for boarding passes online in advance, or on-site self-checking for boarding passes.
Traditional handling
The first thing you do at the airport will beCheck in. Show your ticket and passport to the staff at your airline counter. Some special airlines and destinations may require more proof, please check in advance. Some low-cost airlines will borrow counters from other airlines, and airlines of the same alliance may also use the same counter, and there will be instructions at the airport. While registering, the airline staff will check your checked luggage. Hand luggage may also be checked for compliance.
Airline counters usuallyLong line up, Especially at the rush hour of large airports, the waiting time can even exceed one hour. If your flight status has become available for boarding, or the counter is about to close, please ask the staff for help. Especially low-cost airlines, they strictly follow the closing time.Business Class, First ClassPassengers and members usually have exclusive channels. Passengers who have already checked in online and have no checked baggage may also have privileged channels.
Online
Check-in procedures for domestic flights are usually available 24 hours in advance on the airline's website. If you have no checked luggage, you can use your self-printed boarding pass to directly enter your flight. Although most international flights today also provide online check-in procedures, airlines usually require that they present a verifiable passport and visa in person at the check-in desk.U.SThe flights are particularly strict. For passengers who have checked baggage, they still need to go to the check-in counter to check in, but the airline may have a dedicated counter, which is faster than if it is not checked in advance.
Many large airlines can also use their mobile phones to visit mobile websites or download specific applications on their smartphones to check in. You don't need to print your mobile boarding pass, just provide it to the security inspector.
Some low-cost airlines require you to check in online within 24 hours before the flight. If you do not do so, these airlines represented by Ryanair will charge you a huge additional fee.
Self-service
More and more airlines are implementing self-check-in systems at certain airports. In most cases, this method is suitable for passengers without checked luggage. This system includes a touch-sensitive interactive device where you can enter your booking number, swipe/insert the credit card used for booking or swipe/insert your frequent flyer card to access your records and print boarding for your booking Card. You may have the opportunity to change seats other than the paid row when you check in. Recently, some airlines’ self-service facilities have been expanded to include allowing passengers to check in their checked baggage by themselves. This information can be easily obtained at the airport.
As with online check-in, if you go through a self-service device, the airline will usually provide you with a dedicated channel where you can complete the rest of the check-in process, including verification of documents and baggage checks on flights to the United States.
Electronic registration can only be carried out under normal circumstances. If there are special needs or inconsistencies (for example, the name does not match), you can only register manually at the counter.
luggage
Checked baggage
Checked baggage will be weighed at the time of check-in. If there are prohibited items in your luggage, the back-office inspector will directly open the box and confiscate it, and issue a notice.
If your journey involves several flights, you may want to request yourStraight luggage. Baggage check-in means that it is delivered directly to the final destination of your journey, and you do not need to pick up your baggage at your transfer station and re-check it. Therefore, direct baggage can help you save at least 1 hour of transit time, and at the same time can avoid the transit visa that may be required. Whether the luggage can be directly checked is a very complicated issue. Consult the airline in advance is the best way. If you can, please remember to tell the staff at the counter that you need to hang up directly.
hand-held luggage
Hand luggage is the part you take on the plane. Most passengers will choose backpacks, briefcases or small trolley suitcases. You should put valuables that are not suitable for checking in, items needed on the flight, and fragile items. It should be noted that there will be a different policy for hand luggage and checked luggage. For example, in China, container bottles exceeding 100 ml are not allowed. Airlines also impose strict restrictions on the weight of hand luggage, usually under 10 kg. Low-cost airlines will require you to carry out a strict measurement of your hand luggage at the boarding gate.
Overweight and special baggage
It is a good idea to check whether your luggage will be overweight a few days before departure. If it is overweight, the airline will charge additional fees. In the case of unavoidable overweight, buying a quota online in advance can save you a fortune, but note that the weight of a single piece of luggage still cannot be higher than an upper limit based on legal regulations.
If your luggage contains oversized items such as golf clubs, bicycles, strollers, etc., you need to contact the airline in advance, otherwise there is a risk of rejection. Oversized items usually come with overweight, and the shipping cost will not be cheap. You might as well try to compare with the local short-term rental fees. An exception is strollers, which are usually free consignments.
Oversold
In order to meet the travel needs of more passengers and avoid the wastage of airline seats, airlines will make appropriate overbooking based on mathematical model calculations on flights where passengers are prone to voluntary invalidation.
In the event of overbooking, the airline will first consult passengers who voluntarily take subsequent flights at the airport. If you are not in a hurry, you will receive reasonable economic compensation from the airline if you voluntarily take the next flight. If it is still overbooked, some passengers will be forced to coordinate to the next flight and get compensation. Overbooking is a rare situation. If this flight is an important part of your departure segment, it can be avoided by online seat selection in advance or early arrival at the airport.
Security check
Any civil aviation flight at any airport requires security check. The list of contraband in any country is different, and it is the safest choice to check the official website of their civil aviation department. Bringing contraband to the security check area is not only a waste of disposal, but also a waste of your time.
The security check process is roughly divided into the following parts: show your ID and boarding pass; take out all metal objects, including electronic products, and take off your jacket and put it in a basket for manual inspection; take all your backpacks, Put the bag in the radiation detector; then walk through the metal detection door; you may also be asked to remove your shoes or open the suitcase for sampling.
If you want to complete the security check quickly, follow some guidelines: avoid wearing clothing that contains metal materials; figure out what your metal products are and take out all of them; line up with those who seem to be experienced travelers. Remember that at large airports, security checks usually require queuing, so allow plenty of time when wandering around the airport. If you are late, look around to see if there is a passage for latecomers. For premium class or member passengers, airlines may issue fast-track permits to you.
If you have metal products inevitably in your body, ask your doctor or relevant department for a certificate. Similarly, liquids of more than 100 milliliters used for medical purposes can be allowed to pass if they can be proven.
Aviation safety is not a trifle. Don't make any jokes about bombs or "Hi, Jack" (sounds like Hijack) at the airport. Don't try to make trouble at the security checkpoint. Prohibited items will never be allowed to be carried on the plane. Don't leave your luggage alone in one place, it is likely to be treated as a box with bombs.
Waiting for boarding
After passing the security check, you finally came to the airside of the airport. The first thing to do is to check the remaining time before boarding with the kanban. The door closing time is usually 10-15 minutes before the departure time; and the boarding gate of the flight, because the boarding gate changes are not uncommon. Large airports usually provide you with time to walk to the boarding gate. If you have enough time, sit down for a bite or take a stroll.Duty Free ShopIt's all possible. Airports usually provide free wireless LAN. Before you officially board the plane, don't forget to refill the water bottle and go to the bathroom.
If you are a premium class passenger, an airline premium membership card holder, or a VIP credit card holder cooperating with the airline, you may have access to the VIP lounge. There is a quieter environment and more comfortable seats than the general area, and simple meals are provided.
Delay
Flight delays are annoying, but a positive response can eliminate them. You should be mentally prepared for possible delays, especially when the weather at the airport is not good. Even if the weather is good, the mechanical failure of the previous flight and the weather at the previous airport can cause delays.Fei ChangzhunIt is a software that provides flight information services, and sometimes it can provide specific reasons for delays and delay predictions, which may be unwilling to tell by airlines.
In the case of delays, active and appropriate discussions with the airline can help you get the most compensation, such as free meals and accommodation. Airlines of different regions and different levels of service have different attitudes towards passengers. The European Union stipulates that one of the departures and landings in the European Union must pay a price of 250 euros for delays caused by the company for more than 3 hours. However, in regions including mainland China, airlines do not need to be legally affected by the weather. Responsible for delays. You boughtInsuranceThere may be a clause for any delay in payment.
Boarding
When boarding an aircraft, there are usually some passengers who board the aircraft with priority. It may also be assigned by airport staff in accordance with the front and rear positions of the cabin. The purpose is to improve boarding efficiency, but it is usually a large passenger aircraft such as a wide-body aircraft.
Passengers who usually board the flight first:
- Passing passengers (all passengers are required to disembark during a stop)
- High-level frequent flyers (first class, business class, etc.)
- Passengers with special treatment (such as retired military personnel, people with disabilities, minors who have handled the flight alone, etc.)
Some small airlines that do not allocate seats allow people who have paid priority boarding fees to board. For an aircraft such as A380, the number of people on board will exceed 500. Even if there is an assigned economy class boarding crew, it cannot be strictly enforced. Boarding of this type of aircraft usually takes more than 20 minutes to complete. Regardless of the boarding sequence, you can stay in the terminal and watch the last person in the queue board the plane. This saves time in the aisle. However, if you have items that need to be placed in the overhead luggage compartment, it is best to board the plane as soon as possible. Baggage that cannot be safely placed due to the full storage space will be required to be checked.
Most airlines will try to find passengers who have already checked in but have not boarded, because if they do not board, they will waste more time to take out his luggage again. Usually they will broadcast at least twice before closing the gate. If you hear your name being called far away from the boarding gate, find the airport staff and let them know that you are trying to get there.