Packing your suitcase and 11 things you should not do before the flight
'12.08.2019'
Source: Adme
A flight is always a stressful situation, even for those who are not afraid and love to fly. Still, you need to foresee everything in advance, properly pack your luggage, arrive at the airport on time and go through all the pre-flight “procedures”. And there are so many that sometimes even experienced travelers will feel dizzy.
AdMe.ru compiled a list of errors that everyone made at least once at the airport.
1. Folding documents in a small handbag
Some travelers put money and documents in a small handbag so that everything you need is at hand. But the more pieces of luggage and hand luggage you take with you, the more difficult it is to keep track of them. An inconspicuous handbag can remain on the seat of public transport or in the airport cafe. It’s better to put the passport in a pocket of clothes that is always on you, and break the money into small amounts and put it in different places.
2. Do not figure out in advance how to get to the airport
Relying on a bus or metro to the airport, do not forget to know the timetable of public transport in advance. It happens that there are no night flights, so you can’t wait for your bus, but at the same time miss the plane. On the other hand, the transport networks of some cities have aeroexpress trains, which depart even at night. Therefore, if you do not have very heavy luggage and you live near the stop, spending a taxi will be superfluous.
3. Mistime
By unspoken rule, arriving at the airport follows 2 – 3 hours before departure. However, sometimes this time is too much and you have to spend it in tedious waiting. On the other hand, one who likes to do everything at the last moment runs the risk of being late.
If you have problems with time management, pay attention to the applications for organizing the flight. These assistants will tell you when to board your flight. Arrive at the airport 1,5 hours before and then you will surely be in time, especially if you have registered in advance.
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4. Do not check in online
Many airlines provide an online check-in service, since it is beneficial for them to keep fewer employees. Therefore, carriers not only encourage those who take care of their place on board in advance, but also sometimes “punish” passengers who have not registered online. This is especially true of low-cost airlines. For example, Wizzair will take € 30 euros for the airport check-in service, and Victory on international flights will ask for € 25.
5. Decide to spend the night at the airport
This is the worst that a tourist can think of. In most airports there are no places equipped for overnight - only hard chairs with armrests. It is unrealistic to relax and fully relax in such conditions, so the next day will be deleted from life. You simply sleep through it, instead of enjoying your vacation.
If the prospect of sleeping on your own suitcase does not appeal to you, you can specify in advance the schedule of business lounges and the cost of visiting them. Sometimes the cost of a visit there does not exceed the price of lunch, but you will spend time with comfort.
6. Pay for baggage weighing
It is advisable to know the weight of the luggage even before traveling to the airport, otherwise you may be faced with the choice: pay for excess or repackage extra items in carry-on baggage at the last moment.
If it is not possible to weigh the bag in advance, you have to do it on the spot. Airports set scales, for the use of which they sometimes ask for a rather large amount. While any passenger can go to the working check-in counter and weigh their luggage there absolutely free.
7. Packing luggage
Spending on the service of packing luggage in a protective film, many travelers discover an advantage or remember that they left something inside. I have to cut the packaging. It turns out that the money was thrown to the wind. If you want to be sure of the safety of the contents of your suitcases, it is better to choose models with locks.
Travelers experiencing the purity of their bags purchase reusable covers. True, not everyone considers them practical. Sometimes they become worthless after the first flight, not justifying their name. It seems that the best way out is with suitcases made of washable materials.
8. Crowding at the first two security checkpoints
As a rule, the queue is distributed in such a way that it is always the hype on the first two tapes. Try to go further and you will see that there are much fewer people there.
Another mistake made during the inspection concerns small appliances and accessories. Usually they are placed at the bottom of the tray, covered on top with jackets and outerwear. By doing so, you risk forgetting the wardrobe item or gadget after you pick up the jacket. For these little things, it is better to select a separate tray.
9. Forget the rule for liquids in hand luggage
It seems that all inveterate travelers are well aware that liquids with a volume of not more than 100 ml can be transported in hand luggage. However, snags constantly arise with this. Someone will forget to put the shampoo in the 0,5 liter package into their luggage, then they will misunderstand the rule and decide that you can pour a little liquid into a large package. As a result, the entire line of searches is waiting for the unlucky passenger to resolve these issues.
In hand luggage, you can transport vials with a capacity of not more than 100 ml, the total volume of the bubbles is not more than 1 liters, and all of them must be packed in a special transparent bag. In addition, some airports have introduced draconian measures altogether. For example, in Warsaw they even force cosmetics to be repackaged in transparent bags: creams, eyeliner, mascara and eyeliner.
10. Relax after being screened
You may be embraced by the pleasant feeling that all the formalities with baggage, inspection and passport control are already behind. However, this is not a reason, forgetting everything, rush into the pool of shopping in Duty Free. By the way, at some airports, such as Milan or Thessaloniki, these stores are located at passport control points. In this case, the risk of losing track of time and skipping your flight is even higher.
The right tactic is to find your boarding gate in advance and approach it. The scoreboard next to the gate should indicate your destination. And even when you find your way out, periodically break away from Internet surfing and look at the electronic scoreboard. The boarding gate can suddenly change, and you simply will not have time to run to the new one if you see the announcement at the last moment.
11. Try unusual dishes before flying
When abroad, you will certainly want to try the local cuisine. However, you should not get carried away with exotic on the eve of departure. It is unclear how the body will respond to unusual dishes. An upset stomach can not only spoil the trip, but also cause serious harm to health if poisoning is caused by dangerous pathogens.
12. To panic
Even if something went wrong, for example, your flight was rescheduled or completely canceled, you got lost or lost documents, then a panic will only worsen the situation. You should take a deep breath and contact the staff of the airline or airport. They will instruct you in this situation.
We hope this information helps you avoid unpleasant situations at the airport. What tips would you add?
