In recent years, it is possible to say that traveling by plane for the first time has even become common. Previously, this type of transport was only accessible to those with a lot of money, but now it is estimated that between July 2017 and June 2018 alone, 100 million passengers flew with Brazilian airlines!
Still, I have countless friends who have never gotten on a plane, either because they are not used to traveling or because they don't have the opportunity. I've also exchanged emails with some readers who were preparing for their first adventure, and many of them had questions about this topic, like “What is check-in?”, “What is the difference between connection and stopover?” and “You can carry such a thing in your hand luggage”.
The truth is that for those who are flying by plane for the first time, this experience can seem daunting. There are a lot of details to pay attention to and, truth be told, countless ways for everything to go wrong, so it's easy to understand the nervousness of those who don't have much experience in the subject.
If this is your case, first let me assure you that taking a plane is no big deal. It's a simple process and, with a few differences between national and international destinations, it works the same way all over the world. After one or two flights you will have got the hang of it.
To help you, in this post I will explain EVERYTHING you need to know about traveling by plane for the first time! From the most common terms used in this situation, to a step of what to do when you arrive at the airport, how to board, disembark and anything else along the way.
I tried to answer all the questions as much as possible, but if you still have any questions at the end, just leave them in the comments! 🙂
First of all, let me explain some frequently used terms:
What is “check-in?”
O check-in is a way of notifying the airline that you really will board the flight. This is how employees know how many bags to expect, how many people will actually be on board, how much food (if it will be provided) that should be loaded onto the plane, which passengers to call on the microphone if they are not on the aircraft at the correct time and etc.
Check-in can be done online – and then you print your ticket or take it on your cell phone – at the counter or at the airline totem at the airport itself. On average, for domestic flights the check-in process closes 40 minutes before departure time, and one hour before for international destinations.
What is scale and connection?
Depending on your city of origin, there may not be a direct flight to the destination you want to go to.. To solve this problem, you will have to stop at one or more cities along the way.
Each of these stops is called a stopover or connection. In general, the term is used loosely, but a stopover just means that the plane will land to disembark and board other passengers, and you will remain in your seat waiting. On a connection, you need to exit the aircraft and transfer to a new plane.
Airline low-cost
This term in English means “low-cost”. Airlines low-cost They usually sell tickets at a super low price (in Europe, there are several promotions for €1), but you literally only get one seat on the aircraft. For any extra service, such as food, baggage check-in or entertainment, you must pay a separate fee.
Each company stipulates the values and rules, so you need to consult the official website to find out what is and is not included.
What is a partner airline?
Many aviation companies partner with each other in order to serve a greater number of destinations and offer more benefits to their frequent flyers. If you are purchasing an airline ticket through LATAM, for example, which is a partner of American Airlines, your flight from São Paulo to Dallas may be flown with LATAM, and the next section to New York will be flown by AA.
What is a stopover?
International companies often fly through their home countries. Emirates, for example, is a company from Dubai, and many of its routes make a stop there for passengers to change aircraft to board their final destination (example: leaving Brazil for Australia, the route is usually São Paulo – Dubai – Sydney). A stopover is a service that airlines offer so that you can make a slightly longer stopover (usually a few days) in these cities, without increasing the ticket price. Dani from the Trippolis blog has a post that explains how you can make the most of a Stopover.
Baggage allowance
The allowance is the number of bags (carry-on and checked) that you can take without extra costs. There is currently no law guaranteeing that tickets include the excess, and most companies charge this service separately for items that will be shipped.
In Brazil, almost all airlines allow you to take a small suitcase weighing up to 10kg into the aircraft cabin (without checking it in), as well as a personal item (such as a bag) to place under the seat in front of you. This is not always the case for international companies.
The sizes of suitcases (both carry-on and those that will go in the hold of the aircraft) also vary according to the company, and the ideal is to check the measurements on the official websites.
Before purchasing the ticket
Before moving on to what you should do on the day of your trip, I want to take the opportunity to give you some tips when purchasing your ticket. It's common to buy in excitement without paying attention to the details, but some mistakes can mean you don't even board or pay several extra fees.
Documentation
For domestic flights, a valid identification document with photo is required., which can be your ID (preferably with a current photo and less than 10 years old), driver's license, work permit or passport.
For international destinations the documents required vary. For countries that are part of Mercosur, just an identity card (less than 10 years old) is sufficient. For the rest, a passport is mandatory, and depending on the country, it may need to be valid for another 6 months before it expires. You may also need a visa (a document that authorizes you to visit a country), and in some cases international proof of vaccination.
Here is a list of all countries that require visas for Brazilians. On the ANVISA website you can check health-related requirements for all locations around the world.
With the exception of the vaccine, which can generally be provided quickly, the ideal is to gather documentation before to buy tickets. Depending on the country, however, it is possible that the visa process requires that you have already purchased the air portion of the trip.
Changing airports
If your ticket includes a connection, pay attention to whether you will need to change airports. Sometimes, when a city has more than one airport, you will arrive at one and board at another.
If this is the case, check if there is enough time to make the trip. Normally, the airlines themselves offer a free bus service that runs between airports.
Check baggage allowance
As I explained previously, most companies operating national routes charge a baggage fee separately. If you are checking a bag, purchase this service in advance as it is much cheaper.
Also check the maximum weight and size, as normally over 32kg does not enter the aircraft.
If you are only taking one carry-on bag, find out if the company offers access to the luggage compartment for free (this is the case for most Brazilian companies).
Where to find cheap tickets
If you want to save up to 25%, my suggestion is to buy with Passagens Promo. The company has been on the market for years, is super reliable and has WhatsApp support to answer all your questions. With your credit card, you can still pay in up to 10 interest-free installments! 🙂
Traveling by plane for the first time – What to do on the day of the flight
As I mentioned, the routine for flying by plane is practically the same anywhere in the world. I wrote in order what you should do, but These steps may vary depending on some details such as early check-in and baggage check-in.
1. Go to the airport
It is recommended to arrive at the airport two hours early for domestic flights, and three to four hours early for international flights.. This second one needs more time as you will go through passport (or ID) control, in addition to the X-ray process being more detailed.
If you checked in in advance and are not checking your bags, you may arrive a little later.
2. Check in
I put it as the second item on the list, but if you check in online it will actually occur first, rs.
To check in online, just access the airline's website and enter your locator number, which was provided in the email you received when you purchased the ticket. You will then need to provide your details and emergency contact, and depending on the company, select your seat. At the end of the process you receive the ticket, which can be printed or presented on your cell phone.
If you are leaving to check in at the airport, go to the airline counter when you arrive at the location. Currently, most of them have check-in kiosks, and operation is very intuitive. If you are going to do it this way, remember to arrive at the airport early as there may be queues at the kiosks.
Airlines low-cost They usually don't allow you to check in in person, or they charge a very expensive fee to do so.. Find out if this is the case with the company you chose.
3. Check in luggage
If you are checking in a bag, go to the airline counter. There is usually a specific queue just for those who already checked in and just wants to leave the suitcase. At this time you will need to show your ticket and identity document.
Even if you checked in online, you can check in in this line as normal.
If you check in at the counter with the staff, they will likely take care of baggage check-in at the same time.
4. Boarding and X-ray
After the check-in and baggage process, it's time to head to the boarding gate. If there is a lot of time left before your flight, you can walk around the airport to distract yourself.
To access the boarding area, you only need to present your ticket. In some airports employees scan and release your entry, while in more modern airports this process is done by machines, meaning you only need to turn the barcode towards the reader.
You will then go through the x-ray, which will scan you and check the contents of your hand luggage.. If you are carrying a notebook, you must remove it from your backpack or bag and place it on the tray separately. Depending on the airport, you may need to take off your shoes, belts and coats.
Hand luggage restrictions vary between domestic and international destinations, but in general at this second you cannot take liquids in containers larger than 100ml. Other products of this consistency must be enclosed in transparent ziplocks (although I only saw this rule exercised once, on a flight to Uruguay). It is also not permitted to take umbrellas, sharp objects, and items that may be dangerous. On the ANAC website you will find all the restrictions.
5. Passport control
If your destination is outside Brazil, after (or even before) the X-ray you will go through passport control.
Depending on the airport, you may pass by an employee, but they usually just ask where you are going. If your passport is the most modern, you may just need to scan it on a machine and take a photo to prove that it was you.
If you have children unaccompanied by a parent, you will need to present authorizations if they are not already on your passport.
6. Gate and boarding
Now it's time to head to your gate and wait for boarding.. The number must be written on your ticket, but major changes are frequent at airports, so it is best to follow what is written on the information panels.
If your destination is international, this is also when you will pass through the free shop, store with tax-free products. The fee per person is US$500.
At the gate, pay attention to staff notices (sometimes the gates change) and the types of queues. In Brazil, it is common for them to be separated by priority and rows of seats. Boarding can also be carried out in groups, and if applicable, this information will also be on the ticket. To enter the plane you must present your ticket along with a valid document.
Flying by plane for the first time
Inside the plane there is not much mystery. In general, you will spend most of your time sitting down enjoying some form of entertainment (series, books, music), sleeping or talking to other passengers.
Some useful tips:
- When boarding, pay attention to your seat number. It is stated in the passage and is normally one or two digits followed by a letter. The numbers indicate the row, and the letter the seat.
- Larger belongings, such as hand luggage, should be placed in the overhead compartment. Backpacks, purses and bags must go under the seat in front of you.
- Since you are going to travel by plane for the first time, listen to safety instructions demonstrated on video or by whoever is working in the cabin. Remember: the oxygen mask must cover the nose and mouth, and the life jacket must only be inflated when exiting the aircraft.
- During takeoff and landing, it is not permitted to recline the seat or use the table. Larger electronics such as notebooks and tablets should be stored at these times.
- The use of devices such as cell phones and computers is permitted, as long as they are in airplane mode. Some flights offer WiFi on board, so just activate this function.
- To reduce costs, Not all airlines offer snacks on short-haul flights. Most sell some snacks or sandwiches, and payment must be made by card or cash (although they don't usually give change). If you want water, just press the button above your seat and ask the flight attendant.
- Restrooms are usually located at the rear of the aircraft, but can also be in the middle or at the front, depending on the size of the plane. The green light indicates that they are free, but if the seat belt warning is on, wait until it goes off to walk to the bathroom.
How disembarkation works
Upon landing, I will give you a tip that is not a rule but a matter of common sense: don't run away. Unless you have a connection in the next few minutes, wait for other passengers and exit the plane when it is your turn. Everyone should know this, not just those who are traveling by plane for the first time, lol. 🙂
How to make a connection
If you are taking another flight, when disembarking in the airport lounge, follow the signs saying “connection”. If you leave directly at the boarding area, go to an information panel, check which gate your next flight will depart from, and go to it.
If your trip is domestic, your suitcase will go straight to the final destination, and you don't need to pick it up halfway. If you are traveling in a country that It's not your final destination, there's no need to pack your bags either.
If your connection is in your destination country, but not in the final city (example: connection in Dallas and then on to Orlando) you will have to go through immigration at this first stop, pick up your bags and check them in again. The same occurs between European Union countries. In both cases, then just board again and continue your journey, and your suitcase will meet you in the final city.
Arriving at the destination
When disembarking from your last flight, just follow the signs indicating the landing.
On your way to the airport lounge, you will pass through the baggage carousel area. If you have checked a bag, just check the panel on which conveyor belt it will be available and wait until it appears. As most of them are similar, be careful not to get the wrong one (it already happened to me, it wasn't fun).
Then just follow the exit signs and you will be ready to reach your destination.
Now just figure out how to use public transport to get to your hotel. If you're renting a car and want to save as much as possible, I recommend renting with Rentcars! The company offers quotes with great prices for the main rental companies in the world (Alamo, Hertz and others) and you can pay in reais, without IOF and in up to 12 installments!
And that's it, now you're ready to travel by plane for the first time! The text was long, but I wanted to explain it in detail. As you can see, it's not very complicated and with a little practice you'll get the hang of it quickly!
Do you have any questions? Leave it in the comments!
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Hi, I would like to know about immigration that takes place inside the airport, is there a paper for you to sign when you arrive??
Hi Jessica!
If your final destination is in another country, you will pass through that country's immigration while still inside the airport. In some places they give you a piece of paper to fill out with some information (such as the amount of money you are taking, medications, reason for your visit) and in others you just go through a booth with an immigration agent who will ask you these questions. Just have all your documents with you (passport, hotel voucher, tickets, travel insurance if necessary, etc.) and you shouldn't have any problems!
If it is an international trip, and you make a connection while still in Brazil, can you leave the airport and return before the flight?
In theory yes – but it's a good idea to check with the gate agent when you're disembarking on your connection.
For an international flight, when I check in, do I already know all the seats on the planes I'm going to take or should I check in at each airport?
Note: I will only pick up checked bags at my final destination.
When you check in for the first time, you already get a ticket for all sections with assigned seats. If you bought everything together you only need to check in once 🙂
Oh, and regarding cosmetics, can I bring tweezers and a nail file, for example?
maybe yes!
Can you take your own water on a plane trip?
He can! But when traveling internationally, only liquids up to 100ml are allowed, so the ideal is to take an empty bottle and fill it at a water fountain upon boarding, or buy one there 🙂