Essential Travel Tips for First-Time Fliers

Going on your first flight can be just as daunting as it is exciting. To ease your nerves make sure that you are prepared for your first flight experience. While not every traveler will be so bewildered that they could mistake an emergency exit for a bathroom, that doesn’t mean you don’t want a heads-up about what you need to know before you fly. Here is our list of twenty things you need to know before you take your first flight.

Don’t just book a flight, book your seat

Beyond booking your flight, you can also book a specific seat. Depending on the airline that you are using, you can choose if you want an aisle seat, a window seat, or a middle seat. Depending on whether you want easy access to find a bathroom, a great view, or to mentally deny that you are in the air at all, this can be a pretty important decision. You can choose your preference when you book the flight or later by logging onto the airline’s website. 

Get the app before you fly

All of the major airlines have their own app, and you should definitely download it before your flight. Some apps allow you to do a pre-check-in and miss the long lines, while you can also use the app to stay on top of things like flight status, departure time and gate changes, and even in-flight entertainment options. 

Make sure you have travel insurance

Nobody wants to think of worst-case scenarios when planning a fun trip, but it is an important detail that you can’t afford to forget. Make sure that you purchase travel insurance so that if something does go wrong you will have at least some coverage for things like lost baggage, a flight cancellation, or a medical emergency. 

Don’t pack everything you own

Any time you are going to take a trip it can be so tempting to overpack. You don’t want to end up wishing you brought something that you left at home, but the truth is the lighter you pack, the easier your trip will be. No one wants to spend half of their trip carting around luggage that has to be unpacked and repacked throughout your trip. Packing light also ensures the least amount of damage if you do happen to have a lost luggage situation. Don’t forget to check your airline’s carry-on size restrictions before you go.