Airport: Where to first? What do I need to take care of?
If you have flown a few times, you know how things work. But especially the first few times bring many question marks and uncertainties. To counteract this, we have created a detailed schedule for you, with which you can travel safely and confidently.
From check-in to boarding, we explain to you what, where, how happens and what you should pay special attention to.
What you can do in advance
To arrive stress-free at your destination, we recommend that you inform yourself in advance about these points:
- Inform yourself about the peak times at the departure airport. How exactly this works can be read here in the blog post.
- Find out which terminal you need to go to. Especially at very large airports, the way to the terminal can sometimes be very long.
The process at the airport - 4 stations
Check-in
To check in for your flight and drop off your luggage, you must go to a check-in counter. Which counter is responsible for your flight can be found on a large display board in the departure hall. At the counter, you receive your boarding pass and drop off your suitcase.
At larger airports, there is the alternative of a check-in machine. Here you check in yourself. For this, you usually need your ID card/passport and the booking number of your flight. There is also the option to check in your suitcase here.
You also have the option to check in online a few days before departure. You then receive an e-ticket, which you can either show on your smartphone or print out. If you are traveling with hand luggage only, this is a very time-saving alternative to the conventional check-in. If you want to travel with a larger suitcase, you must check your luggage at the counter.
Passport control
Before the well-known security check, there is usually a passport control. Here, the data on your boarding pass is compared with that of your passport and checked whether (if necessary) all important entry documents are present.
Security check
What you are allowed to carry in your hand luggage on your flight can be found here. The security check mainly serves to check whether you are carrying any prohibited substances or items. Your hand luggage and separately your electronic devices and liquids go through an X-ray machine. You walk through a metal detector. What you are allowed to carry in your hand luggage can be read here.
After the security check, you enter an area with various options to eat and drink. You can also take a little shopping tour in the duty-free shop.
Then proceed to your gate. The number is noted on the boarding pass.
Boarding
Be sure to be punctual and not just arrive at the gate at departure time. How to do this calmly can be read here. The time when boarding begins is also noted on your flight ticket. Here you show your card and passport once again, and then you're off!
Have a good flight!