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First Time Air Travel, especially International Travel is something that most people look forward to and many experiences it at some point in their life in one form or another. As much as one may deny it, traveling for the first time to an alien country is always a little scary. One doesn’t know the procedures followed at the airport, the security measures(especially after 9/11) and there is always a fear that something may go wrong. Keeping this in mind, we bring to you 7 Tips, that would prove to be very useful to you if you are a first-time traveler traveling to a foreign land from any Indian Metro.
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- The First Checkpoint at an Indian Airport is the Airport Entrance, where a guard checks your ticket and passport(a security measure existent at very few airports around the world). It’s quite amusing to see that in a city like Delhi one cannot enter the airport at either the arrival or departure terminals without a passport. This is in stark contrast to airports around the world where the arrival terminal is almost like a mall, where you can even go for a casual visit.
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- Next, you need to get the baggage you wish to check in x-rayed and if you’re not carrying something illegal then the guys at the counter would tie the bag with a plastic band. This band indicates that your baggage is safe for check-in. Again this is something that happens in very few countries of the world.
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- Now, you need to find and go to the counter of the airline that you’re flying. For Example: If you are flying KLM, goto the KLM counter and check-in your baggage. If you are lucky the attendant would ask you the kind of seat that you like(window/aisle) and would then give you a boarding pass for the flight. Keep this boarding pass safely with you as you would need it till you board the aircraft.
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- Next, you would need to fill out an immigration form that would be handed to you with the boarding pass. This is quite a simple form that can be filled out using your passport and boarding pass and has to be submitted at the immigration counter.
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- Now you need to head towards the immigration counter and upon being called you need to present your passport and filled immigration form. The officer at the desk would check the validity of your visa and passport and if everything is fine, he would stamp the visa with the date of your departure. Once you are through this point it means that you have officially left the country.
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- The next stop is the much-dreaded security check. Post 9/11, the American and British airport authorities have really gone overboard with this procedure sometimes even resorting to Strip Search, which is quite pathetic. It is strongly recommended that one should read the guidelines of the airport from which you are flying as they vary from one place to another. At Most places it’s better not to carry any form of liquids, gels, knives, pins or any other pointed metallic objects in your hand luggage, it’s advisable to place such items in the luggage that you check in. During the security check, your hand baggage and everything in your pockets and your belt would be x-rayed and you may or may not be physically checked by the officer. Many people who do not read the rules and regulations of the airport are forced to surrender items that they buy, so make sure you have read all the rules.
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- Once past the security check, you would find yourself in the departure lounge, here you can do whatever you wish to kill time. Seat yourself close to the gate mentioned in the boarding pass and carefully listen to all the announcements being made. At the time mentioned on the boarding pass, you would be asked to board the aircraft. Pick up all your belongings and head towards the gate with your passport and boarding pass in hand. The Airline officials would check your boarding pass and once inside the aircraft the cabin crew would take good care of you.
That’s it 7 steps and you’re not a first-time flier anymore. Be Safe and Have A Nice Flight !!!
Good site! I actually love how it is easy on my eyes as well as the details are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which really should do the trick! Have a nice day!
Thanks so much. Flying off to germany in 10 days and this article really made me feel better. What happens when you land at your destination – do you go through customs and immi once again? Where exactly do you “declare” all the stuff you bought? For instance, if I have spices, pickles, clothes for my german friends, do I declare it in india or germany? I heard they give you declaration forms in the airplane before you land at your destination…
Also how much local currency (i mean indian rs) do you carry? When i am back in india, if i have excess luggage or need to pay some duty, can i pay in euros? Or do I need to convert my remaining euros beforehand?
wht abt luggage it will go with us at last stage of departure lounge…
Thanx 4 da tips men, very useful!
But wats da big deal about the hair gel thing? They wount stop me from boarding in when am wearing it, right?
They might check your passport and xray your check in luggage but htey dont check your hand bag till the end, just before you board, which is a weird practice.
Thanks for the tips udai. These are small things to keep in mind, but they make a big difference sometimes.
Two more tips:
* Check in early and avoid the plight of being left out when the flight is overbooked
* Always carry two sprres in your cabin baggage, there is the stark
posibility that the airlines may lose your baggage. (The last itme I received someone at
the Airport, 20 ppl had their baggage misplaced. Anothe colleague got his a week later and
some 15-20k INR . worst was Chaals – he had a conference the very next day and no clothes
except for one T-Shirt we got at the barcamp)
Bon Voyage