While flying internationally can be exhausting and not something most people look forward to. It’s something you need to do before you get to go on a really fun or adventurous vacation. Flying internationally, especially if you don’t do it frequently, can feel overwhelming or stressful, however, I’m excited to share my top tips to help you feel confident and comfortable next time you fly internationally! In this post we’ll go over everything you need to do prior to getting to their airport, at the airport, and my top tips for while on the airplane! Let’s dive in!
Before You Book Flights
Before you buy your tickets for your international flight, here are a few things to consider that will help make your flight a smoother experience.
Compare Baggage Allowance
You should decide how many bags you and whoever you are traveling with plan to bring depending on the length of your trip. Personally, I like to travel with a checked bag when taking a long international flight for a couple of weeks. However, if you’re someone who just wants to take a carry-on bag and a personal item this is something you should decide ahead of time!
You’ll want to take a look at the different airlines and what they allow for baggage allowance with international flights before you book. One flight might be a better deal but if you have to pay extra for bags, it might end up cheaper to book a different airline that has bags included. It’s also helpful to know the bag allowance and weight limit prior to going to the airport for your international flight so you can avoid any surprise fees and added stress.
Check Passport and Visa Requirements
When you travel abroad you’ll need to have a passport that doesn’t expire within 6 months and some countries have visa requirements even for layovers. For example, in England, even if you’re just connecting in England and you’re traveling to a different country, you’re required to get a visitor visa and it can take a few days to process. You’ll need to make sure this is all sorted before the day you fly to avoid any problems or surprises.
Think About Layovers and Flight Times
If you’re new to flying internationally, I would recommend avoiding tight layovers of anything less than 2 hours. You don’t want to be rushing through the airport and potentially missing your next flight. Some airports will require you to go through immigration and security again before your next flight so you need to also leave time for this. Overall, tight layovers cause unnecessary stress and just aren’t worth it.
Also, consider what time your flight will arrive at your destination. If you’re flying a red eye from the US and your flight gets in at 6 or 7 AM local time, you won’t be able to check into your hotel and there likely won’t be restaurants or anything open for a few hours and you’ll be stuck trying to figure out what to do depending on where you’re going.
On our first trip abroad we got to Brussels at 6 am and had to sit on a bench in town and hang out until the businesses started to open before we could get breakfast, so keep this in mind and try to avoid this happening to you!
Print Digital Copies of Important Documents
You never know when your phone will have trouble connecting to an online booking or worse, your phone breaks or gets stolen. Having digital copies of your passport, accommodation, visa, travel insurance, etc. could save the day if something goes wrong. I recommend printing a digital copy and saving it in a folder to bring with you when you travel, don’t include any sensitive information just in case you lose your folder.
Packing Tips
Packing for an international flight can be a bit overwhelming, which is why I’m sharing a short list of travel essentials.
For the full list of what the essentials you should pack for an long flight, click here to read the article:
9 Essentials You Need for a Long Flight
Carry-On Packing List
Here are a few things you should bring in your carry-on:
- Passport + travel documents– boarding pass, visa, insurance, accommodation details.
- Phone + charger + power bank
- Headphones or earbuds
- Refillable water bottle– you’ll likely be able to fill it after security.
- Snacks
- Neck pillow, eye mask, and earplugs
- Toiletries
- Entertainment– downloaded movies, playlists, books, etc.
- Change of clothes and underwear– in case your luggage is delayed.
- Wired Headphones – the free ones usually aren’t very good.
Destination Packing List
Depending on where you are traveling, here is a quick list of things you should probably pack for your destination abroad.
- Universal travel adapter– and voltage converter if needed
- Medications + prescriptions – make sure to put these in the personal bag you bring on the flight.
- Travel insurance info and emergency contacts
- Reusable shopping tote– a lot of countries don’t really use plastic bags or charge you extra.
- Destination-specific gear– like a swimsuit, hiking shoes, warm layers, etc.
Tips for Staying Comfortable While On The Flight
International flights can be draining and make you feel gross by the end of it. To make your flight more comfortable, here are some tips to help you feel more rested and overall have a more enjoyable flight.
Stay Hydrated
Not drinking water for long periods of time can make you feel pretty terrible and lead to being dehydrated. It can be easy to not drink enough water while on a long flight and the dry air in the cabin doesn’t help.
I recommend making sure you drink water throughout your flight, if you can, refill your reusable water bottle before getting on the plane and whenever offered a drink by the flight staff make sure you grab yourself a cup of water as well.
Move Around The Cabin
It can be easy to just sit and not want to move about the cabin once you’re on the flight. However, walking around, doing some light stretches, and overall just moving your body a bit will help you feel less sluggish on and after the flight. I also recommend wearing compression socks when on a long-haul flight to help with blood circulation.
Don’t Rely On In-Flight Entertainment
I think in addition to the in-flight entertainment you should also bring your own. Whether it’s a book, your favorite show or movie downloaded on a device, etc. Sometimes the flight doesn’t have good movies to watch or you might get sick of looking at a screen, so I always recommend bringing something else you might enjoy doing on a flight.
Also, make sure you bring any chargers in your personal bag for your phone or if you use an iPad or laptop so you can charge your device during the flight if there’s an outlet available to you.
Bring Snacks
On an international flight, you’ll always get a meal, usually two, however, you might get hungry in between meals and it sucks feeling hungry and not being able to do anything about it. This is why I recommend packing snacks!
Arrival Tips – What To Do When You Land
Woohoo, your long international flight is over and you’ve arrived at your destination ready to start your vacation! Once you get off the plane, here are some tips so you can get through the airport stress-free and start enjoying your vacation.
Go Through Immigration & Customs
The first thing you will do when you get off the plane is go through immigration and customs. If it’s not an e-gate and you speak with a person, make sure you go up to the booth with whoever you are traveling with. The agents will ask you questions about your trip, such as where you’re staying, where you’re going next, how long you’re there for, etc. Make sure you know this information before walking up to them so you can confidently and easily answer their questions.
After immigration, you likely will have to go through customs as well. This is where you’ll need to declare if you’re bringing in anything such as food, electronics, large sums of cash, etc. You can research what you need to declare prior to traveling. If you don’t have anything to declare there is usually a line for this as well.
Grab Your Luggage
After immigration and customs if you checked a bag you’ll be able to go to baggage claim and find your bag. Make sure you double-check you’re grabbing the right bag and that it has your name on it. If your bag is missing you’ll need to go the the lost baggage office and talk to an agent there.
Leaving The Airport
Lastly, you’ll need to figure out transportation to your accommodations. I recommend researching this ahead of time. However, most airports will have airport taxis, Ubers, and other rideshare companies, trains into the city center, or your hotel may have pre-arranged transportation.
Beware there are sometimes transportation scams at airports and always make sure you’re getting into an official taxi or you check the license plate before getting into your Uber. Don’t just take a ride from anyone and don’t let anyone usher you to a car once you exit the airport.
Wrapping Up
Flying internationally doesn’t have to be overwhelming or stressful, with the right tips and preparation, it can be smooth sailing. From booking your flight to arriving in a new country, I hope this guide full of my top tips for flying internationally is helpful when planning your trip! Happy travels!
Related Articles:
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24 Things I Wish I Knew Before Traveling to Europe For the First Time
The Ultimate European Packing List – Everything You Should Pack For a Trip To Europe
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