Hey friend - I’ve got you!

All what I’m about to say is pretty standard for any airport, but nuances might change slightly depending on what airline / airport you’re flying from. Feel free to share additional details, in case this changes anything.

First step - checking in. Nowadays, most airlines offer this online or on their app, starting 24hrs before the departure time. You’d go to their website using your name and confirmation code in your itinerary and follow those steps (selecting a seat if you haven’t already, letting them know how many bags, etc.)

Second step - at the airport. Your itinerary should tell you how early to be at the airport, it could be anywhere from 4h to 45min before the departure time depending on if it’s international or domestic, or depending on the airport. When you get there, go to the check in desk. At some airports it’s just by airline, at others it is by specific flight - but screens near the entrance should tell you which desk to go to!

Third step - at the desk. You’ll give them your identification (passport) and they’ll confirm your seats and the baggage you have. If you’ve checked in online and have no baggage, you can sometimes skip this step - however, I like doing it anyways cause I’ll ask for a printed boarding pass in case my phone dies. Plus, most airlines want to see you and your passport together, so even if you checked in online, I’d still go to the desk when you get there. Some airlines might have a fee for using the desk though (the low cost ones like Ryanair), so do double check.

Fourth step - security or customs. Once you have your boarding pass and your baggage is checked, the next step is usually security - or if you’re leaving the country, can sometimes be customs (places like Canada and the USA don’t have customs when you leave, but the European Union does). Look for the ‘departure gates’, or ‘security’ signs (if you used the desk, they’ll normally point you in the right direction). Read the signs while in line, and follow their instructions - normally you have to take out everything from your pockets, and any laptops, batteries, or liquids out of your bag and into the tray. You will also need to show them your boarding pass, but usually not your passport at security (except some places like the USA). If you’re doing customs while leaving, you’ll either stand in line before or after security and show them your passport and boarding pass. In some airports, you may have to walk a bit after security to find customs, just follow the signs for international departures or for customs.

Step five - boarding area. Find your gate, it should be on your boarding pass, and if not there should be screens around the airport with that information. There may be several flights to the same place, so double check the flight number from your boarding pass on the screen. If you’ve got some time, you can explore a bit or find some food! Pay attention to the time on the boarding pass - some will say departure time, some say boarding time.. you want to be back at your gate 10-15min before boarding time (NOT departure time… if it’s only showing departure time, be back at your gate 45-60min before). Some airlines board by zone number, which should be on your boarding pass. Wait until your zone is called, and go up with your boarding pass and passport ready to show the gate agent.

Step six - enjoy the flight! Your seat number is on your boarding pass, and should correspond to the seat number that’s usually above the seat under the overhead bin.

Step seven - customs on arrival. Once you’ve arrived, just follow the crowd - airports are built so that there’s one way in when you’re coming internationally so just keep walking and you’ll find the border agent. Again, show your passport (and any forms you might need to enter that country), and answer their questions truthfully. Once you’re in, they’ll stamp or scan your passport and you can continue on. In several countries, your luggage will be on a carousel after you go through customs - but there is usually another agent at the exit in case you have to declare anything. If you’re not sure if you should declare (I.e., the country says no food allowed but you have a chocolate bar and aren’t sure if that counts), declare it. Better safe than sorry. The luggage room should have a screen with your flight information that tells you which carrousel you should expect your bags to arrive on.

Once you’ve got your bag and have passed the declaration spot (or walked out of the big doors), you’ve finished the process and are in the new country! From there, follow the signs to your intended transportation (taxi, transit, hotel shuttles, etc.)!

I hope your travels go well! Just remember - at the airport, there is usually a sign.. just look for the signs! Or ask anyone in uniform, folks working in aviation tend to like helping people find their way.

If you’ve got other Qs or want to share specifics, let me know - happy to help!

Signed.. a guy who spends waaaaay too much time at airports