First Time Flying Tips – An A-Z Guide to Flying for the First Time

We’ve got plenty of helpful first time flying tips in this A-Z guide to flying for the first time if you’re planning your inaugural trip overseas and booking international flights for the first time, or even flying domestically. Our air travel advice is based on decades of experience as professional travel writers and guidebook authors and covers everything from airlines and airports to getting vaccinations and visas.

If you’re planning a trip overseas or even travelling closer to home and flying for the first time, we’ve got loads of first time flying tips for you so things go smoothly. Even if you’ve seen off siblings on their first adventure abroad or picked up family from the airport, navigating an airport for the first time as a traveller can be daunting, while the process of checking in and making your way through Immigration, Security and Customs can be stressful.

You want your first time flying to be hassle-free, not plagued with problems. The first time you fly, you want to spend more time relaxing in a lounge thumbing through a guidebook or clinking glasses of bubby with your travelling companion as you watch planes on the tarmac taking off, than arguing with airport security (something you should try to avoid at all costs!) because you just bought that bottle of water they told you to toss.

Our A-Z guide to flying for the first time includes air travel tips based on decades flying for work, pleasure and study: from 20+ years flying as pro travel writers and guidebook authors, and our yearlong round-the-world trip dedicated to slow, local and experiential travel that launched Grantourismo in 2010, when we were flying every 2-4 weeks, to countless flights for holidays as expats, and my experience bouncing around Latin America on a study-abroad year.

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First Time Flying Tips – An A-Z Guide to Flying for the First Time

For many travellers, their first flight becomes their most memorable. I have warm fuzzy memories of my first flight at age four with mum from Sydney to Perth. I also fondly recall a flight with my little sister to visit our grandparents: then a toddler, the little cutie sang “up, up and away…” at the top of her lungs as we climbed the stairs to the plane. An embarrassed 11 year-old at the time, I smile when I recall the experience now. I still have our ‘Junior Jetsetter’ cards in storage.

You want your first flight, especially your first flight overseas, to be memorable for the right reasons. Terence and I have memories we’d rather forget of a flight from Sydney via Tokyo and Vancouver to Mexico City. The only Caucasians on a plane packed with Japanese and Mexican passengers, we were pulled out of the transit lounge and interrogated by Canadian airport security – because we were flying from Australia via Asia to the Americas, apparently a popular drug smuggling route.

For us, it was a cheap flight recommended by our travel agent that gave us a free Tokyo stopover. Who’d turn that down? Unfortunately, it put us off flying to/through Canada, a country we still haven’t been. Fortunately we learnt some valuable travel lessons: airport security staff can surprisingly be very ignorant when it comes to how people travel further evidence: watch Border Security or Airport Security), choose air routes carefully, and leave the vintage leather jacket at home.

A-Z Guide to Flying for the First Time

Our A-Z guide to flying for the first time is packed with first time flying tips for those of you planning your first trip abroad and booking your first flights, whether international flights or domestic flights. Note: we use Australian-English and British-English spelling, so ‘flyer’ rather than the American-English ‘flier’.

A for Airlines, Airports and Arrivals

Airlines

For many first time flyers, choosing which airlines to fly often comes down to cost. When we’re younger – or even when we’re older and trying to survive a cost-of-living crisis – we often just want the cheapest flight so we have more money to spend when we get to where we want to go. But the cheapest flights aren’t always the best (see ‘C’), and the cheapest airlines aren’t always the safest – unless they’re a reputable low cost airline (see ‘L’).

One of my top first time flying tips when it comes to airlines: if you’re envisaging a future filled with travel and live in a country with one main national airline, join the airline’s loyalty programme before buying that first flight, so you earn points or miles. You can then use points for upgrades and other deals and are eligible for perks. Check out this excellent beginners guide to points and miles and see ‘F’ for frequent flyer programme.

If you’re not flying long haul and don’t need to sleep, eat or be entertained, low cost airlines are worth considering. They’re low cost for a reason so ticket fares don’t usually include baggage, meals or amenities and you’ll need to pay extra for those. But you’re hardly likely to need lunch or an eye mask on a one-hour flight.

For more tips on airlines, see our guide to how to decide which airline to fly, which covers the steps we take to choose an airline, depending upon whether we’re flying short haul or long haul, because there are different considerations for each, and the steps we take to find flights. Essentially, we look at the airline first, then, after making a short list, we look for cheap flights.

Airports and Arrivals

Learning how to navigate Airports can take a few flights, so don’t worry if you struggle to figure out what’s what the first time you fly. First things first: if you’re not taking an airport bus or airport train, tell your taxi to take you to Departures, which is the area where passengers check-in to flights, so you’re not dumped at Arrivals, which might be easier for the driver. It happens!

Arrivals

If you do get dropped at Arrivals, note that at some airport terminals the two areas are completely separated, so it’s best to seek out Airport Security guards and explain your dilemma so you don’t end up somewhere you’re not meant to be. In some airports, it might just mean a long walk or escalator or elevator ride to another level, as it is at Melbourne Airport, where departing and arriving passengers can mingle – something that would never happen in some countries.

Airport Navigation

Once at Departures, grab a baggage trolley if you have more than one bag. Have your passport and ticket handy, as Airport Security guards at many airports will want to check those before allowing you to enter. Once inside the terminal, look for an airport floor plan to find the check-in area if it’s not obvious, and a flight departure board, these days called a Flight Information Display System (FIDS), to find your flight’s check-in counter (see ‘C’ for more on the check-in process).

After checking in, make your way directly to Immigration (see ‘I’), also called Passport Control (see ‘P’), as there might be long queues that you can’t see, especially during the tourist high season, weekends and holidays. At large airports in big cities and popular tourist destinations, this process can often take an hour or two. Always allow more time than you’re told you’ll need – it’s better to be relaxing with a glass of bubbly than running to a gate and missing your flight.

B for Booking Flights, Baggage Allowance, Boarding Pass, Business Class

Booking Flights

After months or even years dreaming about your first trip, booking a flight is when things get real – and really get exciting! But how and where do you book flights? Back in the day, travellers walked into a travel agent, sat down, sought the travel consultant’s advice and sat and browsed travel brochures while they booked your flights.

These days, most people use online travel agents or OTAs. Some of the most popular OTAs include CheapOair, Kiwi.com, ebookers, Trip.com, Expedia, Wotif, and lastminute.com. Prices vary across websites, so I always check a few different sites and monitor flight prices. Some websites will ask if you want to do that and then send you notifications when prices change.

OTAs work the same way as physical store-front travel agents did, in that they make money from commissions. That doesn’t always mean the flight price will be more than buying direct from airlines, as they get discounts on flights. On the other hand, sometimes it is cheaper to buy direct from airlines, which is why you need to shop around.

The beauty of buying flights on an OTA site is that these days you can virtually plan your whole trip on the one site and book airport transfers, hotels, hire cars, and even tours on websites. While these can be super easy to book, the downside is that sometimes they can be tricky and time-consuming to cancel and get refunds, if you have to change your plans.

By buying flights on a booking site and not buying tickets directly through an airline, you will miss out on frequent flyer points if you’re a member of an airline loyalty programme and the perks that come with that, such as lounge access and upgrades. It can also be easier to cancel or change a flight directly with an airline.

Baggage Allowance

Always check the baggage allowance, especially if you’re travelling to a destination where shopping will be a priority and you plan on bringing back a lot, and buy extra baggage allowance in advance if you think you’ll need it.

The standard baggage allowances are around 20 kilos for Economy seats these days, and allowances increase with each class, so Business Class passengers get a larger allowance, and First Class passengers even more.

Asian and Middle Eastern airlines tend to be more generous with their baggage allowances. Some airlines are stricter than others when it comes to making sure travellers adhere to those allowances, weighing every bag and charging travellers for excess luggage when they go over the baggage limit, even if it’s only a kilo.

With no-frills and low-cost airlines you pay for baggage or tickets will be priced accordingly to baggage allowances, so the more you pay the more luggage you get to take. For instance, I travelled from Cambodia to Australia with only a 7.5 kilo carry-on with VietJet, but because I’ll want to check-in a suitcase on my next flight, I’ll pay more for that ticket, which has a bigger baggage allowance.

Boarding Pass

Boarding passes are issued by airline staff at the check-in counter (see ‘C’) and are needed to proceed through Immigration (see ‘I’) and board your plane. Always check your boarding pass (see ‘B’) before leaving the check-in counter, in case some details are incorrect. You don’t want to stand in a long queue again.

Make sure your boarding pass has the correct details, such as the correct flight number (that you’re on the right plane), correct seat number (that you’re going to be in the seats you booked online), and correct departure time (I know someone who thought they were booked on a 9am flight, but booked a 9pm departure, so had 12 hours to hang out at the airport).

Business Class

When we lived in the UAE and used to travel frequently we’d book Economy seats for short-haul journeys and use our frequent flyer points to upgrade to Business class for long-haul journeys when we needed to sleep. While Economy can be perfectly comfortable on some airlines, Business Class seats are much larger, more comfortable and recline further.

There are also other extras in Business Class, especially with premium airlines and for long haul flights, such as a welcome glass of bubbly, a wine list to choose from, better and more frequent meals, more personal service, a better quality entertainment system, and fancy amenities – such as luxurious toiletries and slippers, perhaps even pyjamas. Emirates Airlines also provides a chauffeur limo service for pick-up and drop-off.

C for Cheap Flights, Check-In and Customs

Cheap Flights

Cheap flights are cheap for a reason. Unless it’s a low cost airline specialising in offering a no-frills experience or affordable flights where you pay for the ‘extras’ such as baggage, meals, drinks, amenities, and seats – or rather, the ability to select seats; don’t worry, you won’t have to stand! You expect low cost airlines to offer amazingly cheap fares, but not premium airlines.

Cheap flights offered by premium airlines might be cheap for any number of reasons: it’s off season, so demand is low; there might be connections with long delays between flights (always check the flight duration before hitting ‘book’); a roundabout route like that Sydney to Mexico City flight we took that went via Tokyo and Vancouver (see above); not enough seats sold yet or just a few seats left.

One of my top first time flying tips: if the flight price seems too good to be true there’s probably a reason so figure it out. If you can’t, call the airline and ask why.

Check-In

Checking-in to a flight can increasingly be done online on an airline website before you even leave home or at a check-in kiosk at the airport terminal, especially if you’re travelling domestically (within a country), and don’t need to check-in luggage (you’re on travelling with a carry-on bag). But many airlines and airports still require travellers to line up at a check-in counter, especially for international flights, and if you have luggage to go under the plane.

Have your passport handy, as the check-in staff will need to verify your identification, that you are the person who is booked on the flight; verify that you have the correct visa (see ‘V’) and can legally enter the country (if you don’t and a visa is required in advance, they can refuse boarding); weigh and check-in your luggage; and issue you with a boarding pass, which you need to proceed through Immigration (see ‘I’) and board the plane.

One of my top first time flying tips: always check your boarding pass (see ‘B’) before leaving the check-in counter so you don’t get any nasty surprises when you get to the gate or board the plane, and find out your spouse is sitting at the pointy end and you’re way down the back, or even worse, you’re both in Economy when you paid for Business, or you’re separated from your kids.

Customs

Airport Customs staff, called Border Staff or Border Force in some countries, are responsible for checking that you’re not bringing items into a country that aren’t allowed (you know, like drugs, weapons, or animal products), that you’ve declared items you’re carrying on that little form they gave you on the plane (for example, seeds, food products, a lot of currency), and that you’ve paid duty on expensive items you may have bought if they weren’t duty free or you intend selling them.

Always check Customs websites before you pack your bags, so you know what you’re allowed to take in, and check duty free allowances (see ‘D’) before going shopping. Many countries have strict requirements (such as Australia) and limits and you will most probably have your purchases confiscated or might be required to pay duty or even hefty fines if you break those rules and go over those limits.

D for Departures and Duty-Free

Departures

The Departures area of an airport terminal is where you need to go if you’re departing or leaving a country. That’s where you’ll find the airline check-in counters, where you need to check-in (see ‘C’), ticketing desks if you need to buy a last-minute ticket, change your ticket, or resolve any ticketing issues, as well as Immigration, also called Passport Control.

You’ll also find toilets and baby change rooms, a first aid office or medical clinic, and most likely a pharmacy, newsagent or bookshop, maybe a post office, cafés and maybe a bar or two, handy if you’re meeting someone you’re travelling with or for farewell drinks if you’re being seen off by family and friends… those were the days…

One of my top first time flying tips is not to waste time in departures: the best shopping and eating is nearly always on the other side of Immigration and Security.

Duty-Free

A duty-free product is something that you don’t pay duty or taxes on and most international airports have duty-free shops – Dubai has long been famous for its duty-free shopping. The most popular things to buy are duty-free liquor and cigarettes, but technology such as cameras and luxury goods, such as perfume, accessories and clothes are also popular.

Check duty free allowances before going shopping. You can find these online on Customs and Border Force websites, airline websites, and airport websites. Staff at duty free shops have duty free allowance lists and can tell you what the duty-free limits are for particular countries. Make sure to stick to your limit, because if you go over your duty free allowance you’ll be required to pay duty, and that’s the job of Customs (see ‘C’).

Some duty-free shops carefully seal your bags of purchases and you cannot open these until you’re on the plane. Others keep your purchases and take these to your gate where you can collect your duty free shopping before you board. I’ve even taken flights where the airline crew have brought my duty-free shopping to my seat. Different countries and airports have different rules.

E for Etiquette

Etiquette is rooted in respect and civility. But while you should be fine if you’re patient, courteous and respectful, it’s still a good idea to familiarise yourself with airport etiquette and flying etiquette. But do appreciate that etiquette varies between different countries and cultures, and therefore expectations vary.

For example, whereas some cultures are strict about queuing, others are not and you won’t get anywhere if you politely line up if a flight is cancelled. In some countries you’ll need to join that huddle of passengers around the check-in counter or ticketing desk or you won’t be going anywhere!

Airport Etiquette

As a general rule when it comes to airport etiquette, arrive on time, not too early or too late. Queue up if you see other people queuing and move with the flow, don’t be pushy or dawdle. Always have your passport and other documents handy; don’t inconvenience other travellers by holding them up when you don’t. Don’t hog more seats than you need in an airport lounge or at the gate.

Flying Etiquette

As for flying etiquette, put your carry-on baggage in the overhead bin above your seat; if there’s no space ask the flight attendants for help, don’t hog other passengers’ overhead bins. Wear deodorant, but not wear strong heady perfumes. Don’t take your shoes off if your feet are smelly; but if you must, take a clean pair of socks to slip on.

Respect other passengers’ personal space. Don’t hog both armrests. Don’t recline your seat during meal times and when you do want to recline your seat, let the passenger behind you know before you do, so that they can grab hold of their drink, shut their laptop lid or shift their long legs. Don’t have loud conversations and keep the volume on your headphones on low. I could do a whole post on etiquette. I think I will, so watch this space.

F for Frequent Flyer Programmes

If you’re planning on travelling regularly and will mostly be using the same airline, join that airline’s loyalty programme before buying that first flight. When we lived in the UAE we joined Emirates Airlines frequent flyer programme and quickly accumulated points.

For many years we’d buy Economy seats and use points to upgrade to Business, which came with loads of perks. When flights are over-booked, airline staff will check the system and look for frequent flyer members and upgrade them first. We were lucky to get many free upgrades over the years with Emirates, even from Business to First Class.

I for Insurance and Immigration

Travel Insurance

One of my top first time flying tips is to buy travel insurance. I’ll go as far as to say: don’t even think about leaving home for the airport without travel insurance. Although I have to confess that I have been known to purchase travel insurance on my phone while sitting in an airport lounge!

Ideally, buy travel insurance immediately after buying flights. That way, if something unexpectedly happens, such as your flight being cancelled, you’ll have travel insurance that might cover you. Read what the insurance covers before buying it.

We recommend SafetyWing Insurance as it covers travel delays, lost checked luggage, emergencies, natural disasters, and personal liability. And we’ve used most of the major travel insurance providers during our 26 years living abroad and travelling the world for holidays and work.

Immigration

Also called Passport Control (see ‘P’), Immigration is where you hand over your passport to be checked by an Immigration officer whose task it to make sure that the passport they’re looking at belongs to the person carrying the passport. They will also make sure the name on the ticket matches the name on the passport. Then the passport is stamped to indicate whether you’re departing or arriving in that country.

These days, some countries such as Australia no longer stamp passports, but record your travel information electronically. Other technology is also used at airports to determine that the passport belongs to the person holding it, including thumb print and facial recognition technology.

L for Low Cost Airlines and Lounges

Low Cost Airlines

While I much prefer to travel with a premium airline for long-haul flights, say, from Australia to Europe, when I’ll want more comfortable seats, Terence will need to stretch out his legs, we want to enjoy some delicious meals and glasses of wine, low cost airlines are fantastic for short haul flights.

Also called no-frills airlines, they’re exactly that. So don’t expect complimentary amenity kits with eye-masks and toiletries, let alone meals and drinks, and an entertainment system – you’ll be expected to pay for those. But if you’re on a one-hour flight and don’t need to sleep or brush your teeth, you won’t need an amenity kit. Take snacks on board and a good book or magazine.

Lounges

One of the perks of being a frequent flyer (see ‘F’) or travelling Business Class (see ‘B’) is getting Lounge Access. Terence and I used to love sipping a glass of bubbly in the Emirates lounges, which are some of the world’s best in our experience, with super comfy sofas, plenty of reading materials, and elaborate buffets with a wide selection of food and drinks, including good wines and even champagne.

If you don’t have lounge access, in some cases it can be worth paying for use of a lounge. Most large airports have at least one lounge that any travellers can use for a price, and while some of these are mediocre, others are excellent. For instance, there’s a lounge at Saigon’s international airport, which wasn’t worth the fee when there’s plenty of comfy seating in the bar area, and good affordable eating spots.

But I’ll always recall a lounge we used to use at Milan’s Malpensa airport that was excellent, aside from the ‘no sleeping’ rule – because that’s one of the very things people want to do in lounges! They enforced that rule, too!

So when is it worth paying for a lounge? If you’ve got a connecting flight with a long period in between flights, if you’re arriving at an airport for a late departure when the shops and eateries are closed, when you’ve been out and about all day after checking out of your hotel, and you’re hot and sweaty, you have a long haul flight ahead, and would love a shower before boarding.

M for Meals

In flight meals can be some of the best bits of a flight, but they can also be the worst. When we lived in the UAE and had gold frequent flyer status with Emirates Airlines, we often bought Economy seats and used our points to upgrade to Business, and always looked forward to the meals. Most of the time they were incredibly delicious and were served with well-matched wines.

Most premium airlines include meals in the fare, but you’ll have to pay for meals on no-frills or low-cost airlines. As a travel writer, I’ll often test these out, even when I’m not hungry, and in my experience they’re mostly disappointing. In those cases, if I’m travelling on an airline that I’ve flown with before, what I prefer to do is take snacks onboard or eat at the airport if I know the food is good.

While most airport food is average or is expensive if it’s any good, there are exceptions. The food at Asian airports is often excellent, varied and not always over-priced. I highly recommend the pho at most Vietnam airports. Airports in Malaysia and Thailand also have a good selection of reasonably prices local food.

N for Noise Cancelling Earphones

Noise cancelling earphones are a great idea if you’re sensitive to sound, especially when it comes to sleeping. But when you’re wearing headphones to listen to music, do be respectful of your fellow passengers and keep the volume down. (See ‘E’ for Etiquette.)

P for Passports and Passport Control

Passports

One of my top first time flying tips is to make sure your passport has more than 6 months’ validity. While 6 months validity is the period recommended, you’ll be in trouble if you’re away for a month or more and end up with only 5 months validity. You might be refused entry to your destination country.

Also make sure you have plenty of pages in your passport, especially if you need to get visas before you leave. Some visas take up a full page. And take photocopies of your main passport page and visa pages in case you lose your passport.

Passport Control

Passport Control is also called Immigration. See ‘I’ for more info on the passport process: but essentially this is where you hand over your passport to be checked by an Immigration officer who verifies your identity, looks for your visa if one is required, matches your passport to your boarding pass, and stamps your passport and departure card or arrivals card if you’re required to complete one.

Always follow the rules when you’re waiting in a Passport Control queue. Don’t take photos. Don’t step over the line on the ground. If the rule is only one person at a time, don’t drag along your spouse. Have your passport and boarding pass ready. Remove your glasses or face mask.

Always be respectful, polite and smile. We try to learn ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ in the language of the country we’re travelling to, as it nearly always brings a smile to the Immigration guy’s face – especially if you say ‘Bintang’ as I did on my first trip to Bali, which Terence told me translated to ‘thank you’ in Indonesian, when it’s the popular local beer!

R for Restrictions and Rules

One of my top first time flying tips is to always read the fine print on airline websites and flight booking sites before buying your tickets. Different fares have different rules and restrictions with the most expensive tickets having the greatest degree of flexibility as to when you can fly and how often you can change your dates, and the cheapest tickets having the greatest restrictions and rules.

For instance, you might only be able to fly on certain dates and times, with blackout periods when you can’t fly, which might be on weekends of busy periods. You might not be allowed to change your flight, or if you are you might only be allowed to change it once before you incur a fee, or you might be charged a fee every time you change the flight.

Go through the ticket rules and restrictions with a fine tooth-comb, because if you want a degree of flexibility then it’s worth paying more. Otherwise, after a couple of ticket changes you might end up incurring fees greater than the value of buying a slightly more expensive ticket.

V for Vaccinations and Visas

Before you book your flights, check if you need vaccinations and visas for your destination, as visas can sometimes take a while to process and if you need vaccinations you might need a series of vaccinations over a period of weeks and maybe months.

Vaccinations

Some countries require that you have vaccinations before entering and will require proof of those vaccinations – such as a vaccination for Yellow Fever for some South American countries, for which you’ll receive a card, and you won’t be allowed to enter without it. For other countries, vaccinations are recommended but not required.

One of my top first time flying tips is to visit a traveller’s medical clinic a few months before your departure, as some vaccinations are staggered over many weeks and even months. But also do your own research, because some doctors are over-cautious and recommend more vaccinations than you need. They cost, after all, so that means you also pay more.

For instance, while malaria medication is recommended by many doctors if you’re travelling to Cambodia, you won’t need it if you’re only going to be in cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, but it is advisable to take it if you’re travelling to more remote places, especially if you’ll be trekking through jungles and sleeping in hammocks. I had malaria in South America and it’s not fun.

Visas

Many countries require that travellers have visas to enter their country and there are different types of visas depending on how long you plan to stay and what you’re going to be doing in the country.

Tourist Visa

The standard visa for travellers on holidays is a Tourist Visa but there are different kinds of tourist visas. You’ll get a Single Entry Visa if you’re only entering the country once and then departing the country. Some countries offer Multiple Entry Visas, which are handy if you’re travelling around a region. For example, if you’re arriving in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi and departing from the southern city of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), but in between you’ll be travelling to Cambodia and Laos.

Business Visa

You might need a Business Visa if you’re on a ‘bleisure’ trip with your family, combining business and leisure, or if you’re actually on business, exploring business opportunities, or in the process of establishing a business.

E-Visas

Traditionally, you apply for a visa through the country’s embassy in your home country, although these days many countries offer e-visas. This means you can apply for visas on the country’s Immigration or Department of Foreign Affairs website.

Print Up E-Visas

In some cases, you’ll be asked to print up the visa, in others to simply save the e-visa to your phone. One of my top first time flying tips is to still print up e-visas, as other authorities may ask to see the visa, yet aren’t connected to the immigration system, such as everyday police and passport control staff at little-used land border crossings. Print outs are also handy if your phone runs out of battery.

Allow More Time Than Required

While some e-visas are fast and can take as little as a day, others might take 3 days, a week or two, or longer. There’s nothing more anxiety inducing as your departure day getting closer and closer and you still haven’t received your visas. Always allow more time than needed, as you won’t be allowed to check-in and take your flight if you don’t have a visa.

Visa on Arrival

Some countries allow you to get a visa on arrival – Cambodia and Thailand are two such countries – but I still like to get visas in advance if I’m passing through another country en route. Airline staffers don’t always know the rules or might have old rules on their system, and if they don’t see a visa in your passport they might not allow you to board, even though you’re in the right. We’ve struck this situation many times on our travels and it’s infuriating.

W for Water Bottles

I’m always surprised by how many travellers don’t realise that you can’t take bottles of water through Security and end up throwing out unopened bottles of water – or a thermos flask full of coffee, tea or soup. I travel with an empty, refillable, eco-friendly water bottle in my carry-on that I can fill up with filtered water when I’m through Security or fill up on the plane. Some low cost airlines don’t provide complimentary water.

Z for Time Zones

If you’re flying long haul it’s best to get yourself on the time zone of the destination you’re travelling to so you can try to reduce the chances of jet lag. If you’ll be arriving in the morning, it’s best not to stay up all night watching movies unless you’re happy to wander around in a zombie-like daze on your first day in your destination.

They’re our top first time flying tips. If you’re going to be flying for the first time soon, save this guide to your favourites. You can save any post by clicking on the heart on the right of the page to create a private account. Feel free to leave your first time flying tips in the comments below.

For more travel advice, see our posts on How Much Planning You Should Do Before You Travel, Why You Shouldn’t Travel without Travel Insurance, Last Minute Travel Tips for Spontaneous Travellers, How to Transfer Money When You Travel, Why You Should Consider Ferries When You Travel and our guides to Slow Travel (Our Best Budget Travel Secret) and Local Travel and Living Like Locals, our Experiential Travel Guide and Meaningful Travel Guide, our tips to How to Be a Better Traveller, and How to Be a Greener Traveller.

You might also enjoy these posts on It’s Not Where to Travel But How to Travel, How to Meet Locals When You Travel, 20 Travel Lessons from 20 Years Living Abroad and Travelling the World, How We Created a Life Filled with Travel, How to Get Paid to Travel the World as a Travel Writer, At Home Anywhere and Having a Sense of Belonging Everywhere and tips to dealing with Reverse Culture Shock.