STRESS-FREE AIRPORT NAVIGATION FOR 1ST TIMERS | How to Navigate ANY Airport Alone (Step by Step!)
Flying for the first time? Nervous about navigating the airport alone?
Here’s a step by step guide to getting through any airport stress-free 🙂
0:00 INTRODUCTION
0:58 PREPARATION FOR YOUR AIRPORT VISIT
3:30 PACKING FOR THE AIRPORT
7:52 ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT
9:03 CHECKING IN AT THE AIRPORT
11:11 GOING THROUGH AIRPORT SECURITY
16:45 FINDING YOUR GATE
18:02 WAITING FOR YOUR FLIGHT
20:12 ARRIVING AT YOUR DESTINATION
WATCH NEXT:
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFThdiyE3HA
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQtLgNCa158
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO1u1or4e6Y
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL1OmxTz6fE
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL1OmxTz6fE
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CujQmwCK3dE
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUCRqwBC5jk
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwkINHckNEo
CHRISTINA’S TRAVEL GEAR
Note – many of the links below are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info on what this means, check out my website privacy policy and disclosure: https://happytowander.com/privacy/
➡️ My Camera {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/3MhZ0VQ
➡️ My Favourite Regular Packing Cubes {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/45OdSlI
➡️ My Favourite Compression Packing Cubes {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/3MbIiYs
➡️ My Favourite Noise Cancelling Headphones {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/46J6cTg
➡️ My White, More Elegant Carry-On {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/3uS6lpU
➡️ My Black, More Minimalist Carry-On {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/478ROnf
➡️ My Pretty Re-Usable Toiletry Bottles {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/3SeqaAJ
➡️ My Amazing E-Reader That Links to the Library for FREE Books {Paid Link}: https://amzn.to/3Mgfca2
OTHER TRAVEL RESOURCES
➡️ My favourite travel credit card – Wise: {Referral Link} https://happytowander.com/Wise
➡️ My go-to eSIM {Affiliate Link} – Use the code CHRIST99027 for $3 off: https://happytowander.com/Airalo
➡️ Where I search hotels {Paid Link}: https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=1180711
➡️ Where I search flights: https://www.google.com/travel/flights
➡️ Where I compare/book transport in Europe {Paid Link}: https://happytowander.com/omio
➡️ My go-to travel insurance {Paid Link}: https://happytowander.com/WorldNomads
➡️ Where I book activities/tours {Paid Link}: https://happytowander.com/GetYourGuide
➡️ Where I find rental cars {Paid Link}: https://happytowander.com/DiscoverCars
➡️ Rakuten USA for cash-back on purchases {Referral Link}: https://www.rakuten.com/r/LECOUR23?eeid=28187
➡️ Rakuten Canada {Referral Link} for cash-back on purchases: https://www.rakuten.ca/referrer?referrerid=T1dMsjxn5c0%3D&src=Link
➡️ Airfare Watchdog {Paid Link}: https://happytowander.com/airfarewatchdog
➡️ American Express Platinum Referral Link (for 60,000 points!): https://happytowander.com/AmexPlatinum
➡️ Airhelp {Paid Link}: https://happytowander.com/Airhelp
EUROPE TRAVEL TIPS & MUST-KNOWS:
➡️ My best Europe travel tips: https://happytowander.com/europe-travel-tips/
➡️ How to travel Europe by train: https://happytowander.com/how-to-travel-europe-by-train/
➡️ Grab my free Europe trip planning workbook: https://happytowander.com/EuropePlanningWorkbook
➡️ Grab my free accommodation checklist: https://happytowander.com/accommodation-checklist
➡️ My (brutally honest) Flixbus review: https://happytowander.com/honest-flixbus-review/
➡️ My honest RyanAir review: https://happytowander.com/honest-ryanair-review/
➡️ My honest WizzAir review: https://happytowander.com/wizz-air-review/
➡️ Europe summer packing list: https://happytowander.com/packing-summer-europe-ultimate-female-packing-list/
➡️ Europe winter packing list: https://happytowander.com/travelling-europe-in-winter-female-winter-packing-list-for-europe/
➡️ How to avoid pickpockets in Europe: https://happytowander.com/how-to-avoid-pickpockets-europe/
➡️ 7 scenic train routes you can’t miss: https://happytowander.com/most-scenic-train-routes-in-europe/
➡️ Europe car rental hidden costs: https://happytowander.com/travel-europe-by-car-hidden-costs/
➡️ 17 unconventional travel hacks: https://happytowander.com/travel-life-hacks/
First time flying? Nervous about how to navigate an airport as a beginner? This detailed guide will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about procedures inside the airport, how to go through airport security, and other airport tips to help make your first experience a breeze.
11 Comments
Hi everyone! Feel free to drop your favourite airport tips below in the comments to help your fellow travellers out 🙂 let's make this the most helpful comment section on YouTube <3
Hey Christina,
Do you have any experience with Pegasus airlines. I'm flying from Athens, Greece to Zagreb, Croatia. I'm confused on the baggage policy. Website says international flights allow both carry on and personal item. However, some vloggers are saying they may only allow a carry on. Checked bag is allowed. However, I don't want to check my bag. Any help would be appreciated 😊
Yes! Have an exit strategy for the airport [or train station].
Predatory taxi drivers target these areas and you can end up paying many hundreds of dollars getting to your accommodation ..
One thing with bringing food…peanut butter in a jar falls under the liquid restrictions but having a peanut butter sandwich is fine. Double check what are considered liquids (pastes) before you go
It’s been 6 years since I have been overseas and am going to Europe in a few weeks. This was a great refresher video 😊
Getting to the airport early saved me on a business trip to the U.S. – I had enough time to have the taxi return home so I could grab my carry on, which had been left behind🙀
Putting the baggage tag neatly on my checked luggage is the hardest part 😹
I have been traveling for over 20 years internationally and not an expert nor still at ease with travel. I usually try to get nonstop flights, less chance of checked bags getting lost. If I have checked bags and multiple flights, I always go to airline personnel to check in with, to see if I can check my bags all the way through to my final destination, also making sure what the tag says is the FINAL destination of my bag. No fun if your bag is only checked in to the first leg of your trip. International multi flights can be tricky, while I have been able to check my bag through to final destination, I have had to go through security again before boarding my next leg of my flight. Once I flew from Los Angeles to Copenhagen went through passport control before boarding my flight for Bergen, my checked bag was checked through to final destination, Bergen.
Also each security check point is different in each country, sometimes in the same country. Some may want you to take off shoes, some will let you keep them on, some will ask that laptop, tablet be out and in another bin from your bags. I remember one time going through a security check, everything had to be in separate bins, personal bag in one, computer, tablets in another, shoes and belts in another and your outerwear in another. Just follow the signage and/or listen for directions. If nothing else watch people ahead of you to see what they are doing.
As usual, your advice is correct and practical.
My additional advice would be: don't take anything that airport staff says or does personally. They are not interested in you as a person, you're a traveller who needs to get processed as fast as possible within the requirements of the security rules. Your opinion on how things are handled is irrelevant. It's their process to manage. If you need to get an extra check, it's usually because you made a packing mistake or your behaviour is off (which it might be on your first trip) or it's just one of those random checks. If there's nothing to find, the check will be over quickly. If you start to act like a drama queen, you'll be holding up yourself and the entire line of people behind you. Be polite, compliant and chill out.
Bonus tips: go to the toilet as soon as you arrive at the airport. This wil help you remain relaxed while you go through the security check.
I have a prosthetic hip. Do I need to tell someone before I go through security?
Great tips as usual. Also, at security they might announce to remove tablets from your bag – by this they mean your iPad and not your medication (unless of course your medication is liquids)
And to add to your advice about getting from the destination airport to your hotel, make sure you can get to your hotel without relying on your phone – you never know when it will stop working and a few notes scribbled on paper gives one less thing to worry about.
I definitely agree with giving yourself plenty of time . Don’t start your trip out stressed . And for airport parking many large airports will have places nearby you can park and be shuttled to airport cheaper than parking at the airport . Book those in advance .