First time flying

What wears you out on a first flight is the unknown. If you know the order of the day, each step arrives the way you expected.

The day before

• Check in online and save your boarding pass on your phone.
• Check the cabin bag rules: liquids in containers of up to 100 ml, in a clear bag.
• Get to know your flight: how long it is, the aircraft model, where on the route it might get a little bumpy.

At the airport

1. Arrive early: at least 1.5 hours before a domestic flight, 2.5–3 hours before an international one.
2. Bag drop: leave your big suitcase at the airline counter.
3. Security: jacket, belt, phone and laptop go in a tray. It's routine.
4. Gate: go to the gate on your boarding pass and watch the screens for changes.

On board

• Find your seat and put your bag in the overhead bin or under the seat in front.
• Watch the crew's safety briefing; it's a routine part of every flight.
• Switch your phone to airplane mode.

Takeoff, cruise, landing

The aircraft rolls slowly onto the runway, the engines get louder, and within seconds you lift off. Right after takeoff you'll hear a “thunk”: the landing gear folding away. A few minutes later the engines get quieter; that's a normal stage of the climb. In cruise the seatbelt sign may go off, but keeping your belt loosely fastened while seated is a good habit. On descent your ears may pop; swallowing or chewing gum helps. On landing, a short bump and the roar of the engines slowing you down are normal.

To feel more at ease

• A window seat lets you see outside; an aisle seat makes it easy to get up and walk.
• Tell the cabin crew it's your first flight.
• Before the day, rehearse the whole sequence in a few minutes with the virtual flight in SafeSkies.