this might seem a lil silly...but i need an advice...?

Question

i've been freakin' out since i knew i was gonna leave from Italy (where i am now) to the states. i've never took a plane by my self before and i'm not afraid of the flight itself but i'm afraid of losing the flight or get lost in a airport. i know i'm a big wuss..but can someone tell me step by step how to take a plane? ive been on one before but wasnt by my self and i didnt have to do anything. will someone be there at the airport to help me go to the right gate and stuff? thanks

Answer 1

I would suggest you call the airline that you are travelling with and put a Meet and Assist on your file. The airline will set up somebody for you to assist you if you need to change aircraft and take you to the gate your supposed to be at and meet you when you get off the plane and take you to get your baggage. There should be plenty of people to help you at the aiport.

Answer 2

I took My 1st flight ever from USA to Scotland in Sept.'06,alone. I am 29 years old. I was freakin' out too. The best thing to do is, be sociable. As you meet new people they will tell you their story and you tell yours. Then people are more willing to help you out. And mind to SMILE it helps.
TC and have a grand time.

Answer 3

All airport personal are very helpful just ask, you will be fine, have a great trip

Answer 4

Don't freak out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...(i love italy)the firat time i took a plane i was 7(i think yeah first grade) i was to but i did'nt tell enyone!Dont think negitive !!!after a wille you'll get board !!! somone wont be there to help you unless you ask !?!?!?!?!?!?!? have a great flight!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

yes. there will be tons of people there, having to do the same things you do, just follow the lines;)

Answer 6

first of all, be friendly, but not too trusting, and watch your bags at all times. Bad things rarely happen, but you still have to be cautious - but not paranoid.

If you have printed tickets, always know where they are, and keep them handy (along with your passport) but secure (somewhere you can reach them fairly quickly without them falling out or being lifted). Keep the cash you'll need for travelling in your usual place, but keep the rest somewhere fairly hard to get (I recommend one of those wallets you can wear under your clothes and string around your neck. Make a photocopy of your main passport page, and keep it there, too. That will make your life a lot easier if something hapepns to your actual passport. I also include a list of the most important phone numbers I'll need along the way - people I'd need to reach in an emergency).

Have all of your bags marked with your identification, name, natinoality, address, phone number. Airlines generally have these tags available at the airport for the bag's exterior, but it doesn't hurt to have an extra card inside - just in case.

With these out of the way, you are much better prepared for any emergencies, which in all probability will never happen, but would be much more traumatic on your first flight.

Arrive at the airport nice and early (2 or 3 hours, bring reading material). Look for the desk of the airline which you'll be flying, and get in that line. Have your tickets and passport ready. They will ask you a few questions about if anyone else has handled your bags, your final destination, etc. Here, you will check your large bags, but keep your carry-on(s). You will be given a boarding pass, which will give you your gate number.

Next up is security. You and your carry-ons will be scanned. You may have to take your shoes off (especially if they have laces - those without laces are generally skipped). Take any metal you have out of your pockets - cell phones, coins, keys (I usually put my keys in my carry-on at the airport; I won't be needing them for a while), metal pens, etc, and put them into the trays they provide. Your laptop also goes onto the conveyor.

You walk through normally. If there's any beeps, they take out a hand scanner. You raise your arms and they wave it around. Yuo collect your things, put on your shoes, etc, and continue.

A larger airport wil lgenerally have multiple terminals, usually lettered. Gates A1 through A 24 (or A-whatever) will be in one terminal, B1, etc, in B terminal, etc. Look for the terminal your gate number indicates (you may need to do this before security, depending on the airport layout). Follow the signs for your terminal (sometimes it will take you to a train, bus or monorail shuttle to get there). Once you reach the terminal, walk (or ride the conveyor, if there is one) until you see your gate (numbering can start at 1 on one side and increase, while the other side may start at 24 (or whatever) and decrease, or either side may alternate odd/even numbers, or there may only be gates on one side).

Also, keep an eye out for departures screens (black TV screens with listings on them). If your flight has been delayed, cancelled, or moved to another gate, it will appear on these (not all announcements are easily understandable, and can be missed). Check the flight number (if you are changing planes en route the destination city they list may be different than yours).

Finding your gate, find a seat in the nearbly lounge. Make yourself comfortable. Read, watch the TV, whatever. The screen by your gate should (sooner or later) list your flight (maybe not immediately - another flight may be leaving from the same gate before yours). Keep an eye on the departure screens as you get closer to departure time for changes. Ask the personnel at the gate desk if you have pressing questions. You're not bothering them - it's their job to help.

Eventually, they will call for boarding on your flight. Check the flight number (if you are changing planes en route the destination city they list may be different than yours). They will likely call for boarding by row numbers. Several people will check your boarding pass, at the gate and on the plane. Seating numbers begin at the front with the sammlest snumbers, and increase as you go toward the back. A is a window seat (I forget which side), and numbering works its way across. On a 747 and the like, there is a large middle section, but on thinner planes, A,B,C will be on one side, D,E,F on the other (if there are less than six seats wide, B and E are often deleted).

If there are a lot of people behind you when you find your row, it is good to step into your row and let them by before fitting your bag into the overhead container (taking out any reading material or equipment you will want to use en route beforehand). If there are already people sitting in your row and there is nowhere to let people by, you just have to inconvenince everyone as you stow your bag and get to your seat.

Eventually, everyone will take their seats, the plane will begin to taxi, and they'll go over safety instructions (live on on TV screens). It's a good idea to pay attention (I've flown 60+ times and never needed to use that info, but you never know).

The plane wil ltaxi to the end of the runway (sometimes there's a long queue ahead). The engines will get loud and suddenly you're propelled forward. I still remember my first flight at 17. I'd have teleported off I could have feeling that excelleration!

Soon, you're up in the air. The plane may make an awkward-feeling turn - you might suddenly feel like you're sideways (you aren't) as they adjust direction. The plane straightens out and continues to climb, and eventually they let you know what equipment you can use, when it's safe to unbuckle and move about, etc.

There may be turbulance on your flight. It'll feel far worse than it actually is. I've felt turbulance to the point of a brief moment of zero gravity - it's nothing to worry about.

Landing can seem scary. Sometimes a wind will lift a wing as you're landing and it will seem scary. Once you're in the terminal, watch other planes coming in, and how their wings lift - you'll feel better about how stable-looking it looks from the outside vs. the inside experience.

If you are transferring to a second flight, you sohuld have received a second boarding pass at the original airport - again, with your flight number and gate info (if the first flight was running late, they'll probably give you transfer information on the plane itself). Seek out the departure boards, and double-check the second flight's information, to see if anything's changed. If you're not sure about anything - ask. Duplicate the prior method to finding your gate - follow signs for the terminal, then the gate, and watch the departure boards. If it's the same airline, you may not have to switch terminals, but you should be prepared to.

If the first flight was delayed and it caused you to miss the second, harass the airline (the 1st, late airline in the event of two or more). They're responsible for getting you where you need to go. Demand a new flight ASAP, a phone call to your people at your final destination, and if you're stuck overnight demand a free room and meals. If your overnight essentials are missing, demand replacements, too. Be polite but firm - don't accept half-measures.

Upon arrival in the US, follow the signs for baggage. A large airport will have multiple baggage carrousels, but they should signal which flight's bags are coming out (they are once in a while mis-marked, though). Once you have all your bags, continue to customs. If you're a US citizen, you get to go through the short line. They'll ask question. Be honest, but brief - clear and to the point (long-winded explainations can sound like fibs). No jokes. They may send you off to be searched, so don't bring anything illegal along.

Once beyond, if you have people waiting for you, look for them - this is where the public is allowed. Otherwise, look for the signs for transportation, or for an information counter. Depending on the airport, information may be clearly marked, or poorly marked. NEVER accpet a ride from someone offering discounted cab service - you never know what they're up to.

hope this helps.

enjoy! I love to fly.