Airport Arrival & Departure procedures
Arrival procedures Departure procedures
Large Cities can have more than one airport. Ensure you know the correct name for your both your departure airport and arrival airport.
Some no frills airline sometimes use obscure airports
Airport Departure procedures
Larger airports can have different terminals ensure you know the correct departure terminal from your airline.
Departure Check in Lounge
In the departure Check in lounge you usually find the following
- Airline, Tour operators, and Travel agent desks.
- If required this is where you usually obtain flight tickets if they are to be picked up at the airport
- Also useful for general airport information.
- Car Hire desks to hand in keys and finalise car return
- Flight Tickets
- Most people will have received there flight tickets by post or from there travel agent
- Late bookers will need to obtain there flight ticket from the airline, travel agents or ticket agent desk at the airport.
- Some airline now use an online electronic booking system and you take a reference number to the check in desk.
- Do not be late for Your Flight
- It takes tme to walk to the departure gate, and also time to go through security especially if there are long queues. Carefully inspect yor ticket & airline for information on what time you should arrive at the airport before your flight time. This is usually 30 minutes to 5 hours before your flight. depending on airline & departure airport
- Check in desks close before the flight departure time.
- Check in desks usually open 2- 3 hours before the flight time. This information is usually sent with your ticket or available on the airline website.
- Online Check in is a much faster method of check in. With only hand held luggage go straight to security check in. With non carry on luggage, go to Luggage drop off desk, then to security check in
- Locate your Check in counter(s)
- For correct Check in desk number
- See Information TV screens
- Enquire at Airport information desk or Airline, Tour operators, and Travel agent desks who can usually help
- At busy airports this information may not be available until just prior to your check in time
- For correct Check in desk number
- Check in.You require your flight ticket, or electronic reference number, and passport to check in.
- Hand in your luggage which is weighed
- Size and weight restrictions apply to luggage and certain items are not allowed in luggage. You should check these restrictions with you airline
- More severe restrictions apply to carry on hand luggage, again check these restrictions with you airline
- If you are going to an intermediate airport and changing flights check which airport your luggage will go to, i.e. is it the intermediate airport or your final destination. Ask the check in staff the procedure at intermediate transfer airports. You may have to collect your luggage at the intermediate airport. Ask at the enquiry desk how you check your luggage in again.
- Receive your flight ticket back, less 1 copy. Your ticket will have a numbered receipt for your luggage stuck to it. Ensure you keep this ticket.
- Receive your passport back and Boarding Card. You will require these again, usually more than once, before boarding your plane so keep them handy
- Sometimes you are given your departure gate number and boarding time by the check in staff. Be aware this information can change, listen out to announcements and keep your eye on the departure screen.
- Head for Departure Security
- There can be long queues at security, arrive in plenty of time.
- You will require your boarding card and possibly passport.
- Many objects are banned. you should be aware of what these currently are. Read the notices.
- Bins are available for you to dump your banned objects in which include bottles of liquids, including water.
- Usually Hand luggage, coats and sometimes shoes, metal objects such as watches, belts etc are passed through X ray machines.
- You will then walk through a detecting arch, if it beeps you will be checked by a security guard.
- On International flights Passport Control
- You passport is checked and at some airports a video photograph is taken
- Arrive at the departure lounge
Recheck the TV information screens for details of your flight. If you have arrived with a lot of time before your flight this information may not be available.
Boarding usually starts 30 40 minutes before flight time.
If required you can visit the airport shops, restaurants, cafes or bars (Don't get drunk or you will be stopped from boarding your aircraft)
Duty free is not available if you are going from one EU country to another one. Although you usually save on VAT.
Airport Arrival procedures
- Before leaving the Aircraft ensure you have all your belongings, and ensure you have your passport handy. At some airports you require your luggage receipt but this is very rare.
- From the aircraft make your way to Baggage reclaim if you have luggage to collect
- look at TV displays for your flight and the correct baggage carousel number.
- Collect your baggage
- If you are changing flights look for transfer signs, these usually avoid going through customs. You may have to pick up your luggage if it has not been forwarded to your final destination. Transfers usually have there own check in desk for the ongoing flight.
- Make your way to customs
- Then onto passport control. Passport control may be earlier in these steps at some airports.
- On leaving the secured area look for your
- Tour operator reps who will tick your name on there list and direct you to your transfer coach.
- Airport resort shuttle service rep/driver who will direct you to your mini coach or taxi. More information Airport resort shuttle service
- Anybody you have arranged to meet
- Car hire offices You can arrange car hire online from home
- Local buses and Taxis are outside the arrival terminal just in front of the car park located opposite the terminal.