Traveling by
plane does not always involve direct flights. Even for domestic travel, some
flights originate from specific airports. In the case of international travel,
most airlines stop at designated airport hubs to manage their flight loads.
This means more waiting time for you at the airport.
Layover time
can take anywhere from an hour to more than eight hours, so you must pack your
carry-on luggage accordingly so that you can comfortably manage your waiting
time at the airport. Pack all your gadgets, chargers and extra batteries in
your carry-on bag. Also make sure to pack all your medications and add some
energy bars and a foldable water bottle that you can refill at the
pre-departure terminal.
Checking in at the airport of origin
For domestic
travel with connecting flights, you should receive the boarding passes for all
legs of your trip at the airport of origin. Make sure that all checked-in
luggage are tagged through to your destination airport—this should be indicated
in your luggage claim tag.
If your
luggage claim shows the airport code of your transit airport, you will have to
claim your baggage and check it in again for the next leg.
If you
receive only one boarding pass, this means that you will have to claim your
bags upon arrival and you will have to check-in again for the next leg.
Passing through immigration
If you are
connecting from a domestic to an international flight, you will have to
transfer to the international terminal and pass through immigration. If your
checked-in luggage has been tagged through to the airport of final destination,
you do not need to claim it at the transit terminals.
Before
passing immigration, you will need to fill up a departure card which you will
present to the immigration officer together with your passport and boarding
pass.
Make sure
that your passport does not expire within six months of your departure or the
immigration officer may disapprove your travel.
Waiting for your flight
Once you
pass immigration, locate your flight gate and take note of your boarding
time. If the flight is still hours away,
you may want to explore the airport facilities, get a massage, do some
shopping, or find a place to eat. Or you may want to find a quiet corner where
you can relax and even sleep while waiting for your next flight. Whatever you
do, make sure that you listen to announcements in case there are changes to
your flight gate.
At the transit airport
If you have
an international transit stop (e.g. Dubai for Emirates, Singapore for Singapore
Air, Amsterdam for KLM), after you pass the security check, and you still have
a few hours to kill, you may want to do some duty-free shopping but be aware
that it is only exempt from the weight restrictions until you reach your
destination airport. So make sure that any shopping you do is for small items
only and buy the heavier and bulkier stuff on your return trip.
If your
layover is more than five hours, approach the tourist desk and inquire about
activities you can do during your layover—some airports offer free city tours
and other short activities.
If your
transit stop is already your entry into your destination country, you will have
to pass through immigration and customs. In this case, even if your luggage has
been tagged through to the airport of final destination, you will still have to
claim all your bags and pass through customs, after which you can return at the
drop-off so it could be loaded to your next flight.
By staying
alert and checking all documents and asking questions, you can minimize travel
stress and arrive at your destination with all your luggage.
For more airport and other travel tips, visit Vacation-now.com
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