Important Things To Know Before Flying

By Jessi Stickel on August 21, 2016

As summer is coming to an end, many college students are taking their last minute vacations before the semester starts up again, heading off to their first year of college across the country, or preparing for a study abroad this fall.

Considering college students are young, many of them have not traveled by plane very often or some not at all. Plane travel can be confusing sometimes and it takes a few flights to get used to, so here are some things to know before flying again or for the first time.

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How to prepare

Wear comfortable clothing.

Whether your flight is two hours or nine, traveling by plane is always a long day. You are recommended to be at the airport two to three hours before your flight time, so adding that to your trip to and from the airport can mean an all day event.

You are going to want to wear comfortable clothing to avoid adding any extra hassle to your already long day.

Wear easily removable shoes.

Most airports require passengers to remove their shoes when going through security. This can be a hassle when you are wearing shoes that are difficult to get on and off, since you may be rushed at times. Wearing shoes that you can quickly remove and slip back on will avoid this. 

Use the bathroom before the flight.

Using airplane bathrooms is not the easiest thing to do on a flight. Their bathrooms are extremely small (and not the cleanest either), and if you do not have an aisle seat, you will have to make the people sitting next to you get up from their seats.

Using the bathroom before you board your flight is the smart thing to do. If you are someone with a small bladder, try not to drink anything an hour or two before your flight.

Items to bring

Blanket & neck pillow

Airplanes are normally on the chilly side, so if you are someone that is always cold, you may want to bring a small blanket to keep comfortable. If you plan to sleep on the flight, a neck pillow is also a good item to bring with you.

Entertainment

Flights can be extremely boring, especially when flying alone. Bring items to keep you entertained throughout the flight, such as a book or magazine or a tablet or laptop. Many flights now give free online flight entertainment, such as live T.V. series and games to watch and play on your devices. You can also purchase Wi-Fi on many flights.

Hand sanitizer or wipes

If you are planning on eating during the flight, it is probably best to bring your own hand sanitizer or wet wipes to clean your hands and/or trays.

Snacks

You can bring your own snacks from home on the flight with you. This way you will avoid paying the high prices at the airport for a simple bag of chips.

Airplane courtesy

Don’t eat strong smelling foods.

An airplane is a very condensed space, so when you are thinking of taking a fishy tuna sandwich on the plane, just know that the 10+ passengers around you are probably not going to like you very much. Choose your food choices wisely and don’t make those around you suffer because smells go a long way on a crowded airplane.

Don’t wear strong perfume/cologne.

Perfume and cologne is not really necessary when you are sitting in a seat the whole day. Try not to wear strong fragrances on planes because again, you are in a tight space with many people. You may not realize it, but many people can be sensitive to fragrances, which can cause migraines and sometimes breathing problems. So leave your Coco Chanel in your checked baggage and have courtesy for those around you.

Talk quietly.

You may be excited to tell others about your vacation in Cancun, but not everyone on the plane needs to hear your conversation. Many people try to catch up on their sleep, work or reading during a flight and hearing you yell about how blue the water was to the person sitting three inches from you is the last thing they want to hear. Please be respectful and cautious about others during your flight.

Don’t lean your seat back.

The seats on airplanes have the option of leaning back a couple of inches; however, not many people use this option and there is a reason for it. Your seat holds the tray that the person behind you uses, and when you lean your seat back it limits their space making them even more uncomfortable during the flight.

Don’t fly sick.

If you are running a fever or are sick, you should strongly consider rescheduling your trip and flight. There are over 140 people on a typical flight, and in a tight area germs can spread fast and you can risk getting many people around you sick as well.

Airplane rules to know

Bathroom:

If you need to use the restroom on the plane, you must wait at your seat until it is unoccupied. You cannot wait by the door or in the aisle.

Electronics:

You can use your cell phone on the flight, as long as it is in airplane mode; you also can use tablets and laptops when permitted.

Smoking:

All airplanes are smoke-free including electronic cigarettes as well.

Carry-on and other bags:

If you are carrying on luggage it must be stored away at all times during the flight; however, you may also bring a book bag to carry items you will need during the flight. This bag must be stored under the seat in front of you and you cannot have any electronics out of your bag during take-off, until the flight attendants permit you to.

Items not permitted on planes:

Any type of liquid or gel over three ounces cannot be taken on the plane; they must be stored in your checked luggage. If you try to bring these items in your bag(s) through security you will be forced to throw them away. You also cannot take items like scissors, or lighters.

Taking all of this information into consideration will make your plane travel less stressful for you and other passengers. Now you are ready to fly!

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