The Beginner’s Guide to Travel

Experience doesn’t have to be the best teacher, learning from others who have been where you want to go should be your best bet.I recall my first time on a plane, I was a minor then flying domestic alone. When I got to my airline carrier at the airport, the nice lady at the counter asked for my ID and instantly I felt the ground should make a sandwich out of me because I didn’t have any on me. While we discussed the next way forward I heard few whispers around me like “how could she forget an ID).It was embarrassing.

I am almost certain for a fact that I am the only one who has had some sort of challenge because of lack of knowledge .Now if only I had a Revelinks ’guide to travel for beginners then. Well I know one thing is sure, that after reading this article, chances are you’ll have everything covered when you set out to travel on air.

Top three must have in your carry-on 

Just like all faces are different so are the contents of our carry-on different, but some items are so generic we made a list

1. Power bank/universal adaptor plugs 

A fully charged heavy duty should make it to your pack because different countries have different plug outlets standards for devices (a universal European adaptor plug is highly recommended when travelling to Europe.in Africa the power bank is most likely to come in handy as the electricity in most countries are not on a stable constant supply.

 

 

2. Prescribed pain reliever

Headaches are a misery you don’t want to experience on the journey or at the destination. Unnecessary stress from the airport, too much sun at the beach, long day watching the wildlife. Whatever the cause of a headache, a prescribed dosage should solve it.

 

 

 

3. Travel document holder

To avoid clumsiness, pack a document holder with passport, boarding pass, hotel confirmation, itinerary, receipts and foreign currency too can fit into you holder.  As all these documents are important and one would not want to know what happens if any gets missing.

 

First time on an airplane: navigating the airport process 

After you must have purchased your tickets ,gathered photo identification, Ensure that your luggage meets airline requirements, Pack your carry-on bag carefully and arrive at the airport early (for your first time traveling on an airplane, aim to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight)

1. Print your boarding pass (optional) and check your luggage.

Although many airlines allow you to check in and print your boarding pass online (if you’re not checking luggage), you can also choose to do so in person at the airport. Enter the airport in the section of your airline carrier, and locate their counter. When you get to the front desk, simply tell them your name and give them ID, and they should automatically print your boarding pass and ask about checked luggage.

2. Head to security.

If you have your boarding pass in hand/online and your carry-on luggage prepared, you can head to security. Have both your boarding pass out and a form of ID – either your driver’s license or your passport (it must be your passport if you’re heading out of the country).

3. Find your gate/terminal.

    

Get your bags re-packed and put your shoes back on so that you can go wait for your plane in the correct terminal! Check your boarding pass for your terminal (usually a letter) and your gate (a number). There should be plenty of signs directing you to this area, but if you can’t seem to locate your gate and terminal, simply ask an airport or airline employee for help. In case your boarding pass does not have the terminal number (and very few don’t these days), find a monitor with the flight schedules and check from there instead.

4. Hang around and wait for your plane.

    

You can use this time to run to the bathroom, grab something to eat, or use your last few minutes of freedom to connect to the airport Wi-Fi. Boarding the plane typically begins half an hour before takeoff.

5. Wait for the announcement to board.

First class always boards the plane first, followed by business class and people with disabilities or infants. About half an hour before takeoff, the gate attendant will announce the boarding time. Boarding is done in sections, either by group/sections (designated with a letter) or by rows/seats. Check your boarding pass to see if you belong to a group, and if not, wait for your row or a section of rows to be called.

6. Get your boarding pass checked.

After waiting in line for boarding, there will be a gate assistant next to the entrance waiting to check your boarding pass. If you are flying nationally, hand your boarding pass to the gate assistant who will scan your boarding pass in. If you are flying internationally, you will need to show your passport again at this point. Keep your boarding pass out after having it checked, as you may need to show it to an additional flight attendant on the plane.

 

 

 

                              Extra Tips

• always check the climatic conditions of your destination to help you know what to pack in your luggage(i.e sunshades in Dubai,coats in Russia,suncreen in Hawaii, e.t.c)
• Any questions and confusions should be directed to any available airport employee around you and NOT to a fellow traveler whose chances of confusing or complicating your question is quite high.
• Always tag your suitcase and luggage with your name and means of identification .you never if the next case of baggage swap will be happening to you
• Check the list of contraband items from the airline or the country’s airport website to make sure you don’t implicate yourself unknowingly.
• You can make call after boarding before departure and not after