How to handle your first flight

The airport sequence

After entering the terminal you find the check-in counters (where you hand over checked baggage if not already done online), then the security controls, mandatory for anyone proceeding to departures, and finally the gate area, where you wait for boarding on your flight.

Useful terms to know

The gate is the specific boarding point for the aircraft; the boarding pass is your admission ticket; final call is the last announcement before boarding closes, the signal to present yourself at the gate immediately without delay. Many announcements are repeated in English, not just in the local language.

Security checks and boarding

At security control you must remove belts and electronic devices from your pockets, put liquids in a separate transparent bag (full details here) and pass through a metal detector or body scanner; staff is available to give guidance to those with doubts. Onboard, row and seat numbers are indicated on your boarding pass, and the feeling of ears being "blocked" during takeoff and landing, due to pressure changes, eases by swallowing or chewing gum.

The most useful advice for first-time flyers is to arrive at the airport with a time margin larger than what an experienced traveler would use, and don't hesitate to ask staff for directions: no one expects you to already know every step.