Airport tips: how to get through check-in, security and the gate with less stress

An airport is a sequence of queues with a flight at the end. Most of the stress comes from not knowing what happens next: where to go, what to have ready, how long each step takes. Once you know the sequence, it becomes a series of small, predictable tasks. This page walks through them in order, from the night before to the gate.

The night before

Most airport trouble starts at home. A few checks the evening before remove most of it.

• Check in online if the airline offers it, and save the boarding pass where you can open it without a signal. A screenshot or a PDF in your files works.
• Check your passport is valid and, if the country requires it, has enough time left. Entry rules belong to the country you are visiting, so use its official government site.
• Read the baggage rules on the airline's own page. They change often and differ by ticket, so do not rely on what you remember.
• Charge your phone and power bank.
• Find out how you will get to the airport and how long it takes at that hour. Allow for delays.
• Put the documents in one pouch: passport, boarding pass, visa if needed, any insurance details.

When to arrive

Airports and airlines publish recommended times. For short domestic flights, it is shorter; for long-haul or international flights, longer. Add extra if:

• It is a busy day, such as a holiday, a Friday evening or a school-break weekend.
• You are checking a bag or travelling with children.
• You need special assistance.
• The airport is large and you have never been there.

Arriving early costs you a little time and buys a lot of calm. If it means two hours with a coffee and a book, that is a good trade.

Check-in and bags

If you have already checked in online and have only hand luggage, you can usually go straight to security. If you are checking a bag:

• Weigh it at home. Airlines have limits and enforce them.
• Put a name and phone number inside the bag as well as on the tag, in case the outer one tears off.
• Keep essentials in hand luggage: medicines, a charger, a change of clothes, anything valuable or irreplaceable.
• Take a photo of the bag and its tag, which helps if it goes astray.
• Keep the baggage receipt until you have your bag again.

The page on carry-on-only packing covers the hand-luggage option, which skips this step.

Security

Security is quicker when you are ready for it. As you wait in the queue:

1. Put your liquids bag, laptop and any large electronics where you can get them out. Rules differ between airports, so follow the signs and staff.
2. Empty your pockets into your bag before you reach the tray: keys, coins, phone, watch, belt.
3. Take off coats, and shoes if asked.
4. Put your bag on the belt, then step through when signalled.
5. Repack at the end, away from the belt, so you do not hold up the line.

Packing toiletries for a flight explains the liquids rules, and what to do about them.

At the gate

Once you are through, the flight is yours to manage.

• Find your gate first. Boards show it, but it can change, so check again about an hour before departure.
• Then eat, drink and shop. Gates are sometimes a long walk away, so allow time.
• Fill a refillable bottle after security.
• Charge your phone while you wait.
• Be at the gate when boarding opens, or earlier. Gates close before departure, and being late can mean losing your seat.

Connections and layovers

If your journey has a change, look at the minimum connection time and at how the airports work.

• Know whether you need to collect your bag. If your tickets are on one booking, bags usually go through to the final destination. If not, you may need to collect and check them in again.
• Check whether you need to clear immigration or go through security again.
• Leave generous time. A change in a large airport can involve a train, a long walk and a queue.
• Take screenshots of both boarding passes.

If your connection is long, long layover tips shows how to use the time. If something is delayed or cancelled, what to do when a flight is delayed or cancelled is the next page to read.

On arrival

• Follow the signs for immigration if you are entering a new country, and have your documents and any forms ready.
• Collect your bag from the carousel shown on the board.
• Check your bag for damage before you leave. If something is wrong, report it at the airline's desk before you go through customs.
• Plan the way into town before you land. Knowing the train, bus or taxi stand saves a lot of stress after a long flight; see the page on getting from the airport to the city.

Make the wait easier

Waiting is a large part of flying, so equip for it.

• A book, a downloaded film or podcast
• Headphones
• A scarf or jumper, because airports and planes are cold
• A snack, because you may not be able to buy one
• A pen, for forms
• A small wash bag with toothbrush and wipes, for long hauls

Keep the plan in one place

When you are moving through an airport, you should not have to hunt through your inbox. Flight times, terminal, booking reference and the address of your first night are the four facts you will need again and again.

The next step

The night before your next flight, run through the list at the top. It takes ten minutes, and it is the difference between walking to the gate and running to it.