In order to ensure a carefree air flight, you must follow some rules that at first glance do not seem important, but in practice they significantly affect the quality of the air flight.

Also, following these rules will allow you to avoid many problematic situations that directly depend on your psychological state at the time of the flight.

Many problems during the flight will not arise if you take care of them in advance. Compliance with the following rules will, firstly, help you save your nerves, and secondly, make your flight more comfortable.

    Arrive early at the airport

You should not arrive at the airport a few minutes before the actual departure. It is necessary to allow time for going through check-in and security, that is, you do not need to be late for your flight. When you run up to the check-in counter at the last minute, you become overly receptive and irritable, and your luggage is significantly less likely to travel with you without getting lost along the way.

    Don't plan multiple flights in advance

By booking tickets for flights with less than an hour between them, you are only looking for problems for yourself. Naturally, if you miss your next flight, you will be able to fly on another flight in the near future (tickets for which may already be sold out). Leave at least 90 minutes in reserve until next time domestic flight and 2 hours before the next international flight. Otherwise, you will be nervously glancing at your watch the whole way.

    Don't drink too much coffee before your flight

Of course, the temptation to drink a couple of cups of coffee before the trip is strong, but do not forget that you have a long flight ahead and after an invigorating drink it will be difficult for you to fall asleep. The ideal option is decaffeinated coffee or simply not drinking coffee.

    Don't fly while sick

You can safely fly with a slight runny nose, but if you are really sick, it is better to stay home. Otherwise, you risk causing inconvenience to yourself and other passengers and crew members.

    Don't rely on the air carrier

You should not expect that on the plane you will be offered to read a newspaper, served dinner to order, or given a soft pillow, blanket, or bottled water. Also, you shouldn’t even hope that the flight attendant will have a banal headache pill. You need to take care of yourself in advance and first read reviews on the Internet about the airline whose services you plan to use, so that you know for sure what to expect from your future flight.

    Don't go on a plane without shoes

Some passengers like to go to the restroom barefoot. The toilet is a breeding ground for various germs, so don’t be too lazy to put on your shoes.

    Consider the individual characteristics of your body

If you know for sure that certain foods cause you certain sensations, then you should not take risks and the day before the actual flight you need to exclude them from your diet. Don't wear tight, tight clothes, get a good night's sleep before your flight, and keep the air fresh.

    Be careful with medications

Some passengers, having learned that they can drink alcohol on a plane, immediately do so, forgetting that before departure they took a medicine that is incompatible with alcohol. People often take sleeping pills during long flights. Alcohol mixed with such drugs is a very dangerous combination. If you need during your flight to certain time If you take the pill, make sure you take it with you on board the plane.

    Don't drink alcohol while flying

High-quality cognac or whiskey is quite tempting, but watching the antics of those who abused it during the flight is not the most pleasant experience. You should always stick to your “norm” and not forget that in the air the effect of intoxication from alcohol is much stronger than on the ground. Sometimes unbalanced passengers, after drinking a couple of drinks, become simply insane.

    Don't use airlines that annoy you

Even if a particular airline has a more convenient schedule or you have been its regular passenger for a long time, this is not a reason to use the services of its aircraft all your life (nerves are more expensive).

How to avoid weather air delays

Almost every air passenger has at least once been bored at the airport due to a flight delay due to weather conditions. The weather cannot be changed, but by listening to the tips below you can significantly reduce the risk of being stuck at the airport for a long time.

    Try to travel in the morning

As a rule, the weather deteriorates in the evening and, as a result, the chances of not leaving on time due to a thunderstorm, hail or snow storm will be much less if you take a ticket for a morning flight.

    Fly non-stop

Try to buy tickets for flights without stopovers. If a transfer at an airport is unavoidable, then try to choose flights with the shortest time between arrival/departure.

    Check the weather forecast

On the Internet or on television, it is easy to find out in advance the weather forecast in the areas through which your flight will pass. If a hurricane is expected at an intermediate airport, you should change your route in advance.

    Write down hotel phone numbers

During airport closures, all nearby hotels fill up instantly! If you have their phone numbers at hand, you will get a chance to be the first to book your seat and not have to stay overnight at the airport terminal, plus you will save your nerves, time and money.

    Choose large class aircraft

The smaller the size of the aircraft, the sooner it stops flying when the weather gets worse. In addition, larger aircraft experience less vibration during turbulence. Before purchasing tickets, it is worth conducting simple monitoring of airlines in order to accurately determine what types of aircraft are offered by which air carriers ( low cost airlines).

    Choose flights with high frequency of flights

Choose the airline that most often flies on the route you need. In the event of a disruption, you will get home sooner with an airline that flies 3 times a day than with an airline that flies twice a week.

    Call the airport before departure

If the weather outside is not favorable for flying (fog, snowfall, strong wind), then call the airport and find out if your flight is delayed. It's better to spend a few extra hours waiting at home or in a hotel than in a crowded airport terminal.

    Try rebooking your ticket

You may have already encountered a situation where planes of other airlines are flying, but your flight is constantly being delayed. This is due to the fact that decisions to fly in bad weather are made depending on the classes of aircraft and the qualifications of the crews. If you absolutely need to fly at a specific time, then try rebooking a ticket on another airline whose flights are operated ( how to buy cheap plane tickets).

    Find out, ask and complain

In accordance with current international aviation regulations, in the event of a flight delay due to weather conditions, the carrier company is obliged to provide the passenger with meals and a hotel room. The more persistently you inquire, demand and even complain, the greater your chances of being the first to receive these services.

    Submit and write complaints

It should be remembered that the law is always on the passenger's side. And if a situation arises that an airline representative was never found, you didn’t have enough room in the hotel, had to celebrate Christmas at the airport and spend all the money on water and a telephone - send a written claim to the air carrier. Reimbursement of your material costs will be at least some pleasant moment after an unsuccessful trip.

Book cheap flights!

Air travel is always a hassle associated with packing, waiting for departure and the road itself. Traveling with a child is doubly a hassle, since children endure the wait and the journey more difficult than adults. Well, a flight with a baby risks turning into hell if you don’t prepare for the trip in advance and properly. So, what do you need to consider when preparing to fly with a baby in your arms?

Preparing for a flight with a child and necessary things for the flight

First, it’s worth deciding who the airlines consider to be a baby. Infants are children who are under two years of age at the time of departure. Accordingly, when you clarify information regarding a future flight, look for the section of the site that corresponds to the age of your baby.

Don't forget documents proving that the child is really yours. You won’t be allowed on board without them, even if you don’t need to apply for a separate one for your baby.

A first aid kit for traveling with a child should be stocked in advance with medications that this moment The child takes it if necessary, as well as with specific medications that may be required during the flight: nasal drops to prevent stuffy ears, medications for indigestion and antipyretics. IN hand luggage There must be disinfectant wipes or gel. This is what you need to take on board, and keep the drops “on hand” to instill before takeoff and landing. For further relaxation, consider medications taking into account the characteristics of the region where you are going (tropics, mountains, etc.); it is advisable to discuss all medications with your doctor.

Baby food must be prepared in advance and taken with you from home, even if the airline provides an on-board baby food ordering service. The baby may want to eat even before takeoff, and takeoff may be delayed.

Video - flying with a baby, what to take in your backpack

Take extra diapers and diapers, since it is unknown how the child will react to the stress associated with the flight. The consumption may be higher than usual.

If the baby is almost two years old, then it is worth purchasing a travel potty with spare bags for him. This issue is resolved individually for each person.

Take a few favorite toys - this will distract him from the unusual surroundings, prevent whims and make the flight as comfortable as possible.

Be sure to have two sets of clothes - warm and light. Perhaps both will come in handy, since it can be cold at the point of departure and hot in the country of arrival.

Take the mattress from the stroller into the salon - this way the baby will feel more comfortable in your arms.

Don't forget the pacifier - it must be given during takeoff and landing. Then the baby will not be rocked and his ears will not be blocked.

The nuances of flying with a child under one year old

What is the difference between flying with a baby a few months old and flying with a child one or two years old? Because, under a fortunate combination of circumstances, a 3-6 month old child may simply not notice the flight and sleep the whole way. To do this, you should feed him an hour and a half before setting off, but do not overfeed him, and also take him for a walk in the fresh air, do not limit his activity and desire to move and crawl in, and entertain him in every possible way. Then it is possible that the baby will simply get tired and fall asleep for the next few hours, which will be enough to fly to his destination without any problems.

Airline rules when flying with an infant

Before you set off with a baby in your arms, you should be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules for flying with children of your age category, established by the specific airline on which you are going to fly. These rules vary.

Traveling with children under 7 days of birth

Some expressly prohibit infants under one week of age from being carried on board their aircraft. Some require parents to sign a receipt stating their full responsibility for the consequences of the flight on the health and life of the child. They even offer to download the form and fill it out in advance so as not to waste time when checking in for your flight.

Separate seat and tickets

If you are traveling with one baby, you do not need a ticket. Most airlines allow you to carry him for 10 percent of the ticket price in the arms of mom or dad. And some carriers generally only charge airport taxes for a child. If you have two children under 2 years old, then one place in addition to yours will have to be booked and paid for. Check on the carrier's website - each airline has different sizes.

Special chairs

If you decide to book a separate seat for a child aged from six months to two years, make sure in advance that there is a special chair for him. Airline carriers usually do not offer special seats, but a regular car seat is often suitable. Sometimes it is required that a given car seat model be approved for use on airplanes. To confirm permission, a sticker on the seat itself is enough, and samples of stickers can be viewed on the website of the carrier, for example, UIA. If the airline provides special seats for rent, in any case, the need for such a service must be indicated and paid for when booking a ticket.

Cradle

Each airline has its own restrictions on the use of a baby bassinet. In some places it is allowed to use bassinets only on wide-body aircraft, in others only in Business and Premium classes, and in others the cradle will have to be sent to the overhead bin after boarding the aircraft. Information regarding crib rentals must be confirmed at the time of booking. And, if such a service is provided, be sure to order it in advance, since a limited number of such devices can be used on each flight.

Baby strollers

Strollers can only be used before boarding the aircraft and after disembarking. Large strollers are checked in as baggage directly at the boarding ramp, small folding strollers of the “cane” type are sent to the luggage rack until the end of the flight. Check the rates for transporting strollers in advance. Most airlines allow you to carry a foldable stroller for free. But for larger ones checked in as luggage, you need to pay based on the total weight of the luggage. More precisely, pay extra for the advantage.

Everyone’s baggage allowance is different: somewhere around 20 kg, somewhere around 23 kg. Also pay attention to the fare you purchased the ticket at. If this was the now fashionable “no luggage” tariff, then you will have to pay extra for a large stroller, regardless of its weight.

Flight nuances not regulated by airline rules

There are flight rules prescribed by airlines, and they must be strictly followed. There are also a lot of nuances and questions that almost all parents have, but these questions are not regulated by the regulatory framework. So, what nuances may arise during check-in and during the flight?

Skip-the-line registration

Are parents with children under two years old required to skip the line for registration? If this is not stated in the airline's rules, then no. But it’s quite possible to ask the queue for a favor - most likely, you will not be refused. If there are many families with children in the queue, as often happens on charter flights, for example, if you are planning a flight with an infant, then you will have to wait in line on a general basis.

Front row seat

Is the airline obligated to seat a family with a baby in the first row, where there is more space for changing clothes, feeding, playing, and so on? Again, if this is not specified by the airline's rules, then no. Some companies charge extra for a front row seat. Or it may happen that there will be more families with babies on board than there are seats in the front row. Therefore, prepare for the fact that you will have a minimum of space.

Recreation room for families with children

Most airports have a separate equipped room where mothers and children can wait for departure in a more comfortable environment than other passengers in the waiting room. But just in case, check on the website which terminal this room is located in, how much an hour of stay costs, what services are provided there, and so on.

Baby food: where to heat it?

Mother and baby rooms usually provide the opportunity to warm up baby food for a baby before departure. A similar service, in theory, should be provided on board the aircraft. However, after many flights stopped serving hot meals, there may be problems with heating. Therefore, check this possibility in advance. If you don’t have it, stock up on thermos flasks and thermal mugs to keep your food at the desired temperature longer.

Airplane safety rules for parents with children

Liquid on board

Food for infants on the plane must be taken with you, packed in an airtight container. Please check with the carrier for the permitted volume of liquid baby food for hand luggage. Despite the fact that no more than 100 ml of liquid is allowed on board, an exception is usually made for children. You can take with you as much food as your child needs for the duration of the flight.

If the total volume of jars and bottles does not exceed 1 liter, then misunderstandings usually do not arise. Attempts to smuggle in multi-liter containers of juice or puree will, of course, be stopped. In some cases, the safety control service may ask parents to personally taste the baby food to ensure that it is, in fact, edible.

Place at emergency exit

What they definitely won’t provide you with is a seat at the emergency exit. There are a lot of restrictions; in this place, not only a child, but even a lady’s handbag cannot be held in your arms. All personal items travel only in the luggage rack. And, in general, they try to give a place at the emergency exit to those who potentially will not slow down the emergency disembarkation process due to their clumsiness, excess weight or advanced age. And ideally, he is able to help open the hatch and organize the evacuation of passengers. It is clear that passengers with children, cradles, chairs, a bunch of diapers, bottles, toys will not be able to be the most efficient and agile in an emergency.

Fixed seats for passengers with children

Sometimes the airline clearly limits the list of seats where you can sit with a child in your arms. This happens when there are only a few rows on board, where 3 seats There are 4 oxygen masks. Safety regulations require one oxygen mask per passenger.

Using oxygen masks

If during the flight there is a need to use oxygen mask, then you first need to put the mask on yourself, and then
then - on the child. This is a general rule that you will be familiarized with before your flight. But it’s better if you know about this in advance and don’t ask questions that demonstrate your incompetence. Children may, out of fear, react inappropriately to an attempt to put a mask on them, for example, begin to resist. If an adult is without oxygen at this moment, the strength to fight will quickly run out, and the consequences for the adult and child will be sad. If an adult family member is already wearing a mask, he will be able to deal with the child as quickly as possible.

Video - rules for flying with a child

These are general rules for preparing for a flight and behavior during the flight, compliance with which provides a fairly large guarantee that the trip with your baby will take place without incident. Have a nice flight!

Many parents are afraid to fly with young children for various reasons. If we're talking about about a baby, then the parents worry that flying on an airplane may worsen his condition or cause some kind of disease, and if we are talking about a child 2-11 years old, then in this case adults usually face the following question: will their child be able to function normally? to withstand a long flight and not suffer from nausea, a long stay in one place or simple boredom?

In fact, flying with children is not very rare, but modern airlines have long provided rules for the transportation of children, compliance with which guarantees the baby comfortable and safe flight conditions.

Today we will look at the basic rules for transporting children, which apply to 5 Russian airlines: “Russia”, “Transaero”, “S7”, “Aeroflot” and “UTair”.

Infants and children under 2 years of age

Until relatively recently, flying with children under 1 year of age was undesirable, since many aircraft did not have the necessary equipment for this purpose. Today, the planes of Russian airlines have everything necessary to receive your children with dignity. However, we note that some age restrictions still exist.

If your child's age is less than 7 days, it is not recommended to transport it on board an aircraft. This information is listed on the company's official website.

If the flight is necessary, you will have to provide a receipt that in case of emergency the airline is not responsible for the consequences of air transportation on the child’s health.

You must provide 2 copies of such a receipt, one of which will remain with you, and the other must be given to the check-in agent at the airport.

Children under 2 years old are entitled to free travel if they do not occupy a separate seat on a domestic flight. This means that you do not need to pay for the child, but you will have to hold him in your arms during the flight.

For international flights, a child under 2 years old who does not occupy a separate seat will have to pay 10% of the cost of your ticket.

If you are traveling with several children, then tickets for 2 and 3 children will be paid at special rates for children (usually provide a 25-50% discount) with the provision of separate seats and the possibility free transportation luggage (there is a kilogram limit) and one baby stroller.

Special baby bassinets

Russian airlines provide the opportunity to use a baby bassinet when transporting a child. Such cradles are placed on the backs of chairs.

The stroller can be used until boarding the plane, and then it will be sent to the luggage compartment of the plane. If you are checking a stroller as baggage, ask if they can provide you with a temporary stroller at the airport.

According to information posted on the airlines' websites, you can use bassinets on the company's planes, as well as a free service for providing a baby stroller to the plane.

It also provides its passengers with bassinets, but the desire to use them must be notified no later than 24 hours before departure.

Allows carriage in the cabin not only of cradles, but also of cane-type strollers weighing up to 4.5 kg and dimensions not exceeding 53x27x97 cm.

Today, airlines provide the opportunity to transport your child in a child seat, if you have one. The seat must be located near the porthole on a seat with dimensions of no more than 40x40 cm. If these conditions cannot be met, then a child seat will not be allowed.

Before and during the flight

When purchasing plane tickets, do not forget to indicate that you are traveling with a child. You must have in your hands all the documents confirming the age of the baby. Remember that you should be given more comfortable and safe seats in the cabin (in the first row or at the beginning of the cabin). If the plane is not completely full, the staff should leave the seats in front of you empty.

Be sure to take a small bottle of baby formula with you into the cabin (if your baby is not breastfed).

You should be aware that on many flights you may be provided with special baby food, but the possibility of receiving it must be clarified at least a few days before departure.

If you are bringing your own food, check with the flight attendant in advance whether she can heat the mixture.

During takeoff and landing, your baby's ears may become blocked; make sure that during these phases of the flight he has either a pacifier or a bottle, for example, with juice in his mouth.

Children from 2 to 12 years old

Children at this age are transported at special rates with the provision of a separate seat and the possibility of free baggage allowance according to established rules.

You need to book your plane tickets in advance, as only then will you be able to get tickets next to each other.

All airlines today provide special baby food on board the aircraft.

Rossiya Airlines provides meals for both very young children and older children. Children over 3 years old are provided with milk, crackers, cheese, easy-to-chew foods, and juice.

Transaero also provides children's kits.

Young passengers on Aeroflot and UTair flights will also receive special baby food.

It should be noted that special meals for children are not available on all flights, so information on this issue should be clarified in advance. You can view the list of flights on which such meals are provided on the airlines' websites. Order special food must be made in advance.

Some Russian air carriers provide entertainment for children on board. For example, Aeroflot entertains little passengers with special travel kits, which include various gaming accessories: sets of felt-tip pens, coloring books, board games.

After reading this article, you probably realized that flying with a child will be in the most comfortable conditions for you.

The services of Russian airlines for transporting small passengers differ slightly, so you should check all the details on the website of the chosen airline or with their representatives, especially if you plan to travel with a baby.

Some people don't fly on airplanes just because they've never done it before. This is not a fear of danger, not a fear of heights, but simply panic in front of something unknown. And many do not understand what pleasure they are depriving themselves of, because flying is very pleasant and interesting, and most importantly - fast. And in many cases, this is the only way to get to the right place. Do not neglect technical progress, because horses and carriages, weeks and months of travel are already far in the past.

Personally, at first it was not the planes that scared me, but the airport. How to get into it, where to run, how not to confuse anything, and in general... Let's imagine that you find yourself at the airport for the first time. The procedure will be approximately the same, except that inspection and passport control in some cases change places.

First time at the airport

What time do you need to arrive? Check-in for the flight begins two hours before departure. Why so early? You need to have time to go through a large number of time-consuming procedures. You can arrive even earlier just in case. But it’s better not later, especially if you’re flying for the first time.

Entrance

In our country, unlike many others, anti-terrorist security has been strengthened. Therefore, try to budget for the time you will spend... going inside the airport. There are often queues there. You will already be examined there and your things will be scanned, even if you just came as a guide. You can go back out, but you can only get back to the airport through security again.

Scoreboard and registration area

The departure and arrival board is perhaps the most romantic object at the airport, and it has even been praised more than once. The board indicates the number, destination, and departure time of the flight. Be sure to check your flight number. Once we almost got confused with flights that departed 15 minutes apart.

Sometimes several flights may depart at the same time, so keep an eye out. What makes it even more confusing is that airlines often operate codeshare flights. Do not rely on the name of the airline, and even sometimes time is not an indicator. The direction and number are what you need to see. The board also indicates which registration desk you need to go to and what state the registration is in: whether it is open or, God forbid, has ended. Check-in for the flight, as I already said, begins 2 hours before departure and ends 40 minutes before it.

Baggage preparation

I haven’t found any useful information about preparing luggage on any “good” portal.

Usually, “smart” life hackers write about prohibited items and the weight of luggage somewhere in paragraphs about inspection, not taking into account the fact that we part with luggage much earlier, and this implies a completely different sequence of actions.

Baggage flies separately from you

You can fly without luggage and put all your items in hand luggage if the airline allows it. This is what I usually do, it significantly speeds up leaving the airport upon arrival. In this case, your suitcase or backpack must fit certain dimensions and not exceed the weight limit.

Oversized and oversized luggage

Dimensional - suitable for standard sizes. In Russian, a standard suitcase or bag. Oversized fits in weight, but not in size, and is issued separately. By the way, it is oversized luggage that is most often lost.

If you are concerned about this topic, then feel free to go to the airline’s website and check what they can and cannot do. No other way. For different airlines They treat luggage differently. It is clear that items such as a guitar, a huge box or a plasma TV can hardly be called oversized luggage. You will not be asked to pay any extra money for handling oversized luggage.

Extra bed

You can purchase additional luggage space, it costs extra money. But no one has canceled cheating, for example, the Aeroflot gold card allows you to carry two pieces of luggage at the same time for free, and, in principle, such a card is rubbish and envy.

Package

Suitcases are usually thrown onto planes in a rather barbaric manner, so if you want to extend the life of your traveling friend, you can pack it for a fee. Luggage will be wrapped with special film by specially trained people in special places. They are not difficult to find.


If you are carrying something valuable, it is advisable to wrap your luggage. At the airport there are usually several packing stations with at different prices. Naturally, the most expensive ones are located closest to the main entrance. They will wrap you for about 700 rubles, or 10–15 EUR. In addition to official packers, there are also “spider-men” who will offer the same service at 2-3 times cheaper. Wander around the airport a little, looking meaningfully at the packing sheds, and these enterprising cunning people will find you themselves.

Overweight

If you (oh horror!) have an advantage, then prepare your money. Well, time for registration extra baggage and the advantage will take from 20 to 40 minutes exactly.

Your luggage should be of the dimensions and weight, as I already said, acceptable in a particular airline, and it is also advisable to put in it everything that cannot be taken on board, that is, liquids, aerosols, and sharp objects.

Feel yourself. Money, passport, other documents and boarding pass must be literally glued to yourself. Under no circumstances leave money in your luggage (there are such cases), and without a passport you, in principle, will not fly far. It is best to keep such necessary items in a small bag or pocket, generally with you.

Registration

You can check in for your flight from home in advance. This provides certain advantages. For example, you can choose best places in airplane.


Registration is easy, Watson. When checking in for a regular flight, they usually don’t ask for anything other than a passport: the employees already have all the data, because Big Brother has been watching you for a long time... The only time the Spaniards asked for a printout of my electronic ticket, because in their database my name was written with the wrong letter. But this is the exception rather than the rule. At check-in you temporarily say goodbye to your luggage. The luggage is placed on the belt and weighed. After all this, you are given a boarding pass indicating your gate (exit), your seat on the plane and a baggage claim tag. Never lose your boarding pass. Now he is your king and god.

You may be asked what you take on the plane. Any belongings you bring on board are called carry-on luggage. Here's what you shouldn't have in your carry-on luggage:

  • Liquids. Some people think that in principle nothing liquid can be brought on board, but this is not true. You can safely carry up to 100 milliliters of any liquid substance with you.
  • Sharp, piercing and cutting objects. If you have scissors, corkscrews and knives in your hand luggage, then most likely you will be asked to part with them at security. We learned about diabetics. Syringes are possible. But if you have (quote) “a free-form doctor’s certificate.”
  • Aerosols. All varnishes, sprays and sprays must fly in the luggage compartment.

Hand luggage can weigh up to 10 kilograms. All airlines have approximately the same size requirements. There are even special suitcases that fit the size of hand luggage. In fact, if you are flying regular flight, you can bring almost everything on board. One day we were carrying a huge basket, a giant hoop the size of a hula hoop and... sheaves of straw. They were light, but voluminous, and we were almost invisible behind them. However, Aeroflot employees were loyal to the sheaves and even wished us a good event.


In addition to a special suitcase, you can take a fairly large bag or backpack on board. Since we carry a lot of props on business trips, all personal items usually fit in a small handbag.

Search

You can lose quite a lot of time at security check, as there will be people there who are not only in a hurry to catch your flight. You take a special tray and put everything on it: hand luggage, things, gadgets, a laptop (in Europe they ask you to take it out of your bag and call it a laptop, wait a minute!), everything metal objects and shoes, if they have thick soles or heels. It is easy to part with liquids or aerosols here if their volume exceeds the norm. For example, you are trying to smuggle a liter of shampoo - most likely it will be confiscated. Creams, gels, toxic substances, sharp objects - say “adios” to them if you haven’t put them in your suitcase. So we parted with Enterosgel at Heathrow airport, it was very strict there.


This whole story is connected, again, with anti-terrorist security; similar rules were introduced in 2007. On board (once again) - no more than 100 milliliters of liquid in total, that is, you can take with you a small cream, a spray for a runny nose, a perfume sampler and liquid for lenses, in general, a bunch of liquids, but the main thing is that there is not a total of them more than a hundred ml. Yes, and it is advisable to forget about jokes about drugs and weapons. They don't understand jokes at the airport.

If you don’t want to waste a lot of time and make yourself nervous, and also embarrass women with sad faces and scanners in their hands, then, in principle, you shouldn’t hang all the iron jewelry left over from your gypsy grandmother, belts with massive buckles, and put on shoes thick soles or heels: they will strip you and take them off like there’s nothing to do. And this, you see, is not the most pleasant procedure. Here, by the way, is a link to a wildly funny video where a friend did not understand what they wanted from him and was scanned along with his luggage.

Passport control

Keep your passport and boarding pass with you, preferably in your hand. It is also better to avoid stupid jokes at passport control. Take photos of the area passport control forbidden. Therefore, if something suddenly seemed funny to you (for example, your own face and you sawed yourself), you will be asked to delete the photos.

The official in the booth may ask questions. For example, about the purpose of the trip. He will leaf through your passport looking for visas and stamps. I was remarked several times that, they say, I don’t look at the border guard all the time, but fiddle with my phone (it’s better not to be distracted by anything extraneous from this important process), and that my passport is dirty (yes, I dropped it once to Kuru in , and several seals blurred). And you just might not like you. By the way, if you have a biometric passport or visa, you may be asked to place your finger on an infrared reader.

The waiting area

When re-reading my own text, I quickly replaced the word “desirable” with “required.” You absolutely must immediately find your gate (exit). Sometimes it can be difficult. Sometimes special trains run between gates, as in Madrid Barajas or London Heathrow. Sometimes they write scary numbers: how long to get to the exits. Sometimes this is the number 15, that is, minutes. But breathe out: this has never happened at Russian airports. Your ticket will indicate the gate number and boarding time, that is, the start time of boarding. It’s better not to go too far from the desired exit, otherwise you might miss important information. The gate may change, the flight may be delayed, or who knows what else. Take control of the situation.


There is usually something in the waiting area. For example, Duty Free. What “Duty Free” is does not need to be explained to the Russian tourist, who usually begins to prepare for a vacation by drinking alcoholic beverages from this shiny, tasty-smelling and shining market. The belief that it is cheaper at Duty Free is just a belief. For example, alcohol and snacks are often more expensive than in supermarkets, cigarettes are sold only in blocks, and cosmetics correspond to the market price. However, what should not be doubted is the quality of the products. It is better to buy good perfume, professional cosmetics, and gift packs of chocolates at Duty Free. By the way, when purchasing you will be asked to show your boarding pass, so don’t take it too far away.


And, of course, there are all sorts of cafes in the waiting area. Unless you're in Berlin's Tegel, for example, which is more like an Ikea place to pack your groceries. It's not cheap to eat there, but I usually get water from the machine. The air on the plane is dry and you feel thirsty. Anything purchased in this area is suitable to be brought on board.

Boarding the plane

Depending on the airport, your route from the gate to the plane could be like this:

  • telescopic ladder,
  • bus,
  • on foot.

If the airport is small, you can walk, usually a short distance. Sometimes you have to wait for the bus; it’s hot and cramped. Ideal if you are walking along a telescopic ramp - this is an air bridge from the airport to the plane.


If you have a lot of hand luggage, it is better to get in line at the gate early so that you have time to occupy the luggage racks. Sometimes there may be no empty seats next to you, so you will have to look for an empty shelf away from your chair. At smart airports, there is a division into groups to avoid queues at the gate. In this case, your group number is also indicated on boarding pass. But personally, I like to wait until the last minute: I jump at the gate when the bulk of people have already boarded the plane.

First time on a plane

And here you are, so happy, sitting on the plane and, perhaps, shaking with fear that this colossus is about to take off into the air. This won't happen instantly. You'll be packing for a while. The crew will be preparing for some time. Then the beautiful flight attendants will begin to show how and what to do in an emergency. At this time, the plane will begin to move towards the runway. Previously, I always loved the moment of takeoff, when the iron bird accelerates so that it presses you into the chair, and then takes off from the ground, but now I often fall asleep even before takeoff. The main thing is, if you are scared, take a comfortable position. Good luck if you have a pillow under your head, because external and internal comfort are inseparable.

Places

When it comes to seats inside an airplane, a simple law applies: the closer you are to your head, the less you will be shaken by turbulence. Turbulence, or bumpiness, is the vibration of an aircraft caused by vortex wind flows, downward and outward. It's not scary. The usual bumpiness that occurs when flying through some types of clouds is not dangerous. The aircraft is designed to withstand the resulting overloads. In general, when a plane shakes, it is not a technical failure, and the pilot is not crazy, it is just a temporary phenomenon that needs to be accepted and forgiven. And don’t set yourself up for horror: I’ve flown many times without shaking at all. Since there is less vibration at the front of the plane, business class is located there.

As for “by the window or not by the window,” the point is controversial. If you have never flown, then it may seem to you that a fascinating picture is created in the window throughout the entire flight. However, it is not. The most interesting thing is the takeoff and landing, when you see the city that has turned into a toy city. And then the plane gains altitude and rises above the clouds. Outside the window there will be monotonous blinding white clouds if you are flying during the day, or endless darkness if at night. If you are not a big fan of sticking your forehead into the wall and snoring, then there is no need for a window. There is nothing wrong with choosing a seat near the aisle - it is convenient to go to the toilet without stepping over your sleeping neighbors.

Great if you're flying on a half-empty plane. After takeoff, when you are allowed to wander around the cabin, look in the rear section: there may be three free seats there. I call it "reserved seat". You can stretch out on them, cover yourself with a blanket and sleep. No one will say a bad word to you - it’s been verified.


A special chic during check-in is getting seats at the emergency exit. Ask and they will give if they are still available. On most planes, the distance to the next seat is very far, and the table extends out of the armrest. Of course, you will have a great responsibility - to save passengers in case of emergency evacuation, since you will be the very first one to the exit there. But you can stretch your legs and have fun.

Food

It all depends, of course, on the airline and the specifics of the flight. If you are able to register in advance, you may also have been asked to select a menu. Major international airlines offer special menus: kosher or vegetarian. I haven’t tried ordering the menu in advance, but I know it’s possible.

I once had a vegetarian lunch on board British Airways. The quinoa, avocado and tofu salad was much better than the usual lunch that included a stale bun with mayonnaise. However, in any case, do not expect culinary delights from economy class. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to fly business class, but insiders know that it’s delicious, especially if it’s Aeroflot. Fortunately, the latter’s food is delicious even in economy, and sometimes there was also red fish.


The funniest airplane meal of my life was organized by the German subsidiary of Lufthansa, Air Berlin. Unfortunately, they stopped flying from Moscow. For the rest of my life I will remember a wonderful packed lunch consisting of very spicy chips and a glass of juice. And the worst lunch was at Air Moldova: some kind of indistinct sandwich.

If you fly during the day or evening, your chances of eating better are much greater: at night and in the early morning, you can count on a bun at most. Of course, a lot depends on the flight time. The usual proportion is that the longer the flight, the more food they will give. In any case, airplane food doesn't pretend to be anything incredible, so if you have the opportunity to bring something on the plane, grab it. There are usually no complaints about chocolate and cookies.


And, of course, it is worth saying that at altitude we eat and drink completely differently than on earth; food seems tastier. By the way, there is a whole stereotype that people most often drink tomato juice on a plane. They say it tastes better to us than on earth and quenches our thirst better. On a plane you always want to drink because, I repeat, the air in the cabin is very dry. Plus, rich tomato juice has a richer flavor that we love. It is always better to stock up on a bottle of water, most importantly, not before the security check area, but after: you can bring water purchased in the waiting area on board. As for alcohol, almost all international flights have wine, champagne, and beer. The flight attendants may simply not offer you this. But if you have a strong desire to get tipsy, ask, and they will organize a can of good beer for you - tested by British Airways.

Takeoff and landing

If your plane takes off and everything goes well, you can relax until you land. According to statistics, 90% of aircraft malfunctions occur during takeoff and landing. That is why singer Elka passionately wishes that the pilot “takes off well and lands extremely successfully.” During takeoff and landing, you are asked to fasten your seat belts, bring the seat to an upright position, remove the tables and open the curtains. All this is done so that in an emergency there are fewer obstacles to the implementation of the rescue program.


When an acquaintance flew with me for the first time, he really did not like the maneuvers of the plane, when the side turns and turns out to be one wing lower and the other higher. If you saw this and got scared, know that nothing terrible is happening at this moment, the plane is just turning.

If you are flying to a resort, you will most likely begin to descend directly over the blue waters. Again, panic in this case is unnecessary; the resort airports are really located right on the shore. Land will appear, don't worry!


Some people believe that the softness of a landing depends on the airline or type of aircraft. Nothing like that, everything is controlled by a pilot, or rather pilots, since control is usually divided equally between them. The best way to get me into Montenegro was the unloved, bankrupt and otherwise notorious airline Kogalymavia, when they had a contract with the operator TUI.

Important detail: time it correctly. As soon as the plane lands, it will travel along the runway for some time, circling around the airport until it stops. It will be some time before you are allowed off the plane. Passport control will take about another half hour (or more) international flight and baggage claim at any. Therefore, you should not order a taxi before your arrival.


Don't immediately jump up and run out of the plane. You don't even have to get up. You will be waiting for some time for the doors to open. new country».

At the airport of the country of arrival

Next, you will find almost everything the same as upon departure: boarding ramp or bus, passport control and baggage claim. Get in the line that says All Passports and you'll get a stamp (finally!) with the name of the airport. Next, we follow the arrows to the luggage, which probably already misses you as much as you miss it. Above the baggage belt they usually write the flight number and where the plane came from, so it’s difficult to make a mistake. Moreover, it very rarely happens that two and more plane They arrive minute by minute, so you are probably going to where the most people are standing. If the airport is very large, then there is a board indicating where to look for luggage.


If the tape has already scrolled a hundred hundred times, and your suitcase still hasn’t appeared, and all the passengers have left, then something is wrong here. Then you go to the representatives of your airline with your boarding stub (it is on it that the tag with your baggage number is on it) and most likely everything will be resolved safely. Well, then you, stamped, enriched and happy, can head to the exit (following the arrows) and begin to conquer new lands!

I hope you were able to learn something new about air travel and are now looking forward to the moment when the flight attendant announces that your plane is ready for takeoff.

The most difficult flight is the first one, when the unknown frightens you and you remember terrible news stories about crashed planes. Fear of flying is a common problem, don't think you're alone.

How to reschedule an air flight, how to properly prepare for it? How to psychologically cope with the fear of flying? What are the contraindications to air travel? What's wrong with flying in economy class? How to pack luggage and hand luggage? What are the best seats on a plane?

There are many questions, let's figure it out together existing conditions air travel.

An easy way to reschedule and enjoy your flight

If you have enough free time before your flight, you can read Allen Carr's book - The Easy Way to Enjoy Air Travel. The bestseller is primarily intended for those who are catastrophically afraid of heights and airplane flights. All travelers who experience even the slightest discomfort from air travel will also learn a lot of useful information from the book.

Carroux's technique was tested in different countries hundreds of thousands of people. How it works? You just need to read the book carefully and that’s it – the fear will disappear. Search the Internet - there are many resources where you can download it. After reading, you will even look forward to the flight; for you it will turn into an exciting event. Here are some wonderful lines from the work:

Millions of people fly every day and 50% of them are exposed to extreme stress. Their number would be much smaller if each trip was preceded by thorough psychological preparation and people received maximum information about the upcoming event.

When you are under stress, there is no way to enjoy your flight, but even the slightest time on board is always unforgettable, so learn to enjoy life!

Air travel rules

Air transport is less dangerous than road transport. World statistics knows this for sure, but we are not afraid of cars, but airplanes cause panic. According to published data World Fund air travel safety, no more than 900 people die annually on multi-engine aircraft worldwide. For comparison, up to 35 thousand people die annually in car accidents on Russian roads alone.

The most difficult time to endure air travel is on your first trip, when you learn all the intricacies of check-in, customs inspection, passport control, carrying baggage and hand luggage. When the procedure is thoroughly studied, you begin to treat airplanes as the most common form of transport.

It will be easier to reschedule your flight if you can take into account all the nuances in advance. You should get as much information as possible about the airline you are going to travel with. General rules air travel is the same, but each carrier has its own special conditions.

All details can be found on the official websites. Typically, airlines make every effort to provide future passengers with the information they need. If your attempts on the Internet were unsuccessful or there was little information, this is an alarming signal. Is this airline reliable, what is its reputation, are flights on its aircraft safe?

Fly only with proven, reputable airlines! Simple monitoring of air carriers will also help you not to disrupt your plans if the weather turns bad. If the plane is small, it will stop flying sooner when weather conditions change, so choose only large-class planes, which also shake less during turbulence.

Important point! Choose the flight of the airline that most often serves this route. High frequency of flights ensures that disruptions due to weather will not be too noticeable for you. Obviously, you will get there faster with a company that has flights several times a day rather than twice a week.

Air travel with a transfer requires coordinated action, so for your first flight, try to find a direct flight to eliminate all possible complications. All subsequent trips will no longer cause panic, because all procedures will become familiar, but still there is no need to plan connections where there is very little time left between flights.

Leave at least 1.5 hours in reserve until the next domestic flight and 2 hours before the international one, if you don’t want to nervously look at your watch the whole way.

How to prepare for air travel

In preparing for a flight, the main role is played by properly packing your luggage. Which Weight Limit and its dimensions may be what can be imported into a specific country - find out everything that goes with your luggage when flying with specific airlines in advance, so that at the airport you don’t have to rush excess items into a storage room. Most airlines post their baggage policies on the cover of their airline tickets.

Let's take a closer look at hand luggage - it means the bag that will be with you in the cabin, and other necessary things to make it easier to endure the flight. At the airport, near the check-in counters, there are information stands and scales where you can check the dimensions and weight of items that are taken on board. In general, hand luggage should not exceed 5 kg.

Nail scissors are sharp objects and cannot be placed in your hand luggage - do not forget about this so as not to lose your favorite thing. You can take on board the plane:

  • coat, fur coat, raincoat or similar clothing;
  • blanket, warm socks, slippers;
  • books, magazines, newspapers;
  • handbag, folder, briefcase;
  • umbrella cane;
  • amateur photo and video equipment;
  • medicines;
  • personal hygiene items;
  • baby cradle or stroller;
  • food for the baby;
  • laptop;
  • bouquet of flowers.

Attention! On airplanes there are certain rules for carrying liquids in hand luggage. All bottles and containers containing liquids must be no more than 100 ml in volume. They are packaged all together in one plastic transparent bag with a volume of no more than 1 liter, the bag must be sealed.

Each passenger can carry out only one such package. According to the new rules, liquids include:

  1. perfumery;
  2. shampoos, toothpastes;
  3. lotions, deodorants;
  4. creams, gels, sprays;
  5. Mascara;
  6. shaving foam;
  7. drinks, liquid food.

Baby food and medicines are not packaged, but must be shown at the security desk. It is not forbidden to open packaged goods from Duty Free on board. The new rules apply only to hand luggage; alcohol can still be carried in checked luggage.

Please note: luggage should not open at the slightest impact, so check all the locks on the suitcases. If everything is very unreliable, then it is better to strengthen the luggage with tape, wrap it with film and even stick a label “do not turn over”.