Fundamentals of flying before boarding · Before boarding in Fundamentals of flying
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Before boarding in Fundamentals of flying
Before boarding in Fundamentals of flying
After you pass through security you'll usually be able to reach (without more checks) one or more departure areas or wings of the terminal...possibly quite large, some with up to fifty gates. Beyond security, you are in the secure area (finally!), sometimes termed airside. Even casually leaving it will require that you go through security processing again. Lacking any essential papers, you may be in some difficulty.
Secure Area/Airside
Depending on the airport, the area may be bare, with a few services, or full of shopping and entertainment. If your schedule means you'll spend some time there, go to your departure airport's website before leaving home to learn what facilities and services you'll have while waiting to board, as well as how to get around the airport. (If you have an extended layover enroute, check on that airport as well.) Prices of items and services tend to be higher than common stores/restaurants. Major airports also offer lounges for frequent flyers, et al.
If you are a first or business class passenger or an elite member of a frequent flyer program and will wait some time, consider using a lounge associated with your airline. You'll often find refreshments, periodicals, internet access, even showers.
If not, you may also get lounge access and enjoy its privileges by paying up front or joining programs like PriorityPass which offer pay-per-visit and unlimited visit plans...usually at independent lounges.
If your flight is long, consider using such a lounge at an enroute or destination airport.
Your flight will have an associated gate number where you'll board. This is indicated in your boarding pass and the overhead monitors.
Find the gate where you are boarding: be there no later than 30 minutes before the flight's scheduled departure, and preferably a little earlier.
At the gate, airline staff will check your boarding pass...just as you board, perhaps earlier; they may also want to see photo ID. Once done, you will be counted as being on-board the flight.
While waiting, ensure you miss no change or announcement about your flight, e.g., gate change, delayed departure. If you miss your flight by not heeding any, you may be responsible for making other travel arrangements.
Most airlines will attempt to find passengers who are late for boarding, because for security reasons they have to go through the time consuming process of unloading checked baggage if passengers do not board. Usually they will page late passengers by name at least twice before closing the flight. If you hear your name paged, either go to the gate immediately if it's nearby or find airport staff and let them know who you are if you are not yet close to the gate. They can usually get you there before you're locked out of the plane. However, delaying a flight will not make you popular with staff or fellow passengers!
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Fundamentals of flying Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.