Advice for 1st time traveller plz!

supergran2007

Hi all
My family have finally persuaded me to change the habit of a lifetime & venture abroad for the 1st time !
I haven't the 1st clue as to what I am & am not allowed to take, or even what happens at the airport :eek:
I would be very grateful of any tips that may point me in the right direction!
Also I am on prescribed medication. I don't know if I need a letter from my gp & wether it should be in hand or hold luggage

Thank you all so much in advance

scumsthorne

supergran2007 wrote: »

I am on prescribed medication. I don't know if I need a letter from my gp & wether it should be in hand or hold luggage

A prescription is basically a letter from your gp, so take that. I always take stuff in hand luggage, less chance of it getting lost. That includes insulin and needles for example. Some drugs might not do too well in the hold, it gets chilly in there.

z1a

scumsthorne wrote: »

A prescription is basically a letter from your gp, so take that. I always take stuff in hand luggage, less chance of it getting lost. That includes insulin and needles for example. Some drugs might not do too well in the hold, it gets chilly in there.

Would needles be allowed in hand luggage?

phatbear

scumsthorne wrote: »

Some drugs might not do too well in the hold, it gets chilly in there.

It really doesnt they tend to be a degree or two cooler than the cabin.

They are insulated and pressurised the same as the cabin, consider that they transport animals in the hold and there is always a risk of a baggage handler getting locked in one so they have to be able to sustain life. There are occasions when you here about stowaways freezing to death but thats because they climb into the undercarriage not the hold

scumsthorne

z1a wrote: »

Would needles be allowed in hand luggage?

Yes. If they weren't many a diabetic may be slightly inconvenienced on long haul.

If drugs are to be stored at room or cool temperature, and the temperature of the hold in set to 5 °C it can have a detrimental effect on the drug. Its always safer to have them with you.

safesound

Ok I'm going to assume Europe for ease of explaining.

Get to the airport about two hours before your flight. Go to check in desk for your airline (flight numbers with destination are on screens over the desk). Give them your passport and ticket. They weigh your bags to be sure they are within limit and then put them on conveyor to be transported to airplane. You take your passport and ticket back and with your hand luggage head to security.
Get in line at security and use the time to separate out your hand luggage. Electronics, phone, keys anything metal go in one tray, liquids in clear baggie (with bottles of no more than 100ml) go in another, your bag in another and if your unlucky your shoes in another (I must look shifty as I always get pulled out of line for a further check). I can't put enough emphasis on this; be polite and do as requested by security staff. They all have attitude but it's five minutes out of your life, suck it up and comply as it'll expedite your trip.
You are now airside, you cannot go back through so just browse the shops or find a flight list monitor and take 20 mins to organise yourself or chill for the flight. Listen to the announcements as your flight time approaches as sometimes they board flights early or mention a delay before updating the boards. Go to your gate when advised (always clearly signed)
At the gate your tickets and passport will be checked again (and maybe the dimensions of your hand luggage) and you will be given directions to the plane.
That's it.
People talk about getting to the airport with less time but I've always found I need the full two hours (I have a pain of a hubby and a small child)

As for medication, I suppose it depends on what it is. I'm asthmatic and take two inhalers with me in hand luggage. I took a prescription with me the first time I went abroad but since I haven't bothered and haven't had a problem. I don't recommend this though as I may have just been lucky. It's probably better to take a prescription with you just to be sure.

Have fun, I love travelling.

Livelongandprosper

z1a wrote: »

Would needles be allowed in hand luggage?

If you are diabetic , here's the latest advice

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/travel

Contessa

There is a lot of information on airport procedure and what you're allowed to take or not on the relevant airport and airline websites.

When going through security you'll need to place items in perhaps 3 different trays before they go through the scanner. e.g., clear plastic bag for liquids/creams, (max 100ml I think) Many airports now have staff at the start of security handing out these bags. Handbag, belt etc can also go in. Another for tablet, laptop etc. Perhaps, coat, shoes and scarf in another. Although for my last couple of flights it was only necessary to remove boots not flat shoes. It's really not as complicated as it seems-take your time-the security staff will tell you what you need to do.

Then you probably go through a body scanner where you have to raise your hands above your head (nothing allowed to be held in hands) Just takes a few seconds then you collect your trays, sit down to put your shoes on if necessary, replace trays and off you go to collect your things and wait for your flight.

Some security staff are offhand but most are fine. A couple of months ago when I went through the scanner the lady pushed the alarm button by mistake. It was quite funny as she was very apologetic and she and her colleagues were laughing so much.

Sorry for the long post but hope you find it useful. Have a great flight.

Livelongandprosper

I fly constantly , 10 times a year on average

There is no need for 3 trays, you are just holding people up. If customs think your tray is overloaded, they will sort it. Phones,laptops,tablets ,have to be charged and able to be switched on. They have to be removed from hand luggage and put in the tray. Coins, keys, lighters, all in the tray. Belts and shoes with heels or thick soles, in the tray.

The only liquids that can go through as hand luggage have to be in 100ml containers and placed in a sealable clear plastic bag like a sandwich bag. Liquids are also toothpaste , lip glosses etc. If in doubt look at your airlines website

Don't try to take a drink through, it will be confiscated

Your airline will have definitive rules about medication. Some meds have to be in bottles of over 100 mls which is ok as long as you have your GP letter. It is really important to read your airlines guidance well in advance of travelling so you have the correct documentation

Never expect your flight to be called,it's up to you to keep an eye on the information boards and up to you to be at the gate before it closes. The closing time will be on your boarding pass, although the gate may not. It's up to you to keep an eye on the boards.

Budget airlines want you to check in online up to 30 days before departure. Not checking in online occurs an extra cost. Even if you are taking hold luggage, budget airlines want you to check in online.

With baggage, and already checked in you go to baggage drop for your airline. They take your baggage, weigh it,check your documents and stick a little sticker on your passport or boarding card which identifies your luggage if it gets lost

If you aren't checked in it really the same procedure only they issue a seat and ask you the security questions

The golden rule is to allow 2 hrs between arriving and getting to the gate. At busy times, say school holidays,bank holidays etc, at big airports, this can be cutting it fine and 3 hrs is easier on the BP. You could get through security with an hour to spare,or you could find yourself running to the gate. If it's a major hub like gatwick or Heathrow , you could be looking a 30 min walk from departures to the gate.

If you are have an hour to spare, it soon goes airside, a wander about the shops, a beer or a coffee

Do take time to read your airlines website and if you aren't used to the airport you are flying from, have a look at that as well


If you are a smoker, once you are airside, there are very few airports that have smoking areas. There are toilets everywhere but never leave luggage unattended

On arrival at your destination, it's easy. You follow everyone else. Most places now have automatic passport scanners, and a few manned ones if you get flummoxed. Then head on to baggage,the belts have the flight names and numbers on them so you know where to wait, collect bag, and enjoy holiday

Cloth_of_Gold

As others have said, you can't take more than 100ml of liquids in your hand luggage but you can buy things airside if you really need to. Unless you're travelling from a really small airport there will be a Boots and WH Smith for example.

Also, take a change of essential clothing in your hand luggage in case your luggage gets lost or delayed. I once went to Oslo for a few days and my luggage didn't arrive until the night before we came back. I hadn't taken any spare clothing in my hand luggage and ended up having to wash things each night and try to dry them on a radiator overnight.

I have taken my prescription medication abroad many times and never had a problem, I doubt whether a letter from you GP will be necessary but there's no harm in taking one if they will provide it. Always take a bit more medication then you need, just in case your return is delayed for some reason. Also, keep it in its original container so that if anyone does ask you about it they can clearly see what it is.

I'm probably over cautious but I usually take some Immodium, just in case I get an upset tummy (I rarely do), plasters and antiseptic wipes. Depending on where you are going you could probably buy these if you needed to but I like to be sure. In the UK there are small shops everywhere, often open late or even 24 hours, but that is often not the case abroad.

When you are abroad make sure you take sensible precautions such as paying attention to your belongings. It's easy to get carried away looking at the sights or enjoying a meal in a cafe and forget about your handbag or whatever. You can buy money belts that you can put your cash and credit cards and even your passport in and wear like a normal belt which might be a good idea. Your hotel room may have a safe but I never leave anything of value in them as you don't know who has access to it.

If you're travelling out of Europe check to see if you need any vaccinations. If so, you might need to have these several weeks in advance.

If you're going to get a taxi then if it has a meter (which most will have) make sure it's turned on when you start the journey. If the driver doesn't do this then ask him to. If it is a long journey or there is no meter ask him to quote a fare. Although this isn't necessarily easy, try and make sure that they're not taking you a long way out of your way just to bump up the fare. It's very easy to be ripped off in taxis in some countries abroad so just be aware.

Do research before you go so that you can identify the main sights you would like to see and take a good guide book.

Well before you travel make a list of all the things you want\need to take. You can then use this packing list to check that you haven't forgotten to take anything. Keep it for future trips and you can add to it if you later realise that you have omitted something.

I hope I haven't sounded too negative. Most people don't have any problems at all but as it's your first time abroad I thought it worth pointing out a few of the potential pitfalls, most of which can be avoided with a little vigilance.

I hope you have a great time and you really get the travel bug (and not a tummy bug). :rotfl:

Pollycat

This link gives examples of what is classed as liquids or gels:
https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions
as well as 'essential medicines'.

As well as the GOV.UK link, the OP will find specific information on the website of her departure airport.

The OP hasn't said where she's flying from but I found this snippet on Manchester airport's website:

Please note - if you wish to bring your own containers to hold 100ml or less, the container must have printed on it the measurement that the container can hold. Travel sets of containers that do not have measurements on them will not be allowed through security. Handwritten measurements or stickers are also not acceptable.

http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/guides-to-travelling/security-and-fasttrack/security-rules/

I use some pre-used containers for various liquids and the labels have washed off so I'll need to have a rethink about this next time I fly.

And of course, depending where the OP is travelling to, there's the ban on larger electronic items on inbound flights from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.