Excitement, anxiety and enjoyment is how a young traveller described her experience of flying overseas alone for the first time. Emma, a 20-year-old South African student, started off being wildly excited at the prospect of tackling the great adventure on her own. However, as the departure date approached, nerves took over. What if she forgot something or missed a flight?
“Then, weirdly at 30,000 feet up in the sky, I realised that now the journey was underway I could relax and enjoy it,” says Emma, whose 13,000km trip from Cape Town to Edinburgh involved two transfers.
But that enjoyment can only come with preparation, so who better to get insights from than Qatar Airways cabin crew? Working for the world’s best airline, they’re no strangers to navigating airports, packing bags, and assisting first-time flyers. Here are some of their top tips for younger travellers taking a first international flight on their own.
Preparation
Buy or borrow an appropriate suitcase with good wheels. Don’t be tempted to go big, because you’ll have to manage it yourself and the larger the case the more you’ll be tempted to put in it. Remember that you’ll be charged extra if your bag is overweight.
Qatar Airways’ crew will tell you less is more when packing. Use common sense regarding clothing you’ll need, rather than trying to take an outfit for every conceivable occasion.
Keep your passport, cellphone, credit card and any other important items or documents in a secure, easily accessible place such as a cross-body shoulder or chest bag. You can pack this into your cabin bag once you’re onboard.
Pack a change of comfortable clothes and underwear, toiletries, medication and any valuables and electronic equipment in your cabin bag. Make sure it meets the maximum dimensions the airline allows, bearing in mind domestic and international carriers may have different rules.
Keep a list of emergency contacts, including your parents or guardians, a trusted adult at your destination and the embassy or consulate. You can save these on your phone, but it’s not a bad idea to have a back up.
Use your phone to take a picture of the photo page in your passport and any visas just in case your travel documentation gets lost or stolen. Border officials won’t accept the photos but having them may make it easier to apply for emergency documents if you need to.
At the airport
Arrive at the airport in plenty of time, at least two hours before your flight. Preferably give yourself a little more time than you think you need.
A top tip is to use the app to check in online. This should save time as you’ll only need to drop your bags before going through security and passport control. It’ll also allow you to store your boarding pass electronically, give you notifications of your gate number and any updates on your flight.
Keep your eye on the information boards to see where your flight is boarding. Ideally find somewhere to wait near the gate, bearing in mind that the boarding gates close 15 to 20 minutes before the flight departs.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. This applies throughout the journey. If you can’t find your gate or are unsure about something, ask. It’ll be quicker, easier and much less stressful than trying to figure it out yourself.
Onboard
Store your cabin bag in the overhead locker. You can put smaller items under the seat in front of you, as long as you’re not sitting in an emergency exit. Listen to the captain and crew’s instructions – it’s your safety they’re concerned about.
Be considerate and mindful of other people’s space and comfort. Use headphones if listening to music or watching a movie. Keep your seatbelt buckled throughout the flight and make sure it’s visible over your blanket when you’re sleeping so the crew won’t have to wake you up if the captain switches on the fasten-seatbelt sign.
Qatar Airways offers wifi on board so for a small fee, you’ll be able to connect and stay in touch. There are also in-seat power ports, so you’ll be able to charge your devices or powerpack onboard. Use the opportunity because there may not be charging points available at your point of arrival and you might need your phone to navigate the airport, get updates from the app or let loved ones know you’ve arrived safely.
As well as the airline app, others you may find useful are:
- Google Maps – useful for navigating airports and finding your way around cities.
- Google Translate – can translate text, speech and even images. It’s very helpful if you’re travelling to a country where you don’t speak the language.
- XE currency – provides real-time currency exchange rates to help you calculate conversions on the go.
Arrival
If you’re transferring to another Qatar Airways’ flight you won’t need to pass immigration and can proceed directly to flight transfers. Follow the signs or ask for directions. Qatar Airways’ crew and ground staff speak multiple languages and are trained to provide assistance.
When you arrive at your destination, you’ll need to go through border control or immigration before you collect your bags. Some countries require you to complete an arrival form or other documentation. Fill these out legibly and honestly.
After you’ve collected your bags and passed through customs, you’ll enter the arrivals hall. This is where you’ll meet whoever has come to collect you.
Emma’s final tip: “Don’t worry about feeling a bit nervous. It’s better than being complacent and missing a flight or forgetting something important. But don’t get overwhelmed by anxiety. Think of the time spent travelling as part of your adventure, something to experience, enjoy and add to the tapestry of memories.”
