Navigating Airports: Tips and Tricks from a Frequent Flyer

Airports

Location And Size Matter

I can reassure visitors of smaller airports that the structure of such airports is relatively simple and it is quite difficult to get lost there. However, there are situations where a traveller gets confused and wanders into the arrivals area and looks for a way to get through to find the gate to take off.

Suppose your departure airport is Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA) or Heathrow Airport (LHR). In that case, you enter not through the door leading to the main airport building, but through the city complex, which makes you feel like Dorothy, as you need something like a yellow brick road to follow in order to get to the exact terminal and gate.

The bigger the airport, the more space it takes up, and the distances between terminals are so long that additional transport is sometimes even needed. Many travellers need to factor this into their preparation for travel. Your boarding pass becomes handy when you can check your departure terminal. If this information needs to be included, put your flight number in Google search and it will show you the terminal number.

It is common practice for one terminal to be used for flights to a particular destination and group of airlines. For example, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) has six terminals and Terminal 1 primarily covers international flights, covering some parts of Europe and the Middle East. It is also almost always used by  Lufthansa, Air France, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, and other airlines.

So it is a must to add an hour or more to your arrival time at the airport if you’re travelling via a bigger one. Better to be safe than rush to your gate and have a fear of not making it on time.

Don’t forget to check the departure times on the airport website to see how many flights will be leaving at the same time as your flight. Why it is advised to do so? This gives you an idea of the size of the crowd at the check-in and security queues at that time.

As you prepare for your trip, are you sure you need a big suitcase to fit your 12 identical shirts? Maybe a hand luggage will be enough? So here you go, you already saved time in the luggage check-in queue. Also, perform a flight check-in online from the comfort of your home, don’t leave this small but crucial action to the last minute. All the advice you see scrolling reels on social media about what to do last minute is just clickbait and it doesn’t always benefit the traveler.

If you’re sure you will wear each and every one of those 12 identical shirts and you’re already at the check-in queue, but the security line is snaking through the departure lounge, you can use the fast-track service. It won’t cost you a flight ticket, but it will get you through security much quicker.

Early forms of fast-track services in the 1980s-1990s started with airlines providing it only for premium passengers. Nowadays, all flyers can use this service for an additional fee. It is important to know that this service is only available to travelers at the airport of departure. If you travel from point A via point B to point C, you will no longer be able to use this service at point B.

Also, reading the information boards must become a habit. Even if you fly the same route often, gate changes or flight disruptions can and at some point will happen. Airlines inform about any disruptions via email or SMS usually after a short delay. If you have purchased your ticket through platforms other than the official airline websites, such, of course, unpleasant news can be even more delayed, which is why airport announcements and information boards are so essential when you are at the airport.

At the airport, we often hear gate agents making the last call for passengers who are late to their gate. Nobody wants to hear their name being called, let’s admit that. So, do everything you can beforehand to avoid that.

Passport Control – Another Important Aspect 

EU citizens have already forgotten these checkpoints, except when they are travelling to non-EU countries.

Despite major airports putting an effort into improving automated processes at many checkpoints and making them more of a self-service area, it’s a rare sight to see all service windows working. When you travel during a busy hour and there’s a huge crowd of people with you waiting to get to their gates as well, only a couple out of ten or more check-in windows are waiting to be used by you and another couple hundred travellers. 

So add some extra time if you will need to go through passport control.

Arrival Airport Is Not Your Final Destination

If you have a connecting flight, please follow the “connecting flight” guidelines only on arrival at the connecting airport. For example, for Air Baltic flights, information about gates for connecting flights operated by the airline often appears on the screens only during landing. Information about passport checks may also be added if the final destination is outside the EU zone. Also, there are often additional checks for carry-on luggage. 

Therefore, it is always important to check the layover time when you buy flight tickets. Anything less than two hours becomes a risky choice if you know you will need to go through passport control.

To Summarize It All

• Check the location of your departure airport and consider the important aspects of the size and availability of that airport.
• How many checks you will need to carry out and how many posts you will need to go through? Passport control, security check, check-in, etc.
• If you have only one flight or it’s a connecting flight, different approaches will occur.

I wish you beautiful moments catching not only feelings but also flights.

If any of your flights are disrupted, please contact us. Skycop is here to help!