As a representative of Airlines Travel, a site dedicated to the aviation and travel industries, I receive many questions and requests regarding the flight by plane. In addition, I also observe people revolted by some actions carried out by ground or plane personnel, employees of airlines or handling companies *. In many situations, I am interested and seeking to find out what led to this dissatisfaction. Where possible and depending on the situation, I try to help solve the problem.
Follow the rules for a quiet flight
Passing over requests and problems, I also noticed a number of behaviors, some more strange than others, to some passengers. And not just in Romania!
The members of the airlinestravel.ro team managed to collect tens of thousands of flights and hundreds of thousands of miles. Some of us, more fortunate, flew to many corners of the planet, reaching dozens of countries. Talking to them and from their own experience, we managed to find 10 rules that we follow, thus managing to enjoy quiet flights (and here we do not refer to turbulence).
- 1. When buying your airline ticket, carefully fill in your first and last name. These must be the same as the identity card. If you have more than one first name, it is good to pass them all. After you purchase your flight ticket, make sure you receive the flight or flight itinerary with the following information: full name as in ID / Passport, flight number, travel dates and times, Booking code or E-ticket number.
Below are recent examples from Ryanair and KLM
- 2. Don't forget to check in. In most cases, I do it about 24 hours before the flight, but it depends on the case. Most companies encourage online check-in to avoid queues at airport check-in desks. Checking in online saves you time and money. If you have hold luggage, you must also bring it to the airport to leave your luggage.
The online check-in can be done through the air operator's website or through the application developed by it, using the booking code or E-ticket number, the ones I told you about at the first point.
- 3. Upon check-in, get the boarding pass with your flight details: your name, assigned / chosen place and hold baggage details where applicable. You can keep your boarding pass online, but it is good to have it printed as well, and possibly keep it on email. There are airports where you cannot go through boarding pass online and then you must have the printed sheet. Very important: do not damage the sheet before the flight because you have your data there and a bar code that must be read on board.
- 4. Follow the rules of hand luggage. In addition to the dimensions and weights set by each airline operator (see what hand luggage you have included in the ticket price to the low-cost operators), take care and what you put in your luggage. From January 31 January 2014, the new rules regarding the transport of liquids, aerosols and gels in hand luggage.
- 5. When checking security, take care to remove everything from the pockets, especially the metal ones. For gadgets, they need to be placed in a separate tray. If you have a laptop in your hand luggage, remove it separately. Do not forget to put in the tray and the clock, rings, earrings, lanterns etc. Do not be afraid if you have anti-drug controls at some airports. Recently, at the airport in Bergamo, I was barefoot :).
As a basic rule, no jokes with border police. Honor the check and present the documents to the verification offices.
- 6. Do not stand on the boarding queue unless the boarding process has begun. The business class and the priority boarding have priority. Either way, you have the reserved space and the plane doesn't leave without you. Follow the boarding time as announced.
- 7. In the plane, follow the travel rules. Attach the belt to take-off, possibly keep the belt engaged and during flight to avoid inconvenience during turbulence. Use gadgets in accordance with the regulations approved by international organizations. All smartphones, tablets and other portable gadgets with a data connection must be set to flight mode.
- 8. Follow the rules of common sense. Remember, there are more passengers on the plane. Avoid talking loudly, listening to loud music, making a scandal, blocking the aisle.
- 9. Pay attention to the instructions of the cabin staff. We remind you that the flight attendants are hired to provide us with a safe flight and to intervene in special situations, incidents, accidents. Aside from the juices and catering, I consider it a bonus :). Personally, I attach less importance to how they look and rely on their preparation.
- 10. After the plane has put the wheels on the runway, do not get up immediately. Wait at your seats until the plane is completely stopped at the landing point. Wait for the door to open and start the landing process. Regarding the applause at landing, we do not encourage them, but everyone does as they please.
We know that there are also unpleasant cases caused by delays, cancellations of flights, loss / damage of luggage, but about all of this in another article.
* handling sn (transp.) ◊ "Handling is a term that defines and includes all aircraft preparation activities for and after flights, as well as passenger services up to the time of baggage recovery." Rl 4 IV 91 p. 2 [pron . héndling] (din engl., fr. handling; DN3)