Avoid these 3 Common Travel Mistakes that will RUIN Your Trip (especially if you fly to Europe in 2023)
In this video, I’ll share 3 essential tips to help you avoid common pitfalls like unnecessary immigration delays and being the last to board a flight. These tips are perfect if it is your first time flying, especially if it is your first international flight. I’ll take you through the ins and outs of boarding times, navigating tricky passport control queues, and why it’s a smart move to have both digital and physical boarding passes on hand. This is information I wish I knew before my first international flight home! Trust me, these tips will help transform your travel experience and ensure your journey home makes for a seamless end to a great vacation. Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly travel tips and hacks. Happy Travels!
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20 Flight Essentials: https://youtu.be/WWE5gQh89Y0
Economy Flight Hacks: https://youtu.be/WZj3o8oGYgw
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00:00 International flight tips 2023
00:17 When does an international flight board?
00:39 International flight gate tip
00:49 Don’t delay boarding!
01:07 Checking a carry-on suitcase
01:18 Passport control line
01:33 Europe flight experience
02:10 Immigration questions at airport
02:27 Avoid this at passport control
03:08 Separate boarding lines
03:28 Do I need to print my boarding pass?
03:51 digital or physical ticket
04:17 Avoid the WRONG boarding line
04:44 Airport check-in machine
04:55 Bonus flight hacks
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// ABOUT
Welcome to Portable Professional, your go-to resource for stress-free travel.
Megan here, Hello! I’ve taken well over 300 flights and countless trips in the last decade. I have learned how to have seamless travel experiences without unnecessary stress and anxiety. I’m here to help you also feel confident about your travels while making the most of every trip.
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21 Comments
Question: When arriving in the country you're visiting, have you ever run into an uptight passport control agent who demanded to see your return itinerary? Not just your return ticket, your itinerary. I got that in Munich last year, on the way to Cologne. I hadn't printed one out, and had no smartphone service. The agent interrogated me with a few questions: "What is the purpose of your visit?" "I'm going to a concert." "What kind of concert?" etc. In the end, she softened enough to let me through, but admonished me to bring the danged itinerary next time.
OMG, Megan! You were in my home town. We should’ve gone for coffee. 😊
"If you want to achieve greatness stop asking for permission." —
I had done the same thing as you my first time to Lisbon. We ended up having to run and because it was still Covid, there was yet ANOTHER stupid "security" line to get a sticker on the back of your passport. 🙄 But all's well that ends well.
Wait you went to Portugal for only 2 days?
Yikes. I Always find my gate as soon as I can before I start to relax.
Is a photo of one's boarding pass acceptable?
Recently, I was boarding an international flight in the Middle East. I had just gotten off my flight, went through their security checkpoint, then ran to use the restroom. I still had over 2 hours before my connecting flight. I decided to check out my gate that I would be boarding from to make sure the flight would still be boarding from this gate. And to my surprise, they had already started the screening process. Yes, I had to go through another security checkpoint! It took another 1/2 hour, and by that time they were boarding the flight. Summary: Get to your gate at least 2 hours before flight time – yes, not a general boarding area but at the actual gate.
Have never seen a separate line for digital and physical boarding pass in 10 million miles of flying. More and more airlines are going with facial recognition.
The only flight I ever missed was a Charles de Gaulle airport. I slept at an airport hotel walked a long way to the airport and then was told I needed a Covid test which was not communicated to me in any way, then I waited on the wrong line and when I finally got to the right line with the right papers. At that time they did not accept my vaccination card from the US, they told me I would never make the flight because it was too far away. I was so upset. They did put me on a plane to another city but I lost my first class rev Confirm ticket. The whole Covid Test at the airport was a scam to get money. I don’t think I will Arrive at the Charles tackle airport for my flight home ever again but I have to arrive to the airport from my city which I hope will be easier if slow. That airport is huge and there’s not much help from the staff. Aloha
We tried asking an employee if we could be moved up in the security line, as our flight would be boarding in 30 minutes. She said, no need, you have lots of time. There were easily a hundred people ahead of us. We ended up getting to our gate just minutes before last call for boarding. So stressful! Lesson learned. I now make sure we arrive at the airport at least two hours, if not more, before boarding time…not flight time. My family growls, but I would rather spend an hour or two sitting at my gate, than go through that stress again!
No I would not try to get ahead of the passport control line. I get to the airports hours ahead of schedule take off to make sure I get across TSA or Passport Control screening and go enjoy the Lounges or Clubs that are at the airport.
I have a few serious international travel questions, and the airport can't answer them when I called to ask. I have never traveled internationally in my life. So I don't fully know what to expect when I arrive. I have obtained a Algerian visa, which was not easy to get. I couldn't make that flight a year ago when my host sent me a invitation letter to come. The expiration date says it's good till July of 2024. Can I still travel there even know its been a year since i got the invitation letter from my host and he's still good for it? I also don't know what questions the Algerian customs will ask me?
Although not for an international flight I learned the have a physical boarding pass as a backup because on a trip last summer just as I was walking to the boarding line on Spirit Airlines the Spirit app was down and I could not load the boarding pass. Had to go to the counter and they printed me one for free and then got back in the boarding line. Normally they charge to print a boarding pass but didn't because the app was down.
I recently flew back from New Jersey (USA) to London. I almost always go through security to get to my gate as soon as possible. Sadly, I discovered that there was basically nothing after security, including hot food once I was through. I’d really like airports to show what is available after security, before you go through, so you can make a decision. I was stuck with only snacks I had brought with, rather than a hot meal.
One massive International flight mistake is to avoid reserving unquestioned reverence to authenticity of any airline operatives claims to providing overwhelming hospitality — the line between veracity and desperation for profitas to stay afloat is usually too vague—so much risks exists of one corrupting the other.
first leg of four got delayed. then i had to go through frankfurt passport control with no extra time. 75 people in line. i had to ask my way to the front of the line from other passengers. hated to do it but had no choice if i wanted to make my flights. ran though the airport got to my gate just in time. i was the second to the last person to board.
I just returned from a trip to Spain. The way the flights were booked, I only had an hour in Madrid to ho through customs and change terminals (which was a 45-minute trip including a train ride). I had asked the Iberia agent in New York if an hour was going to be enough time to make my connecting flight, and she said "No problem." Well, it was a big problem! My flight from New York actually arrived in Madrid at the about 20 minutes early, and I dragged my carry-on bags through the airport, passport control and customs and barely made it to my connecting flight. It seems that everyone there was in the same situation, having arrived from other countries and trying to catch a connecting flight – and all those flights seemed to be boarding at the same time.
Thanks Megan. Again, good tips.I have arrived at the airport w/only a digital copy of my ticket to find the digital ticket reader is broken. Sigh
Good afternoon Megan, I like all your videos 👏🏿 they short and good thank you 🙏🏿 what brand is your backpack?
The problem at Euro-Airports…they have two areas.
One for Schengen flights ( to other Schengen states/inside the EU) – no passport control
One for non Schengen flights ( out sight of EU) – passport control needed.
On most of these airports the non-Schengen area is a smaller one (e.g Hamburg) or on another Flor (e.g Vienna)