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From documents and packing to airport arrival times, connections, customs, transportation, food, lounges, and travel-day essentials, this guide covers everything you should know before flying.
Preparing for a flight involves more than simply packing your suitcase. Whether we are taking a short domestic trip or flying internationally, we try to organize everything we will need before leaving home. Having the correct documents, understanding the airport layout, and keeping important items within reach can make the entire travel day much less stressful.
At first, this may seem like a lot to think about before a flight. However, depending on where you are traveling, it is usually better to be overprepared than underprepared – especially when you are visiting a new airport, city, or country for the first time. A little extra planning can save you from unnecessary stress, missed meals, confusing connections, and last-minute problems.
In this guide, we explain what to bring to the airport, how early to arrive, how much time to allow between connecting flights, and what to research before leaving home. We also cover identification and travel documents, airport layouts, luggage, medication, carry-on liquids, food, technology, customs forms, foreign currency, duty-free shopping, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and ways to stay comfortable during a long flight.
Here is everything we recommend checking, packing, and preparing before your next trip.
Research Every Airport Before the Trip
One of the most helpful things you can do before flying is study a map of every airport you will be visiting – not only your departure airport.
Find out which terminal your airline normally uses and where its ticket counters, baggage-check areas, and bag-drop locations are. At larger airports, going to the wrong terminal can add a significant amount of walking or require a train, shuttle, or bus ride.
For connecting flights, review how the terminals and concourses are connected. Check whether you can walk between gates, take an airport train, or use a shuttle.
International connections may also require you to go through immigration, collect your checked luggage, pass through customs, recheck your bag, and complete security screening again. The exact process depends on the airport, country, and itinerary, so research your specific connection rather than assuming your luggage will automatically continue to the final destination.
You should also locate:
- Bathrooms and family restrooms
- Changing tables
- Nursing rooms and breastfeeding areas
- Private lactation suites
- Children’s play areas
- Water-bottle filling stations
- Charging stations
- Medical services
- Quiet rooms
- Airline or membership lounges
- Pet-relief areas
- Baggage claim
- Rental-car counters and shuttles
- Public transportation and rideshare pickup locations
Parents may find it especially helpful to save the locations of nursing rooms, breastfeeding areas, family restrooms, and changing tables before arriving. Some airports only have these facilities in certain terminals or concourses.
If you will be using an airline or membership lounge, check its location, operating hours, guest policy, and access requirements. Having lounge membership does not necessarily mean you can access every lounge, and some terminals may not be connected after security.
Travelers flying with animals should check for designated pet-relief areas. Some airports offer them inside the secure area, outside the terminal, or in both locations. Knowing where they are ahead of time can make a connection or long travel day much easier.
You should also locate the baggage claim and your ground-transportation options. Some rental-car companies operate inside the terminal, while others require travelers to take a shuttle bus to a separate rental-car facility.
If you plan to use a hotel shuttle, public bus, train, taxi, or rideshare service, find out where passengers are picked up before you arrive. Airport pickup areas are not always located directly outside baggage claim, and some require a longer walk, terminal transfer, or shuttle ride.
For the first or final night of your trip – especially when traveling internationally or when you will not have a rental car – we recommend considering a hotel that includes free airport transportation. This complimentary amenity can save money, time, and a lot of unnecessary stress.
Airport shuttle vans are also typically designed to carry passengers with large suitcases, so you will not have to worry about squeezing all of your luggage into a taxi or rideshare vehicle. Before booking, confirm that the shuttle is actually free, check its operating hours, find out whether reservations are required, and verify which airport terminals it serves.
Allow Enough Time Between Connecting Flights
A very short connection may look convenient when booking, but it can quickly become stressful if your first flight is delayed, your gates are far apart, or you must change terminals.
For a basic domestic connection, we generally prefer at least 1½ to two hours between flights. That gives us more time to use the bathroom, get something to eat, travel between terminals, and handle a small delay without immediately worrying about missing the next flight.
For an international connection, consider allowing at least two to three hours – and sometimes longer – especially when you may need to:
- Go through immigration or passport control
- Collect your checked luggage
- Pass through customs
- Recheck your suitcase
- Complete security screening again
- Change terminals or airports
- Take a train or shuttle between gates
- Complete additional entry or transit requirements
There is no single perfect connection time for every airport. A 90-minute connection may be comfortable at a small airport but extremely difficult at a large international hub.
Before booking, research the airport’s layout and the exact transfer process. Also, check whether both flights are on the same ticket. When separate tickets are booked independently, the second airline may not be responsible for rebooking you if the first flight is delayed.
Start With Your Identification and Travel Documents
Your identification should be the first thing you check before leaving for the airport.
For domestic flights within the United States, travelers who are 18 or older need an acceptable form of identification at the TSA checkpoint. A state-issued driver’s license or identification card must now be REAL ID-compliant, although a passport or another TSA-approved form of identification may also be accepted.
Before traveling, look at your license and confirm that it meets current requirements. Do not assume that every valid driver’s license will automatically be accepted for air travel.
For international trips, you will generally need your passport book. Check the expiration date well in advance because many countries require a passport to remain valid for several months beyond the dates of the trip. Some destinations also require a visa, an electronic travel authorization, proof of onward travel, or a certain number of blank passport pages.
When traveling internationally, we recommend using a dedicated passport pouch or travel-document holder. This keeps passports, boarding passes, baggage receipts, customs documents, and other important paperwork together. It is especially helpful when traveling as a couple or family and carrying multiple passports.
Choose a pouch that closes securely and can be stored inside a zipped section of your personal item. Never place your passport, identification, wallet, or essential travel documents inside a checked suitcase.
Your wallet should contain at least one payment card, some emergency cash, your health-insurance information, and any travel-related membership cards you may need.
For international trips, consider carrying a second payment card separately in case your primary card is lost, locked, or declined.
Save Your Tickets and Reservation Information
Most airlines now use electronic boarding passes, but we never like relying on only one copy.
Download your airline’s app and save your boarding passes there. We also recommend taking screenshots of your boarding passes, flight numbers, hotel confirmation, rental-car reservation, and transportation tickets.
Screenshots can still be viewed if the airport Wi-Fi is unreliable or you do not have cellular service.
Keep another copy of your itinerary in your email or a secure cloud account. A printed copy can also be useful, especially when you have several flights, hotels, train reservations, or rental-car bookings.
Paper backups do not need a battery, internet connection, or functioning airline app.
For international travel, securely save a copy of your passport’s identification page, travel insurance information, visa, and other entry documents. Avoid leaving sensitive documents openly accessible in your regular photo gallery.
Plan for Customs and International Entry Forms
International travel may require more than showing your passport after landing.
Depending on the country, you may need to complete a customs declaration, immigration form, health declaration, arrival card, or electronic entry form.
You may be asked where you are staying, how long you will remain in the country, why you are visiting, and whether you are carrying food, medication, plants, large amounts of currency, or restricted goods.
Some forms are completed on the plane or after landing, while others can be submitted online before arrival. Research this before your travel day.
If you arrive early at the airport, use some of that extra time to check whether any required forms can be completed online.
Finishing an official online arrival or customs form in advance can save time later and prevent you from searching for hotel addresses, flight numbers, or other information while standing in an immigration line.
Only use an official government website or app. Travelers should be cautious of unofficial websites that charge unnecessary processing fees for forms that may otherwise be free.
Always answer customs questions honestly and declare anything required. When uncertain about whether an item needs to be declared, it is generally better to declare it and allow the customs officer to make the determination.
Plan Ahead for Foreign Currency and Duty-Free Shopping
If you are traveling somewhere that uses a different currency, we recommend getting at least a small amount of local money before your trip rather than waiting until the last minute at the airport.
Airport currency-exchange counters are convenient, but their exchange rates and fees are often less favorable. Depending on the bank or credit union you use, you may be able to order foreign currency ahead of time at a better rate.
It is also worth checking whether your debit or credit cards charge foreign-transaction or international ATM fees.
During international travel, you may also see duty-free stores after security or in the arrivals area. These stores sell certain products without some local taxes or duties, but “duty-free” does not automatically mean the item is cheaper than it would be elsewhere.
Keep your boarding pass and receipt accessible, compare prices before buying, and remember that purchases – especially alcohol, tobacco, food, perfume, and other liquids – may still be subject to your destination’s customs allowances, declaration requirements, carry-on restrictions, and connecting-airport security rules.
Choose Luggage That Is Easy to Move
The suitcase itself can affect how smoothly you travel through an airport.
We prefer four-wheel spinner suitcases because they can roll in multiple directions and are easier to guide through terminals, security lines, hotels, train stations, and rental-car facilities.
Suitcases with larger, sturdy wheels tend to move more easily over carpeting, uneven pavement, sidewalk gaps, and other difficult surfaces.
This becomes especially valuable during international travel, when you may need to move your luggage through several airports, train stations, parking areas, or city streets.
Before your trip, check the airline’s size and weight restrictions for both checked and carry-on luggage. Different airlines, and sometimes different ticket types on the same airline, may have different allowances.
Place luggage tags on your bags, add your contact information inside the suitcase, and photograph your luggage before checking it.
Keep Your Most Important Items With You
Anything that would seriously disrupt your trip if lost should remain in your personal item or carry-on.
That includes your:
- Identification and passport pouch
- Wallet
- Medication
- Phone and chargers
- Portable power bank
- Keys and valuables
- Travel documents
- Snacks
- Chapstick
- Headphones
- At least one change of clothes
For an international trip, keep basic toiletries and enough necessities to manage the first day or two in your carry-on. That way, a delayed checked suitcase will not leave you without medication, clean clothing, or essential personal items.
Pack Medication in Your Carry-On
Always place essential medication in your personal item or carry-on rather than your checked suitcase. Checked luggage can be delayed, lost, or temporarily inaccessible.
Bring enough medication for the entire trip, along with a small additional supply when possible.
Keep medication in its labeled packaging when practical, especially during international travel.
It can also help to carry:
- A copy of your prescription
- Your doctor’s contact information
- A list of the medication’s generic and brand names
- A note explaining medical equipment or injectable medication
- Documentation for controlled or highly regulated prescriptions
Medication that is legal in the United States may be restricted or prohibited in another country. Check the destination country’s rules through its embassy, consulate, or official government website before traveling.
This is especially important for controlled medications, stimulants, sleep aids, injectable drugs, and medications containing certain narcotic ingredients.
TSA permits medically necessary liquids in quantities larger than the standard carry-on liquids limit, but you should declare them for inspection.
We also recommend keeping necessities nearby, including pain relievers, motion-sickness medication, contact-lens supplies, hand sanitizer, tissues, and chapstick.
Airplane cabins can be very dry, so lip balm is one of those small items that becomes surprisingly useful during a flight.
Understand the Carry-On Liquids Rule
For standard carry-on liquids, gels, creams, aerosols, and pastes, each container must generally hold no more than 3.4 ounces – or 100 milliliters.
The containers should fit inside one clear, quart-sized bag.
Larger toiletries should usually be placed in checked luggage. Toothpaste, lotion, sunscreen, liquid cosmetics, and some foods may count toward the liquids allowance.
Exceptions exist for medically necessary liquids, breast milk, formula, and certain other essential items. These items may require additional screening, so allow extra time and tell the security officer before screening begins.
Keep Your Technology Accessible
Our phones have become one of the most important travel tools. They hold boarding passes, maps, hotel confirmations, rental-car information, entertainment, and emergency contacts.
Bring your phone charger and the correct cables for every device. A portable power bank is also useful during a long travel day, but it must remain in your carry-on baggage rather than your checked suitcase.
If your carry-on is checked at the gate, remove the portable charger and keep it with you in the cabin.
For an international trip, bring a plug adapter that works in your destination. You should also confirm whether your devices are compatible with the destination’s voltage.
Download important materials before leaving home, including:
- Airline apps
- Offline airport and destination maps
- Boarding passes and reservations
- Translation tools
- Music and podcasts
- Movies or television episodes
- Books and phone games
For entertainment, we may bring a Nintendo Switch, tablet, e-reader, or another small device. Keep valuable electronics in your carry-on and charge everything before leaving home.
Headphones are also one of our most-used travel items. They are useful for music, movies, podcasts, games, and blocking out some of the general airport noise.
Wired headphones can also be helpful because some airplane entertainment systems do not connect directly to wireless earbuds.
One of my favorite travel traditions is listening to Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me” during takeoff. Small traditions like that can make the beginning of every trip feel special.
Check Airport Food Options and Bring Your Own Snacks
Airport restaurants do not always remain open from the first flight of the morning until the final departure at night.
Smaller airports and individual terminals may offer very limited options, especially early in the morning or late at night.
Before your travel day, look at the airport’s dining directory and check what is available near your gate. Pay attention to operating hours and whether the restaurant is located before or after security.
This can help you decide whether to eat before arriving, purchase food before boarding, bring a snack, or order a meal on the plane.
It is especially important when you have dietary restrictions because an airport may have plenty of restaurants, but very few options you can actually eat.
We recommend bringing your own snacks even when you expect food to be available. Delays happen, connections become shorter than expected, restaurants close, and flights sometimes arrive after airport dining locations have shut down.
You may also miss a meal while waiting in a security, customs, boarding, immigration, or baggage service line.
Bringing food is especially helpful on an international flight because airline meals can vary considerably, and you may not like the available options.
Special meals may also need to be requested in advance and may not always be available onboard.
Good travel snacks include:
- Granola bars
- Crackers
- Pretzels
- Dried fruit
- Nuts
- Sandwiches
- Other solid foods that are easy to carry
Try to avoid anything extremely messy or strong-smelling.
International travelers should remember that some countries restrict fresh fruit, meat, dairy products, seeds, and other agricultural items.
Eat or dispose of restricted foods before entering customs when necessary, and declare food when required.
We also recommend bringing an empty reusable water bottle or a lightweight to-go container that can hold water.
It must be empty when you pass through security, but you can fill it afterward at a bottle-filling station, water fountain, restaurant, or lounge.
Having your own water container can save money and help you stay hydrated without repeatedly purchasing bottled water.
Dress for Comfort on Long Flights
For a long flight, comfortable clothing can make a major difference.
Wear comfortable shoes that are easy to loosen or remove once you are seated. Feet can swell during long periods of sitting, so avoid shoes that already feel tight.
Compression socks may also be helpful for some travelers, especially on longer flights.
You should still move your feet and legs regularly and walk around the cabin periodically when it is safe to do so.
Travelers with medical conditions or an increased risk of blood clots should speak with a healthcare professional about the precautions that may be appropriate for them.
A neck pillow can make sleeping easier during an overnight or international flight.
We also recommend bringing a light sweater, jacket, or travel blanket because airplane cabins can feel cold, even when you are flying somewhere warm.
Katie also 100% recommends bringing a sleeping bag on international flights. It may sound excessive, but she was able to get warm, comfortable, and sleep almost as well as she would at home.
A lightweight, compact travel sleeping bag can provide much more coverage than a standard airline blanket and help you settle in for a long overnight flight.
Consider TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
For people who fly regularly, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry may be worth considering.
TSA PreCheck provides access to expedited security screening at participating U.S. airports.
Global Entry provides expedited processing for approved travelers entering the United States and includes TSA PreCheck eligibility for qualifying members.
Your Known Traveler Number – or PASS ID for Global Entry members – needs to be connected to your airline reservation for the TSA PreCheck indicator to appear on your boarding pass.
The best time to enter it is while booking the ticket, but it can often be added later through the airline’s website, mobile app, customer-service department, or the travel service used to make the reservation.
After adding it, check your boarding pass before entering the security line.
Simply owning a membership does not guarantee that the TSA PreCheck indicator will appear if the number or personal information was entered incorrectly.
We also recommend carrying your physical membership card in your wallet while traveling, even though it is not normally required for airport Global Entry processing.
Arrive Early Enough for Your Flight
As a general rule, we recommend arriving at the airport at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.
That means being inside the terminal, not just entering the airport parking lot, by that time.
You may still need to:
- Park
- Return a rental car
- Take a shuttle
- Check luggage
- Complete document checks
- Go through security
- Locate your terminal
- Walk to the gate
Consider arriving even earlier when:
- You are traveling during a holiday or busy season
- You are flying from a large or unfamiliar airport
- You need to return a rental car
- You are checking several bags or oversized luggage
- You are traveling with children, pets, or a large group
- You need additional assistance
- Your airline requires in-person verification of international documents
- Weather or road delays are expected
Airlines also have their own baggage-check and boarding deadlines.
Arriving at the airport before departure does not guarantee that you will be allowed to check a bag or board if those deadlines have already passed.
Check your airline’s exact requirements before every trip.
Final Check and Travel Reminder
Airport, airline, security, customs, medication, baggage, and entry requirements can differ depending on the airline, airport, country, citizenship, itinerary, and type of ticket.
Rules may also change with little notice, especially when traveling internationally.
The recommendations in this guide are meant to provide general travel-planning advice, but they should not replace the official instructions provided by your airline or destination.
Before every trip, check the current information from your airline, departure and connecting airports, destination government, customs authority, and the appropriate embassy or consulate.
Confirm your identification, luggage limits, medication rules, entry requirements, and any online forms you may need to complete.
Try not to let the amount of planning overwhelm you.
Break it into smaller steps over several days or weeks:
- Research your destination
- Book your transportation and accommodations
- Review the airports and places you will be visiting
- Pack your belongings
- Double-check your list before leaving
Taking care of one task at a time makes the process feel much more manageable.
Even with careful planning, mistakes, delays, and unexpected last-minute changes can still happen. That is a normal part of traveling, and not everything will be within your control.
When you need help, airport and airline employees are generally available to point you in the right direction, explain where you need to go, or help you understand the next step.
Once you park the car, walk into the airport, and begin the check-in process, your vacation or trip has officially started.
Give yourself enough time, keep your essential items accessible, and try not to worry too much about the unpredictable parts.
Prepare for what you can, ask for help when you need it, and then focus on enjoying the journey.
Ready to start planning your own trip? Visit our Book Your Trip page to explore our favorite resources for booking hotels, flights, rental cars, tours, attractions, and more. We’ve organized everything in one place to make planning your next adventure as simple as possible. [Click here to start booking your trip.]
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