Image credit: Leonid Mamchenkov June 2007

Not very long ago I had a passenger who, despite being well on time, kept phoning from the airport to report that he had missed flight after flight.  This was deeply mysterious.  After he had missed three successive flights we realised that he did not know that he had to check in!  He was an absolute novice flyer, but could not bring himself to admit that he did not know what was going on and ask either us or the airport staff for assistance.

Here is what to do if it is your first time.

You will need:

• Your eticket, if you do not have your boarding pass
• A print of your boarding pass if you have checked in online, or at a self-service kiosk at the airport
• Photo-identification (according to local regulations and airline requirements: driver’s licence or national id. or passport for domestic flights, passport for international flights)

Check in online before you leave home

We strongly suggest that you check in online ahead of time.  You can usually reserve your seat and obtain your boarding pass online (our handy links are here http://diytravelexpert.com/airline-check-in/) or at a kiosk at the airport, but you will still need to have your luggage weighed in.

If you have your boarding pass and only carry-on luggage, that’s it – you’re done!  No need to go to the check-in area.  Go straight to security.

Find your check-in area

Unless you are at a terminal that only serves a single airline (such as Heathrow terminal 5 serving BA, or New York JFK terminal 5 that serves Jet Airlines) you must first locate the check-in area serving the airline you are travelling on.

For a flight operating on a code-share, where members of an airline alliance issue tickets on other member’s flights, you may need to check in at the area run by the airline operating the flight.  This information will be on your eticket, usually in the format of a statement saying “Airline A, operated by Airline B”.  Then you should know to go line up at Airline B’s counters.  If they do not state that, then you probably just need to go to your airline’s counter, even if they are not operating the flight.  In other words, Not your problem.

The name of the airline is usually on a board (nowadays on a screen) above the desk.  There are usually further indications of the class of passenger (viz. already checked-in online, first class, business class, frequent-flyer members, etc.).  Make sure that you are in the correct queue so that you do not get directed to queue again, at the back of the next queue.

At the check-in counter

• Your eticket or boarding pass will be verified.
• If you have not checked in online your seat will be assigned.  You may have seat choices, some of which may cost a premium on some airlines.  It sometimes happens that the seat that you have reserved online (or that your travel agent has reserved for you when booking) is reallocated at this time.  If you are lucky you could even be upgraded, as recently happened to me on a long flight within Europe.
• Your luggage destined for the hold will be weighed and taken into care.
• Your boarding pass will be issued unless you have printed it yourself.  A certain airline charges absurdly large amounts if you have not printed your own boarding pass prior to arrival at the airport!  If you are travelling in a group this omission can cost you dearly.  Sometime the boarding pass will be replaced, if you have been re-seated by the airline.
• For international flights your passport will be verified.

Be early

The earlier you check in for your flight the less likely you are to be bumped and the more likely you are to get a seat that you desire, be it leg room, a window seat , an aisle seat, position in relation to the wing, or proximity to toilets.  If you are sufficiently late you will be denied boarding altogether.

The usual latest recommended check-in is an hour prior to departure for domestic flights and two hours for international flights.  However, this may differ according to the airport and the airline concerned.  El Al security is particularly tight and you should plan to be there three hours prior to departure for international flights.  Any international flight to the USA will also have particularly stringent (some say unnecessary) security and the long queues that this causes make it advisable for you to give yourself an extra 30 minutes to an hour.

Luggage limits

You should check with your airline what your luggage weight limit is, the size (for carry-on, cabin luggage), the number of pieces permitted, as well as what can and cannot be carried at the time.

Security at airports has become intrusive and inconvenient so one would assume that it is one of the safest places to be.  This is not the case.  Statistics suggest that you are more likely to have your belongings stolen at the airport than during the rest of your journey!

Internationally the worst airports for theft are regarded as Heathrow, in London, and the Johannesburg airport (OR Tambo) in South Africa.  In 2007 an analysis of TSA statistics showed that the airports in the USA where you are most likely to have your stuff stolen are Liberty in Newark, New Jersey; Miami, Fort Lauderdale; LAX, Los Angeles, and Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac).

Image credits: Politikaner, 4 April 2009

The New York Post carried an article in July 2011 that was headed “TSA stands for ‘Thieves Steal at Airports’” because of collusion between TSA checkers and baggage handlers.

Some of the thieves are your fellow travellers.  They buy really cheap tickets to a random destination just to get them past the check-in, go through security many hours ahead of the scheduled departure, and then systematically move belongings from your possession to theirs.  They often dress smartly, so that they do not attract attention.

Security check-points

You’ve taken off your shoes, put your camera, cellphone, keys and wallet in the small plastic tray provided for the purpose of going through the metal detector without the beep going off.  You get to the other side of the metal detector, try and keep track of all your things and settle down at the boarding gate.  You only notice the loss later on board.  Your wallet or mobile phone or camera, etc. is not amongst your current collection of belongings.  This is not just anecdotal or urban legend.

Favourite things to steal, in decreasing order: “fine jewellery”, digital cameras, laptops, DVD players.  They also gladly steal prescription drugs, credit cards and cash.  And guns from checked-in luggage.

Our advice here is simply do not let your guard down when going through security check-points.  Wait for the person in front of you to pass through the scanner before you push your belongings through the scanner.  Check that all the belongings come out the other end.  If you are selected for secondary screening, insist that your luggage accompanies you.

Do not rely on the fact that there are cameras covering the areas.  One traveller told us that in early December 2011 he lost R20,000 going through Johannesburg airport.  The authorities refused to make a case unless he returned to Johannesburg to lay the formal complaint!  He returned to Johannesburg at his own expense.  When they examined the tapes the images were so useless that it was impossible to identify the perpetrator.

One of my team locks all his small knick-knacks in his carry-on bag.  Then just the keys and a few low-value items have to go through the scanner, which is easier to keep track of.  (He also wears jeans with a draw-string top, so that he does not have to take off his belt – it is a considerable distraction having to hold up your pants, track your goods, keep a lookout and get dressed again.)  If the security want to hand-search the bag then he can simply unlock it for them.  (He has yet to be requested to do so.)

This applies equally well to your checked-in luggage.

Laptops

These are especially targeted at airports and coffee-shops alike.  We mention both as most of us enjoy a good cuppa while transiting or watching the world go by.  Our suggestion is to keep it on the table with you, not under your chair or on an opposite chair as it can be nicked while you are possibly being distracted.

When going through security, keep a close eye on your laptop and what has worked well for us is to have a brightly coloured laptop skin on top which differentiates it.  Possibly your company logo, if you don’t just want colours for the sake of security only.

Travel light

The fewer belongings you travel with, the lower your risk.  Avoid carrying unnecessary expensive jewellery and electronics with you, if possible.  In a number of areas such things will also make you are target for mugging.

Passengers are not above taking at look (or more than a look) through other people’s stuff in the overhead lockers when everyone is asleep.  And checking-in valuables is not particular safe, so the best protection is to not have the items with you.

Travel smart at your destination

If your camera is a must, as it is for many travelling today, you can buy a bag that is specifically designed to be hard to get into by pick-pockets.  Or stick it into a tog bag or a sling bag.

Your checked-in luggage should incorporate anti-theft features.  Use TSA-approved locks, after all, they really know which ones are hard to get past!  There are many good retailers out there, including some good options at Magellans.

You will never see everything you wish to on your first visit, unless you are a student and taking a ‘fashionable’ gap year.  With that in mind, we have the following suggestions of must-sees that are either free or fairly cheap:

• London Eye.  Take a 30 minute trip and enjoy the 360 views..  Between GBP17 and GBP25, depending on whether you book them online or once there.  Online is cheaper.  London Eye Info and tickets online.
• Oxford Street is the perfect place for a morning stroll.  You will find a few ‘cheaper’ curio shops in amongst the high flyers in the retail industry.
• View the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.  More information on changing of the guard.
• The British Museum.  This one is free and has such a lot to see.  You will still not see everything, so get a catalogue and opt for what you are most interested in.  British Museum website
• Tower of London.  Tickets can be booked online.  Please note that not all the museums inside are included in the price.  The queue to see the crown jewels can be quite long.  They have a rolling film of the Queens coronation to keep your mind off the paid-for wait.  The White Palace is included and a definite see for the history-lover.  Tower of London website

On Arrival

Overseas visitors can expect an in-depth questioning as to your reasons for coming.  Make sure you have back-up documentation on you, should it be required.  Accommodation, proof of funds and so forth.

The tube trip from Heathrow into central London is approximately 45 minutes.  The tube system is phenomenal in terms of on-time service and user friendly signage.

Getting Around

If you are arriving in peak time, our warning is to stand at least a meter back from the yellow lines when waiting for the tubes.  This is for your own safety and peace of mind, as the Londoners jostle each other to get on board.

General London Transport

London Tube

Maps

Buy a travel card for zone 1 and 2 before you leave your own country.  It will be of use.  Heathrow falls outside of these zones and you will need to buy a one-way from there to the centre of London as well.

One of the ‘cheap and cheerful’ ways of seeing London, is using your travel card to take busses within the specified zones.  Of course, there will be no running commentary on board, but you will see all you need too, in your own time.

Within easy travelling distance (overland train services) are Hampton Court Palace (birthplace of Henry VIII), Stratford-Upon-Avon, Windsor Castle and Kensington Palace to name a few.