How to complete airport procedures

Flying can be a very stressful experience, especially if it's your first time navigating an airport. Many factors can affect your flight, but there are also several things you can do to ensure you board your flight on time and stress-free.

Confirm your flight. The night before your planned departure, check again to make sure everything is on track. After purchasing your ticket, you should have received a confirmation email from the airline. Make sure the flight time hasn’t changed.

• If there are any changes to the flight time, don’t forget to adjust your travel plans accordingly. Depending on how long the delay is, it may affect your connecting flights. If you're concerned about missing a connecting flight due to this delay, contact the airline.
• Continue to check the flight status until you are at the airport. Some airlines will send notifications about flight time changes. However, it’s important to stay informed. Pay extra attention during rainy seasons or when bad weather is forecasted, as these can often affect your flight.

Organize Your Documents. Without your ticket and ID, you won't be able to board the flight. For passengers over the age of 14, a driver's license or passport will suffice. If you're under 14 and traveling with an adult, you may not need to present an ID.

• If you're under 14 and traveling alone, contact the Ministry of Transport or other relevant authorities to determine which identity documents you need.
• If you're flying internationally, you won't be allowed to board without a passport.
• In the US, if you arrive at the airport without an ID, you may still be able to fly. You'll need to fill out additional forms and answer a few questions from TSA to verify your identity.
• Keep your documents easily accessible. You'll need to present them during check-in and at security checkpoints. Avoid storing them in hard-to-reach places.

Arrive Early. The check-in process can be influenced by many factors. Therefore, plan to arrive at least two hours before your flight time. If you're flying internationally, traveling with young children, or with someone who has a disability, plan to arrive even earlier.

• If you're driving, add extra time for parking and possibly taking a shuttle to your gate.
• If it's your first time flying from a specific airport, allow additional time in case you get lost while navigating the airport.

Locate Your Airline. The first thing you need to do upon arriving at the airport is find your airline. Airports are divided into various terminals, with different airlines operating from different gates. You'll need to find the departure gate for your airline. You can figure out which gate that is by checking online, calling the airport, or asking airport staff.

• If you're taking public transportation or being dropped off at the airport, make sure to mention the name of your airline so they can drop you off at the correct terminal.

Check Your Luggage. Depending on what you're carrying, you may need to check one or two bags. In addition to your carry-on bag (such as a laptop bag or handbag), most airlines allow one checked luggage. If you're planning to check your bags, head straight to your airline's check-in counter.

• If you're not checking any bags, skip this step and proceed with the check-in process.
• Depending on the policies of each country and airline, you may be allowed to check two or more bags, but there are limits on their weight and size. Be sure to check with your airline to understand these limits.
• Be cautious not to exceed the weight limits, as checking overweight luggage could result in hefty fees.

Obtain Your Boarding Pass. To board your flight, you need a boarding pass. If you're checking luggage, hand your ID to the airline staff, and they'll print your boarding pass for you. If you aren't checking luggage, you can either ask an airline representative for help or choose a faster, more convenient method.

• Some airlines offer self-check-in kiosks. Just follow the instructions at the kiosk to print your boarding pass. In the U.S., you can use your credit card to verify your identity.
• Some airlines also offer online check-in services. In this case, 24 hours before your flight, you will receive an email from the airline with instructions on how to check-in for your flight.
• Print your boarding pass and bring it with you to the airport. If you have a smartphone, you can also open the digital boarding pass on your phone and use it as a regular pass.

Remove Your Jacket. To successfully pass through security, you'll need to remove your shoes, jacket, and belt. If you're wearing jewelry or metallic accessories, be sure to take those off as well, as they can trigger the metal detector.

• In the U.S., if you're over 75 or under 13, you won't be required to remove your shoes. You also won't have to remove your shoes if you're enrolled in the TSA Pre-Check program.
• Check your pockets! Remove any metal items like keys or coins that could set off the metal detector.
• Try to remove excess clothing while waiting. The security line moves quickly when it's your turn, so it's best to be prepared in advance. Avoid wearing sneakers with laces or shoes that are difficult to take off when you're in a rush.
• Once you've passed through security, leave the area and get dressed again. Most airports have seating areas so you won't block the security line while you finish adjusting your clothes.

Take Your Laptop Out. If you're traveling with a laptop, be sure to remove it from your bag and place it on the conveyor belt for scanning. This isn't necessary for smaller electronics like phones, Kindles, or handheld gaming consoles; you can leave them in your bag. If you're a member of the TSA Pre-Check program, you won't need to remove your laptop from your bag.

• Make sure to check all your pockets to ensure you didn't accidentally leave your phone or iPod inside.

Remove Liquids and Gels. If you're bringing liquids or gels, in many cases, you will need to take them out of your bag at the security checkpoint. For international flights, the total amount of liquids you can carry in your carry-on bag is limited to one liter and must be contained in bottles or containers no larger than 100 ml each. Keep in mind that this rule may vary from country to country, so it's best to check before your trip.

• In the U.S., TSA Pre-Check members are not required to remove liquids and gels from their bags.
• If you have open bottles (such as bottled water or soda), you will be asked to discard them. You can purchase water after passing through security.
• The best way to organize your travel-size cosmetics is to store them in a 27cmx27cm Ziplock bag. This way, when you need to remove them for security checks, you won't have to search through each individual bottle. Travel-sized cosmetics are widely available at most pharmacies.
• Make sure you don't pack any prohibited items in your bag. While you're not allowed to bring hazardous items onboard, there are also some non-hazardous items that aren't permitted in your carry-on. For a full list of items that can safely be brought onto a plane, check the website of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

Tìm cửa lên máy bay của bạn. Một khi đã kiểm tra an ninh thành công, giờ là lúc để tìm máy bay của bạn. Hãy kiểm tra thẻ lên máy bay, xác định cửa của bạn. Kiểm tra lại lần nữa trên bảng thông tin chuyến đi nằm ngay bên ngoài mọi điểm kiểm tra an ninh. Một khi đã xác nhận được số cửa, hãy đi đến đó.

• Đảm bảo rằng trước khi rời khu vực kiểm tra an ninh bạn đã có mọi thứ mình cần. Đừng vô tình để quên laptop hay áo khoác lại đó.
• Nếu gặp khó khăn trong việc xác định vị trí cửa ra máy bay, hãy nhờ nhân viên sân bay giúp đỡ.

Mua đủ thức ăn và đồ uống. Nhiều hãng hàng không không còn phục vụ thức ăn trên chuyến bay của họ. Nếu sắp phải bay một chuyến bay dài hay di chuyển trong thời gian dùng bữa, hãy mua một ít thức ăn và nước uống, mang lên máy bay cùng bạn. Hãy cố nghĩ cho những người bay cùng và đừng mua thứ gì quá nặng mùi hay bừa bộn (như trứng hay cá ngừ).

Ngồi vào ghế. Một khi đã có thức ăn và tìm được cửa ra máy bay, tất cả những gì mà bạn cần làm lúc này chỉ còn là chờ đợi. Nếu chuyến bay đến trễ hay bị hoãn do thời tiết hay trục trặc kỹ thuật, có thể bạn sẽ phải chờ một lúc. Hãy mang theo thứ gì đó giúp bạn giết thời gian và ngồi gần khu vực cửa lên máy bay để nghe rõ khi đến giờ.

• If you're flying internationally, you'll need to go through customs when leaving Vietnam. You'll also need to go through customs when you arrive at your destination and again when you return home.
• Check the website that's relevant to the country you're flying to.
• Keep in mind that traveling on long international flights is a different experience compared to domestic flights between cities. Be sure to plan accordingly.

• Never leave your belongings unattended for any reason. Don’t watch other people's belongings, and don't let strangers observe your items either. Always keep your luggage close to you.