Flying to your summer vacation: The excitement before your vacation is great, but getting to the beach can also be stressful. Here are some tips for a smooth start at the airport.
Sun, beach and faraway countries attract countless people to airports all year round. Although the anticipation of the holiday is great, spending many hours at the airport can be quite nerve-wracking. Here are a few tips to help you start your holiday without too much stress.
Luggage: well prepared for the trip
To avoid stress at the airport, it is advisable to pack your suitcases a few days before departure and also prepare your hand luggage. This way, holidaymakers do not forget any essential items and do not have to search for their passport in their apartment just before departure, for example.
The German Aviation Association (BDL) advises in a statement that luggage should be made as conspicuous as possible – for example with a luggage strap or sticker. If the suitcase is lost, this can help with identification. Luggage should therefore be labelled twice with the name, address and telephone number – concealed on the outside with a luggage tag and inside the suitcase in case the tag falls off. Travellers are strongly advised to keep the sticker from the baggage drop-off. This is seen as proof that the luggage has been checked in.
Arrival: When should holidaymakers be at the airport?
Holidaymakers should also plan in advance how they can get to the airport on time and, ideally, with as little hassle as possible. If you are driving your own car, you can reserve a parking space online, for example. If you prefer to take the train, you can choose the appropriate connections in advance.
According to the BDL, holidaymakers can find out about the latest advice on arrival and check-in on the airport, airline or federal police websites before they start their journey. In general, many airlines and airports recommend arriving at the airport around 2 to 2.5 hours before departure – for long-haul flights, 3 hours is often recommended.
Check-in: Drop off your luggage without disruption
The BDL emphasizes in the communication that, especially on days when school holidays begin, more time should be planned for the check-in process and security checks, as there may be longer waiting times.
If you want to check in at the counter, you should have your ID and travel documents ready in your hand luggage. According to the BDL, having your documents ready as you approach the counter can save time. It is also recommended that you keep any necessary medication and valuables in your hand luggage and not in your suitcase.
In many cases, travelers can find it useful to check in online and use baggage drop-off machines. This often makes it possible to check in a day before departure. Travelers can print out their boarding pass in advance or send it to their mobile phone. Some airlines also offer check-in the day before, which can put larger families or travel groups in a more relaxed mood, as they no longer have to worry about their baggage on the day of departure.
However, Lufthansa points out on its website that in rare cases mobile boarding passes cannot be issued due to official requirements. In these cases, customers receive a check-in confirmation. In these cases, the boarding pass is issued at the counter.
Security check: This is what the Federal Police recommends
It is also advisable to arrive at the airport early for the air security check. The Federal Police advises on their website that you should be at the airport security check at least 90 minutes before departure at the airports in Berlin, Bremen, Dresden, Erfurt, Hanover, Hamburg, Leipzig, Saarbrücken and Stuttgart. At the airports in Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn, the time limit is at least 120 minutes.
Passengers are only allowed to bring hand luggage for inspection and must first check in any additional luggage – including liquids over 100 milliliters. Passengers are allowed to take one transparent and resealable 1-liter bag per person, which can contain individual liquids under 100 milliliters. According to the Federal Police, the check with the security scanners on site – in Germany no body images are created and no data is stored – is voluntary; alternatively, a manual check is carried out.
The contents of trouser pockets, wristwatches and mobile phones should be kept in the jacket or hand luggage. Bags, jackets, pouches and larger electronic devices such as laptops go in the designated luggage trays. The items in the tray are x-rayed. A follow-up inspection may be necessary here, while travelers must keep their distance. Inspectors are also allowed to manually search the luggage for any prohibited items. Travelers may also be asked to prove that electronic devices are working.
Prohibited items that are banned from public areas can, for example, be left in the vehicle, handed over to people known to the traveler, disposed of or – if possible – checked in as luggage by the airline. Depending on the individual case, carrying an unauthorized item can constitute an administrative offence or even a criminal offence.
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