Essential Tips for First-Time Flyers:

Article Summary

For the same article with more personal insights check out my other article - First-Time Flying Guide: What Neurodivergent, Disabled, and Anxious Travelers Can Expect + Author Insights.

Disclaimer

Please remember, I am not an expert & I’ve flown exactly twice, at night, using one airline. This means I haven’t experienced all airports or situations. I was not flying alone & I did not have a TSA Pre-Check. I had travel companions that helped with parts of the process. As a result, I may have missed some details. I noted any details that I was aware of missing. I also didn’t have a TSA Pre-check. Below is my experience.

Step 1: Boarding Passes & Bag Check

1. Get your boarding pass & luggage tag from the kiosk.
2. Check your luggage

Step 2: Security

1. ID Verification
2. Search/Scanning of carry-on

• Take off shoes & jackets, and place these in one of the provided bins.
• Place all electronics the size of a cell phone or larger into a separate bin
• Place your carry-on bag on the belt with the bins from the above steps.

3. Scanning you

• Method 1 –A Metal Detector
• Method 2 – Body Scanner

Note: You can also be “randomly” selected for additional screening. While the official reason for this is “to maintain unpredictability & deter potential threats” it is important to note that many people have shared experiences of racial profiling in this “random” process. I did not get selected.

3. Retrieve your items & head to a nearby bench to put your shoes & jacket on. This is also a good time to put your electronics back.

Step 3: Find your gate

Match the number on your boarding pass with the signs at the airport. It’ll look like a waiting room near a labeled door (That’s the gate). This is where you wait until it's time to board.

Step 4: Boarding

Wait until they call your gate and group number. In addition to the group number, we had a boarding number on our boarding pass. Line up in order of that boarding number once your group is called.

Getting on the Plane

At the end of the hallway there is a part that has a small gap, kind of like an elevator has a gap and then the plane.

Once you stepped onto the actual plane it was very similar to getting onto a bus. Our flight had “first come, first serve” seating. Once you find your seat you put your bag either above in the storage cubbies or beneath the seat in front of you.

Step 5: Safety Brief

They go over things like when it's okay to stand, where the emergency exits are, etc.

Step 6: Take off

The plane will move a little (like how a car does when you park and take your foot off the brake). Then the wings will move and they will start moving fast. Kind of feels like the up of a rollercoaster but the feeling settles once you're high enough in the air.

Step 7: Flying

Step 8: Landing & Getting luggage

1. Landing - So for us the plane was dark & they decided to make it painfully bright & move the wings but they didn’t change anything besides that for a while. Landing as a whole takes a while.

During our landing, the plane had to turn in the sky to line up to land and that felt weird. After that, they moved the wings again and then we started landing. Landing is a very bumpy process or at least our landing was very bumpy.

Getting your Luggage - If you checked your luggage you need to find baggage claim and wait for your luggage.

Important Note: If you are physically disabled this may be difficult for you, in my case the belt never stopped moving and went relatively quickly.

Glossary

Checking Luggage – Having your luggage put under the plane in the cargo area rather than being brought with you onto the plane. An example of this is often large suitcases.

Carry On – Luggage that is “carried on” the plane with you, such as a book bag.

Boarding Pass - It's functionally your ticket, it has your name, flight number, and date & time of departure.

FAQ

1. What happens if they find a prohibited item?

Prohibited items are either confiscated/thrown away or in the case of illegal items they are referred to local law enforcement. (Note: Airports operate under federal law).

Note about Marijuana & Other Drugs: The TSA “isn’t looking for” drugs like marijuana, however, if they are found they will contact and refer to local law enforcement.

2. What does turbulence feel like?

A good friend told me that turbulence feels like driving on potholes and he was right.

3. What’s it like to look out the window?

It was dark for us but looking out over the city once we could see it was quite beautiful.

4. What if I have to pick up a rental car?

Airports often have shuttles to rental car options, ours did.

Sensory Notes

• The wings are loud & mechanical sounding & move
• The seats are small and cramped
• The plane turning feels weird
• The plane sounds like white noise the ENTIRE time
• There is a squishy part of the plane when you first go on, it's a seal or something, I accidentally stepped on it and the texture was the WORST.
• Take off is just a lot of stimuli in general
• Your ears will pop during take-off, mine popped the entire flight.

Recommendations:

• Wear comfy clothes & easy-to-remove shoes.
• Bring entertainment that doesn't require internet unless you want to pay extra for internet on the flight.
• Bring a snack for the airport, airport food is EXPENSIVE.
• Fly with someone if you can.
• Bring a tiny blanket for your carry-on, planes can get cold.
• Bring wired headphones as a backup to your wired ones, my Bluetooth wouldn't connect once we were in the air.

Resources for People with Disabilities

TSA Assisted Screening – Passenger Support Specialist (PSS)

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: Not all airports directly participate but this is a global project operating off of an “if you know you know” principle.

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