✈️What to consider for a plane ride?

Airline

Each airline has its own flavour and there exist hundreds of them around the world!

Class

Different levels of luxury:

• First-class

  • rare now on most commercial airlines, as the "really rich" now just use private jets

• Business

  • the "new first-class"

  • at the front of the plane for priority boarding

  • more legroom and comfier seats

  • some may have sofa-bed style seats for sleeping

  • better food and drink options

  • less crowding around washrooms

  • more attentive staff

  • usually >2x the price of Economy

• "Premium Economy"

  • Economy class, but with more legroom and (maybe) comfier seats

  • located between Business and Economy

  • usually 1.5x to 2x the price of Economy

• Economy

  • where the "masses" sit

  • often crowded and uncomfortable seats (especially for sleeping)

  • food and drink are basic but can be decent

  • experience will vary depending on airline

• Basic

  • some airlines may include this class which offers the seat at a reduced price with less baggage allowance

Pre-flight process and tips

• Pre-security

  • on-line check-in allows check-in even before the flight

  • otherwise, offline check-in counters still very much exist

    • checked baggage tagging takes place here (if necessary)

    • get the printed boarding pass

• Security

  • put all personal belongings on a tray (including wallet and phone)

    • valuables should go in a large backpack, if possible

  • some places make passengers take off shoes and belts

  • laptop computers and tablets may/must go on separate trays

  • oversized items: consult the airport and airline

• Post-security and pre-boarding

  • locate the gate number as the terminal can be a maze

  • set an alarm for boarding time (not the flight time)

  • optional activities after that:

    • duty free shopping

    • visit the lounge

    • dining and drinking

    • read and/or listen to music

    • do not nap or missing the flight might happen

• Boarding

  • they will board people based on boarding class and special needs

  • make use of overhead storage (if necessary)

  • wait for middle-seat or window-seat people

  • check the in-flight menu and other things inside the seat pocket in front

• Flight

  • safety drill

  • aircraft taxi + take-off + ascent

  • in-flight food

  • in-flight entertainment

    • remember the days when everyone had to watch the same movie?

  • aircraft descent + landing + taxiing

• Post-flight (each only if necessary)

  • making the connection flight

  • duty free shopping

  • baggage claim

  • customs

  • exit the airport and find transit to city

Other things to consider

• Codesharing

  • when two or more airlines share a single flight

    • find out which airline actually provides the plane and staffing

• Airport codes

  • know the abbreviated version of the destination airports (e.g. Toronto = YYZ)