Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on May 9

Right, you are nearly there. You are through all the security and paperwork checks - now relax, do some shopping and get ready to board the plane…….

Departure lounge
It is in here that you can shop tax free. There are of course limits to the amount of certain items that you can purchase depending on where you are going, but you must also remember the limits of coming home. You may well be able to purchase 5 litres of whisky where you are going, but if you are planning to bring it home and ‘home’ only allows 2 litres tax free, you will have to declare this and pay the difference - i.e. - it won’t be tax free.

You cannot carry open alcohol on planes and there are also total amount limits and carrying rules for nearly everything available in the airport, and these must be considered before going on a spending spree here.

Find out the rules before you go, as some airports allow you to buy things tax free here which they will retain for you until your return. This way you get to buy loads of things tax free here that you don’t then have to carry on holiday with you affecting your baggage weight on return. Some airports also off a small amount of tax free goods after you have cleared customs on the way home.

One essential thing to buy however is at least 1 litre of bottled water for on board, as you need to stay hydrated. Although you can buy all sorts of drinks on board - but you will certainly pay a premium (a litre bottle on a flight I went on was $10/£5). Depending on your personal tastes you should also consider having a book or two, a puzzle book or some magazines to read on-board. Also some headache tablets, sleeping tablets etc, as you cannot buy these on board.

Departure gate
There will be monitors all over the departure lounge detailing all the flights leaving that day in time order (based on original departure time), and yours will be on there as your original flight time approaches and will move towards the number 1 spot.

This equipment will also detail anything about your flight that could affect you or your departure time, so watch these as often as you can as your flight gets closer. It will show if your flight is delayed, usually offering an alternate departure time, and it will also detail what gate you flight will be leaving from as soon as one is allocated.

Once the gate number is shown, most people will start making their way over there - as they can sometimes be a 20 minute walk away - and most larger airports show you the average walking time. There are always toilets on the way to the gates, but there are not always further shops so make sure you have got all your essentials before heading off.

There is always plenty of seating at your gate too, and you will have to wait there until the plane is ready for boarding. They usually call the premier customers on first and sometimes those with children or wheelchairs after. They then load the plane in row order usually in blocks from the back, and you all show your passports and boarding pass here, walk down the tunnel or across the runway to the steps and as you enter the plane, you show your boarding pass again so the stewards can show you where your seat is.

Are you lost?
Don’t worry if you get lost or delayed on your way to the gate as they will usually individually call for ‘missing’ passengers over the tannoy system advising you of all the details you need to find you plane.

If in doubt about anything, you can always ask any member of staff who can call the relevant support team to get you there. Airports also offer little buggies around the airport if you have problems with mobility, just make yourself known after security.

Now for the plane itself….. so see Part 3 for in-flight advice…..