- \n
- France and Canada (both directions) with Air Canada<\/a><\/li>\n
- France and Australia (both directions) via Ulysse<\/a><\/li>\n
- France and New Zealand (both directions) via Ulysse<\/a><\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
Contents<\/h2>\n
- \n
- Preparation<\/a><\/li>\n
- Day of travel<\/a><\/li>\n
- Boarding<\/a><\/li>\n
- During the flight<\/a><\/li>\n
- After landing<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Preparation<\/h2>\n
1. Check your baggage allowance<\/h3>\n
Make sure you know how many bags your airline and ticket class allow you to bring. This is important because if you exceed the allowance (by number, weight, or volume), you will be asked to pay extra.<\/p>\n
There are three types of bags, from smallest to biggest:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Personal item.<\/strong> All airlines and all ticket types allow you to bring a small personal aboard the aircraft. This is typically a purse, duffel bag, or backpack \u2013 basically whatever that can fit underneath the seat in front of you. Note that duty-free purchases at the airport do not count toward this allowance, as they are not considered personal items.<\/li>\n
- Carry-ons.<\/strong> Standard economy tickets generally allow you to bring a carry-on suitcase into the cabin as well. They must fit into the overhead compartment of the cabin. The weight and size limits vary by airline and itinerary, so make sure that your suitcase isn\u2019t too big or packed too heavy. Budget airlines and economy basic tickets usually do NOT include allowance for a carry-on. <\/li>\n
- Checked baggage.<\/strong> These are the largest suitcases or bags that go in the cargo of the plane. If your ticket includes allowance, just make sure to not exceed the weight limit, which is typically 23kg. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You should label all of your bags, checked or otherwise, with your name and contact information, in case they get lost in transit. <\/p>\n
2. Don\u2019t pack prohibited items<\/h3>\n
Do not pack the following items in your carry-on bag or personal item because they are not allowed in the cabin:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Sharp objects such as knives (Swiss army knife included), scissors, and razors. They must be put into your checked bag.<\/li>\n
- Liquids are limited to containers of 100 ml each up to 1 litre in total, and must be placed in a clear plastic bag. Larger liquids must be put into your checked bag. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So, what should you pack in your carry-on? Basically, anything fragile and\/or important such as electronics, ID and travel documents, medication etc., things of value that you want to keep close to you or items that you may need during your flight. <\/p>\n
Keep your liquids and electronics accessible because you will be asked to place them in a separate bin when going through security screening.<\/p>\n
![\"Conseils](\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/conseils-pour-prendre-lavion-pour-la-premiere-fois-5-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Check in to your flight<\/h3>\n
Checking in for your flight is mandatory. There are two ways to do so:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Online.<\/strong> You should receive an email from your airline 48 to 24 hours before the flight with instructions on how to do so. You may be asked to indicate the number of bags, your meal preference, and choice of seat. <\/li>\n
- In-person.<\/strong> If for whatever reason you can\u2019t check in online, you can check in at the airline counter in the airport the day of your flight before heading to the security checkpoint. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
At the end of the process, you will get a boarding pass with your flight and seat number, the boarding and departure time, maybe the gate number and a QR code. <\/p>\n
If you want, you can print your boarding pass, but at a minimum, save your boarding pass on your phone for easy offline access.<\/p>\n
![\"Conseils](\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/conseils-pour-prendre-lavion-pour-la-premiere-fois-6-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDay of travel<\/h2>\n
1. Dress appropriately<\/h3>\n
While you should obviously wear whatever you\u2019re comfortable in, we advise that you:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Bring at least a light jacket or long sleeve shirt. This is because even if it might be warm outside, the inside of the aircraft is air conditioned and so can be quite chilly. <\/li>\n
- Wear shoes that can be easily removed at security checkpoints. <\/li>\n<\/li>\n
2. Arrive at the airport early<\/h3>\n
When leaving home, make sure to take traffic into account. Airlines typically recommend arriving three hours before an international flight. It\u2019s better to be early at the gate and wait around than to run through the airport or even miss your flight.<\/p>\n
Drive to the right terminal for your flight. This should be indicated on your boarding pass. Otherwise, type your flight number into Google and you\u2019ll see the terminal in the search results too. <\/p>\n
![\"Conseils](\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/conseils-pour-prendre-lavion-pour-la-premiere-fois-3-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Drop off checked bags<\/h3>\n
Once you\u2019ve arrived at the right terminal, there are two possible next steps:<\/p>\n
- \n
- If you have checked bags to drop off or still need to check in to your flight, then head to the airline counter. Your luggage will be weighed, tagged and you will be issued a paper boarding pass. Then you will head to the security checkpoint.<\/li>\n
- If you already have your boarding pass and don\u2019t have any bags to check, you can head straight to the security checkpoint.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
This is when you\u2019ll have to say goodbye to friends and family because only boarding pass holders are allowed at the security checkpoint. <\/p>\n
![\"Conseils](\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/depart-canada-1-1-1024x610-1024x610.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n4. Go through security<\/h3>\n
The airport security checkpoint can be the most stressful part of the journey for first-time travellers. Don\u2019t worry about it too much, mistakes happen and the airport staff are understanding.<\/p>\n
Make sure to empty your water bottle before joining the queue. <\/p>\n
You will be told what you need to do, but in general you should be prepared to:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Show your boarding pass<\/li>\n
- Take out your laptop, tablet, and liquids (max 100 mL each)<\/li>\n
- Remove your shoes, belt, and jacket <\/li>\n
- Empty your pockets <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Once it\u2019s your turn, walk through the metal detector.<\/p>\n
The bins with your personal items should be waiting for you on the other side of the metal detector. Don\u2019t forget to grab everything.<\/p>\n
Next, find your boarding gate.<\/p>\n
![\"Conseils](\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/conseils-pour-prendre-lavion-pour-la-premiere-fois-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBoarding<\/h2>\n
If your boarding gate number isn\u2019t indicated on your boarding pass, then you can find it by checking one of the many departure screens in the airport. <\/p>\n
Boarding usually starts about one hour before departure time. Pay attention to public announcements as well just in case your gate changes or your name is called for whatever reason.<\/p>\n
Most airlines have a boarding policy with different zones. Yours will be printed on your boarding pass. Passengers with the highest priority will be called to board first.<\/p>\n
When it\u2019s your turn, show your boarding pass and passport. <\/p>\n
Find your seat, stow your carry-on in the overhead bin or under the front seat, and buckle up. Time to enjoy the flight!<\/p>\n
![\"Conseils](\"https:\/\/pvtistes.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/conseils-pour-prendre-lavion-pour-la-premiere-fois-2-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDuring the flight<\/h2>\n
1. Food and beverage<\/h3>\n
A hot meal and a snack are usually served on all long-haul flights. You will be offered water, soft drinks and maybe a glass of wine. Food and drinks are complimentary in this case.<\/p>\n
On shorter flights or budget airlines, there\u2019s a paid menu (usually simple snacks). Pack your own food to avoid disappointingly high prices; it\u2019s perfectly okay to bring a sandwich, cookies, crackers or chips, etc. It won\u2019t get flagged at security.<\/p>\n
Note that some countries (such as Australia) don\u2019t allow you to take certain foods through customs, including many fresh fruits and airplane food. Eat during the flight or throw it away when you arrive.<\/p>\n
2. Sleep<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019re determined to get some sleep, bring earplugs, an eye mask, and a neck pillow. Lights should be dimmed at certain periods during the flight. <\/p>\n
Some airlines offer a complimentary comfort kit including a pillow and a blanket, but not all of them.<\/p>\n
3. Entertainment<\/h3>\n
Most international airlines have a built-in touch screen in front of you with preloaded movies, shows, music, games etc. Earbuds are usually provided for free. <\/p>\n
Alternatively, bring a book or an e-reader, or watch your own movies on a tablet or a phone. Remember to download anything you need before the flight. Or you could always pay for in-flight wifi.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t
- In-person.<\/strong> If for whatever reason you can\u2019t check in online, you can check in at the airline counter in the airport the day of your flight before heading to the security checkpoint. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Online.<\/strong> You should receive an email from your airline 48 to 24 hours before the flight with instructions on how to do so. You may be asked to indicate the number of bags, your meal preference, and choice of seat. <\/li>\n
- Carry-ons.<\/strong> Standard economy tickets generally allow you to bring a carry-on suitcase into the cabin as well. They must fit into the overhead compartment of the cabin. The weight and size limits vary by airline and itinerary, so make sure that your suitcase isn\u2019t too big or packed too heavy. Budget airlines and economy basic tickets usually do NOT include allowance for a carry-on. <\/li>\n
- Day of travel<\/a><\/li>\n
- France and Australia (both directions) via Ulysse<\/a><\/li>\n