The International Airport: Check-in, Security, Customs and Immigration

Regular travellers know the routine well.

Arrive airport....Check in....Pass Immigration....Pass Security....Wait....Fly.....

.....Arrive overseas....Pass Immigration....Collect bags....Pass Customs....Freedom!

On a good day, these steps can be quick and painless, leaving you thinking "Wow, that was fast". And then there is that 1-trip-in-10 extended nightmare, taking hours through no fault of your own.

So here are some tips on how to try and make it as painless as possible.

Checking-in

Unfortunately there is no silver bullet for checking in for a long-haul flight. You've gotta do it! But, to make it easier, try some of the following:

1. Check-in online - most international airlines now allow you to check-in online and, if you are able to, make sure you use this facility! Checking in online allows you to choose your own seat and will save you time at the airport. If your airline doesn't have online check-in, and you don't have a seat allocated on your itinerary, give the airline a call before you fly and ask for the type of seat you want (aisle/window) so that it is allocated in advance.
2. Be early! - most check-in counters for international flights open 3 hours prior to departure. Unless you have the luck of being able to check in at the business class counter, getting to the airport 3 hours (or even a little more) in advance means you'll be the first checked in. Your check-in agent is less likely to be tired and stressed, so you'll get better service.
   
3. Don't ask for upgrades - sorry folks, it just doesn't work. Asking for an upgrade will only do one thing: piss off your check-in agent. A friend of ours in the airline business has these words of advice "Don't do it. It's annoying, greedy and won't impress anyone - especially the person responsible for choosing your seat on your flight".
4. Have bag tags on and make sure your bags aren't overweight - nothing sucks more than being told to repack your bag at the airport because you've got too much stuff. Your bags also need to be identified - so whack a bag-tag on them before you leave for the airport.

Security

Security at airports is taken very seriously. People joking about having bombs or being terrorists are promptly whisked away to windowless rooms to face hours of interrogation. Airports are not places for jokes or humour....especially ones made in poor taste.

On international flights you are no longer allowed to bring lots of liquids on board. Any liquid or gel (moisturiser, toothpaste, etc) must be in a 100ml container or smaller. All of your liquids/gels must then be put into a transparent bag (like a sandwich bag) that is no bigger than 10cm x 10cm (this is what they say - we've often carried slightly larger sandwich bags - say 20cm x 20cm - and it has been fine, but always best to stick to the rules).

Our tips for passing security:

1. Pack all your liquids/gels in a sandwich bag in advance and have them in your carry-on ready to show at security
2. Don't wear lots of jewellery, big belts or big shoes for your flight - you'll probably need to remove them all to be scanned at security
3. Don't joke around or make a fuss at security. The goal is just to get through as quickly as possible.
4. Take any laptop computers out of your hand baggage - it needs to be scanned separately at security

Immigration

Passing immigration is usually straight forward. You can't make queues any shorter, but there are a few things you can do to make it easier once you do get to the front of the line.

1. Before you go - make sure you have checked if you need a visa or what paperwork you might need with you in order to clear immigration. Sometimes countries will require proof of your return airfare or your accommodation in order for you to clear immigration.
2. Have copies of the relevant paperwork with you - make sure you've got copies of your flight itineraries and accommodation details on hand (i.e. in your carry-on luggage) so that you've got them with you at immigration.
3. Complete all the paperwork before you join the queue - fill out your arrival forms on the plane before you touch down, that will save any unnecessary waiting at immigration.
4. Don't joke, don't be too friendly, just answer the question - passing immigration isn't about being friendly and nice, there is no need to be overly chatty to your immigration officer - just answer their questions and keep it simple. Some years ago a friend of AIM Overseas got into trouble in the USA because she was overly talkative to the immigration officer and ended up saying something she shouldn't have. That's a long story, and we aren't making out that you should be worried about going through immigration (you shouldn't), just make sure you've got your paperwork in order and keep it simple.

Customs

Last stop after you've passed immigration and collected your bags in customs.

Usually customs requires you to complete a declaration about what items you are bringing into a country. For the average traveller this might involve declaring some food or alcohol, but not much else.

Before making your way to customs you should make sure that you have thrown away any food you may have taken from the plane, as well as any fresh fruit and vegetables, the vast majority of which are prohibited from being brought into foreign countries for quarantine purposes.

You must fill out a customs declaration and if in doubt, declare it!

Customs officials vary in their severity around the world - in some cases they issue on-the-spot fines for failing to declare restricted items, so we always declare anything we're not sure about.

In some countries (Australia included) they X-ray all incoming bags before you are allowed to walk out of the terminal, in others you can pick your bag off a carousel and basically walk through without answering any questions or declaration at all. Just be honest, declare anything you have that you're not sure about and you will always be fine.