Flying for the First Time in India: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your first flight is exciting and, if we are honest, a little nerve-wracking. Most of that worry comes from not knowing the order things happen in. The good news is that an Indian airport follows the same simple sequence every single time, and once you have seen it written out it stops being frightening. Here is exactly what happens, from the day before to the moment you walk out at the other end. I have flown these airports for years, so this is the version I wish someone had handed me before my first trip.
A day or two before you fly
Two small jobs done early will save you a lot of stress on the day.
Do web check-in. It opens about 48 hours before departure on your airline's app or website. You pick your seat and get a boarding pass on your phone, which means you can skip the check-in queue entirely if you are travelling with cabin baggage only.
Know your flight time. If you are not sure how long you will be in the air or what the clock will read when you land, run your route through the flight time calculator first. Then you can tell whoever is collecting you exactly when to be there.
Consider DigiYatra. At most big Indian airports you can register your face once in the DigiYatra app and then walk through the entry and security gates with a quick face scan instead of showing papers each time. It is optional, but it is faster once it is set up.
What to carry, and keep handy
- A government photo ID whose name matches your ticket. For domestic flights an Aadhaar, passport, driving licence or voter ID all work. For international flights you need your passport and any required visa.
- Your ticket or boarding pass. On your phone is perfectly fine.
- Any medicines in your cabin bag, with a prescription if you are flying internationally.
- Your power bank in your cabin bag only. It is not allowed in checked luggage.
- Cards or cash, a charger, and a pen for arrival or departure forms on international trips.
How early to reach the airport
For a domestic flight, aim to be at the terminal about two hours before departure. For an international flight, give yourself three to four hours. Traffic to Indian airports is hard to predict, so leave home earlier than feels necessary. Arriving with time to spare turns the whole experience from a panic into a stroll.
Step 1: Getting into the terminal
You cannot simply walk in. At the entry gate a CISF officer checks that the name on a government photo ID matches a ticket or boarding pass for a flight that day, so have both ready. If you set up DigiYatra, you go through a face-scan gate instead and skip this manual check.
Step 2: Check-in and baggage drop
If you did web check-in and have only cabin baggage, you can walk straight past the counters towards security. If you have a bag to put in the hold, go to your airline's bag drop, show your ID, and hand it over. If you did not check in online, find your airline counter, where they print your boarding pass and tag your checked bag. Cabin baggage on most Indian airlines is one piece of up to about 7 kg, so keep it light to avoid being sent back to check it in.
Step 3: Security
Security is run by the CISF. Put your cabin bag, laptop, phone, wallet, belt and any liquids into a tray for the X-ray, then walk through the scanner. A few things that are specific to Indian airports: your cabin bag tag, and at some airports your boarding pass, get a stamp here, so do not throw them away. For international flights, liquids must be in containers of 100 ml or less, carried in a clear bag. Laptops and power banks come out of your bag and go in the tray on their own.
Step 4: Finding your gate and boarding
Your boarding pass shows a gate number, but gates do change, so glance at the display screens as you walk. Aim to be at the gate before boarding begins, which is usually 30 to 45 minutes before departure. Boarding is often called by rows or zones printed on your pass. Keep your boarding pass and ID out for one last check as you step on board.
Step 5: On the plane
Find your seat, stow your bag in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you, and fasten your seatbelt. Two things tend to surprise first-timers. Your ears may feel blocked during the climb and the descent, which you can ease by yawning, swallowing or chewing gum. And the occasional bump, called turbulence, is completely normal; the crew deal with it every day. Do listen to the safety briefing, even if it looks routine.
Step 6: Landing and getting out
Stay in your seat with the belt on until the seatbelt sign switches off. If you only have cabin baggage you can head straight for the exit. If you checked a bag, follow the signs to baggage claim, match your flight to a belt number on the screen, and wait for it there. On an international arrival the order is a little different: you clear immigration with your passport first, then collect your baggage, then walk through customs. After that you are out, and the only hard part, the not-knowing, is already behind you.
A few first-timer slips worth avoiding
- Reaching late. The two-hour rule for domestic flights exists because the queues really are slow at busy times.
- A name that does not match. Book your ticket in the exact name printed on the ID you will carry.
- Packing a power bank or a lighter in checked luggage. Power banks travel in the cabin, and lighters are restricted.
- Carrying more than 100 ml of any liquid through international security.
- Binning the stamped bag tag or boarding pass before you have actually boarded.
Flying feels enormous until you have done it once, and after that it is really just a bus with a better view. Before you set off, it is worth running your trip through the flight time calculator so you know how long you will be up there and what the local time will be when you land. Safe travels.