What does ODA mean on the board at the airport? Online travel magazine - Decoding the inscriptions on airport boards! Questions related to baggage and hand luggage

An airplane is considered the safest and most convenient way to travel, especially over long distances, when you need to cross the ocean or reach the opposite edge of a huge continent. Tourists often encounter phrases in English at the airport whose meaning they do not know. What basic terms exist, what do they mean and where can you find them? This article will help you figure it out.

Common terms in English: what they mean

What English words can tourists encounter in an airfield, airport or train station building?

First of all, “airport” – in fact, the “airport” itself:

• “waiting area” - a similar phrase means a waiting area where passengers can rest if they arrived before boarding;
• “conveyor belt” - after checking the documents, employees will ask the passenger to place the checked luggage - “baggage conveyor”;
• “shedule” - boarding schedule or, more simply, a schedule, information there is regularly updated and delays or rescheduled flights are immediately visible;
• “delay” – delay, if this word is suddenly displayed on the board along with the name of the required flight, it means it will be late;
• « estimated" translation into Russian at the airport - approximate time. Usually found on the board next to the name of the flight, which means this is the approximate (not exact yet) departure/departure time;

Signs at the airport

• “departure” – departure, which means the time of the expected departure of the aircraft is indicated;
• “seat” – a place, this word can be used by employees inside the aircraft, showing the passenger where to sit;
• “call off”/ “call in” – recall/call;
• « departed" translated into Russian at the airport means departure, so the plane takes off or departs at the time indicated there;
• “leave” – to leave or leave, may relate to luggage/carry-on luggage or a flight;
• “transfer” – transfer, this can be clarified by the cashier or the employee checking the presented documents;
• “seat belt” – each passenger must check the presence and functionality of the seat belt;
• “till” - usually this word is accompanied by another - “until” or “while”;
• “drop” is the standard translation of “fall”, but if we relate it to terms found at the airport, it means “decline”, used as “a plane is descending”.

Important! Regardless of the specific language, the procedure for accepting documents and checking luggage is the same everywhere. Therefore, it is better to get a ticket, passport, coupon in advance and keep them nearby. If on the board next to the name of the required flight there are terms such as “delay” or “estimated”, you should clarify their meaning with an employee. Perhaps the flight was delayed for some unknown reason.

Where which terms are used at the airport?

The word "landed", often used with others, means "landing". For example, landed translation at the airport means that the plane landed (landed): “aircraft landed” - “the plane landed.”

“Booking office” is an expression meaning “ticket office”, where you can purchase or change an existing ticket. More often, a ticket is purchased online in advance, but it happens when flights are postponed or a person changes his own plans. To make an online purchase at the airport there is a service “book online” - “booking via the Internet”.

It doesn’t matter how the tickets were originally purchased, but in addition to them, any passenger will need a “boarding pass”, in other words, a “boarding pass”.

Attention! Without a coupon, you will not be allowed through “check-in for the flight” - in English this is “check-in for the flight”.

Most airlines allow passengers to print coupons at the same time as purchasing a ticket. When purchasing a ticket, you should clarify in advance whether a return ticket is required. The cashier at the airport will ask this in English.

After checking in, the passenger goes to the “custom service” customs control hall, where he may be asked to show his bag and go through a special arch. Customs officers ask standard questions: do passengers have dangerous/prohibited items, is it possible to inspect their luggage. They will ask you to get everything metal.

Registration

Landing. When customs is finally cleared, the next step is plane boarding. You should carefully monitor all advertisements. For example, if the sign at the airport displays “aircraft landed” and for some time, then the plane landed at that time.

“Customs” is the place where customs control will be carried out. The sign is located at the entrance to the customs area. This happens in air terminals, airports and train stations. Required to screen passengers departing/arriving from international flights.

“Concession stand” - here you can relax, have a snack, especially when you have a long and difficult journey ahead - “snack bar”. Such words are located in front of the entrance to small cafes or bars inside the airport building.

“Lavatory” is a toilet, the word is found inside an airport or an airplane. If you can’t find it yourself, you can check with the employees there.

Interesting! It is possible to get lost inside the airport if you do not know what the identification signs mean. However, any building of this kind is provided with a floor plan; in addition, you can ask the security guard or information desk employee.

Signposts

What inscriptions can be on the board next to the flight indication:

• “boarding” means boarding is in progress;
• “cancelled” – sometimes you see “diverted” instead – it means the flight has been cancelled;
• “check in” – registration has clearly begun, usually the inscription is supplemented with the number of the desired registration desk;
• “scheduled” - sometimes “on time” is seen instead - everything is fine, the plane takes off as usual, according to the schedule;
• “delayed” – the word is supplemented with time (50 m late) – the flight is delayed for the time indicated there;
• “departed” - alas, the flight has departed;
• “final” – sometimes this word is indicated with time, which means the final time is visible.

So, the order of words and types of inscriptions may vary. Different airports have their own rules. However, this does not change the meaning of the basic terms. So a landed translation on the airport board will always help the traveler catch his flight on time and not get lost in this airport “kitchen”. It is also worth remembering that there are two displays, one is needed for arrivals, the second for departures.

Finding your way around an unfamiliar airport can be a daunting task. The airport board is an important source of flight information. Let's try to figure out why it is needed and how to understand the inscriptions on the display.

Please note that there are always two displays - one for arriving flights, the other for departing flights. It is advisable not to confuse them. All inscriptions on the scoreboard are usually in the local language and in international English. We will focus on it.

Arrival board – Arrivals, departure board – Departures. The Arrivals board contains information about all flights departing over the next few hours. This data is constantly updated.

Departures departure board

The Destination or To column indicates the direction of the flight, i.e. city ​​and sometimes the name of the airport where the flight flies (Via – transfer point). The Flight column contains the flight number. The name of the air carrier operating the flight or their logo is also often indicated. Another important point is the column with the flight status (Status/Remarks) and the number of the Gate, called Gates, through which the boarding exit occurs.

Let's take a closer look at the Status column. The following signs may appear next to your flight:

Boarding – boarding in progress;

Canceled or Diverted – flight cancelled;

Check-in – check-in for the flight has begun, you can go to the check-in counter; Often when this message appears, the number of the counter where you need to check in for this flight also appears.

Scheduled or On time – means that the plane will take off according to the schedule;

Delayed – the flight is delayed (the number of minutes can be specified - for example, 40m late);

Departed or Airborne – the flight has already departed;

Gate open or Go to date – the boarding gate is open; after this inscription Boarding appears - boarding has begun; after the gate is opened, its number appears on the scoreboard - usually the gate is designated by letters with serial numbers, for example, A1, A2, A5 and B7, B8, etc.

Gate closing or Last call or Final Call – registration closes in a few minutes, you should hurry;

Gate closed – check-in for the flight has been completed.

Arrivals board

This board resembles a departure board. Only here in the Destination column the city from where the flight arrives is indicated. The scheduled arrival time (Scheduled) and the actual arrival time (Actual) and flight status are also often indicated.

Possible statuses:

Canceled or Diverted – flight cancelled;

Contact airline - contact the airline operating your flight; its details may have changed.

Scheduled or On time – means that the plane will arrive according to the schedule;

Delayed – flight is delayed;

Expected or Estimated – the plane is on its way, the estimated time of arrival is indicated;

Landed—the plane has already landed, the landing time is shown.

Please note that the displays at different airports are different, and, accordingly, the inscriptions may also be different. But taking a closer look at the board, it’s easy to understand where exactly the information of interest is indicated and act in accordance with it.

Detailed step-by-step instructions with photos for those who are wondering, what to do at the airport, what information you need to pay attention to, what signs to follow and what they mean. Instructions included photos and translation into Russian of English inscriptions,signs and scoreboards, which are often found at airports.

It is very easy to understand the logic of airports, since they are designed according to the same principle. It is enough to follow two rules:

1. follow the signs,
2. Check with airport staff for directions if in doubt.

Even if you don't speak English, a printed ticket and boarding pass for the plane will tell you everything you need, and you will always be shown the right direction in international sign language.

Step-by-step instructions “What to do at the airport”:

Prepare documents and luggage for the trip

Check your tickets carefully, namely, the date and time of departure of the aircraft. The time on the ticket 01:20 (or 01:20 AM) means that the plane departs at night at one twenty, and 13:20 (or 01:20 PM) means it departs during the day. The time is 00:15 (or 12:15 AM) - this is a departure almost at midnight, namely, at 15 minutes past midnight.

Print out your return flight tickets. In some countries, you may be required to present your return tickets during security checks and passport control. At the moment, all air tickets are electronic; they are sent by email and contain the necessary information about passengers and the flight.

Divide your belongings into luggage and carry-on luggage. The tickets indicate the maximum weight, quantity and size allowed by the airline. It is better not to exceed the limits so as not to pay extra money for overweight or not to overpack your suitcases at the airport. If this information is not on your ticket, find the baggage rules on the airline's website. Be sure to familiarize yourself with what you cannot take on a plane: checked luggage and carry-on luggage.

Free up space in your luggage - take e-books on your trip.

Check that you have all the necessary documents(passports, tickets, travel vouchers or hotel reservations), mobile phones and money. A swimsuit forgotten at home is nothing compared to a forgotten passport or money.

Plan your departure to the airport taking into account that you need to be at the airport two hours (and in some countries 3 hours!) before departure. Residents of megacities should also be aware of traffic congestion and plan their departure time accordingly. You can book a transfer to the airport on the Kiwi Taxi and Intui Travel websites.

Remember that many airlines have the ability to advance register yourself via the Internet (online). This is very convenient - it will allow you to choose a seat in the cabin and eliminate long queues for check-in at the airport (especially if you are traveling without luggage).

Arrive at the correct airport and terminal

Arrive at the correct airport and terminal. There may be two, or even three, airports in a city. At large airports there are several terminals and it is important to immediately look at the ticket and drive to the correct terminal. Please note that the terminals may be located at a considerable distance from each other, so it is better to immediately drive up to the correct one.

At the airport you need "Departure" zone. On the electronic board labeled “Departures”, find your flight and the check-in number for your flight (which is usually listed in the check-in column).

The flight (“Flight”) is indicated on the ticket as a combination of Latin letters and numbers. For example: SU 232 or PG 0277.

Check in for your flight

Approaching the registration desk indicated on the board, check in for your flight: check in your luggage and receive a boarding pass (for more details, see the article - What does a boarding pass for an airplane look like?). This is where they determine where you will sit on the plane. If you want to sit near the window (porthole), then you need to voice your desire to the employee conducting the registration.

At the check-in desk you may have your passport checked and asked if you have a visa and the documents required to enter the country.

If you have already checked in for your flight online (via the Internet) or using self-service machines at the airport, then at the check-in counter you will only need to check in your luggage and receive a luggage tag.

Go through control (passport and customs control, aviation security)

With boarding pass and passport follow the signs "International Departure" for passport control (“Passport control” or “Immigration”) and customs control (“Custom control”).

At passport control ("Passport control" or "Immigration") you will need to present your passport and boarding pass for the plane. In some countries, you may also be asked to show permission for the child to travel abroad from the second parent or any other document in accordance with current legislation.

If you are a tourist and are not bringing any valuables, then it will go unnoticed for you. The list of what needs to be declared differs in different countries and the rules are spelled out on the websites of the corresponding airports. As a rule, personal jewelry worn by a traveler is not subject to declaration, as well as a personal camera, laptop and other equipment with signs of being used.

Moving in the flow of other passengers, pass the aviation security check. Here you will be asked, at a minimum, to remove metal objects from your pockets, put your laptop in a separate tray, and remove your belt (sometimes also your shoes). And all this is drawn in pictures before the control. Anything prohibited will be taken away from you or you will be forced to return to the check-in counter and check it in as your luggage.

Walk around the departure area and duty-free shops

Hooray! Shops and shopping!... But control yourself. If you are flying with a transfer, pay attention! When transferring, you will most likely be checked again for air security and taken away all liquids with a volume of more than 100 ml... including the purchased bottle of whiskey (cognac, vodka, gin, etc.). Cases were recorded of the entire team draining a bottle of cognac, as it was a pity to throw it away.

Also remember that almost all countries have customs rules that limit the amount of imported alcohol and cigarettes (for example, strong alcoholic drinks with a volume of more than 1 liter per adult cannot be imported into Singapore).

"Duty-free" means duty-free trade. Usually in such stores the prices for certain groups of goods (alcohol, cigarettes, equipment) are lower than in regular stores.

Arrive on time to board the plane

Check the board in the departure area- check the departure time and the gate number (“GATE”) - the exit where boarding will take place (this is a combination of letters and numbers, for example: B15, F22, or just numbers).

Some airports are so huge that you need to walk 20-30 minutes to get to remote gates. It is recommended to check how far away your gate is ("GATE"), and only then enjoy the benefits of duty-free shopping.

It is important to remember that the plane can fly without passengers getting lost in the shops. And it can cost a fair amount of money and lost vacation days.

Follow the scoreboard and arrive on time to board at the correct gate. Sometimes numbers change, so the board, and not the numbers on the boarding pass, is the most reliable information.

Translation into Russian of the inscriptions on the board in the departure area of ​​the airport:

• “Open” and “Boarding” - the exit is open and the plane is boarding;
• “Last Call” - the last call (the names of those who are late can be announced over the speakerphone, but this is not necessary);
• “Gate Closing” - the exit is closing;
• “Gate Closed” - boarding is completed and the exit is closed.

Find your way around the plane and find your seat

Before boarding, airline workers tear off part of the boarding pass and you are left with a small stub on which your seat number in the aircraft cabin is indicated: for example, 22A or 5B. The number is the row, and the letter is the designation of the seat in the row (22A means row 22, seat A).

In the aircraft cabin, the seat numbers are indicated at the top - above the seats.

Enjoy the flight

Before takeoff, the aircraft crew will conduct a safety briefing and announce that all phones must be turned off throughout the flight (smartphones just need to be switched to “air” or “flight” mode).

Smoking on board (including in the toilets) is strictly prohibited.

It is prohibited to use electronic devices during takeoff and landing. Therefore, players, e-books, and laptops will have to be put aside until the plane gains altitude.

To prevent your ears from getting stuffy during takeoff and landing, you can:

• dissolving lollipop,
• drink water or another drink,
• or yawn heartily, opening your mouth wide.

If you have a flight of more than 4 hours, I recommend reading the article Long flights in comfort: tips from experienced travelers (for example, on flights to Thailand). If you are not a citizen of the country of arrival, you must fill out the card. To fill it out, in addition to a pen, you will need your passport details, flight number (of the plane on which you are arriving in the country), address of accommodation during your vacation (the city and name of the first hotel is enough) and the date of departure from the country.

Getting off the plane, follow the sign "Arrival". Further along the route of the flow of arriving passengers, signs “Immigration” or “Visa on arrival” will appear for those countries where a visa is issued upon arrival (for example: visa on arrival in Sri Lanka).

Complete "Immigration" (sometimes called "Passport control"), where they will stamp your arrival in your passport and give you part of your migration card. It must be kept until departure from the country (put it in your passport).

In accordance with the signs with the image of a suitcase or the inscription "Baggage" come through to the baggage claim area. The display will indicate the number of the “Belt” on which the suitcases from your flight will appear.

After receiving the suitcases, all passengers move to the exit ("Exit"), passing through customs control ("Custom control"). Even before your trip, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the customs rules of the country where you are traveling - which categories of goods are prohibited from being imported into the country.

If you are sure that there is nothing to declare, feel free to go through the “green” corridor (it is actually marked with green stickers on the floor). If in doubt, ask a customs officer (sometimes it is better to hand over a prohibited item than pay a $500 fine).

Getting from the airport to the hotel

After passing through customs control you will find yourself in arrival area ("Arrival hall"), where you can be met by a guide of the host company, a taxi or friends... it’s already like who planned it.

Travel comfortably - order a transfer from the airport to your hotel.

One of the best ways to get to know a new city or resort is excursions with locals who speak Russian.

Firstly, rejoice and look forward to a pleasant flight and a change of scenery. Secondly, be careful and catch your flight.
And now more details.

BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT

1) Calculate the time of arrival
The best way to find out is to read their recommendations on the airport website. But if this is not possible, then you can calculate the time of arrival, knowing some facts.
Most airports recommend arriving at the airport no later than two hours before departure. At some particularly large (or particularly poorly optimized) airports, you should arrive three hours in advance. For example, Domodedovo in Moscow. If you are new to flying, and the airport from which you need to fly is rather large, feel free to arrive three hours in advance - you will have time for everything and will be less nervous. If there are no borders between the points of departure and arrival, and therefore no border control, you can reduce the time by half an hour. If you check in online for your flight and fly only with hand luggage, in this case you save another 10-30 minutes (depending on whether you need to present a visa at the check-in counter or not, more on that later).

2) Find out which terminal the departure is from
There are airports where the terminals are very close to each other (for example, in Boryspil (Kyiv)), and there are where you need to travel 20-30 minutes (for example, in Delhi). In the latter case, a terminal error could cost you an airline ticket or an astronomically valuable taxi. As a rule, on your boarding pass (if you checked in online) or on your booking information sheet, the terminal number is indicated next to the name or as the last individual number/letter in the name. If you can’t find it, look on the Internet - perhaps this airport only has 1 terminal or it is clearly clear where all international flights depart from.

IN AN AEROPORT

1) Look at the departures board and look for your flight

It is convenient to search, since all departures are sorted by time. You need to check the flight number to make sure you have found yours. Also see the airline name. This is necessary to get to the right landing - at large airports, especially during the holiday season, flights to the same city can depart at almost the same time.

So, we found the right line with our flight. We look at the far right cell - if it is empty, it means that check-in for the flight has not yet begun, and you can relax. 2 or 2.5 hours before departure, numbers will appear here - these are the numbers of check-in counters where you need to go to get your boarding pass, drop off your luggage, or, if you already have the boarding pass in your hands (in cases with low-cost airlines), for the so-called visa- check - visa checks. Also in the flight status it will be written - check in - this means that check-in has already begun.

By the way, let’s talk about the inscriptions on the scoreboard. There you are super short dictionary:
check in- check-in
delay- Flight delay
cancel- flight cancellation. In case of cancellation, find your airline representatives at the airport and ask them what to do. If you can’t find them, show your reservation and nod expressively at the board to any airport employee - he will direct you.
last call- “last call” - registration is about to end, run as fast as you can to the counter if you haven’t already.
go to gate- go to the gate - the inscription is shown approximately 2-3 minutes before boarding the plane
boarding— boarding the plane, at this time you must strictly be at the desired gate.

2) Go to the reception desk

When you see the counter numbers (even if the check in sign itself has not yet appeared) - immediately head to them, do not hesitate, because you may end up at the end of the queue, and as a beginner, it is better for you to be closer to the beginning.
On the stand:
— show your passport and ticket reservation,
- we ask for a seat by the window if you want
— we check in luggage,
— we receive a boarding pass (if you do not have a low-cost airline),
— put a mark on the boarding pass (stamp) that everything is in order with your visa (if you are flying to Europe on a low-cost airline)
- we’ll find out where to go next (even if you don’t know the language at all, after all the procedures at the counter are over, just make a questioning face and hum, turning your head: “aaaaaaaaaah??” - believe me, they won’t send you away, but they’ll direct you to the right place))).

We look at the boarding pass and see that a different time has appeared there - as a rule, 20-30 minutes earlier than the departure time - this is the boarding time and it is at this time that you will need to approach the gate, the number of which is also on your boarding pass. Before this time, you need to have time to undergo inspection for prohibited items and pass border control, if it exists between countries.

3) Let's go for inspection

Again, without delay, we go to the security check - this is where you will be shown the way at the registration desk. At the inspection, hand luggage, as well as everything metal and computer (belts, keys, coins, laptop, tablet, phone, etc.) will need to be placed in a special box, and at this time you yourself will need to go through a metal detector. These procedures are quite quick, but there is always a chance that someone will take longer and the line will be delayed.

4) Passport control, duty-free and gate area
After passing the security check, you find yourself in the gate area, hurray! Check your watches and look at the schedule board in this part of the airport - sometimes it happens that an hour before takeoff the gate number is moved - first of all, believe what is written on the board. As a last resort, you can always show your boarding pass to the airport employee - he will help you.
If you need to go through passport control, get in line - this is a rather long procedure, especially if there are already a lot of people in front of you.

By purchasing a ticket in advance, you may forget the departure time of the plane. But even if you know where to get more information, many questions remain: what time zone to navigate, how early to arrive at the airport, when the flight may be delayed for late passengers. Hurry up to understand the intricacies

Departure time and boarding time: what you need to know

Please note: if you see the time listed on your ticket, do not arrive at the airport by this time. This mistake is made by inexperienced travelers who write angry reviews on forums. But the travel document contains the so-called estimated brake pad release time. Technical details are not important for the passenger, so remember the following: By this time the door of the liner closes.

The plane does not take off immediately, because it taxis onto the runway and waits in line. Such stages of the flight are included in the schedule, and there is no need to worry when the pause is prolonged. You will still arrive on time and catch your transfer!

Before boarding, you will go through check-in and security screening, which will also take time.

What is Estimated Time of Arrival

It happens that the flight is postponed, and you begin to wonder when you will find yourself at the point of arrival. You can check the information on the electronic board at the airport or online. But the terms seem confusing: you'll wonder what an airplane's estimated time of arrival means.

This indicator reflects the scheduled time when the aircraft should land at the airport; it is usually brought in when a ship does not take off as scheduled. It differs from the actual one, since external factors (wind, the need to avoid a thunderstorm front) affect the length of flights. It happens that the plane has arrived, but there is no free parking at the airport, and the actual landing is delayed by 10-15 minutes.

A plane being late leads to more delays because it won't take off on time. Because of this, you may see unfamiliar terms on the scoreboard. Trying to understand what an airplane's estimated departure time means? It is indicated when he did not depart according to schedule. The indicator is calculated taking into account the planned deadline and delay.

Boarding time

How long before departure can I board? Company rules differ: the interval is 30-60 minutes. before the door is closed on the ship. But don’t be afraid to be late, because the time is written on the boarding pass. Whether you are flying with Aeroflot or Lufthansa, a company representative should remind you of this nuance during check-in.

The end of the boarding period varies depending on the carrier: for Utair it is 10 minutes. before departure, Pobeda increases it to 25 minutes, Aeroflot takes 20 minutes. But, if the time has expired and passengers are queuing at the gangway, crew members do not have the right to close the door.

When does boarding begin: what you need to know

If you don't fly regularly, you may not be aware of the following subtleties:

• How long before boarding is announced over the loudspeaker? It depends on the type of flight. On domestic flights, get to the gate in 30-40 minutes. before departure; at international - for 40-60.
• If you're flying out of Europe after purchasing a ticket on a low-cost airline, you're likely to encounter a funny phenomenon. The fact is that on the electronic board the Boarding Time inscription, warning about the start of boarding, quickly changes to Gate Closing (it means that the process is ending). In fact, at this time, the previous passengers have not yet disembarked from the liner, which barely had time to arrive! But the carrier wants everyone who has to go up to the cabin to wait in line at the gate.
• Major airlines use a similar technique. According to reviews, Qantas customers in Singapore have to rush to the gate when the loudspeaker sounds: “Final call!” Frightened passengers run only to discover that even the gangplank has not yet been opened.
• Chinese carriers, in order to avoid dissatisfaction with passengers, simply transport them around the airport in a bus. One of the clients shares his impressions: “We circled for 20 minutes! I already thought that the flight had been cancelled, and we were being taken to our destination by bus.”

However, don't think that airline staff rest after boarding is complete. The remaining period is spent distributing passengers around the cabin and, if necessary, asking them to change places (for example, when family members want to sit next to each other). Employees check how many people have checked in and actually boarded. If a passenger is not in the cabin, but his suitcases are delivered to the cargo compartment, they are returned back for security purposes - this helps reduce the risk of terrorist attacks.

What you need to know about boarding and departure times if you are flying with foreign carriers

Foreign carriers are taking steps to ensure they adhere to established schedules. The vice president of logistics at American Airlines admits that one of the challenges is making sure the plane takes off on schedule.

Airlines resort to different tricks: some start boarding from the tail, others give priority to passengers sitting at the windows. But according to airline employees, travelers are unpredictable, so plans don't stand the test of reality.

To solve the problem, foreign carriers offer paid priority boarding. Business travelers, regular customers and frequent fliers are the first to board. But now they are joined by passengers who paid an additional $9-20. By forking out this amount, you can be sure that you will be able to stow your hand luggage comfortably. The remaining air travelers are divided into groups and allowed on board in an order to ensure even loading.

What time is indicated on tickets: local or Moscow

Having understood the terms, pay attention to the peculiarities of time zones. The controller and pilot are guided by Greenwich time, but For the convenience of passengers, local information is provided on air tickets.

If you fly from Moscow to Anadyr, then Moscow time will be indicated at the departure point, and Anadyr time at the arrival point.

What you need to know about flying abroad

Are you flying on an international flight to the Russian Federation from Finland, Yemen, Israel or Madagascar? You will not face any difficulties since the time zone does not change. If you have to change the clock after arrival, the local time will be indicated on the ticket.

Open date on the ticket: select the day and time of departure yourself

Companies also sell tickets with open dates, which allows the passenger to choose a day and time later than he makes the purchase. A travel document marked Open will cost more because the traveler will fall into the “unscheduled” category. It is not possible to purchase a ticket from every airline; moreover, purchasing via the Internet is excluded. You will have to come to the office; To save time, fill out preliminary applications on the carrier’s website.

The validity period of the document is established by the company's rules, amounting to 30-360 days (this affects the cost). But you will be able to board the selected liner if there are still free seats on it. Otherwise, the request will be rejected, increasing the validity period of the ticket.

What time do planes fly in Russia? Stay local and don't miss your flight.

Where to see departure and arrival times

You will see the departure time on both paper and electronic air tickets: find 8th column marked Time. But information about arrival may not be provided, which makes it difficult to plan a route. You can find out in the following ways:

• If the company indicates not only the flight time, but also the arrival time, then you will see it next to the Arrival mark.
• Contact airline representatives by phone and clarify the information by giving the flight number. You will also find out the approximate duration of the trip: you will not have to calculate how long it is to fly by plane to the USA from Moscow.
• On the carriers' websites you will find an online board indicating the arrival time of the aircraft. You can search for information in the “Meeting” or “Arrivals” sections by flight number, airport at the point of departure or arrival, or country.

You can also find out how to determine the departure time of your plane from the video:

To save yourself from unpleasant surprises, choose the SMS notification service when purchasing a ticket. In this case, the company will notify you in advance if the departure or arrival time changes.

How long before departure should you arrive at the airport?

Before you board, you will go through check-in, security and sometimes customs. The procedure begins in 1.5-4 hours and is completed in 20-60 minutes. depending on the carrier, airport, destination and flight. If you are late for check-in, you will not be allowed on board, so please arrive early.

The main mistakes of passengers who checked in but were unable to fly

Successful check-in does not mean that you will fly away: many conflict situations are related to the fact that air passengers do not know the rules of transportation. To get to your destination, avoid common mistakes.

My plane is still at the airport

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Unpunctual travelers are outraged when they are not allowed to board a plane that is still standing near the ramp. It seems to them that the company can send an additional bus that will take those who are late to the ship. But, if pre-flight procedures have begun, such a measure is fraught with delays for several flights. In addition, airlines do not have buses for individual distribution.

The situation is specified in a document called “General Rules for Air Transport”. It includes the following items:

• You must arrive at the gate before boarding finishes.
• If you're late, The carrier has the right to refuse delivery on board. Your luggage will be removed from the aircraft and returned to you.

Passengers arriving at a closed gate are considered late, so the blame rests with you. Do not argue with the airline staff, but ask for help: when purchasing a ticket at the business fare, you get the right to fly on another flight without additional payments. Passengers from the budget class are not so lucky, since they will only receive a partial refund. And for those who purchased a travel document at a non-refundable fare, you cannot be late: you cannot do without a fine or purchasing a new ticket.

If my luggage is checked, they must wait for me

Suitcases in the cargo hold are not a guarantee that you will fly away and miss landing. The chances increase because it is not profitable for the carrier to remove luggage from the plane: the bags need to be found among the rest, which takes time. But you shouldn’t count on being allowed in for sure!

Why didn't they call me on speakerphone?

Airlines try to please customers, so latecomers are invited to the gate via speakerphone. In 90% of cases, their names are announced 5-6 times, so that passengers take a break from visiting duty free or relaxing in the lounge area.

But there are also 10% when no notifications are made. This happens at large airports with heavy traffic, where airliners take off every minute. There is no technical possibility to invite latecomers over speakerphone! The characteristics of the point from which the flight takes place also play a role: according to reviews, the French Charles de Gaulle airport is known for its inattentive attitude towards customers. And if you have to fly out from there on an Aeroflot or Pobeda plane, go straight to the gate rather than go shopping.

Why not wait 10 minutes?

Have you learned everything about plane departures: what time does it take place, how far in advance should you arrive, but after checking in, you get lost at the international airport and are late? Don't make a scandal by claiming that an extra 5 minutes. do not play a role in scheduling. Imagine that you are at a train station: you will not demand that the train be returned to the station.

Pre-flight procedures mean that passengers are counted and seated around the cabin in order to distribute the load before departure. This is important for small aircraft, while larger airliners are not as sensitive to weight fluctuations. But in any case, preparation consists of 100 procedures, and they are interconnected.

If several passengers are late for boarding and are allowed on board, the calculations will need to be done again. In addition, the bus has left, you will have to wait 10 minutes for it, and it will take you to the ship in 20 minutes. Your slight delay turns into a serious delay for other travelers.

Other reasons why you are not welcome

But the difficulties do not end there, because a time slot is allocated for the flight. If the plane does not take off within the allotted time, it is placed at the end of the queue. This means that the wait for departure will be 1-2 hours, and that is provided that the crew’s working hours do not end. Compliance with the work and rest schedule of pilots is strictly monitored! As a result, the crew may be removed from the plane, and travelers will have to wait for backup personnel. There will be no problems at international airports, but if the point is not one of the basic ones, there may not be a “reserve” team. This means that the plane will not take off, and its passengers will have to fly another day.

To avoid risk, companies prefer to leave latecomers at the airport. After all, the fact that you did not show up for boarding is your fault, and you will go buy a new ticket. And when the flight is delayed due to the fact that the carrier decided to take the “lost” ones, the responsibility will fall on the airline. If some of the clients ultimately do not get a connection, they will have to be provided with food, drinks, overnight accommodation, and other flights will have to be found. The carrier will pay the expenses, but he does not need losses.

And they were waiting for me in Frankfurt!

Airlines are interested in providing a service, so they help transit travelers. You will also get on board if the airport has a fast track for quick delivery.

It also plays a role that the airliner will not rise when there is a suitcase in the cargo compartment of a person who did not board the plane. According to anti-terrorism security rules, luggage is removed from the flight. In practice, in such cases, they call a car that delivers loaders to the liner. They look through the compartment in search of the right suitcase, which takes a lot of time. This increases the chances that they will wait for you: the carrier evaluates which option is more profitable for him.

But do not count on such a development of events: airlines, wanting to speed up the departure, send a car with loaders to the airliner in advance. If the employee at the gate reports that everyone who has arrived for boarding has already passed, and there are 5 minutes left until the end of the period, the car departs. As a result, your luggage will be unloaded immediately, and you will remain on the ground. Sometimes seconds play a role: once they came running in 19 minutes. 30 sec. they were not allowed on board because the boarding was completed in 20 minutes.

The situation is complicated by the fact that the staff does not want to take responsibility for being late. When a plane does not take off at the scheduled time, the company clarifies the reason: problems with baggage loading, technical failures, weather conditions, delays at the gate. Employees do not want to be guilty of violating the schedule, so they may refuse to cooperate.

When will they be waiting for you?

Have you not figured out what departure time is indicated on the plane: local or Moscow, or are you carried away by shopping? You will be welcome if you belong to one of the following categories:

• a passenger who bought a ticket to the premium sector;
• elite traveler or frequent flyer member;
• a member of a large group who misses a connecting flight (in which case the company does not want to find new options for you).

In practice, variations are possible: for example, photographer Brian Forbes writes that the plane never waited for him, although he is a frequent flyer. However, travelers who miss a connecting flight are usually not forced to board another plane. The likelihood that they will be met halfway increases when it comes to international flights.

Eddie Wish, a user of the Quora forum, a social platform where experts, celebrities and people with extraordinary experience share knowledge, talks about a similar situation. He's writing:

I flew with SWISS from Heathrow to Mumbai, with a transfer in Zurich. But the departure from Heathrow was delayed by an hour because the airstairs were stuck: repairmen were unable to detach it from the plane. As a result, we ended up in Zurich for 20 minutes. later than planned. It was inevitable that we would be late, but 80 passengers on our plane were due to fly to Mumbai. SWISS obviously did not want to put us in a hotel and allocate seats on another plane, so the second plane was delayed.

When the departure time was not rescheduled

Alas, even a connecting flight and being late due to the carrier’s fault will not guarantee that they will wait for you. This is confirmed by a review from a teacher who was flying with her students:

I was traveling with teenage students and we had a connecting flight in Paris. Although the first plane was delayed, I was not worried, confident that the group of 30 people would definitely be waited. In addition, we were talking about a short-haul flight, and a ship with a small capacity was sent on the flight. But when we approached the gate, we saw: the plane was on the runway. I don’t know why they didn’t wait for us...

A Russian traveler who flew with Lufthansa shares a similar story:

I had a connecting flight in Frankfurt, but the first plane avoided a thunderstorm and was delayed an hour. We landed in 30 minutes. before the second plane took off and ran to the gate. Unfortunately, we were 5 minutes late and were put on another flight. After waiting 4 hours, we were on board. But time passed, and the liner stood still. Finally the pilot announced: “I apologize for the delay, we are expecting 2 late passengers.” Why weren't they waiting for us?

I sent a complaint to Lufthansa management, but they replied that they had fulfilled their obligations. Then they explained to me that due to bad weather conditions the company did not risk delaying the plane that we missed. Within 4 hours the storm front had moved and they were able to wait for other passengers.

Conclusion

If you arrive at the airport based on the local time indicated on the ticket, there should be no problems. But keep in mind that there will be registration and security checks, so arrive early. Don’t get carried away by relaxing in the lounge area or shopping! Companies are invited to board via loudspeakers, but such announcements are not their responsibility. If you fail to show up due to your fault, you will have to pay a fine or buy a new ticket. And, of course, you won't leave on time!