If you have never flown before, the airport can look like a series of queues with rules nobody explains. It is simpler than it looks: there are only a handful of steps, always in the same order, and most of the stress comes from not knowing what is next. This guide walks through a first flight from a UK airport, from the passport check before you book to the passport check when you land, with the rules that catch first-timers out.
Before you book: your passport
Check the passport before you book the flights, not the week before. For most of Europe (the Schengen area, which includes Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Portugal), a British passport must:
- Have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive.
- Have an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you leave.
A passport that has not expired can still fail the first rule: if it was renewed before 1 October 2018, its date of issue may be more than 10 years ago. You can stay in the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180. Other countries have their own rules, so check the gov.uk travel advice for where you are going. The Before You Fly checklist covers the other things to sort when you book.
Bags: what you get for free
Cheap fares often include only a small bag that fits under the seat. Anything bigger is extra, and it costs more at the gate than online. On the main UK holiday airlines, checked on 23 October 2026:
- Ryanair: one small bag of up to 40 x 30 x 20cm, under the seat. A 10kg cabin bag or a checked bag costs extra.
- easyJet: one small bag of up to 45 x 36 x 20cm and 15kg, under the seat. A large cabin bag costs extra, and £60 if you add it at the gate.
- Jet2: a 10kg cabin bag of up to 56 x 45 x 25cm, plus a small under-seat bag of up to 40 x 30 x 20cm, both included.
The sizes include wheels and handles, and airlines check them at the gate. Power banks, e-cigarettes and spare lithium batteries go in your hand luggage, never in a checked bag. For liquids, our liquids rules guide has the limit at every UK airport.
The day before: check in online
Check in online when your airline opens it and download the boarding pass to your phone, or print it. With hand luggage only and a boarding pass, you can go straight to security at the airport.
At the airport, step by step
- Arrive in good time. At most UK airports, about two hours before a European flight and three before a long-haul one. If you are driving, add the time from the car park. Our how early to arrive guide works it out.
- Drop your bags, if you have checked ones, at your airline's desk. The screens in the check-in hall show which desks are yours. Bag drop closes well before the flight, 40 to 60 minutes before departure depending on the airline, and after that you can be refused.
- Go through security. Have your boarding pass ready, put your bag and coat in a tray, and empty your pockets into your bag. Whether liquids and laptops come out depends on the airport.
- Wait in the departures lounge. The shops, cafés and lounges are here. Your gate number appears on the departure screens, often not long before boarding, and some gates are a long walk away, so head there as soon as yours is shown.
- Board. At the gate, show your boarding pass and passport. Your seat number is on the boarding pass.
When you land abroad
- Passport control. For Schengen countries, the EU's Entry/Exit System now records your fingerprints and photo at the border on your first visit, instead of a passport stamp. There is nothing to do before you travel and no cost, but the queue can be longer than usual. The EU's separate ETIAS travel permit has not started yet.
- Baggage reclaim. The screens show which belt your flight's bags arrive on.
- Customs, then out into the arrivals hall.
Health cover and insurance
A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gets you state healthcare in the EU, and some other countries, on the same basis as a local resident. It is free from the NHS website: avoid unofficial sites that charge a fee. It is not a replacement for travel insurance, which the government advises you to have for the whole trip.
If your flight is delayed
If the UK rules on delays (known as UK261) apply to your flight, the airline must look after you during a long delay: food and drink, and a hotel if you are delayed overnight. That applies after two hours for flights under 1,500km, three hours for 1,500 to 3,500km, and four hours for longer flights.
If you arrive more than three hours late, you may be owed compensation: £220 per person for flights under 1,500km, £350 for 1,500 to 3,500km, and £260 or £520 for longer flights, depending on the delay. It is not paid automatically: claim from the airline. Airlines do not have to pay when the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as bad weather.
If you need help at the airport
If you have a disability, reduced mobility, or a hidden condition such as autism or anxiety that makes the airport hard, you can ask for assistance, and it is free. Request it at least 48 hours before you fly, through your airline or the airport, so the staff and any equipment are ready.
Parking for your first flight
If you are driving, the simplest option for a first trip is often Meet & Greet: you hand the car over at the terminal and walk in, with no shuttle. Park & Ride is cheaper but adds a bus ride each way. Our Meet & Greet or Park & Ride guide explains both, and you can compare every car park at your airport, cheapest first.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I get to the airport for my first flight?
At most UK airports, about two hours before a European flight and three hours before a long-haul one, plus the time from your car park. Your airline's bag-drop deadline, 40 to 60 minutes before departure, is the one you must not miss.
What do I need to take to the airport?
Your passport and your boarding pass, on your phone or printed. Check that your passport was issued less than 10 years ago and has at least 3 months left after you come home if you are going to most of Europe.
Can I take a suitcase on the plane for free?
It depends on the airline and fare. Ryanair and easyJet include only a small under-seat bag on their basic fares; Jet2 includes a 10kg cabin bag. Check your booking.
What happens at passport control in Europe now?
On your first visit since the EU's Entry/Exit System started, your fingerprints and photo are taken at the border instead of a stamp. There is nothing to do beforehand and no charge, but allow for a longer queue.
Do I need travel insurance if I have a GHIC?
Yes. A GHIC covers state healthcare in the EU and some other countries, but it is not a replacement for travel insurance, which the government advises for every trip.
Sorted before you fly.
