International Plastic Bag Free Day 2024 is on Wednesday, July 3, 2024: 4-stop international flight versus 3-stop?

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 is International Plastic Bag Free Day 2024. GAIA : July 3 is International Plastic Bag-Free Day Plastic Bag-Free Day

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The more stops and/or plane changes there are the greater the chance of delays and delayed luggage. However, the difference betwen 3 stops and 4 isn't that great and if 4 stops also avoids a really long wait at one airport you may be better off with that itinerary.

Bags rarely go astray, and even more rarely are gone for more than a day. I have been flying regularly for four decades and have had bags delayed less than 5 times - the longest delay (once) was 3 days.

Things you can do:

Tag your suitcases > inside and out < with your name as it appears on the ticket, a good phone number, and your e-mail address (not your home address). Include your frequent flier number on the tag if you belong to that airline's program. The free tags from the airline counter are OK but don't forget to do it.

Don't over-pack your bag and use a luggage strap if you are not certain it will stay closed. A spilled-open bag will almost certainly be delayed.

Don't padlock your bag. Airport security delights in cutting the locks from suitcases and trashing the contents (= delay). Use a plastic wire-tie or twist-tie (such as from a bread bag) instead of a lock.

Attach something to your bag so it is more distinctive, such as a short length of colored ribbon tied to the handle. There are millions of similar suitcases and making yours more distinctive reduces the chance of it being picked up accidentally by another passenger.

Always schedule at least one full hour between connections. Two hours is better, especially at large airports. Also try to avoid having your luggage wait at an airport between flights for longer than about 8 hours. It tends to get put in a corner and forgotten (= delay).

Get to the airport 2 full hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. Watch to make certain the check-in agent puts tags with the correct 3-letter destination codes on your bag (ex. Vienna, = VIE).

Pack a complete change of clothes and basic toiletries in your carry-on, just in case.

Finally, an option to checking a bag is shipping it to your destination (if someone there can receive it). FedEx, DHL, and UPS all ship suitcases and can provide confirmation of delivery.

Good luck!

Please tell me what to do in an international airport? Will give best answer.?

Join the frequent flier program for the airline you will use. Joining and belonging are free and you can do it online. Call the airline, talk to a human, and add your frequent flier account number to your ticket.

Ask about reserving a seat while you have the airline agent on the phone. Go to www.seatguru.com for info on seating arrangements on board airliners. . I usually try to get a window seat on really long flights and gather some extra pillows & blankets to make a "bed" to lean against.

Check with your health insurance to find out if it covers you in the USA and pays for medical evacuation to home (should that be necessary). If yes then take proof of coverage with you. If no or not sure then get trip medical insurance, which is cheap and sold by airlines & travel agents. The USA has wonderful medical care but it isn't free or even cheap. Please do not skimp on this as an otherwise-silly accident could turn into a crisis if you don't have medical insurance. This is a link from the US government, but the info is good for anyone traveling outside their home country:

Pack almost everything in a suitcase that you will give to the airline to "check". The suitcase has to weigh 50 pounds/22 kilos or less.

Pack a complete change of clothes and basic toiletries in your carry-on bag. Check the security requirements at: www.tsa.gov

Dress in comfortable clothes and shoes that are not too tight (or overly casual). Your feet will swell during a long flight and tight clothes can make it harder to sleep.

Check-in online via the airline website 24 hours before your flight, even if you can't or don't want to print boarding passes at home. It speeds the process at the airport.

Be at the airport and standing in line for check-in two (2) full hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. Three hours is better at large airports.

Go to the airline counter and give the agent your passport, FF number, and flight info or ticket. Tell them how many bags you want to "check". The agent will put destination tags on your checked luggage and give you a Boarding Pass.

The "Gate" for your flight will be on the boarding pass (example E-17). Follow the signs toward your gate. You probably have to go through passport control on the way to the gate, and you give the Officer your passport & boarding pass for the flight leaving Australia.

At some point you will have to go through security. There will be a stack of plastic bins - place your shoes, carryon bag, the clear plastic bag containing any liquids or gels, sweater/jacket, and anything metal (including cellphone) in the bin. Keep your passport and boarding pass in your hand. Follow the instructions of the security personnel - they will have you place the bin on the X-ray conveyor belt and you will walk through the metal detector. Once through you collect the bin and put everything back where it belongs.

Then go to the gate. Check to make sure there has not been a gate change - most airports have TV-type monitors with the info.

Try to wait near your gate. If you want to wander off then be back 45 minutes before your flight is scheduled to depart. Follow the instructions of the ground staff when boarding starts. Your seat number will be on your boarding pass; The numbers increase toward the back of the airplane and the letters go from left to right >> as you face the front of the plane << (Seat 1A is at the front on the left and seat 22 F would be towards the rear + probably on the right). .

The flight attendants will serve drinks and snacks once the plane is at "cruising altitude". Meals are served on long distance flights and long distance flights also usually offer entertainment, like movies.

There are restrooms on airplanes. Be sure to latch the door to let others know it’s occupied, and latching the door also turns on the light.

You should get a US Customs form on the flight. It's a simple form, but complete it before arrival:

When the flight is almost over, the crew will instruct the passengers to put everything away and fasten seatbelts.

Once the plane has landed it will taxi to the airport terminal. Stay in your seat with the seatbelt fastened until the crew tells you it is OK to exit the aircraft. It will be obvious when you can do so.

At your first arrival airport in the USA, exit the aircraft and follow the signs to Passport Control or Arrivals. Then go to Baggage Claim if you checked luggage Most airports have multiple baggage carousels (conveyor belts) and there is usually a sign or TV-type monitor that indicates which carousel on which your flight's bags will appear.

Collect your bag(s) and go to Customs. The Agent there will probably simply take your stamped Customs form and wave you through.

If the first airport is your final destination then you exit the terminal, usually by going out the doors marked "Ground Transportation".

If you have a connecting flight you give your checked luggage back to the airline at Interline Baggage, which is just past Customs. Then follow the signs to the gate for your onward flight.

If you have to go through Security on the way to your onward flight then any liquids/gels you purchased before departing Australia or on board have to go into your checked luggage before you give it to Interline Baggage.

I hope you have a good trip!

First time flyer, and it is to an international destination... Help!?

1) You'll want warmer clothes, as you will be much further north and in a significantly colder climate than you're used to in Texas. You can also bring make-up and toiletries, but if your friend has things like a hair dryer or a curling iron or something that you use regularly, you can use theirs and save money on buying adaptors. Also bring something to do on the plane, like a book and an MP3 player, and find out if your friend has adaptors you could use for any chargers you might need before you buy them. Bring a camera, too, so you can take loads of pictures of everything.

2-4) I'm going to answer these together to keep it simple. Your tickets are booked, so no need to call. You should print your confirmation e-mail, which should have an itinerary on it, and bring it with you to the airport. Once there, you'll go to a check-in desk for United. Since it's your first time, I'd recommend working with a United agent instead of using a kiosk. Before leaving, stick your confirmation page in your passport and then put those in your purse together by your wallet. That makes it easier to access everything you need. Just pull out your passport and confirmation page, show them to the agent, and he or she will set you up, weigh your bag, and have you pay if needed for checked luggage (international flights sometimes don't make you pay for at least one bag, if not both). After you've checked in, you'll get boarding passes from the agent (can also be printed online, but airline policies vary when things like checked bags and international flights come into play). Keep your passport and the boarding pass for your first flight out, as you'll need them to get through security, but put any other boarding passes somewhere safe and easy to access for you.

As far as other tips:

Wear slip-on shoes to the airport, if you wear a belt wear one with no metal on it, or a very minimal amount, if you bring a laptop make sure it is easy to access in your carry-on, and have minimal amounts of liquids, gels, creams, etc. in your carry-on. They need to be under 3.4 oz. and in a separate quart-sized plastic baggie, so do that ahead of time, and put them somewhere easy to access, as well. You'll probably want a coat upon arrival in Sweden, so bring that on the plane (it doesn't count as a carry-on). You can use it as a pillow/blanket or put it somewhere safe until you get to Sweden (overhead bin or ask a flight attendant if it can be hung up).

As far as safety goes, just use common sense. Don't run around with lots of money in your hand or do anything to make yourself a target and you'll be fine. It also helps to learn some of the culture and a few phrases in Swedish (although they speak English there as a second language) before leaving. It makes it easier to get around and if you figure out what is considered offensive in Sweden, you won't have to worry about accidentally offending someone.

The most important tip I have, though, is to have a great time!