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First Air Travel To USA

Posted July 11th, 2008 by admin

Travelling can be exiting or exhausting depending on the amount of homework you do before you actually board the plane. Here are some useful travel trips.

* Tips Prior traveling
* Manage your luggage
* While at departure Airport
* At the Intermediate/Transit Airport
* At Destination Airport
* Making a Telephone Call from Airport
* FAQ
* Useful tips
* Do you Need Travel Companion?
* Useful tips : When you Travel Back to home country - a must read.

Tips prior traveling:

What to Do?

* Choose the flight best suited to you.
* Try to get the best deal on your tickets. Find out the rates offered by other airlines.
* Booking tickets through a travel agent is always better. Agents may give you some discount.
* When you book your ticket, mention your food preference whether you want Vegetarian or Non vegetarian food.
* Make sure the date and time of travel on your ticket is correct. Call up the local airlines office to confirm. Flight timings may confuse you (e.g. Boarding on 5/1/2000 at 00:45 means 4th night 12:45 PM and not 5th night, as many airlines start with 00:00 after midnight.)
* You should also confirm about the luggage limit that you can carry (the weight and number of bags for both cabin and check in luggage).
* Make sure that you have reached to the right terminal, for your airlines departure.
* Try to reach the airport at least 3 hours before departure. This way you can get your seat preferences. Different airlines have different seating arrangements e.g.3-3-3, 3-4-3, 2-2-2 etc.
* Each of your luggages should have your name and address tag. Your luggage has to be identified at the destination airport. Naming is also helpful in case you lose your luggage.
* Get currency of the destination country. You can exchange currency from the authorized banks e.g. State Bank Of India, etc. or from organizations like Thomas cook etc. Normally they have counters at the airport too. They also make an entry on your passport.

How to manage your luggage?

1. Hand or cabin luggage: This is what you can carry with you in the plane. Keep it small and handy, so that you can keep it in the overhead luggage space in the cabin. Trolley bags are always advisable. Many airlines allow one cabin bag, but ladies can carry their purse or handbag along with their cabin bag. Total linear dimensions (length+height+width) of each cabin baggage must not exceed 112cms (45 inches), and weight must not exceed 14 to 20kgs (30-40 pounds).

2. Check in luggage: These are the big luggage items that you will have to hand over at the airlines check in counter. Most of the airlines allow 2 big baggages as the check in luggage. Total linear dimensions (length+height+width) of each checked in baggage must not exceed 158 cm (62 inches), and weight of each bag must not exceed 32-35 kgs (70-77 pounds).

** 1 check in bag of total linear dimensions (45 inches) and weight 14 to 20kgs (30-40 pounds) is allowed for children not entitled for a separate seat. Plus you can carry a pram (stroller) or carrying basket.

** This is only generalized information, it may differ from airline to airline, confirm it beforehand. Due to rough handling some luggage may be damaged. If your luggage is not very strong tie it properly with a rope.
What should be carried in the hand baggage?

You should keep all your important documents, medicines and two pairs of clothes. If your destination is a cold place, then include sufficient woollens, that is, sweater, jacket, gloves, socks, cap etc.

While you are at the departure Airport

You have to go through few formalities before boarding the plane.

Step 1: You need to scan your luggage in the X-ray machine close to your airlines check in counter. Here the person in charge will put a safety-checked sticker on the luggage. (No need to X-ray the hand luggage here.)
Step 2: Keep your passport, ticket and a pen handy.
Step 3: At the check in counter, hand over your luggage for check in. Take the boarding pass, ask for your seat preference, ask for transit details (if you have any flight change in between), and take a receipt of your checked-in luggage.

(**Make sure that destination stamped on it is correct, otherwise you will lose it). You will get a Embarkation form here, fill it carefully in all capital letters clearly. If you have any confusion, ask the airline staff.

Now, you may proceed to the immigration counter.
Step 4: Immigration check. Here the immigration officer will ask for your passport, ticket, boarding pass and the Embarkation form. He might ask few questions about your journey, visa, purpose of travel etc. Answer clearly. He will take the Embarkation form, and will return every thing else after stamping your passport. Now proceed to the custom counter.
Step 5: If you have lots of jewellery or any other expensive items with you, you can declare it at the customs counter, and get it endorsed on your passport. So when you come back, you will not have to face customs hassles. Here the custom officer will stamp your boarding pass.

Now proceed to the security check.
Step 6: Here you have to X-ray your cabin luggage, purse, or anything that you are carrying in your hand. Then you have to pass through a metal detector, where a personal security check will be done. The officer in charge will put a “security checked” stamp on your boarding pass. Collect back all your stuff.

Now you are all set to board the plane.
Step 7: Check for the departure gate number written on your boarding pass, and go to that gate. Now wait till the boarding is announced.
Step 8: Once you are in the flight, look for the seat number mentioned on your boarding pass. If there’s any problem, contact the cabin crew. They will also help you place the baggage in the overhead bins. Read the safety instruction booklet. In the plane you will be served food, snacks, drinks etc., from time to time. You will be given a blanket and a pillow.

** Important: In case of any problem, or query during your flight, don’t hesitate to ask the staff.

At the Intermediate/Transit Airport

If you have to change the flight at the intermediate airport then:

Step 1: As soon as you reach the intermediate/transit airport, first thing you must do is to look for the Terminal and Gate number of your next flight.
Step 2: All airports normally have a very good map and direction instructions. But in case of any problems, ask the airport staff.
Step 3: Once you find the gate, then depending on the time you have, you can relax or shop at the airport. But, be at your gate 40 minutes prior to the flight time, as they require some time to check your tickets etc.
Step 4: You won’t have to do any other formalities here, apart from passing through the metal detector, and X-ray of your hand baggage.

** In case you have to change the terminal, then first find out information about the connecting airport shuttle to the respective terminal. It is always advisable to find out such information beforehand, as in some countries, you may need a Transit Visa to leave one airport, to go to the other one.

Before you reach destination:

In Flight Few hours before arrival, the flight attendants will give you
give you two forms to fill. One will be the US custom form, and the other will be the immigration ( I-94 ) form. Fill them very carefully.
Sample : this is how I-94 Form and USA Custom Form look like.

If you have questions, dont hesitate to ask any co-passenger and aks for the help to fill the forms correctly.

When you reach your Destination Airport

Step 1: Immigration counter. Here, the inspector will check your passport and the immigration form. He might ask a few questions about your visa status, purpose of visit, address of stay, duration of stay etc. Answer them very carefully, and politely. The officer will attach a part of I-94 form you filled, to your passport. You will also be aksed for digital fingerprint and a photograph.
Now on your way, you will find a custom officer.

** Remember: The counter slip of I-94 is very important. Check for visa status, and expiry date, written by the officer on it.
Step 2: Collect a baggage trolley and go to the baggage collection counter, find your baggage with your flight number displayed on the tag. Collect your baggage.

Note: At some airports, there are charges for taking trolley/cart viz. 1or 2 Dollar or so. Hence keep some change handy.
Step 3: The custom officer will ask for the custom form.

Now proceed towards the “Exit” gate.
Step 4: If you are expecting somebody to receive you, you might find them here in this lobby. If not, you may go to the information counter desk, and enquire about the transport information.

** Remember: If you are questioned by the airport officers, answer them properly without any fear. But be careful, there should not be any discrepancy in the information stated in your documents and what you answer. It has happened in few cases, that due to the unsatisfactory answers about the stay, status, etc. people have been deported immediately. For instance, don’t ever say, you will work here, if you hold H4, L2, B1 or visitor visa.

US Custom related questions:

Checkout the frequently aksed question and answers about US custom.

How to make a Call to other coutires From the Airport?

  • Option1: You can make a call anywhere in the world from most of the airport public booths using visa/master cards. You will find dial-in instructions be on the phone.
  • Option2: Buy calling cards from the shops inside the terminal. It’s always better to carry some $5 or $10 bills. Dial-in instructions will be on the card.
  • Option3: Those who can avail AT&T calling Card, can carry AT&T calling card that can be used internationally. Usually along with the card you get the dial-in instruction of various countries.
Useful Tips:

Here is some useful english differences / terminology you may find very useful during your flight or at the airport. Specilly if your destination is USA and travelling by a USA airlines.

Indian English

American English
Luggage Baggage
Air Hostess Flight Attendant
Soft drink / Cold drink Soda / Drink
Film Movie
Dollar Note Dollar Bill
Bathroom Restroom
Tea Hot Tea
Milk for Tea or Coffee Creamer
Plain water Water with no Ice

Frequently Asked Questions
What if at the last moment, they ask you to give your cabin bag as checkin luggage?

Sometimes, it happens that at the last minute you may be asked to checkin your cabin bag. You may have some important documents and jewelry in it. So don’t panic, in such case insist that you want to keep them with you. Remember you are doing a favor to them by traveling by their airlines and not vice versa, so politely try to talk them about your problem.
What if you lose your luggage?

Normally, this doesn’t happen. In case you do not find your checkin luggage, inform the airlines authorities. If it is misplaced during transit or in the airlines, then it will be delivered to your address in a few days. If it is delayed for more then 2 days or so, You may ask for the compensation to buy daily necessary stuff, till you get your luggage back.

If it is missing for ever, they will compensate according to their nominal rules.
What if your flight is delayed or canceled?

In case your flight is delayed because of bad weather, or any other reason, airlines might offer you food, and make arrangements for your stay.
What if you miss your flight?

Talk to the airlines staff or authorities at the airport, they should be able to send you on the next available flight, or make some other other alternative arrangements.
What if nobody comes to receive you at the airport?<

Find out information from the Information Counter, about the taxi stand or the airport shuttle schedules. It’s always better to have a complete address of your stay. Try to get driving directions from the web sites like yahoo etc. These directions can be useful for the driver to take you to the right place.

Bon Voyage!

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