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Since I moved to Lisbon for University, I have travelled a considerable amount of times. In fact, is something that I got used to quickly. I remember that the first time that I travelled alone I was so nervous, with thoughts like “What if I enter in the wrong plane and land in the other side of the World?!” in my mind the day before, and during the whole process, only relaxing when I sat inside the plane. Now that I'm used to it, it's something I do very easily. Despite this, travel can get on my nerves sometimes. Truly, I have now enough experience in the subject to have a list of things to say about the subject.
To begin with, travelling by plane is the safest means of transport. A lot of people is afraid of flying, but the chance of an accident and dying is very low. Subjectively, I never had this fear. I like heights, and I often get lost in thoughts as I look out the window of the plane and glimpse the view. However, the process until arriving at the plane is very complex: being at the airport a certain time before, checking in, passing the security check, waiting ... There are moments that I think that it would be much easier just arrive at the airport and entering the plane directly, with nothing in between, but even so, I realize why things are as they are, it is, in fact, a more effective way of organizing and a way of prevention.
Namely, if you have to travel by plane you need to be at least an hour before the time of your flight at the airport. In my estimation, I like to be at least two hours early, so I have time to do everything calmly. Yet, since I am always the same girl that is constantly late, I almost never achieve this time.
I probably look like this arriving at the airport:
Subsequently, you have to do the check-in. It’s not complicated, you just have to show you documents and give you bags that have more than the weight allowed to go on the plane with you. The problem with this part is when you have a whole line in front of you, and it seems like you'll never be able to get away. It depends on the day and hour that you travel. Yet, in my lasts travels, my flights were all in hours of many attendances, so I couldn’t help but be with an impatience face.
After the check-in is time for the worst part, in my point of view: the security check. An enormous row of people waiting to see if everything is in place to catch the plane. Now, I do not get so stressed, but at first, I was terrified: metal control, security ... Seriously, even if the worst thing that you have done in all of your life was surpass your bedtime, you will feel that there is 1% of chance that you might end up in jail, or because the security is with a mean face, or because your imagination is so high that you create a scenario in your head in with someone put a toy gun in your bag.
Curiously, now that I was writing this last paragraph, I remembered that really funny scene from the movie Bean in which Mr Bean goes to the airport and pretends that has a gun. Consequently, the security sees him thinking that he is an actual criminal and goes after him.
Afterward, you are free to do what you want, I mean within the limits of the law, of course ... Next to the security check, there are lots of shops at the airport so you can spend the free time you have until the time of your flight to see clothes, books, technologies, accessories, souvenirs, among others. Or you can just have a nice meal or coffee in a restaurant or coffee shop. Sometimes I spend some time watching the shops, but most of the time I go straight to the departure lounge and wait for the boarding.
Furthermore, apart from the waiting, that I already said that bored me in travelling, I have to say that the fact that are so many people in the airport, and respective departure lounges, and so much noise, doesn’t help my bad mood seldom. When I travel with someone I don’t give attention to these points, yet when I travel alone (which is most of the time) that annoys me. It’s normal, I don’t expect everyone to be silent, noise is inevitable. However, I can’t help but get annoyed by that. Another thing is the fact that some people don’t understand the concept of “personal space”. Let me explain this with an example: when I was travelling back to Madeira in Christmas, I was in the line for the security check and there was a man behind me that was always getting close, what was unnerving me because there was enough space for him not to be close. I would even understand if there was not, but there was! On top of that, the man was talking on his phone, and he was almost shouting in my ear!
Having said this, I would like to share with you some tips that I have learned with my experience in travelling by plane.
Number one, I previously mentioned that one of the things that you have to do is the check-in when you arrive at the airport. Yet, nowadays, is way simpler to do the check-in online on the previous day of your flight. It’s a method for you save time avoiding the queues at the airport and more secure in a way, since sometimes companies sell plane tickets, even when the seats are already all sold out, thinking that someone might come to give up, and then there is no place for everyone. This way, you have your trip guaranteed.
My second tip is for the security check. Has I said before, it’s the part that I hate the most, so as you can expect, is the part where I try to move faster. For this to happen, I pack my backpack before, with everything I'm going to have to take, in a specific compartment, so I do not waste time looking for the tablet, phone, MP4, Citizen's Card, or anything else important or electronic that needs to be shown to the security or put in a box to pass in the metal control.
Next, I would advise wearing comfortable clothing. Maybe the best choice in terms of shoes will be sneakers.
Bring a book with you, or your tablet, pc, MP4, a game, a crossword puzzle, whatever you want to keep you entertained. You never know when you’ll get bored.
Go to the airport with your phone completely charged, or if not, at least with a good amount of battery. It’s always good to have our phone with us because an emergency could happen, and we might need him. If not for that, at least to spend time talking to friends/family or checking out social networks.
Speaking of phones, this brings me to my sixth advice: don’t forget your headphones. We have to respect other people and understand that not everyone wants to hear our music or the videos we might be watching on YouTube. In one of my last flights, it was early in the morning, and I had to get up even earlier, I was really tired, and I was falling asleep on the plane. Then, the two woman next to me had their phones and were watching videos on Facebook with the volume almost at the maximum. There are people who may not be aware, but it is always better to use the headphones so as not to disturb others.
I learned this one from my parents and I never forgot: take chewing gum with you. So, when the plane is rising, begin to chew one to avoid earaches.
Finally, my last advice is for you to always confirm your gate. Last year, on this one flight, I misunderstood the hour of my flight and consequently arrived earlier than needed at the airport. This manner, I went to the gate that was in my paper but forgot to confirm in the airport displays, which are more up-to-date. I stayed there for 45 minutes, nonetheless, I started wondering why no one was there as well. That's when I realise that I was in the wrong room and had to run to the right one since it was almost the time of the flight. Of course, that, with my luck, the correct gate was on the other side of the airport... Don’t be like me, confirm your gate.
To sum up, travelling by plane is a complex experience. I love the sensation when the plane lifts, and I adore it when we are above the clouds and we can lose ourselves in thoughts as we look out the window. Obviously, this feeling can quickly change to annoyance when we are left without what to do, or tired of our own thoughts. That's what a book or technologies are for. In this context, it is also important not to forget to follow the rules of the aeroplane and put the gadgets in flight mode. Personally, as boring as I may be, I do not turn on my MP4 to listen to music because I'm afraid of being responsible for an aeroplane crash. Yup, you can laugh, it's an unfounded reason for a fear. Anyway, sometimes the process to get to the plane can be annoying but that is life and you have to go through it if you want to reach your destination.
I wish that this post might be helpful for someone. Travel is an adventure, and I hope that one day I will be able to travel with my friends or family to various destinations and have many stories to tell.
Nb: I do not own any of these GIFs.
Have a lovely week!
Mariana Nunes
Travel
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