The childlike joy of setting out on your first-ever international trip is simply extraordinary – after all, you’ve spent weeks and months planning your international getaway of dreams. Your fresh passport’s here, the itinerary is set, the travel gods are in your favor, and you’ve packed your bags – all set for a dreamy international adventure! But as a first-timer flying internationally, it is common to make rookie mistakes. Worry not, team unstumbled is at your rescue! Here is us guiding you on a few common, yet major mistakes that you need to avoid on your first international trip!
Setting Out On Your First International Trip? Here Are 5 Major Mistakes To Avoid
Ignoring Passport Expiration Rules
Ignoring your passport expiration date is a common oversight that first-time flyers are likely to make. While it is common knowledge that you need to have a valid passport for flying, what many travelers don’t know is that the passport must be valid for a certain amount of time after your return date. For example, if you’re returning from your trip on 31st December, 2025, your passport is usually required to be valid for at least six months after this date.
The logic behind this is simple – the country you’re visiting generally expects you to have a valid passport even after your intended return date in case of a medical emergency, extended stay, or some other circumstance that might make you extend your trip for more than the intended duration.
We recommend checking the rules and regulations on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs website of that particular country. Also, check the same on the official website of your country’s embassy in the country you’re visiting. A pro tip to keep in mind is that if you see your passport’s validity less than nine months, apply for a renewal right away to be on the safer side!
Forgetting To Check-In Online Before The Flight
We agree that it is not particularly a ‘travel mistake’, but ignoring this important rule can make your travel experience slightly less pleasant. Checking-in online before your flight is especially important if you’re traveling with family or friends. This is because checking-in allows you to confirm your presence in a particular scheduled flight, potentially select your seats, and pre-book meals.
If you’re a solo traveler who doesn’t really care about seat allocation, pre-booked meals, and are okay with the things you’re assigned, you need not worry about checking-in. But as a first-timer flying internationally, we would recommend checking-in online on the airline’s official website or app.
Check-in usually opens 48/24 hours to 60 minutes in advance, allowing travelers to confirm that they’re flying a particular scheduled flight. This will give you more assurance, allow you to select seats and meals if possible, and save you from being transferred to another flight in case the flight ends up being oversold.
Overpacking Your Bags
The thought of stepping foot into a foreign country can make you both excited and nervous – and this ‘whirlwind’ of emotions can end up in you overstuffing your suitcases. The outcome? Exorbitant extra luggage fees and the struggle of carrying kilos of belongings. A simple mistake like this can cost you plenty of extra bucks and unwanted labor.
So, we recommend packing smartly and not overstuffing your bags. Carry limited clothes based on your duration of stay and avoid too many ‘heavy’ pieces of clothing. Look for all-season and versatile pieces of clothing. Also, instead of carrying entire bottles of toiletries and skincare, carry them in small plastic bottles or one-time sachets to save up on space. Plus, we recommend using packing cubes and vacuum-sealed clothing bags to maximize space.
Booking A Self-Transfer Flight
As someone who is flying internationally for the first time, navigating around the airport in a foreign country can be overwhelming. On top of that, if you’re choosing a self-transfer flight, it can get especially hectic for you. For example, you’re flying from city A to city C and have to change planes in city B. Now, if you’ve opted for a self-transfer in city B’s airport, you’ll be flying on two separate flight tickets:
- city A to city B (ticket 1)
- city B to city C (ticket 2)
In this case, the first airline is only responsible for flying you down from city A to city B, while the second airline is only responsible for getting you from city B to city C. Neither of the airlines are responsible for the functioning of the other airline. So, if your first airline is delayed, cancelled, or oversold, you’ll likely miss your second flight – plus, the second flight won’t be responsible for any compensation. Yes, that means no refunds! Plus, you’ll have to buy another ticket (mostly more expensive) and handle your baggage all by yourself. Self-transfer, as the name suggests, will involve you navigating through different entries and exits, checking-in your luggage, as well as claiming it on time.
Plenty of things could go wrong in this hectic process, so we recommend either booking directly through the airline’s official website and avoiding third-party sites or booking an overnight/multi-day stay in city B. This will give the chance to explore a new city in your journey as well as offer a buffer in case your first flight faces some issue.
Choosing The Same Airport For Arrival And Departure
Out of the many major mistakes travelers do on their first international flight, this one’s usually the most common. If you’re flying down at airport A in a foreign country and intend to return home through the same airport, you’ll have to shape an itinerary that will involve you making a round trip to airport A.
This means, even if you’re exploring plenty of spots in a particular country, you’ll have to hustle to get back to the starting point, i.e. the airport you landed in. This can eat up a significant amount of your time and money if you’re planning to explore multiple cities and destinations in a country.
To avoid it, we recommend making a multi-city booking, also called an ‘open jaw’ itinerary. For example, if you’re flying to Vietnam from India, you can have an ‘open jaw’ itinerary by booking your arrival from your city to Hanoi, explore the different places in the country, and then fly back home from Ho Chi Minh City.
Summing Up
With the right planning and keeping these mistakes in mind, your first international journey will truly become memorable! Yes, the thought of the first international trip is surely overwhelming, but when you’re already privy to the common mistakes, you can actively avoid them and make your journey smoother, more enjoyable, and definitely less stressful!
