If it’s your first time flying, this guide covers everything you need to know—from booking your ticket to breezing through airport security. Whether you’re traveling for vacation, visiting family, or heading out on your very first adventure in the sky, flying can feel a little intimidating at first. Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. From packing smart and navigating TSA to finding your gate and surviving your first takeoff, here’s your complete step-by-step guide to make your first time flying stress-free and even a little fun.
Before you even think about packing, you’ll need a plane ticket.
Here’s how to find and book one:
Airline Websites- Booking directly through airline websites like Delta, Southwest, or United often comes with better customer support and flexible policies.
Travel Search Engines- Use Google Flights, Expedia, Kayak, or Skyscanner to compare prices and flight times across multiple airlines.
Travel Apps- Hopper, Momondo, and Trip.com offer easy mobile booking and track price changes.
Pro Tip- Use a travel rewards credit card that offers flight perks, insurance, or points toward future trips.
One of the most common first time flying mistakes? Forgetting to check your ID or passport early. Make sure your identification is up to date well before your trip—it’s one of the easiest things to overlook during your first time flying. Check Your Passport or ID – Domestic flights require a government-issued photo ID with REAL ID (star on your license). For international travel, you’ll need a valid passport—and sometimes a visa. My favorite storage for my passport it is watertight and keeps your passport from bending or tearing.
Download Your Airline's App- You can check in, store your boarding pass, track gate changes, and receive updates.
Know Your Flight Time & Airport- Double-check which airport and terminal you’re flying from. Major airports often have multiple terminals.
Liquids Rule- TSA allows only 3.4 oz (100 mL) liquids in carry-ons, all packed in a single quart-sized zip-top bag.
Carry-On Essentials- Include headphones, phone charger, snacks, refillable water bottle (fill it after security), and a light jacket, and a blanket.
Important Items- Always carry passports, medications, tickets, and valuables in your carry-on.
Rule Details
3 Liquids, gels, creams, and pastes must be 3.4 oz (100 mL) or less per container
1 All must fit in 1 quart-sized clear plastic bag
1 You get 1 bag per passenger, placed in your carry-on
Accepted Toiletry Bag Options:
Ziploc-style resealable bag (most common)
Clear TSA-approved toiletry bag (with zipper, flat or cube-shaped—many travel brands sell these)
Must be easy to remove from your carry-on at security
Includes things like: shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, face wash, sunscreen, etc.
What Not to Do:
• No large toiletry bottles over 3.4 oz (even if half-empty)
• Don’t use opaque or colored bags—they may ask you to repack
• Don’t bring more than one quart-sized bag per person
Arrive Early- Arrive at least 2 hours early for domestic flights and 3 hours for international ones.
Security Screening Tips (different airports have different rules so check with security as you go through):
Remove shoes, belts, and metal items.
Take laptops and tablets out of your bag.
Empty your pockets and follow TSA instructions.
Boarding Pass: You’ll need it for both security and boarding—keep it handy.
Once through security, it’s time to find where your plane is boarding:
Check the Monitors: Look for digital flight information displays showing your gate number, boarding time, and flight status.
Use the Airline App: Most apps will show your gate and update you if it changes.
Follow the Signs: Airports are well-marked with clear signage for gates (e.g., Gate B12).
Pro Tip: If your gate changes, it will be announced over the speaker and updated on monitors—stay alert.
Relieve Ear Pressure- Chew gum or swallow during takeoff and landing to avoid discomfort.
Overhead Bins- Place larger bags above your seat; smaller ones should go under the seat in front of you. My favorite travel backpack.
Be Courteous- Avoid reclining your seat too early and check behind you before doing so.
Entertainment- Many flights have seat-back screens or allow streaming through the airline app or download some shows the night before.
Stay Hydrated- Airplane cabins are dry—drink water frequently. This is my favorite water bottle.
Food- Short flights may offer limited snacks or none at all. Bring your own to be safe. This is a fun way to snack.
Deplaning- This happens from front to back. Stay seated until it gets to your row—no need to rush.
Baggage Claim- Look for monitors showing which carousel has your flight’s luggage.
Transportation- Know in advance whether you’re taking a rideshare, public transit, or shuttle.
Choose Your Seat- Window seats are great for views and naps; aisle seats offer easier bathroom access. Exit row has extra leg room but usually an additional charge.
Bring a Power Bank- Not all planes have outlets—keep your devices charged. This power bank is my favorite.
Sleep Comfortably- Use an eye mask, neck pillow, and noise-canceling headphones for better rest. My favorite neck pillow. My favorite headphones. My favorite eye mask.
Before your first flight, make sure you’ve got everything you need! Check out The Ultimate Packing List for my go-to travel essentials and packing tips for every trip.
Yes, it’s only July. Start planning anyway. Fall books faster than people expect, and a few of these destinations are worth getting ahead of. Here are five places worth putting on your radar right now.
Ireland: Cooler temps, moody skies, dramatic coastline fall was made for it. Tourist crowds drop, the green stays, and the whole country feels a little more like itself.
Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC: Fall foliage in the Smokies is the real thing. The color peaks mid-October and the views from the ridgelines are hard to argue with. It’s also one of the most visited national parks in the country, so going on a weekday makes a real difference.
New York City: Fall is NYC at its best comfortable temps, the energy of the city shifting into a new season, and every neighborhood doing something worth showing up for. It’s also just a great walking city when it’s not brutally hot.
Japan: Fall foliage season is as good as spring cherry blossoms and somehow less talked about. The colors are dramatic, the temples and gardens are stunning, and it’s worth planning around peak dates by region.
Mystic, Connecticut: Small, walkable, genuinely charming Mystic in fall feels like exactly what a New England autumn is supposed to look like. Easy to pair with a broader New England road trip if you want to extend it.
Full guides linked in bio 🍂
There are two kinds of travelers: people who plan a trip and then figure out where to eat, and people who book a restaurant and then build the rest of the itinerary around it.I am the second kind. I will not apologize for this.
The reservation gets locked in first. The hotel search happens within the same 24 hours. The flights get compared around the restaurant’s hours of operation. The rest of the trip exists to fill the days before and after the table I actually came for.
If this sounds unhinged, I completely understand. It has also resulted in some of the best meals of my life, so I’m going to keep doing it.
Drop a 🍽️ if you plan your trips around food too.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
