Weather you’ve flown before or it’s your first time flying or you’re just curious how the airports work, we have made a step by step list on how you go from parking at the airport to boarding your plane.

As you wake up in the morning, you obviously already know where your destination is (let’s hope). As you grab your luggage and car keys, you proceed to drive off to your local metro airport.

Parking

Once you arrive at the airport, you will realize that there is a lot of places to park. It’s usually cheaper to park outside of the airport at third party parking lots. These lots will supply you with a shuttle that will transport you from the airport to the parking lot 24/7. Be sure to search for these lots online before you go because some may offer coupons.

Arriving

Once you get to the airport’s doors, you will want to proceed to your airline’s terminal desk. Weather you’re flying Jet Blue or Delta, you can either check out a map to see where it’s located or you may ask an airport official for further instructions.

Checking In

When you find the desk, you will have two options. You will either be able to check in by yourself via a computer or you may have a clerk help you. It’s usually a lot faster to check in yourself. The machines are fairly simple. All it will ask is for you to swipe either your ID or a credit card with your name on it. From there you can follow the on screen instructions.

After you check in, you can either carry your bags, if light enough onto the airline or you may check them in. Carrying your bags on the airline is always the safest bet seeing that you can keep your eye on your belongings at all times. If you’re going to be gone for a long time, it’s better to check in your luggage.

Security

Once your bags are out of the way, you will proceed to the security checkpoint. This is how you enter the main part of the airport. After 9/11, only customers with tickets may enter this part of the airport. During a security check, you will be asked for your ID and plane ticket. A TSA official will usually initial this showing that he/she has checked your ID.

After an official has checked your ticket, you will be asked to take off your shoes and will also be asked for you to put all of your belongings into a box that will be scanned by a x-ray machine.

Boarding

After the security checkpoint, you will have to find your gate, which is located on your ticket. If it’s the first time you’ve been at this airport, you may check a map located all over the terminals. Once you find your terminal, sit tight until they call your section to board. It’s important to make sure you check the flight arrival board to see if your flight in on time.

Flying

When you finally reach your airplane seat, sit tight. Before you take off, the flight team will show everyone on board how to properly do some demonstrations such as buckling your seatbelt, etc. Once you’re in the air, you will just have to wait to land!

When your plane finally lands, you can either go to baggage claim, if you checked your baggage in. If you didn’t, you’re free to go wherever you plan on going. Weather you rented a car or you’re waiting to get picked up, the directions for all of these places are plastered all over the airport.

Now this was just a little cliff note version of flying. It’s not going to be as quick as mentioned. You may run into delays, weather problems, etc. It’s up to you to make sure you know where you’re going and the most important part is that you’re responsible and courteous to the flight staff. A courteous person will always get further than a person with an attitude.