1.

Medical requirements
Get the following immunisation shots. Start at least a month in advance as some
vaccinations require more than one dosage.

a. Yellow Fever (ten years) – Get g. Rabies

the immunisation certificate. h. Meningococcal meningitis
Without this certificate you (three years)
may be refused entry. i. Cholera
b. Typhoid (three years) j. Japanese B encephalitis
c. Hepatitis A (life) k. Tick-borne encephalitis
d. Hepatitis B (life) l. Tetanus (ten years)
e. Diphtheria m. Influenza (every year)
f. Tuberculosis

Read more:
 [http://www.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/Handbook-
travel]
 [http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts]

2. Before travel
 You must take travel insurance if you travel overseas. See
http://www.austtravel.com.au/australian_travel_insurance.htm . Ensure that you are
covered for a wide range of eventualities. If you can afford to travel, you can afford
to take insurance.
 Check if you need a visa to travel to the country. If you do, plan in advance giving a
week more than the turnaround time for obtaining the visa.
 Check if you need a transit visa. Some countries, such as the UK require you to have
a transit visa if you are in transit in the UK.
 Check if you need to have any vaccinations done for entry into a country. See the list
above.
 Make an international driving permit if you plan to drive abroad. It may be useful in
countries that do not directly recognise the driving licence. You must carry both your
driving licence and international permit with you. Check with local driving laws if you
can drive, and the restrictions placed on non-citizens. European countries require
you to have spare pairs of glasses, fluorescent green jackets, three safety triangles,
first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, spare bulbs, and basic tools to change tyres and bulbs
with you in the car at all times.
 Inform your bank that you are leaving, especially if you plan to use your credit card
abroad. As a security measure, banks may often block cards from being used abroad.
  Make two copies of your passport, visas, credit cards, licences, and tickets. Keep one
copy with you and the other with a close friend. Additionally, scan copies and save it
online.
 Countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, UAE, and Saudi Arabia have a zero tolerance
towards drugs and can carry a mandatory death sentence. UAE in particular is
extremely strict with medicines. If you can avoid medications, leave them at home.
Food items ordinarily consumed in many parts of the world such as poppy seeds can
get you a jail sentence in the UAE. Before travelling with any medications, check and
see that it is not classified as a narcotic, and you have a prescription for any
medication. For more information see:
http://www.fairtrials.net/index.php/news/article/list_of_controlled_pharmaceutical
_substances_in_uae/
 Do not wrap gifts as security may want to open them.
 If you mobile phone is locked to an operator, get it unlocked.
 List of all things of all the things are in your check-in luggage. Can be useful if you are
stopped by security or for insurance claims.

3. Packing up
 Check your baggage allowance
o Suitcase dimensions and the number of suitcases allowed.
o Weigh your luggage sufficiently prior to the flight to evenly distribute weight if
possible.
 Although a hard cover suitcase takes more of your allowed baggage allowance, it is sturdier
and ensures that you items will not be destroyed because of bad handling during transit.
Keep in mind that suitcases are stacked above each other in a plane, and up to four suitcases
may be over your suitcase.
 You cannot take sharp instruments, gels, liquids over 100 ml, and aerosols in your cabin
luggage. Pack it in your check-in luggage (suitcase).
 Pack in layers: first your clothes, then electronics, a layer of clothes again and then any
heavier items. Keep towels and a fresh change of clothes right on top. See packing tips:
[http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/screening_experience.shtm]
 For liquids under 100 ml, pack it in transparent zip-lock bags no larger than 20x20 cm:
[http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm]
 All permitted and prohibited items can be accessed at:
[http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm]
 Check quarantine laws of the place you are travelling to. Some countries, such as Australia
and New Zealand are very strict, and a lot of food items and animal products are restricted.
If you are taking in food items, the food must be packaged and sealed by a commercial
producer and ingredients clearly labelled. Also ensure you have no excess soil on your shoes.
[See: http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/travel/entering-australia/cant-take ].
 Label your luggage in bold letters. Put you name, basic contact details, airlines, start and
destination ports clearly on the baggage as a sticker.
  Keep a spare change of clothes in your cabin baggage in case your check-in baggage gets
misplaced.
 Tip: Use a vacuum-storage bag (aka space bag) to compress your clothing.
 For easy identification of you baggage, tie an uncommon coloured ribbon to your luggage
handle.
 Use a TSA-compatible lock to lock up your luggage [See:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/locks.shtm]
 Lithium batteries may not be permitted in your check-in luggage. Check with the airline
always.
 Thermometers or barometers containing mercury might not be allowed in cabin baggage.
Check with the airline.
 Take a Swiss knife with you in your check-in luggage for emergencies.
 Take a spare set of spectacles if you use one. Carry the prescription with you.

4. Web check in
The check in facility usually open 24 hours before the flight departs. Do this as quickly as possible to
select the best seat. Print the boarding pass. Preferably, inform the airlines about food preferences
at least two days in advance if not already done. Do sign up for frequent flyer cards if not already
done, and use the frequent flyer number to collect mileage points.

5. Select seat
Select a seat away from the sun, and away from the airplane wings. Seat selection would depend on
the travelling hours, season, and direction of travel so as to avoid most of the sunshine.

Tips:

 If the plane is travelling in the northern hemisphere, and going east to west, then the
southern end will get more sunshine. For southern hemisphere, the northern side gets more
sun. So avoid if possible.
 If you’re travelling north to south early in the morning, select the western side of plane,
since the sun will be in the east.
 Eastern sunshine (morning) is hotter than western sunshine (evening).
 Try and take a seat in the front of the plane. Wings of the plane are in the centre, and you
would not get a nice view. 14-20 are the seats usually blocked by the sight of the wings for
medium-sized planes. Always check the seating arrangements with the type of plane
(Boeing/Airbus) so that you know where the wings are located.
 The back of the plane has a bumpy ride and has greater engine noise, so avoid if possible.
 The first row might offer extra leg room, but several airlines mark it as premium seating.

6. Checklist before you leave

1. Passport (>six months validity)
2. Boarding pass
 3. Pen (blue or black only)
4. E-visa (if applicable)
5. Destination address
6. Secondary id (driver’s licence recommended)
7. Copy of passport
8. List of all things of all the things are in your check-in luggage.
9. If you are going for a business visit, a copy of the invitation letter. Related letters for
education and work visas.
10. If you are going on a company sponsored visit, a letter from the company that attests
that you are employed by them.
11. A doctor’s prescription if you are on or carrying any medication. Ensure that the doctor’s
contact details, address, and registration number are listed on the prescription.
12. International credit card for emergencies + photocopy
13. Activate or deactivate roaming as applicable. Be aware that roaming charges will be
high, and you may get charged for an incoming SMS in certain countries (eg USA).
14. Mobile phone (if locked to a mobile operator, then get it unlocked). For maximum
compatibility, use a quad band phone with 3G capabilities.
15. International traveller’s power adapter
16. Passport-sized photographs (just in case)
17. Contact details of your country’s embassy/consulates
18. An ICE (In case of emergency) card in your wallet that mentions your blood group, any
allergies, contact details at origin and destination in the event of an emergency. See
format details here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.123]. Also enter the number on your
cell phone under the contact name ICE.
19. Spare change for phone calls, food, or trolley services.
20. Check the allowed foreign exchange amounts, duty free items for alcohol, cigarettes,
camera, film, perfume, and goods. See [http://www.leedervillecameras.com.au/df-
allowances]
21. Your visiting cards
22. Your frequent flyer cards
23. Keep a printout of pickup details from the airport.
24. Amateur radio licence for wireless equipment, and corresponding receipts (if applicable)
25. Alcohol permit (Maharashtra only) if bringing in liquor (rarely checked by authorities –
legally speaking, you cannot bring in alcohol into the state without the permit)

7. At the Airport
1. Show your printed ticket and passport to the security guard at the airport entrance (India
only)
2. At some airports you may need to have your check-in luggage X-rayed and then shrink
wrapped as a security measure. For most other airports, the shrink wrapping is optional. A
service called Secure Wrap [http://www.securewrap.com/] may be available at your airport.
3. Go to the airline counter. If you have already checked in online, you might get priority
processing.
 a. Put the luggage on the conveyor belt with the handle of the longest side of the
suitcase facing upwards. Check-in your luggage and get the boarding pass. Note that
if you are flying with a low cost carrier, you might need to check in the luggage back
at any transit port. Remember once you check in your luggage, you will not have
access to it till you reach your final destination!
b. Collect the immigration form and cabin luggage tag from the airline counter. This is
important. One tag per baggage item is required.
c. At some airports, you can check in and print out your boarding card by scanning
your passport bio page at certain kiosks.
4. You must fill in the cabin baggage tags and tie it to your luggage.
5. Fill the immigration forms.
6. Submit your immigrations counterfoil to the immigration counter. They usually ask a few
questions and then stamp your passport. You will be photographed, and depending on the
airport, they might run an iris or fingerprint scan.
7. You now need to scan your hand luggage. Put you mobile phones, cameras, keys, and coins
inside your bag before scanning else it may trigger the alarm.
8. If you have a laptop, remove it, and place it in the tray provided, or inside a Checkpoint-
friendly laptop bag.
[http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/simplifying_laptop_bag_procedures.shtm]
9. Depending on the airport, you may have to remove your shoes and belt and pass it though
X-ray with your hand baggage.
10. On X-ray clearance, collect your baggage and pass through the security officers with hand-
held scanners.
11. Depending on the airport, the security might call you aside for a scan of your hand baggage
to determine if you have traces of explosives on it.
12. Find your boarding gate number as indicated on the boarding pass and go to the boarding
area. Confirm the boarding gate with airport personnel and/or information kiosks.
13. Never leave your bags unattended.

8. On the Plane
 Turn off your mobile phone and all electronic items. All communication devices must be
turned off for the duration of the flight.
 For take offs and landings ensure the window blinds are up, seats upright, tables put upright,
and seatbelts fastened.

9. At destination
 With the exception of low cost airlines, if you are in transit, the airlines automatically
transfer your baggage to a new plane.
 When you reach your destination, you will be informed the carrel to collect your baggage. In
North America, you collect your luggage before immigrations, while in other places you
collect your luggage after clearing immigration.
 Check your locks. If you locks have been tampered with or broken, inform security
immediately. Else, you might be liable for prosecution for any illegal material placed in your
luggage.
 At the immigrations counter, you might be electronically fingerprinted and have your iris
scanned (USA).
 Depending on the destination, you will now have to pass through quarantine and customs
and your luggage X-rayed again.
 At the airport, it is a good idea to convert your currency to the local currency as they offer
better exchange rates than your boarding port.
 Get a local SIM card.
 Keep receipts of all purchases. Tip: Stick the receipts in a notebook on a daily basis.
 Remember to update your location and contact number on Facebook and Skype.
 Register your presence at your country’s consulate/embassy if they have such a facility.