Foreign Airlines – How To Make Flying a Delight

While traveling internationally, you may get the opportunity to choose from a variety of foreign airlines to get to your dream vacation spot.

When I travel internationally I try to take an American-based airline from the United States to Europe or Asia (or wherever I’m going). Then I’ll take a foreign airline to get to my final destination.

Because I understand the ins and outs of how a flight operates it’s really fun to watch the similarities and differences between airline operations. I hope at some point you have this same exciting experience. Pay attention to what goes on around you.

Although most airlines and airports run similarly, especially if they’re a codeshare partner with an American-based airline, you’ll see the occasional, shocking difference.

Check Your Ego at the Door

When on vacation, I’d advise you to go with the flow.

Arguing with an airline representative in the United States is generally futile and might turn you into a social media joke.

Arguing with an airline representative outside of the United States isn’t worth your breath and might land you in a foreign jail. 

Checking In on Foreign Airlines

The check-in process at a big international airport (and I mean big airports like Amsterdam, London, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, Beijing, etc.,)  is a very different experience from our check-in process in the United States.

At these huge airports, when you get inside your first stop is to find a TV monitor to determine WHERE you check-in.

Be sure to check the monitor for your check-in area!

If you don’t check the monitor you’ll wander around for quite a while searching for your airline’s logo. These huge airports have rows and rows and rows of check-in counters.

Once you find the ticket counter the process is seamless:

• Show your passport
• Answer the gate agent’s intrusive and embarrassing questions
• Hand over your bags
• Take your ticket
• Head to security

Foreign Airlines Baggage Rules

In the United States, most airline employees will roll their eyes at you when you insist that your bag, which is clearly too big to fit in the overhead bin, “fit on the last flight”.

Most gate agents and flight attendants will let you give it “the old college try” with your bag, even when it’s obvious there’s no way your bag will fit in the overhead bin. Then, instead of holding your bag at your seat until the aisle is clear, flight attendants will watch in amusement (or in irritation) as you drag your bag from the back of the plane back to the galley, stopping the boarding process.

Yes, flight attendants find this irritating.

We’ve seen thousands of bags. We know what will and won’t fit.

We’re also worried you’ll break the bin as you try to force your over-stuffed bag into a spot that’s much too tight.

If you break the bin, maintenance has to come out and fix it.

Through your arrogance, you’ve just delayed our flight.  

Let’s avoid all this drama. Please listen to gate agents and flight attendants when we tell you your bag is too big.

Foreign Airline Have Tighter Bag Regulations

Most airlines outside of the United States will not let you “give it the old college try” with your bag.

In fact outside of the United States, you will ALWAYS lose the bag battle. Unless you want to be labeled “the problem passenger” it’s best to go along with whatever the gate agent tells you to do with your bag. 

To combat any unpleasant feelings or experiences, take time to look up your specific airline’s baggage rules and unexpected fees BEFORE you buy your ticket. If you need to pay to check a bag, it’s a lot cheaper to pay in advance.

In fact, if funds for your trip are tight I’d suggest setting aside an extra $200 for surprise travel expenses (mostly bag fees). If you end up not needing the money you have $200 saved for your next trip. 

European Discount Airlines . . . Read The Terms Carefully

There are lots of discount airline options in Europe. The discounted tickets come with extra fees for every little itty bitty thing. At one point, RyanAir was charging passengers to use the lav.

It’s up to you to know what fees can be expected and plan for those extra costs.

Do your research. Knowledge is power. Luck favors the prepared. Let there be no surprises.  

Security

Research Specific Country Security Rules

Every country has their own ideas about security. It would be a good idea to look up the specific security regulations at the airport you’re flying through to avoid any unpleasant surprises. 

Don’t Argue . . . You Won’t Get Anywhere

There is no point arguing with airport security employees anywhere in the world.

Most worldwide airport security changes happened because of 9/11. These security regulations were later increased and tightly enforced because of the Underwear Bomber.

Security at airports around the world is provided to keep us safe from one another and mostly at the insistence of the United States.

I’ve come to believe that no country wants to have a United States-based airplane blow up mid-flight and have their lackadaisical security blamed. These overzealous security folks are protecting us, and most likely at our own country’s insistence. 

There Is Never a Good Reason To Argue

The vast majority of security employees you encounter are simply doing their job. If you feel like you were wronged in some way during a security search, it’s probably because you didn’t do your research before you showed up at the airport.

I’ve been through a lot of airports and I’ve never met an airline or security employee who randomly made up their own rules to punish random strangers. However, I’ve met A LOT of people who claim airport and airline employees are “picking on them”.

I believe that 99% of the time when there’s a problem at a security screening check point, the traveling passenger simply isn’t aware of the rules . . . or believes the rules don’t pertain to them.

I rarely experience problems with any airport employee. When I encounter airport security I interact with them much like I do with everyone else I encounter. I smile, I joke and I offer a huge HAVE AN AMAZING DAY as I wander off.

I also never for any reason make bomb jokes. Nor do I ask if they’ve been drinking on the job. These jokes are:

• #1 NOT FUNNY
• #2 They cause delays

Customs

After clearing security you might have to go through some version of Customs.

I can’t confirm this but I’m 99% sure that any government already knows exactly what bad guys they’re looking for before the bad guy walks into the terminal or off of any airplane.

That being said, you’ll get through customs more quickly if you’re always kind, polite, smile and truthful.

Refrain from saying anything stupid or suspicious. You’re a boring, regular, tired traveler. You have nothing to hide.

Passport Expiration

Some countries might not let you in if your passport expires within six months. Check your passport expiration date and do your research before your travels to avoid unexpected irritations.

Legal Convictions

If you have a drunk driving conviction or other legal issues some countries might not let you in. Canada is especially tough on this rule.

If you’ve had any kind of legal trouble, do your research before your trip to ensure you are allowed into the country you’re visiting.

Foreign Airlines . . . You’re On the Plane!

Every airline has different rules and I’d recommend not arguing with the crew about their requests.

Once on the aircraft, do not attempt to upgrade yourself to a more desirable seat. I’ve seen these situations get people thrown off airplanes all over the world. 

Once on board it’s in your best interest to comply with the instructors of the flight crew, even if you disagree or think the rules don’t make sense. Remember, you’re on their turf (and in a foreign country).

The crew knows their intricate flight rules better than you do. 

KLM Exit Row Rules

I was once assigned an Exit Row seat on a KLM flight.

As I sat down and tucked my small bag under the seat, the flight attendant immediately approached me. She informed me that because I was in the Exit Row all of my items had to be stowed in the overhead bin.

I did not say, “Well I’m a flight attendant and that’s not how we do it in the United States.”

Instead, I smiled, apologized and immediately stowed my small bag in the overhead bin.

When she briefed the Exit Row, I mentioned to her that I only spoke English and asked if I should be moved to a different seat. She said I could stay.

In the United States you have to speak English when you sit in the Exit Row. I was surprised Dutch wasn’t an Exit Row requirement at KLM. 

Again I chose not to argue with her. I went with the flow and followed all of their rules.

The flight was nice and smooth. I was not required to open the emergency exit door and help with an evacuation, thankfully. But I could have, if necessary. 🙂

I encourage you to follow my example and go with the flow.

Food and Snacks on Foreign Airlines

Every airline has very different ideas about food and drinks served onboard. I encourage you to do your research if food and drink on a flight is important to you.

Off the top of my head (and this is pre-Covid) on shorter flights I received a cute sandwich and small cup of juice on:

• KLM
• Air France
• Lufthaunsa
• SAS (Scandanavian Airlines)

• British Airways charges for everything on short flights, including coffee and water

You’ll find that airlines have vastly different service expectations:

• On an eight hour British Airways flight they provided a small meal and tiny soda.

• During a three hour flight from Paris to Athens, Aegean Airlines served us a full meal.

• On a 90 minute flight from Shanghai to Beijing I was shocked that we were served a full meal and drinks. The poor flight attendants were rushing through a very full cabin to make sure everyone was served.

• We had a great meal service on our eight hour Emirates from London to Dubai.

It’s a Good Idea To Bring Your Own Drink and Snacks Anyway

The absolute truth is you NEVER know what food and drink you’re going to get on board. Sometimes:

• Catering simply doesn’t show up to the plane
• There is a shortage of food or drink products
• Employees go on strike
• The crew runs out of your favorite drink or snack
• Some unexpeced delay happens and there’s no additional food available on the flight

Things happen. Be proactive and bring food and snacks with you on your flights.

I believe it’s better to be $5 lighter in your wallet than to have a hangry breakdown on a foreign flight, especially if you’re jetlagged.

I’m a big fan of cold Coke Zero, so to make my flight the most pleasant experience possible I always shell out $3 for a drink before I get onboard. Sometimes I’ll also buy a bag of interesting flavored potato chips to ensure my tummy doesn’t rumble. 

Acknowledge the Differences on Foreign Airlines

Once you’re strapped into the seat and munching on your strange bag of potato chips, pay attention to what’s going on around you. See if you can tell what’s different and what foreign airlines might do a little better.

Acknowledge the differences and be grateful that you get to have such a unique travel experience. 

If you aren’t too jetlagged I bet flying on a foreign airline is an experience you’ll remember forever.

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The Art of Travel (TAOT) ~ Written by Kylie, a huge thanks to Alex for providing these awesome photos and videos.