How to Navigate International Airports

You finally booked your international vacation. Now the only thing standing between you and a fabulous vacation is the airport. Once you figure out how to get around that, you'll be officially on holiday. Here are some tips that will help you find your way around an international airport.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Know Important Symbols

1. Find out what exit signs look like in the country you're going to vacation in. Exit signs in America are simple enough. They're just red letters spelling out the word exit. Other countries have their own symbols to show where the exits are.
2. Know what you're destination country's bathroom signs will look like. In many European airports, the letters WC (for water closet) will point you toward a restroom.
3. Find out how your international airport's signs will point you toward information counters. You might have questions about where to get your luggage or a taxi. Information counters can help you get out of the airport to start your vacation.
4. Learn the sign for a directory. If you know what terminal your plane landed in, you can look at the directory's map to figure out where you need to go in the airport to get your luggage. Once you grab your stuff, your fun vacation can begin!

Learn Some Key Words

5. Train and tram are useful words in international airports. Many airports are so large that you need to take a train from one section to the baggage claim. Knowing these words will help you read a directory or talk to an airport worker.
6. Learn numbers one through nine. This will help you talk to airport employees. They might tell you that the restroom is next to terminal six. Knowing which terminal they're referring to might be the difference between getting to the restroom and the cafeteria.
7. Learning the words right and left will also help you if you need to ask someone in the airport for directions.
8. Learn the word departure. Unfortunately every vacation will come to an end. So when you return to the airport, if you know the word departure, you will be able to find the terminal from which your flight home will be leaving.

Get to Your Terminal

9. Get your ticket from the check-in counter. Your ticket will always be printed with your flight number. If you are very early, the terminal from which your flight will be leaving might not be listed.
10. Take your ticket to the airport's arrival/departure screens. Sometimes these are blue televisions with lists of flights. Other times, these are large black boards.
11. Find your airline and flight number on the screen. Once you do, you can tell what time your flight is leaving and what terminal you will need to go to.
12. Signs, a directory, or airport staff can point you in the right direction.

Tips & Warnings

• Just because airport employees speak English does not mean that they are fluent. Keep your questions simple and to the point to make sure that you will get understood.
• If you're asking airport employees for directions, ask if they can show you a map while they explain where you need to go.