Honestly, Jax has more fun at the airport than at most of our actual destinations. He wants to know how everything works — the conveyor belts, the jet bridges, the fueling trucks. Here's what we've explained to him over the years.
Arriving at the Airport
Most people arrive at the airport about 2 hours before their flight (3 hours for international flights). That might seem like a lot, but there's plenty to do!
Check-In
First, you "check in" for your flight. This is where you:
- Show your ticket and passport (for international flights)
- Get your boarding pass — your ticket to get on the plane
- Drop off your big suitcase — it goes on a conveyor belt and travels through the airport underground to your plane!
We usually check in on our phones before we even get to the airport.
Security
This is the part where you walk through the metal detector and put your bags through the X-ray machine. Security officers make sure everyone is safe. You'll need to:
- Take off your shoes (in some countries)
- Put your backpack on the conveyor belt
- Walk through the scanner
- Pick up your stuff on the other side
Fun fact: The X-ray machines can see inside your bag without opening it! The security officers are trained to spot anything unusual in the colorful X-ray images.
The Gate Area
After security, you're in the gate area. This is where the fun begins! You can:
- Watch planes take off and land through the big windows
- See the gate numbers on the screens — each gate is where a different plane is parked
- Visit shops and restaurants
- Spot different airlines and airplane types
Boarding
When it's time to get on the plane, the gate agent scans your boarding pass, and you walk down the jet bridge — that tunnel-like hallway that connects the airport to the airplane door.
Behind the Scenes
While you're walking to your gate, a LOT is happening to get your plane ready:
Fueling
A big fuel truck pumps thousands of gallons of jet fuel into the plane's tanks (which are inside the wings!).
Catering
Special trucks bring all the food, drinks, and snacks that will be served during the flight.
Baggage Loading
Your suitcase travels on conveyor belts underground, gets sorted by flight number, and is loaded into the bottom of the plane by baggage handlers.
Cleaning
A cleaning crew comes on board to clean the cabin, replace pillows and blankets, and make sure everything looks perfect.
Maintenance Check
Mechanics inspect the plane before every flight to make sure everything is working properly.
Airport Numbers
- The world's busiest airport is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) — over 93 million passengers a year!
- Dubai International (DXB) is the busiest for international travelers.
- Some big airports are like small cities with their own fire departments, police, hotels, and even chapels.
Airport Codes
Every airport has a three-letter code. Some are obvious:
- LAX — Los Angeles
- SFO — San Francisco
- JFK — New York (named after President John F. Kennedy)
Some are less obvious:
- ORD — Chicago (the airport used to be called Orchard Field!)
- YYZ — Toronto (Y codes are for Canadian airports)
Next time you're at an airport, see how many of these things you can spot. Jax keeps a running count.
Curious about the people flying those planes? Read about what pilots do. Or check out our cool airplane facts and the history of flying for more fun aviation knowledge.