Travel checklist: what to do before you fly
Sixteen things to get done before you leave, in the order to do them. Start two weeks out with the slowest jobs, such as passport dates and visa applications, and finish the night before with the bags packed and weighed. Check with the airline, the airport and the embassy about the documents your family needs.
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Updated October 2026
Two weeks out: the things that take longest
Start here, because these are the tasks that take days rather than minutes.
- Check the passport dates of everyone travelling, including the babies
- Look up the entry rules for every country on the route
- Ask the airline what the baggage allowance is on this fare
- If you need a visa, start the application now
One week out: bookings and the details you forget
These are the things that are easy to leave until the day before, and then impossible to fix.
- Book the seats together, so the family sits near each other
- Confirm the hotel for every night, including the first one
- Arrange the airport transfer, and write down the address
- Add the flights to the calendar on every phone at home
A few days out: packing and the things in the drawer at home
The last things live in a drawer or a cupboard, so they are the ones that get forgotten.
- Charge the phone, the tablet and every power bank
- Pack the car seat or booster seat for the drive at the other end; a booster can't be used during the flight, and a car seat can only be used on board in a seat you paid for
- Put the medicines and the first-aid kit in your carry-on bag
- Order the eSIM, or check the roaming on your plan
The night before: the last pass, then sleep
Do these in the evening, not in the morning of the flight, and then go to bed.
- Print or download the boarding passes and the hotel booking
- Put the passports, the tickets and the travel documents in one bag
- Pack and weigh the bags the night before
- Set the alarm, and leave the house with time to spare
What this list is not
This is a memory aid, not a requirement. Every airline, airport and country has its own rules, and they change: how much baggage you get, what a child needs to travel, how early you have to be there.
So check with the airline, the airport and the embassy or consulate about the documents your family needs for the entry rules of every country on your route, including the ones you only pass through.
Sources
- Official travel advice of the World Health Organization. It tells travellers to look up the requirements for the countries they are going to, including vaccination requirements and recommendations for international travellers, and warns that all travellers must prepare for the health risks they can meet. — who.int (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official foreign travel advice of the United Kingdom Government, with per-country advice for 226 countries and territories covering entry requirements, health risks and safety, which is the reference for checking the rules of every country on a route. — gov.uk (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of Delta Air Lines on infant travel: a child in an approved safety seat must have a purchased seat, and booster seats are not permitted during the flight, which is why the car seat item on this list says so. — delta.com (checked 21 October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How early should I start preparing for a trip?
Two weeks out for the slow tasks, such as checking passport dates and applying for a visa, and the week before for bookings and packing. The night before is for printing the boarding passes and packing the bags.
What documents should I check before travelling?
The passport dates of everyone travelling, including babies, the entry rules of every country on the route, and any visa you need. A passport valid for at least six months beyond your trip is asked for by many countries, and some ask for a return or onward ticket.
How do I know what baggage my ticket includes?
Ask the airline before you book, because it depends on the fare and not only on the route. The cheapest fares often include only a personal item that fits under the seat; a cabin bag, checked bags or a seat with extra legroom can cost more.
What should I carry in my carry-on bag during the flight?
A change of clothes, a snack, a bottle, a toy and the travel documents, in one small bag that fits under the seat in front. The medicines and the first-aid kit go there too, not in checked luggage.
Can I use a booster seat on the plane?
No. Booster seats are not permitted during the flight, even when they carry a label saying they meet a safety standard. A car seat can only be used on board in a seat you have paid for, so pack it for the drive at the other end.