International Travel Checklist — Before You Fly

What do you need to do before an international flight?

Work backward from departure: documents first, then airline rules, then airport timing. A generic printable list helps for packing; your route still needs passport, visa or ETA, and connection rules that match your airports.

Three months before you fly

• Check passport expiry against the destination rule. Dubai Airport guidance for UAE entry cites at least six months of validity for many travellers.
• Confirm whether you need a visa, e-Visa, ESTA (US), ETA (UK), K-ETA (Korea), or similar. Singapore’s Changi guidance requires an SG Arrival Card for visitors.
• Review loyalty / lounge benefits and whether your cards open lounges on this itinerary.

One month before you fly

• Match baggage limits to your airline and fare — Emirates and flydubai allowances at DXB depend on fare class.
• Book seats and meals early on long-haul; note medical or oversized item pre-approvals at DXB for oversized bags.
• Check if your destination still requires an arrival card or electronic authorisation and save confirmation numbers offline.

One week before you fly

• Enable airline app notifications for gate and delay alerts.
• Download offline maps for hubs with long walks (Istanbul piers A–G) or no sterile airside transfers between terminals (JFK — clear security again after landside moves).
• Photograph passport ID pages and visas; store copies separately from the originals.

The day you fly

• Arrive early enough to finish check-in, security, and any transfers. US hubs enforce TSA liquid rules; UK and EU hubs enforce 100 ml cabin liquid rules.
• At LHR, international boarding typically closes 20 minutes before departure; at DXB gates close 20 minutes before departure.
• Keep liquids, laptop, and passport accessible before the screening line.

What documents do you need at the airport?

Document	Why it matters
Passport	Identity + entry; validity rules differ by destination (e.g. six-month rule cited for UAE entry at DXB).
Visa / ESTA / ETA / K-ETA	Required for many nationalities at JFK (CBP), LHR (UK ETA for many visitors), ICN, and elsewhere.
Boarding pass	Mobile usually accepted; have a backup if your airline or airport demands a printout for document checks.
Arrival card	SG Arrival Card required for Singapore visitors (Changi).
Return / onward ticket	Immigration officers may ask; keep it offline.

Download a route-specific checklist

A webpage checklist cannot see your layover, passport nationality, or lounge cards. Scanning your boarding pass in Res‑Q Space builds the checklist for your route instead of a generic PDF.