There are a few items that are absolutely necessary when planning an international flight, not the least of which is becoming familiar with the airports the traveler will encounter. During the initial planning international travelers should also give some consideration to the need for insurance, making sure that most, if not all, situations are covered.

With all flights, international or domestic, passengers should not go to any airport without becoming familiar with the terminal, location of the gates, correct counter for check-in and so on. Many travelers do not do this and regret their lack of preparation when a situation arises far from home. The options and choices can be overwhelming if the passenger tries to figure them out at the last minute.

The World Wide Web or Internet is a great place to start when searching for basic information about airports, airlines, flight insurance and baggage regulations. While Web sites may not have all the details, most airline companies have started to use the Web as a primary tool for passenger information.

Entering the name of the airport or airports to be encountered during the trip into one of the standard search engines should give each traveler enough information to start with. While the number of choices for information will probably number in the hundreds, it is important to stick with those that deal directly with a particular airline or terminal.

At this point, the research will probably have uncovered a dizzying amount of information. Some of these facts and figures will not apply to every situation, but it would be wise to at least glance at most of the categories. Many airline sites show the same, or similar information. Among the topics covered: incoming flights, outgoing flights, travel rules and regulations, shopping and dining locations in the airports, parking information, insurance basics and so on.

Some travelers go the extra mile and visit an airport to become more familiar with the design and layout. If this is not realistic, some airline or airport Web sites provide a photo tour or floor plans in the form of drawings that will be a great help. Printing these to take along, with tickets and other documents, is a great idea. If the traveler does make a brief discovery trip to the airport before the departure date, some areas will not be accessible without a ticket. But getting a preliminary look at parking, access roads and ticket counters will help.

Many travelers fly to and from international destinations every year, without purchasing extra insurance or insurance that will cover them and their baggage during the flight. The best way to determine if additional insurance is necessary is to ask. Talking with the hometown insurance agent is a good start. Discussing the subject with a travel agent or airline representative may also clear up some of the questions travelers have. During these discussions, passengers may also find the answers to other questions, such as those concerned with parking, dining, baggage limitations etc. There are several sources for this type of information, but in any case, knowing as much as possible about international travel and airports can be useful, even necessary.

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