First Time to Travel Abroad? Here's What to Do before Departure at the Airport

My first international travel took place in April of 2014. My fellow Assumption Iloilo teachers and I went to Hong Kong as part of our faculty development program. We used the Iloilo-Hong Kong route of the Cebu Pacific Air in order to avoid the hassle of going to Manila.

Since it was my first, I had to follow what my more experienced friends did. It wasn't difficult because there were more than 60 of us who went. For first timers, this is what you have to do:

Secure all your documents first. As much as possible put everything in a transparent plastic envelope for easy access.

Pay your travel tax at the designated counter. It's around Php1500. The travel tax is the levy imposed by Philippine government on individuals who are leaving the Philippines irrespective of the place where the air ticket is issued and form or place of payment.

Go to your airline counter for check-in. You will be given your boarding pass as well as your seat number. If you're departing from Iloilo International Airport, proceed to the second floor and pay the terminal fee or airport user tax of Php550. The terminal fee is paid in cash before entering the pre-departure area.

After paying your terminal fee, go to the immigration counter to have your passport stamped. All Filipino departing passengers are required to fill out the new Philippine Immigration departure cards to be given to the immigration officer at the counter. You also hand in your passport to the officer. Unless the officer has questions about your documents, it only takes 5 to 20 minutes to proceed through immigation.Say 'thank you' after your passport has been stamped.

Submit yourself as well as your carry-on baggage to security check. The officers at the scanner might ask you to put everything in your possession on a tray, including the belt you're wearing.

After going through all the security checks, you proceed to the pre-departure area and wait for your embarkation. Listen to all the announcements done through the airport's public address system to be updated about your flight.

Bon voyage!