Before you fly abroad
International flight checklist
Everything that goes wrong on an international trip from the US or Canada goes wrong before the airport. Here is the list our agents run through on the call, in the order it matters.
By All Travel Fun. Published November 1, 2026.
Passport: six months and two blank pages
Many countries refuse entry if your passport expires within six months of arrival, and some want two empty pages for stamps. Airlines enforce this at check-in because they pay the fine, so an expiring passport means a denied boarding, not a warning at the border.
Check the expiry date the day you book, not the week you fly. US passport renewals can take weeks; expedited service costs more and still takes time. Children's passports last five years, not ten.
Visas and entry permits
A US or Canadian passport gets visa-free entry to much of the world, but not all of it. India needs an e-Visa applied for online before travel. Ghana and Nigeria need visas arranged ahead. The UK now asks for an Electronic Travel Authorisation before boarding, and Europe's ETIAS permit is being phased in.
Transit matters too. A connection through Canada, the UK or the Schengen area can require its own permit even if you never leave the airport. Tell the agent every connection and they will say what to check.
The name on the ticket
The name on the booking must match the passport exactly: full first name, middle name if the passport shows it, no nicknames. A mismatch is the most common reason a traveler is turned away at check-in, and most airlines charge to correct it after the ticket is issued.
Spell it out on the call. If a name changed after marriage, book in the name on the passport you will carry.
Layovers: how long is long enough
Ninety minutes is a reasonable minimum for an international connection on one ticket; two hours if you change terminals or clear immigration mid-journey, which happens on the way into the US and Canada. On a single ticket the airline owes you a rebooking if the first flight is late. On two separate tickets, nobody does.
Ask whether the connection is protected. An agent can see whether both flights sit on one ticket and will say so before you pay.
Bags, seats and the total
International fares increasingly sell the checked bag separately, and the price at the airport is higher than the price at booking. Seats together for a family are not automatic. Have the agent price the bags and the seats into the total so there are no surprises at the counter.
Money, phone and insurance
Tell your card issuer the dates and countries. Turn off roaming or buy an eSIM before you land. Check what your health insurance covers abroad; for most US plans the answer is very little, and travel medical insurance is cheap next to a hospital bill overseas.
When to call
Call once the dates are known, even roughly. International fares move with demand and the agent can see which days are cheaper. For the international line, hours are Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 7 PM ET; the main line answers around the clock for any route.
Questions before you call
How far ahead should I book an international flight?
Two to four months ahead for most routes, longer for Christmas, summer and the India holiday season. Last-minute international fares are rarely a bargain.
Do children need their own passport?
Yes. Every traveler, including infants, needs a passport for international travel, and a child's passport is valid for five years.