1. Expect passport control to grill you. Have your passport, return flight details, proof of funds (if staying for a longer period or have no return flight), local accommodation address and contact all at hand. Be quite clear about the purpose of your trip. Basically, these people want to know why you're in their country and when you'll be leaving. Don't ramble and don't expect them to be sympathetic about the fact that you've just come off a 24 hour flight.

2. Be aware of baggage limits on your flight. This varies, though as a general rule, for economy class, most airline carriers have a 20kg limit for check in luggage. Excess luggage is charged per kilo and this rate differs between airlines. Don't wait until you get to the front of the queue to freak out and try to deflate 30kg bag down to the allowable 20kg, you will probably cop a whole lot of attitude from a cranky traveler waiting in line behind you.

3. If you are checking in a rucksack it is a good idea to arrive at check in a little early. Once they've checked your luggage and provided you with your boarding pass, you will generally be asked to take your bag to the Outsized/Oddsized Baggage. This is just so the straps on your bag don't get caught up in their conveyor belt. Alternatively, some airlines will get you to put entire rucksack into a big clear plastic bag (which, on the positive side, makes it rather visible on the carousel at your destination).

4. Put a name tag or something distinguishing on your bag. Also ensure you know the brand. It seems fairly obvious, but it's a step neglected by a lot of travelers. As a result the description you could find yourself having to give the airline when your bag somehow doesn't make the journey with you could be, "My bag? It's a big grey & black rucksack/suitcase", yes that ought to stand out from the crowd!

5. Make things easy on yourself and don't bring fresh food across borders if you can help it, declaring stuff can be time consuming. In saying that, if you have it, declare it. If you don't you'll waste more then just time, your wallet will cop a beating too.

6. Check the airline/airport carry on baggage rules. In Australia, carriers tend to be quite lenient allowing a carry on bag AND a handbag AND duty free. However they are more strict in the UK/EU, they allow ONE piece of hand luggage only and any duty free you purchase needs to go inside your hand luggage. Read the small print on your ticket & pay attention to signs and instruction at the airport or you may be binning some of your precious tidbits.

7. Have a clear plastic bag (resealable lunch bags work well) to pop your liquids/gels/aerosols into. Some airports are not as willing as others to provide you with one (...ahem, San Francisco).

8. Bathrooms. If you're the kind of a girl thats not keen on the very communal nature of toilets on plans, the best bathroom to use once you arrive at your destination is the first one you see. This is usually somewhere before you arrive at the baggage carousel. It's cleaner and less crowded than most because so many people are in a mad dash to get to the baggage carousel, collect their luggage and clear customs.