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What to do when you arrive at the airport
Start by finding your terminal
Václav Havel Airport has two main terminals. Terminal 1 handles flights outside the Schengen area, Terminal 2 flights within it. Your terminal is always shown on your ticket or in the airline’s app.
At Terminal 1 the departures area is straight ahead as you walk into the building. At Terminal 2 it sits on Level 2, so if you come by bus you enter at ground level and ride up. If you are dropped off by car or taxi right at T2, you step out on the correct level straight away.
Departure boards and the check-in desk
Once inside the departures hall, look for the big digital board marked DEPARTURES. It lists the departure time, the destination, the flight number and the check-in desk number. Find your flight by its number or by where it is going.
If your flight is not on the board yet, you have simply arrived early. Check again in a while, or ask at the information desk.
Keep your ID and your ticket or booking reference to hand at all times. It saves time at the desk and at every check that follows.
What to do at the airport before departure – check-in and the checks
Check-in and dropping off your bag
At the check-in desk you show your ID and your ticket. The agent verifies the booking, issues your boarding pass and tags your suitcase for carriage in the hold. The exact limits on weight, dimensions and what you may pack are covered in our guide to checked baggage.
If you checked in online, your boarding pass is already on your phone and all you do at the desk area is leave your suitcase at the bag drop, without standing in the main line.
Passport control (T1 and non-Schengen flights only)
At Terminal 1, passport control comes right after check-in. Have your passport and boarding pass ready and join the lane marked EU citizens. The check usually takes two to five minutes.
Terminal 2 has no passport control ahead of screening, so you go straight through to security.
Security screening
This applies at both terminals. Take your laptop and tablet out of your bag and put them in a tray. Liquids go in separately as well, in a clear bag, with each container no bigger than 100 ml and 1 liter in total. Take off your jacket, your belt and any metal jewelry. You then walk through the detector while your things go through the X-ray. Collect everything on the other side and check the board for your gate number.
Our article on airport security screening describes the whole procedure in more detail, including tips for getting through faster.
How much of a cushion you need to do all of this without rushing is answered in how long to be at the airport before departure. And if you are driving, booking a parking lot with a shuttle straight to the terminal saves you both time and money. You will find the details on our page about how parking reservations work.
At the airport every minute counts, so book your space while you are still at home instead of circling the terminal hunting for one. Our comparison tool shows the spaces available at the airport and lets you confirm the booking in a fraction of the time it takes to pack a suitcase.
Waiting in the transit area
Security screening takes you into the transit part of the airport. From there you cannot return to the public area without being screened all over again.
Both Prague terminals have shops, usually open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., plus restaurants, cafes, vending machines and free drinking water points. At Terminal 1 the shops are beyond both security and passport control, and any liquids you buy are sealed into a transparent STEB security bag (which matters if you have a connection).
At Terminal 2 the shops are beyond security screening and no special bag is needed – but if a connection at another airport is coming up, have the liquids you buy sealed in a STEB bag so they are not taken off you there.
Check the departures board before every trip to a shop or a restaurant, because both the gate and the departure time can change. Boarding starts roughly 30 to 45 minutes before departure and the gate closes 15 minutes before the scheduled time. Turn up after that and you will not get on board.
What to do during a layover at the airport
A layover, also called a connection, is when your journey carries on through another airport. After you land, follow the boards marked Transfer or Connections and stick to the signage; at larger airports the arrows lead you straight to the transfer desk or to your gate.
If both flights are on one booking and your bag was checked through to the final destination, you do not need to collect it – it travels on with you. With two separate tickets you have to claim your bag and check it in again.
A connection outside the Schengen area means going through passport and security checks again. Allow for that when you pick your connection time: the minimum is usually 60 minutes, and 90 to 120 minutes is the safer bet.
Anything you buy in the transit area of one airport may only be taken on board in a sealed STEB security bag. A liquid that is open or badly packed will be thrown away at the connecting airport.
And if you miss a flight because the previous leg was late and both tickets are on one booking, the airline is obliged to rebook you. We go into the amounts involved and how to file a claim in our article on flight delay compensation.
What to do at the airport at night
Prague Airport is open 24 hours a day, so spending the night there is possible. Terminal 2 has a relaxation zone on Level 2 with comfortable seats and stretching machines. Terminal 1 has a relaxation zone as well.
If you do stay overnight, always set an alarm for well before your departure. The airport is calmer at night, but the check-in desks only open in the morning, so check in advance what time check-in for your flight starts.
Either way, keep an eye on your things. Airports are safe at night, but never let your bags out of sight. Put a travel lock on your suitcase and keep your documents in a pocket on you.
How much time to allow at the airport
The standard advice is at least 2 hours before departure for Schengen flights and 3 hours for non-Schengen and intercontinental services. In the summer season, or when you are flying from an overloaded airport, add another 30 minutes.
With online check-in and carry-on baggage only, you can be through the whole process in 60 to 90 minutes – as long as the security line is not exceptionally long that day.
If you are arriving at your connecting airport from abroad, allow at least 90 minutes for the transfer, ideally 2 hours.
After landing
After landing, wait until the aircraft has come to a complete stop and the crew gives the word. Once you are off, follow the signs to Baggage Claim. The board in the arrivals hall shows the carousel number for your flight. The average wait is 15 to 30 minutes.
Non-Schengen flights have one more passport check waiting in the arrivals hall. Past baggage reclaim you go through customs: the green channel is reserved for passengers with nothing to declare, the red one for everybody else.
If your bag goes missing or arrives damaged, file the claim straight away at the Baggage Service Office in the arrivals hall. Without a report made on the spot, claiming afterwards is far harder.
The questions people ask most often about parking and getting away from the airport are gathered on our frequently asked questions about airport parking page. And if you want to spend less on parking, or are looking for free options, read our overview of free parking at Prague Airport.
At the airport, all you need is the right order of steps
Every airport runs on the same principle. The right terminal, the departures board, check-in, security screening, the gate, boarding. Anyone who knows that sequence moves through the airport without needless nerves, and with something in reserve for whatever is waiting at the other end. We hope this guide has taken some of the worry out of your first flight and that you will set off a little calmer.
And for real peace of mind, you should have your parking sorted in good time too. Our frequently asked questions about airport parking may come in handy here. If you want to spend less on parking, or are looking for free options, read our overview of the choices for free parking at Prague Airport.
A flight is easier to handle when everything else is taken care of - parking included. Our comparison tool shows the secure parking lots available at the airport: pick one and book it inside a minute. Come departure day, that is one worry gone.
