Hey there, I’m a 26-year-old soon-to-be 27, living in the UK, and about to embark on my first solo flight to America in September for a friend’s wedding. Gotta admit, I’m feeling pretty jittery about the whole thing. I’m used to flying with company and relying on them to steer the ship, so going solo is a whole new ball game for me.
I’m still deciding between flying out from Manchester or one of the London airports, but it looks like I’ll have to make a pit stop in NYC before reaching my final destination. Now, the thought of dealing with US customs is giving me major anxiety. I’ve heard all these horror stories circulating, and it’s got me on edge.
Once I touch down, I’ll be meeting up with some friends at the airport and crashing at their family’s place, so at least I don’t have to worry about finding accommodation. But I’ve been told I’ll need to sort out an ESTA or visa and grab some travel insurance. Beyond that, I’m kind of in the dark about what else I need to have in my back pocket.
I can’t shake off this fear that I might end up in some kind of trouble at customs, like getting detained for having a harmless political meme on my phone (seriously, I read this wild news story). Am I being too paranoid? Is there any other crucial info I should be aware of before taking off?
So, yeah, any words of wisdom or reassurance would be greatly appreciated right now. Just need to know that everything will be okay and that I won’t get stuck in a sticky situation halfway across the pond.