Flights

Once you've been accepted into your program and you are enrolled, you'll have access to the contact & flight info for the other enrolled students in your group. You can see their info by logging into your online account. (Go to the " Flight Details & Roster " section on the left side of your dashboard)  You'll be able to see the contact emails, where students are coming from and the flights they've booked once they've booked them. We recommend you email others in your group if you'd like to coordinate flying together or meeting up at your departure airport or layover airport. 

GLA staff pick up every student at the airport upon arrival. GLA headquarters will send all student flight information to program staff beforehand and they will be there to pick them up. We'll monitor flight delays and changes. Due to tight airport security, the team is not allowed to enter the restricted area of the airport. Students will pass through immigration, baggage claim, and customs and then be greeted by a GLA staff member holding a “Global Leadership Adventures” sign and wearing a GLA shirt. Students are strongly encouraged to wear their GLA T-shirt to make it easy to spot them.  Click here to purchase additional styles. You can see the staff photos, biographies and phone numbers in program specific info. 

Once students and staff meet up at the airport, staff will require each student to call their parents to inform them of their safe arrival.  Please allow 3-4 hours after your student has landed to receive this phone call as it takes awhile for students to exit the plane and get through immigration, baggage, customs and delays with all students using 1-2 phones to call home.

Upon arrival into your destination country, all passengers of your plane will proceed to the immigration area of the airport. (there is only one way to walk in the airport as you'll be required to proceed to this area upon arrival)  Once at the immigration desk, you'll be asked to present your passport, as well as any required documents or paperwork depending on where you are arriving from. It is common for them to ask where you the purpose of your visit (tourism), where you are staying (home base address listed in program specific info) and the length of your stay. They'll likely scan your passport and may ask for a digital fingerprint or take a photo of you. 

When declaring the purpose of your visit, please indicate "holiday/vacation/tourism".  There may be an option for "volunteer", but it's reserved for long term (1-2 years) volunteers. The GLA program has an element of service, but also includes adventure, cultural exchanges, and leadership workshops.

Arrival card: you may need to fill out an arrival card (typically distributed on the plane) and you'll need the contact information for the Home Base, found under "Staff & Emergency Contact Info." for your program.

After immigration you'll collect your baggage and continue on to Customs. 

Customs is the place where the local government checks to see what you are bringing into the country. They may ask you to put your luggage into a scanner and ask if you have any items to declare (anything you're bringing into the country) Usually, you will pass through without incident. Occasionally, the customs officials will open your bags. 

Nope! We will go old-school and arrive at the airport early, so that staff can get students checked in at the ticketing counter, assist with checked bags, etc. No need to check them in beforehand! Staff will wait at the airport until all students are through security in case there are any issues.