Important thing to know when arriving at an airport

[ericc22]

Hi there! Good afternoon,

This is my first post here, I hope this is the right place!

I'm a graduate student working on a project. One of the things I have to do in order to get started is asking frequent flyers some questions about what they do when they arrive at an airport.

I'd really appreciate if some of you guys could tell me what, in your opinion, are the most important things to know when landing at an airport. What is useful to know in advance and why? What do you usually look for right after you exit the aircraft? What kind of stuff you wish you had known in advance? I could be at any airport, anywhere in the world. Are they some information specific to a particular facility?

If you had to pick up between 3 and 5 pieces of information about airports, what would they be?

I appreciate your help! Thanks a lot for your time

 

[TonyHancock]

I want to get off the plane quickly, if I'm traveling on an international flight I want to clear immigrations and customs as fast as possible. On long haul the location of an arrivals lounge is important.

When I depart the aircraft on landing I'm looking for the exit/baggage reclaim sign, unless I'm transferring to another flight, then I check monitors for the gate number and look for the location of the airline lounges.

Knowing where my ground transportation connections are, usually car rental, is high on the list too.

I will usually have researched all of this this prior to travel.

Hope this helps, and good luck with your research.

 

[BVT]

1. Clear signage to Immigration and Customs. As an ancillary point, if I need to obtain a Visa on arrival where and how, especially is it cash only or can I pay for the visa on my CC.

2. I need to know where my chosen ground transportation option is. One thing I find very disconceting is the melee you often encounter as you exit Customs into the country! Curiously, BOM has one of the best organised exits I have come across! Take note MEL and BNE!

3. It would be nice to have friendly and helpful Immigration officers too.

 

[Fantic125]

As mentioned above, if exiting at the airport, clear signage to customs & immigrations, baggage collection & ground transportation.

If transiting at the airport, clear signage to transfer desks, terminal transfer shuttles, and most importantly, the lounges!

 

[Awesom Andy]

It doesn't really matter where I'm exiting or transiting - signage is very important, be it to customs, transfer desks, lounges, etc.

 

[simongr]

I echo the above - I would add a couple of things. The only thing I like about BKK is that show the rough distance to the point you are trying to get to - this gives you a good reference point.

Other things that are useful:

- If there are premium lanes then make sure they are clear
- If there are multiple transit desks then show directions to alternates - the ones closest to the arrival gate are always chockas

 

[Timtammi]

Yes, all of the above plus I'm usually looking for an ATM in the arrivals hall so I can get some local currency as often you need it for bus, train, taxi or just some snacks!

Cheers

 

[hardtolose]

As above re the signage. Most people have done some research but it is great to have it confirmed in clear signs or by 'happy' immigration/customs officers.
The other thing that is a lovely extra is an Arrivals lounge after long flight as at LHR.
Drove through part of Florida and departed Miami at night to connect to Eurostar the following afternoon. It was very nice to have showers, fresh clothes, a snack, check email and read papers before expressing to St Pancras.

 

[ozmille]

I echo the above - I would add a couple of things. The only thing I like about BKK is that show the rough distance to the point you are trying to get to - this gives you a good reference point.

But on the other hand the signage to the lounges is cough, I know where they are by hard because I have been there so often but they could do with some better signs. Definitely exit and baggage claim area. ATM, taxi/bus/train, ...

 

[thewinchester]

What is useful to know in advance and why?

• Customs and immigration procedures
  • do I need a visa,
  • must I apply for a visa in advance,
  • what documentation do I need to clear customs,
  • what can't be brought into that country
• Transport options
  • How far is the airport from where I need to get to
  • How do I get there
  • How much does it cost

What do you usually look for right after you exit the aircraft?

Quickest way to the immigration haul, or if a long flight - the nearest gentleman's bathroom.

What kind of stuff you wish you had known in advance?

How to get to terminal transfers, railway station, airport lounge, how to move around the quickest from A to B etc. Regardless of the airport, I've always found that most are poorly signposted and mapped no matter how developed the country.

HKG in my opinion is the worst I've ever encountered from a transfers perspective. Once you're in the terminal as a transit pax, the signage is orientated towards those going onto flights. There was also no maps readily available in the terminal (either visible or clearly signposted), and there's no assistance staff positioned across the expansive facility to help either.

I could be at any airport, anywhere in the world. Are they some information specific to a particular facility?

No. Most airports in terms of functions (in my experience at least), are pretty much the same.

If you had to pick up between 3 and 5 pieces of information about airports, what would they be?

• Lounge locations
• Lounge locations
• Lounge locations
• ...

After dealing with everything else, the only thing I care about is where is the lounge, and how I get there from my current position. Once I'm in the safety blanket of the lounge, I can get everything I need and any assistance to survive until my flight.

 

[Timba-Jet]

If in transit, I try to research transit process in advance. Good signage helps confirm what you have read.

For Arrivals, generally i find it logical on how to get to immigration, customs baggage. What can take time is working out where ATM is to get local cash. I prefer to take trains, so clear signs and help in ticket options are appreciated.

Big, easy to read terminal maps are helpful.

 

[dajop]

Echo most of what others have side.

On arrival: Clear, accurate signage to immigration and baggage collection. ATM or forex booths, and directions to all forms of ground transportation. If in a lesser developed country, prepaid taxi booths are also useful if the alternative is haggling, and dealing with crowds (India does this well at some locations). The other thing I like is wide corridors and steps beside escalators (so even if I am at the back of economy I can overtake most of the plane if it is a long walk to immigration, and be at the front of queue instead of the back )

Before departing: Understanding how I am going get to my hotel or where I am going is no 1.

 

[julesten]

Agree with all other readers but have all your paper work filled in before you get to customs if you are doing an international flight. Also have it ready nothing worst that trying to find passport and entry doc.

Have fun

 

[Happy Trails]

If arriving at Paris Orly, before jumping on the bus to CDG as usual for a connecting flight, check whether said flight might actually be leaving from Orly on this occasion.
Having arrived at CDG however, and realising your mistake, before you rush to jump on the next bus back to Orly, make sure that your original connecting flight hasn't been cancelled in the mean time, and that the next available connection isn't now in fact from CDG, thus saving time and money and avoiding another two bus trips across Paris.

 

[ericc22]

Thanks a lot for all your answers! it's super helpful

I can see that what many of you look for is lounges. Being unfamiliar with lounges, i have another question: can anyone access lounges? can one flying economy access lounges for free or do they have to pay a fee to step in? does one need a FF card to access them?

Thanks again!

 

[Reggie]

If arriving at Paris Orly, before jumping on the bus to CDG as usual for a connecting flight, check whether said flight might actually be leaving from Orly on this occasion.
Having arrived at CDG however, and realising your mistake, before you rush to jump on the next bus back to Orly, make sure that your original connecting flight hasn't been cancelled in the mean time, and that the next available connection isn't now in fact from CDG, thus saving time and money and avoiding another two bus trips across Paris.

I'll take this very good advice.

 

[ozmille]

Agree with all other readers but have all your paper work filled in before you get to customs if you are doing an international flight. Also have it ready nothing worst that trying to find passport and entry doc.

Have fun

That is why I have a stack of ozzie departure and arrival cards at home. Fill them in before I go to the airport. Saves a lot of time and stress.

 

[Taezar]

what, in your opinion, are the most important things to know when landing at an airport. What is useful to know in advance and why? What do you usually look for right after you exit the aircraft? What kind of stuff you wish you had known in advance? I could be at any airport, anywhere in the world. Are they some information specific to a particular facility?

Domestic wise:
Travel time from aeroport to my destination.
I always have checked the map on line before flying so I have some idea where I am going if I haven't been there before.

Internationally:
Do I have the right paperwork? Do I have the right money? Can I get the right money at the aeroport? How hard will it be to get a taxi to where I am going? Do I need to have the address or at least the phone number of my destination in the relevant language? Do I have a map of where I need to go?

When I first leave a plane I look for the bathroom, not the closest cause that is the busiest, but the second closest.
I also look to see if there is free wifi or if I can connect through my pocket wifi.
I then look for the exit :mrgreen:

To know in advance:
Any special stores or yummies that can be bought at that airport vs others. Eg in Adelaide - FruChocs.
Any special tips about the airport that you may not know. Eg. Going for a swim at Changi - didn't know this the first time.
Any issues for women travelling alone. Turning up as the only female travelling solo (who was also a different culture/colour) to everyone else - led to an interesting time at customs. I would have packed a lot more carefully - as ppl (pax included) stood around looking at my underwear that I had packed intop of my luggage.
Knowing what time the currency exchange closed. Yes there was an ATM but it was long broken. The exchange closed an hour or so before I landed. The taxi had no cc facilities. Luckily had emergency US dollars.

 

[thewinchester]

Being unfamiliar with lounges, i have another question: can anyone access lounges? can one flying economy access lounges for free or do they have to pay a fee to step in? does one need a FF card to access them?

That is a massive question which doesn't have one answer.

Access to lounges is generally dependant on:

• Carrier flown (do they have their own lounges or have agreements with other lounge providers)
• Departure port (there may not be a lounge)
• Class of travel flown
• Frequent flyer status (do you have free access to lounges either directly or as an alliance or affiliate carrier benefit)
• If the flyer has paid membership of a lounge program, either direct with the airline or another provider (eg Priority Pass) that provides access in departure/arrival port.
• Can the flyer pay for one-time access.

Within Australia, annual memberships to lounge programs can be bought QF or DJ. These programs also have corporate rates for companies or professional groups to negotiate a reduce price for "group buys".

DJ is the only carrier domestically which offers paid one-time access.

In terms of access, those flying in Economy (Y/Y-) don't have lounge access by virtue of their travel class. They may have access however through a paid membership of a lounge program, or high status in that airline or alliance members frequent flyer program.

Access to lounges is controlled by staff, referred to around these parts as Lounge Dragons. Generally the boarding passes (either printed, or electronic such as RFID cards) will give enough information to determine if the pax is entitled to access, however pax will often present a relevant membership card that confirms their status.