Worst airport experience

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I have quite a few bad experiences to mention:

• After flying from LAX to AUS, spending 4hrs in a AA MD80 on the tarmac at AUS in the heat, no water, no snacks... very hot and uncomfortable
• Every time I go through security at an Indian airport (specifically, BLR and DEL) - I only travel with carry-on, and the security checkpoints seem to have me unpacking my whole backpack, undo all the leads, unpack the smaller bags from inside the backpack (like for my laptop power supply and adapters) the so that they can rescan each individual item - seemed to take 30 mins and they were very unhelpful/rude during the whole process. Then (in DEL), they wouldn't give me a tag for the backpack - all carryon luggage needs a security tag on it before you can take it on board, so I had hassles at the gate again... grrr

But, the worst experience was actually on arrival into Dar Es Salaam (DAR) a few weeks ago:

• DAR is only a few degrees south of the equator, so it's hot and humid. On arrival into DAR, late night (11:40pm) it was 32C and 90% humidity - no Air Conditioning in the arrivals area. I need a business visa for work in Tanzania, but all I can get in Australia is an entry visa (AUD$95 + AUD$20 rush fee), but when you get into DAR, you then have to pay a further US$200 for a business visa. Paying the money isn't my main gripe though, it is the complete lack of organisation at the on arrival visa office, no seats to sit on while you wait in sweltering conditions and then there is how long it takes. Nearly a hour and a half. This was at the end of MEL-PER-JNB (very little sleep) then a long stopover at JNB (8hrs) before the flight to DAR. The experience at DAR visa on arrival office really was the straw that broke the camel's back. What's more, when I need to go back there in a few weeks time, I'll have to do all the visa rubbish all over again because TZ only issue single entry visas on arrival.

 

[Fantic125]

A few years ago, experienced a 2 day delay at CLE airport due to bad weather.

A previous poster mentioned Indian airports - of the ones I've been through, GOA would have to be the worst.

 

[jetlagger]

A few years ago, experienced a 2 day delay at CLE airport due to bad weather.

A previous poster mentioned Indian airports - of the ones I've been through, GOA would have to be the worst.

I still have undesirable flashbacks to BOM airport circa 1989.
A rat infested tin shed sort of complex with chaotic zoo like environs. :shock:

 

[nickykim]

Raced out of work to pick my daughter up from a 1 pm (ish) flight from Brisbane to Avalon a couple of years ago.

Watched three attempt to land from the west as a weather change came through. Ugly. Flight was diverted to Tullamarine where it landed successfully.

Daughter was sitting facing the flight attendent and reported on the third attempt the FA was heard to exclaim "oh ****" as the plane lurched to one side.

having flown around FNQ in the wet, watching these missed attempt with daughter on board was pretty scary.

 

[jetlagger]

Daughter was sitting facing the flight attendent and reported on the third attempt the FA was heard to exclaim "oh ****" as the plane lurched to one side.
.

A similar scenario happened to me in Philippines during Typhoon Season.
On a Cebu Pacific flight seated facing the flight attendants with strong turbulence buffering the A320, a call from the flight deck was followed with **** ( I could read her lips ), as she turned to the other FA with a distressed look.
40 mins circling delayed & very hard landing, I was just too afraid to the FA ask what the issue was.
I still recall the Sister sitting opposite me clutching her rosemary beads during the ordeal. :shock: