Questions tagged [airports]
Questions related to airports themselves rather than "airlines" and "air-travel", which have their own tags. "Airport-transfer" is also covered by a separate tag.
1,214
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Why would you wrap your luggage in plastic?
At many airports you can wrap your luggage with sheets of sticky plastic. Why on earth would you do that? I only see disadvantages. I can imagine the mess when customs ask you to open your luggage. So ...
user141
93
votes
7
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How do I identify an airport’s official free Wi-Fi network?
While traveling in the Berlin Tegel airport (TXL), I wanted to get on Wi-Fi. I found three unsecured networks in addition to a number of password-protected networks.
_Free_TXL_WiFi
airberlin
Berlin ...
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Best way to dispose of a carry-on bag in Hong Kong airport?
An odd question, I know.
I'm expecting to arrive with a full-size carry-on, containing some stuff I brought on the flight but don't want to carry any further, some stuff I'll transfer into my main ...
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What is the most remote airport from the center of the city it supposedly serves?
As an example, "Frankfurt" Hahn is actually 120 km away from the city of Frankfurt and "Paris" Beauvais is actually 85 km away from the center of Paris. Are there airports that are even further away ...
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8
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Why is the departures level always above the arrivals level?
It seems to be a pretty strong convention for airport terminals with more than one level to have the departures above, and the arrivals below. Is this specified in some international standard? Are ...
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Can I safely eat whatever goes through the x-ray machine?
This might be an odd question, but I often take a sandwich or fruit to eat while waiting for the airplane. This means that my food goes through the security x-ray machine.
I don't understand much ...
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5
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What is the purpose of check-in before flying?
A few years ago, to do the check in, we would go to the airport and do it directly at the counter.
I always thought the function of the check-in for the airline company would be to tell the company "...
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7
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I was allowed to enter the airport terminal by showing a boarding pass for a future flight. Should I be concerned about "security"?
I take the same flight with the same company between two European neighboring countries once a month.
My boarding passes are on my smartphone, but as I book my flights months in advance, I often ...
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7
answers
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Where can I change my clothes at the airport?
I will have a rather formal event which I will attend in rather formal (and less comfortable) clothing. After that I will head directly to the airport, without having an opportunity to change.
If I ...
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6
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Does the GDPR entitle me to refuse to show my boarding pass at EU airport shops?
Every time you shop at airports the shop personnel ask to see your boarding pass even if there's no discount on the merchandise due to the lack of VAT. Given that the GDPR is now in force starting ...
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How to tell if your flight has an air-bridge or stairs?
A colleague has a family member who struggles with the stairs, and wouldn't be able to climb (injury). They've spotted a trip to Tasmania on Jetstar from Sydney, but are wondering if the planes have ...
- 159k
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2
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What is shown at an airport arrival board if a flight is missing or has crashed?
What is shown at an airport arrival board if a flight is missing or has crashed?
Would they actually say crashed/lost, or simply something like delayed.
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What are cell phone lots at US airports for?
In every airport in the United States, I have noticed the existence of a parking lot, often among the furthest ones from the terminal, called a cell phone lot.
What is the purpose of such parking ...
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What are some tips for a child flying alone for the first time?
I am 14 years old and will be flying on a WestJet plane from Calgary to Vancouver, Canada. How early should I arrive at the airport? What do I do once I arrive at the airport? What should I do first, ...
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5
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What happens if you swab positive for a drug sample at Canadian airports even if you don’t have anything on you?
I’m a mom of one and don’t use or associate with any drug stuff. I recently bought a backpack off a buy and sell and after I got it home I noticed it smelled like cigarettes. So I went through all the ...
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8
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What are good security tactics for sleeping in airports?
Sleeping in airports is something I've found myself doing more often than I ever expected, and while I have no issue with sleeping on the floor or chairs or whatever, sometimes I have valuable stuff, ...
- 159k
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13
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How to find better food in airports
I travel economy, and so have no access to food in business lounges. In my experience, airport food tends to be both expensive and of poor quality. I would like to be able to find food that is ...
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2
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Who was this persistent person at Shanghai airport?
About 10 years ago I traveled to Shanghai. When I got off the plane, a guy in plain clothes came up to me and indicated he could take me to whereever I needed to go. I was planning on taking a taxi ...
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32
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What is the closest airport to the center of the city it serves?
Inspired by this, but the complete opposite: What is the most remote airport from the center of the city it supposedly serves?
Personally, I can't think of anything closer than Adelaide Airport (ADL),...
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45
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7
answers
15k
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Why is my bag never one of the first on the carousel?
It seems intuitive that the order in which bags reach the carousel should be random, but every time I fly, by the time I reach the luggage claim area, my bag is never there and I have to wait (even ...
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9
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Can I travel from Germany to England alone as an unaccompanied minor?
I currently live in Germany and am a German citizen.
My passport is from the United States of America as I used to be a citizen there.
I am moving to England (UK) alone.
I am 14 years old and ...
user99289
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votes
5
answers
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My name has "Mr" appended on airline ticket reservation. Would that cause problems at the airport?
I recently booked tickets to travel by plane from the UK to Greece. The website I booked through (airfasttickets.co.uk) lists my name correctly, as "Mr Georgios [My surname]", exactly the same as in ...
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2
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How early can you go through security at London Luton Airport?
I have a 07:15 flight on Sunday Oct 28th departing from London Luton Airport. Owing to limited options on public transport, I will be arriving at the airport at ~00:30. Is there any chance I will be ...
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43
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3
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Why do airplanes at every airport disembark at the left (port) side?
I travel by air a lot, and at virtually every airport I've ever been too, including where you disembark by stairs, as opposed to by jet bridge, the left-hand-doors are always used; and the right-hand-...
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7
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Who to complain to about the speed of airport security at Frankfurt?
Usually I'm flying several times every month or two in Europe, and in the last few years I have seen that the situation at security check is worse and worse.
One week ago I had a flight via Frankfurt....
- 1,517
41
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5
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Benefits of checking in online when checking bags
What is the benefit of checking in online for a flight when you intend to check bags at the airport? I understand some airports have special lines for people that are already checked in but are ...
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15
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How do you prevent somebody from stealing your luggage when traveling by air?
I've basically never flown. So I'm asking as somebody who has near-zero experience with airports. Especially modern ones.
I very much worry that, after my luggage is "checked in" and ...
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6
answers
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Why do they sell luggage in airports?
It seems that in almost every airport I'm in, there are luggage stores behind security. How often do people get to the airport carrying handfuls of clothes and needing something to put them in? I ...
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4
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Which airport will I land at in Iceland if my ticket says "Reykjavik Keflavik Internationl Apt."?
I have booked my flight from London to Iceland. The flight ticket says London Heathrow Apt - Reykjavik Keflavik Internationl Apt. I checked on Google Maps; it shows Reykjavik Domestic, Reykjavik ...
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8
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Is there a specific reason for having a very short window for passengers to get to the boarding gate before closing it?
I am not a frequent traveler but it's been like this with all the flights I have been on.
Here is the most recent example:
Below is my boarding pass
As you can see Gate Closes at 20:20
Here is the ...
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6
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What can I do at Hong Kong Airport for 13 hours?
Problem:
I have a layover of 13 hours on the 15th of December 2019. I arrive 7 am in the morning, depart 8 pm Hong Kong time. I had earlier planned to go out but now I don't think I should risk it.
...
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5
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New York airports: JFK vs. EWR/Newark?
We're traveling to New York for a week in February. We will be flying with Lufthansa, landing on a Saturday evening around 20:00 and staying in Manhattan. The flight times and prices to John F. ...
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2
answers
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What is this machine inside a terminal in Riga airport?
A while ago I was traveling through Riga airport where in the middle of the terminal I saw a machine I had never seen at any other airport. It looks like it might be related to security, however there ...
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13
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What are the closest international airports in different countries?
From my house I see many planes coming in to land at Tijuana International Airport (8km/5mi from me), and on occasion I can also see planes that (I assume) are coming in to land at San Diego ...
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5
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How to leave Hong Kong International Airport by foot
Is there any way to leave HKIA by foot?
I have a 4 hour stopover, so I would like to shortly visit the neighbouring city of Tung Chung (home to 200-year-old forts and temples), but I want to avoid ...
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6
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Why do shops within airport terminals scan your boarding card?
Periodically when buying something from an airport shop (in various European terminals), I'll be asked to produce my boarding card to be scanned by staff.
It's not 100% of the time for every purchase,...
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My tour guide took €78 for the airport departure tax from Northern Cyprus. Was this legitimate?
My BF and I just came back from a vacation in Cyprus (TRNC). My tour guide said there is a €39 airport departure tax, per person, payable directly to him in cash. I paid him, but didn't receive a "...
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2
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Can you freeze liquids to pass security checks?
Once I read a suggestion saying that frozen "liquids" are not subject to the 100 ml restriction of security checks in airports. I've found other references of this googling, but they all refer to TSA (...
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6
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Why are airport wheelchairs often "attendant-propelled" only?
I have noted that all the airports I have visited have had "attendant-propelled" manual wheelchairs that may only be moved by an attendant:
source: Wikimedia Commons.
Rather than the more ...
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4
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Why is it uncommon to fill airliners from both ends?
In Norway, it is common at airports with jet bridges (of which there are at least four) for aircraft (largely 737s and A320s) to be boarded and exited through both ends: the passengers with seats in ...
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5
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What's with Canada's airport codes?
In my flying experience (passenger), I've gotten used to seeing 3 letter airport codes. AKL = Auckland. LHR = London Heathrow. LGW = London Gatwick. LAX = Los Angeles. Generally, they seem to make ...
- 159k
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How do you estimate how long it takes to get out of an airport?
Whenever I have to fetch someone from the airport I usually arrive at the airport on the estimated arrival time resulting me spending useless time in the arrival hall.
Can you get a reasonable ...
user141
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3
answers
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Is someone who writes their job as "unemployed" on an immigration card and customs application more likely to be delayed or denied entry?
I usually write my job status as unemployed on an immigration card and customs application. But does this have any ill effects, such as taking more time to get through it or increasing the chance of ...
- 14.8k
28
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4
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Walk/Run from Berlin Tegel Airport to Berlin City Centre
I am visiting Berlin in May for a short weekend trip (hand luggage only). I see that it's only 11km from the airport to the city centre. I wondered if it is possible to run/walk from the airport into ...
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4
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Who pays for increased security measures on flights to the US?
When I flew to the US from Australia I was briefly interviewed by a private security contractor - asking about my plans in the US etc. Other passengers were interviewed at the gate. I was wondering - ...
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2
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Why is security screening done at the gate in some airports?
I've noticed that when taking non-Schengen flights at AMS (Schiphol airport, Amsterdam), there is no centralized security check after you enter the airport and go through passport control. Instead, ...
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5
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What happens if an airport is evacuated but a transit passenger doesn't hold a travel document valid for entering the country? [closed]
Say someone flies from A to C, with a same-booking connection in B. Their travel document does not need to be, and in this case isn't, accepted for entry by B. It also cannot be endorsed with stamps ...
- 76.3k
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7
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Is it forbidden to enter the bag claim area through the arrivals gate? Why (not)?
After you land from a flight, you pick-up your luggage and then you pass through these sliding doors to the "public" area.
I noticed that those sliding doors are not designed for security, as they're ...
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5
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15k
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Are Uber/Lyft reliable for early morning airport pickup? (rural Kansas)
Apparently my itinerary with AA for July 31, 2020 has automatically been changed. My flight is now scheduled to depart at 6:24 A.M. This leaves me in a quandary as I don't have a car, and I am not ...
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4
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In an international airport, is there specific set of laws for the international area?
When travelling in an international flight, you pass a border with passport check at both the departure and the arrival airports. It means you spend time in an international area. What are the ...
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