Airport Arrival Survival: A Guide for Weary Travelers
Picture the scene: You’ve arrived at an unfamiliar airport, the exhaustion of a night flight weighing on you. Alone, you navigate the endless terminals only to discover your passport's last blank page, hinting at the impending trouble. Delays compound your woes, the immigration line a slow march that eats into your schedule.
You planned to catch a cab, but distinguishing a real taxi from a scam in this bustling hub is no small feat. Your phone, usually a lifeline, is reduced to an unresponsive slab—no WIFI, no service. When you then find ATMs uncooperative with your card, it's an inconvenience that can leave you a bit stranded. It's moments like these, amid the airport's hustle and bustle, that call for a bit of patience and resourcefulness.
Even highly experienced travelers can feel like this in strange airports. In fact, experience can lead to complacency. A few months ago I arrived in a European airport at nearly midnight and realized that I hadn’t even thought about how I would get to my hotel.
So, here are my 10 tips on how to stay safe in airports:
Keep your valuables safe. You may need your passport and boarding pass out multiple times to show people. Put them away and keep them safe afterwards rather than be tempted to shove them in a pocket. A cross body bag or body wallet is an ideal place to keep them.
Have a plan for how to get from the airport to your next destination. Book a taxi and take their contact details. If you’re going to get a taxi on arrival, research what’s OK - what color are the taxis, where do they wait, are they pre-pay or should they use a meter?
If you don’t have any cash, always check that the taxi will accept card payment before setting off - many don’t
Check the entry and exit requirements for where you are traveling to - VISA, passport validity, vaccinations.
Carry hard copies of important contact details (taxi, hotel, contacts in country and at home) in case your phone does not work or you’ve run out of battery
Anticipate that your hold luggage may not arrive. Pack your carry on luggage wisely - make sure you have your paperwork, medications, contact lenses, change of clothes.
If you can’t get local currency in advance make sure you have US dollars which can be used or exchanged
Check with your bank in advance that your card/s will work where you are traveling to. Carry more than one debit or credit card.
Stay alert, keep safe and stay calm. If you are being harassed or unsafe move inside the airport area to a safe place like a restaurant or airline desk.
Make a list of everything you pack in any luggage going into the hold of an aircraft. This way if your bags are lost or stolen you’ll have a list of the contents which you can give to the police or your travel insurer.
