November 3, 2008
Waiting
Can anyone enter your city's airport terminal building? I'm curious, because at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, only passengers are allowed inside. When I fetch relatives arriving from their homes in other countries, I have to wait in a small building which is separate from the main building. And to enter that waiting area, one has to pay 30 pesos (about 60 U.S. cents). It may not seem like much to pay, but if the entire extended family has come along to greet the person arriving, that can add up to quite a lot. So, many people end up waiting outside the building—watching the TV screen announcing the status of flights, trying to catch a glimpse of the arrivals area over the heads of the people inside the waiting area, or sitting on the curb patiently waiting for the time of the loved one's arrival. No one is allowed inside the departure area either except for passengers, who have to show their tickets to the security guards to get in. The guards are also very diligent in making sure that cars don't stay long, so any goodbyes that must be said have to be said before getting to the airport.
Here is the US, you can go inside the building to meet or say good-bye, but you can't go down to the actual gates. That area is for ticketed passengers only. There's no charge for entering the building, although you usually have to pay for parking if you stay more than 30 minutes. Interesting system you've got their in Manilla. What do the entrance fees go tawards?
ReplyDeleteHalcyon is right. We can enter the same building but, you can't get to the gate level unless you have a boarding pass.
ReplyDeleteA non-ticket holder can't get to the gate area unless he's a diplomat escorting you - and then he can even carry your bag onto the plane for you! Okay, that only happened once and it was in Dar-es-Salaam but it was pretty decadent.
ReplyDeleteIn the US they welcome everyone into the terminal so they can buy, buy, buy the junk food and overpriced magazines and touristy stuff.
We have the same rushed curbside good-byes though.
avec toutes les nouvelles sécurités dans les aéroports, cela va devenir impossible de déposer ou de venir chercher quelqu'un. En plus c'est payant ? c'est quand même de l'arnaque.
ReplyDeletewith all the new security at airports, it will become impossible to file or pick someone. In addition it is paid? it's still being scammed.
Halcyon:
ReplyDeleteI have no idea! It may actually just be a way to limit the number of people going inside the building. I wasn't kidding about entire extended families picking up overseas workers coming home.
Hi Hilda, thanks for your nice long comments - I feel like I get mail when you leave a comment!
ReplyDeleteThe airport situation in Italy is similar to that in the US. You can go in the terminal but not down to the gate.
By the way, I like your new photo!
Mame got it right. I doubt many people go to airports to shop, parking is too expensive. But in major cities airports resemble shopping malls. The security issue only becomes evident once you're checked in and heading to the gate.
ReplyDeleteThen they do everything possible to make you wish you'd stayed at home.
Looks like a busy place.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember now how it was, but I'm sure my relatives stay at the parking lot and only my parents would take us to the gate....hmmm if I remember correctly. =D
ReplyDeleteIt is the same here where I live. Unless you have a ticket you can't go farther in than the ticket counter. Not even to say goodbye.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, that's a bit harsh! If I'm picking someone up from the airport I can go in and I used to be able to get as far as the baggage reclaim, though I think they're a bit stricter now. If someone's dropping me off they can wander round the airport but not go through the bit where your hand baggage is x-rayed - that's the closest to the plane you can get to say your goodbyes, though most people do by the check-in gates.
ReplyDeleteVraiment de l'arnaque oui ces aéroports !
ReplyDeleteHi Hilda! Visitors are alowed inside the Lisbon Airport Terminal!
ReplyDeleteBlogtrotter
At Manchester you can go into the terminal building no problem - I often used to take my son there to watch the planes - parking though is very expensive even for taxis which come to collect passengers these days.
ReplyDeleteWe stay outside here at bancasi airport. I'm going to post a photo of the Butuan airport scene one of these days.
ReplyDeleteIn Los Angeles and surrounding airports you can go inside the terminal for free (if you're willing to pay for parking), but you can't go past security to the departure gate unless you're a ticketed passenger.
ReplyDeleteShopping at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) isn't great, but I like shopping at Portland's airport.:)
Hilda, it seems that every blog I visit I find you there! How do you do it? You are a wonderful supporter of the blogging world. I like your new photo, too.
I love this shot, HIlda! And your new avatar picture is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGosh, this photo reminds me the day I left Beijing, lots of pessengers strended at the railway station, honestly, I was one of them, because I failed to get the air ticket to Hangzhou...all sold out.
ReplyDeleteWell written post about traveling! Also visit meet and greet manchester airport
ReplyDelete