Mistakes at the airport

You’ve successfully bought your plane ticket, prepared for your trip, arrived at the airport, and… then problems started? Problems will bypass readers of this article.

Forewarned is Forearmed

1. Placing Forbidden Items in Your Carry-On

We won’t discuss weapons and chemicals. We won’t even mention the water bottle that will be confiscated at the security checkpoint.

What counts as forbidden items? For example, any object that imitates a weapon. A toy gun from a child doesn’t stand a chance. Even handcuffs from a sex shop will be confiscated.

Let's talk about liquids separately. You can bring on board no more than 100 ml of liquid, except for medications and baby food. Formally, this means 100 ml and 10 such containers, i.e., no more than 1 liter of liquid.

What mistakes do travelers make? Some think that if there’s only a little left in a 200 ml bottle of perfume, they can take it in their carry-on. This is not the case. It’s about the size of the container - no more than 100 ml. How much liquid is left in it is your concern. You cannot bring any container larger than 100 ml.

The situation with manicure scissors is tricky. Small manicure scissors are also not allowed, but they are often permitted. Razors with replaceable cartridges are usually allowed.

2. Arriving at the Airport Without a Return Ticket

The vast majority of countries require a return ticket or a ticket to a third country even in the case of visa-free entry. In other words, immigration authorities want to make sure you will leave the country and not overstay. Generally, no one asks this question. But anything can happen.

The author of this article flew to Ecuador with KLM. Upon landing, the airline staff asked for a return ticket, which was not available. But the staff was adamant: “You must have a ticket out of the country.” It turned out that Brazilian authorities had recently denied entry to a Russian due to the lack of a return ticket. In such cases, the airline is obliged to fly the passenger back to the departure airport, i.e., back to Russia, at its own expense and pay a large fine. It was difficult to convince the KLM representative that a flight reservation out of Ecuador would be made during the transfer in Amsterdam. By the way, Ecuadorian immigration authorities did not ask this question.

How can you be prepared for such a situation? Use the service www.visareq.com to check any country’s entry requirements. At the top of the menu, select your country, click on the country you plan to visit, and see the list of requirements. For example, we used Mexico. It’s a useful service, don’t you agree?

3. Have a Bank Statement

This point is related to the previous one. Formally, such a requirement is present in most countries. However, few ask for it. But there’s a chance that they might ask you. If the country’s requirements include financial proof, it’s better to have a bank statement.

4. The Dollar is Rising, and You’ve Waited Until Wednesday

The ruble exchange rate is updated once a week on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. If your income is in rubles, you’re at a disadvantage when the ruble falls—the ticket costs more. In such cases, try to buy the ticket before 11:59 PM on Tuesday. If the ruble is rising, wait for Wednesday, and you will likely pay less.

5. Miscalculated Transfer Time

We are talking about situations where tickets are purchased separately. If you bought a Moscow - New York ticket with a transfer in Paris, there is nothing to worry about. If the plane is delayed and you miss your transfer, you’ll get a new ticket for the next flight. But what to do when you first buy Moscow - Paris, and then Paris - New York? How to calculate transfer time? At London Heathrow, Munich Airport, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, and John F. Kennedy in New York, allow 3 hours for transfer. These are large airports where terminals are located at significant distances from each other. At other airports, 1.5-2 hours will be sufficient. At smaller airports, 1 hour is enough. However, understand that not all circumstances are under your control. Flights are delayed, immigration control may take an hour, and so on. Plan ahead and have at least an hour of buffer time.

6. Did Not Check Airports for Transfer

You have a transfer, but the plane arrives at one airport and departs from another. For example, in the case below, the passenger arrives at London Gatwick and departs from Heathrow 5 hours and 5 minutes later. Is this enough time? And is this option convenient?

7. Did Not Notify About Luggage Collection at Transfer Point

For example, you’re flying from Novosibirsk to St. Petersburg with a transfer in Moscow. At the last moment, you decide to stay in Moscow for a day and later travel to St. Petersburg. Unfortunately, your luggage will fly to St. Petersburg. By default, at the check-in desk, your luggage will be checked through to the final destination. What to do to collect your luggage at the transfer point? Inform them of this at check-in. There is no need to explain reasons. It is your right to receive your belongings where you want.

8. Arrived Only for the Second Segment of the Ticket

Suppose you’re flying on the route St. Petersburg - Novosibirsk with a long transfer in Moscow. For some reason, you missed the St. Petersburg - Moscow flight. But you’re not too upset and decide to travel to Moscow by train and catch the Moscow - Novosibirsk flight. No, this will not work. If you have not used the first segment of your ticket, you will not be allowed on the flight in Moscow. Moreover, if you missed the outbound flight, you will also not be allowed on the return flight. In other words, missing the first segment of St. Petersburg - Moscow means that the ticket is canceled.

9. Not Knowing the Address of Your Stay

In any country you’re flying to, immigration authorities have the right to ask about your place of residence. You must know the address where you will be staying. It doesn’t matter if you’re staying with friends or relatives. If you don’t know the address where you are staying, you may be denied entry to the country.

10. Arrived at the Airport Without a Visa for the Final Destination

This sounds strange; let’s explain. This point concerns advanced travelers. For example, you want to fly to Paris, but the ticket costs $300. However, there is a ticket to Frankfurt with a transfer in Paris for $78.

You buy it, fly to Paris, and leave the airport. You skip the Paris - Frankfurt flight. In this case, there is no problem since both countries are in the Schengen Zone, and you have a Schengen visa in your passport. But what if you need to go to Paris, and you bought a ticket to London with a transfer in Paris? In this case, the airport will ask you for a UK visa. Any explanations that you are actually flying to Paris will not help.