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THESUNDAYMAIL.COM.AU SUNDAY MARCH 19 2017
When it comes to navigating busy airports, seasoned traveller Kerry Heaney is an expert. Follow her tips for easy, breezy arrivals and departures around the world
HERE TO HELP If the idea of finding your way through a foreign airport seems overwhelmingly daunting, there are services designed to get you there. Ask your travel agent to inquire when booking your flight whether a meet and assist service is available for boarding, disembarkation and transfers or book transfer assistance through the transfer airport’s website. At Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad offers a Meet & Greet Service that takes the confusion out of transit after a long flight. For US$89 per person, you’ll be individually welcomed on arrival at the gate, escorted to their premium lounge and then onto the departure gate. For an elderly or novice traveller on their own, a meet and greet service could offer peace of mind to the passenger and their loved ones. Making your holiday start when you arrive at the airport takes a little planning, but the results will see you starting out stress free. Isn’t that what holidays are all about?
AIRPORTS YOU WILL NEVER WANT TO LEAVE When comfort is your priority, try planning your travel route to take in these people-friendly places. Singapore’s Changi Airport is enormous, but it also offers activities you wouldn’t expect. Walk through the gardens and see the butterflies, pop your feet in a fish spa and then have a massage, enjoy a swim at the rooftop pool (pictured, below) or just check out the shops.
The in-house brewery at airy Munich Airport (pictured, below) will have you thinking you’ve never left the beer garden. If you’d rather be pampered, there are wellness and spa treatments on offer or capsule-like nap cabs that include a working area with free internet access.
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IS a trip to Europe on your agenda? Maybe the United States? Perhaps you want to finally tick off those big ticket bucket list items— the Grand Canyon, the Great Wall of China, perhaps the Eiffel Tower. Many Australians peg retirement as the time when they’ll at last be free to travel and see the world, but international travel can also be daunting. Long-haul flights from Australia inevitably involve stopovers in vast, busy airports, inciting terror in the novice and irritation for even the most seasoned traveller. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone; there are people everywhere who can help. This increase in assistance is one upside of automated travel. Not everybody knows how to check-in online or navigate the bag-drop, so the airlines have employed an army of staff to stand around and offer assistance. Look for people wearing a uniform and a friendly face at those confusing check-in stations. Not only will they help you with the process, they know where you’ll need to go next. Just ask. V1 - BCME01Z01BS
BE PREPARED Knowledge is power when it comes to achieving a pleasant airport experience. It really helps to do your research, so you are prepared for what lies ahead. Many airports and airlines now have free apps which guide you through the airport. No airport app? Head to iFly.com for information and terminal maps for more than 700 airfields at your fingertips while you are travelling. TAKE YOUR TIME The best way to prepare for a stress-free trip is to be early and allow plenty of time for your transfers. A minimum of three hours is the margin for international travel and at least an hour for domestic travel. When transiting through a busy international airport, allow no less than three hours to clear customs and find your way to the next gate. SLEEP OVER If you are an out-of-towner, consider overnighting at an airport hotel before your
flight if it is an early departure. It only takes a highway traffic accident, fog or a bad storm to delay your airport arrival and add stress. KEEP CALM Once you have negotiated check-in, the joy of airport security is the next hurdle. Everyone wants to fly safely, so while it may seem tedious, it’s best just to take it as it comes. Wear shoes that come off and on easily, minimise your jewellery and forget the belt. LOUNGE ABOUT Stuck with a long transit time between flights? You don’t have to be a member of a frequent flyer programme to find an airport lounge where you can relax. Use loungebuddy.com or ask your travel agent to book a one-off lounge visit. Lounge entry costs vary between $34 and $48 in Changi Airport, for example, but once you deduct the price of a meal, drink, internet and the magazine that you would have bought while sitting uncomfortably at the gate, it makes a lot more sense.
The $45 million makeover of Brisbane’s International Terminal has paid off with the airport named in International Airport Review’s world top 20. The airport claims to have the fastest uncapped airport wi-fi in Australia and offers a quirky, free WeWatt charge bike where you can pedal charge your phone. Plaza Premium Lounge has a wellness spa where you can indulge with 15 minutes of hand therapy or a one-hour massage. Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (pictured, below) hasn’t let being one of the world’s largest and busiest airports in the world cramp its style as an entertainment centre. Expect to find a casino, golf course and a Korean Culture Experience with a hands-on area.