In 1989 I flew out of Miami to Port au Prince Haiti. Friends picked me up and took me to out hotel. Promptly there I discovered that my checked camera case had been deftly open and that I had been relieved of several piece of photographic equipment. My reflex was to head straight back to the airport and report the theft to the airline -- this primarily for insurance purposes. My friends persuaded me to hold off 'til the next morning. When I did go back the airport was empty and dead -- I subsequently learned that if no flight is slated for arrival or departure, well, no staff is on duty. I wandered around trying to find somebody. And boy! did I ever! I saw a door cracked open, knocked and stuck my head it. The room was totally smoke filled. Through the haze sat a group of very malevolent men with weapons in evidence -- there was no two ways about that. Each's eyeball was hairier than the next. I was later told that more than likely I'd wandered into a den of the dreaded Ton Ton Macut and that I was wise to beat a quick of a retreat as I had. I've been through an occasional trouble spot and have had guns pointed at me, but I never felt more in peril that being in the gaze of those men's glare.

And on the other hand... Here's a tip. I flew into Cairo in 1985 and was forewarned that passing through customs there -- esp. with a load of camera gear -- could be hellish. I had my undies in a bunch. But, as luck had it Egypt was playing in some major (the World Cup, perhaps) football and the inspectors had their collective eyes glued to a TV screen and I was waved through with hardly a glance. Quite the opposite of the other occasion. So, if you're going to a place where situations might be ticklish, try to arrive when the national team is playing.

I once flew into Port au Prince with a film crew. The customs people wanted us to open every bag, of which there were many. So when they opened the first bag, one of the photographers started to describe, in detail, every single thing in the bag. He explained what things were, how they worked, what they did, etc. If they'd have gone through every bag, we'd have been at customs for a week. About half way through the customs people gave up and waved us through without opening another bag! Nothing was stolen, though.

Personally, all of my experiences at Toronto airport have been unpleasant, mainly because of the crowding. I haven't been there in more than ten years, though -- perhaps it's better now.

My father, who's been everywhere, says the one airport he prefers to avoid is Athens. He feels unsafe there because security is dodgy. Not having flown there myself, I can't comment.

When in a countries airport (third world normally) they ask to look through all of your bags it normally means they one a little money!

The worst airport in my case is NY. Although this is mainly because my country is not a friend of the US, and my jop is a little doddgy so I normally get intermediated by the FBI b4 entering US soil!

JFK In NY And Kenya airport in Africa rank up there as well as most other African and NYCity airports but the best was in Budapest when it was just coming out of communism and they were almost strip searching the poor people from there and when they got to us with there ak-47's in hand asking for papers found out we were from NYCity and all they wanted to know about was studio 54 and if was as good as they heard, never once looking at our bags

Americans be forewarned, you will go through security at Heathrow, even though you just got off a plane. And even though your purse and backpack (or laptop plus briefcase) both were allowed on in the US, at Heathrow the very strictly enforced rule is ONE item per person. As suggested, I put my purse into the rolling pack. Friend husband had to check one bag. This meant leaving the sterile area, checking the extra item, and going through security again. I told airport personell my situation of waiting for someone and they assured me he would have to pass by a certain place so I waited there. Finally, I decided something must have happened, so I went to the plane. He was already there, sweating bullets in worry that I was delayed. He had been directed to reenter through a completely different route. So the people were quite friendly, but completely mislead me. However, I refuse to lose perspective, the security people have kept me and my fellow travelers safe. My suggestions are: One carry on bag per person, each person should keep possession of his or her ticket and other travel papers, if you must split up, agree to meet at the furthest point (at the plane/gate), and above all, keep in mind that the security people are keeping you unharmed, friendly and helpful are nice, but not required.

1996 my wife and 5 year old daughter and i flew into Heathrow. Because we were a young family traveling internationally, we were the last ones off the plane. But imagine our surprise when we found ourselves locked in the jetway! we called on a security phone to get someone to let us out, and they couldn't figure out where we were! And the only open door that i could find led directly onto the runway - where i wandered around among 747s looking for another way back into the airport! After about an hour of waiting for someone to let us out, we finally had to sound the "emergency" alarm - and then spend forty minutes explaining to the assembled assault forces why we were not terrorists. And did anyone try to make it up to us? Aside from British Air offering us 1 first class upgrade (even though there were three of us!) on the trip home, no, no one did anything. Jerks!

My Peace Corps group was enroute to Sierra Leone in 1981. There was a stop in Mali. While there no one was allowed off the plane, and one of the volunteers noticed our luggage was being unloaded! There were a bunch of military guys with guns standing around watching this. So Mark, who had played hockey for U. Maine forced his way past the flight attendants, who said he was not cleared by customs to leave the plane, to find out why our stuff was being unloaded!

He would not back down, and despite being threatened with guns, he made them put the bags back on the plane. He did this by literally wading into the baggage carts and throwing the stuff back in the plane! I don't know what would have happened if it hadn't been for Mark, but we had our stuff when we got to Freetown.

Dave Focardi

Landing into Islamabad Airport in Pakistan in late 2005, you can't help but notice the airport workers playing cricket on the Taxiway. When a plane comes by to go taxi to the runway they suspend their game for a few minutes. That, and watching the military guards guarding the airport at various stations ride around on bicycles. They do laps on the runway. I'll never forget this 747 coming in for a landing. Just 10 seconds in front of it touching the tarmac, this guard darted across the runway where it was about to land. I guess if you have nothing better to do, just bike laps on an airstrip!

In 1998 my family was stopped by one of the employees at Indira Gandhi International, New Delhi. They said that our passports were fake even though they were approved by the passport guy like a minute ago. He holded us and insulted us infront of all the visitors in line but what could we do, since we were totally new and it was our first visit to air port. Finally someone said just give them money because thats the reason they stopped you. So we said that we will call American embassy first and finally after 45 minutes he let us go.

It was probably a ruse to get a bribe. Indian airports are notorios for hassling travelers for bribes i.e. "bakshish", particulary Indian-Americans & Indian-Canadians. Whether true or not, there is the expectation that they have money. Especially on inbound flights. Probably calling the embassy is not the wisest thing to do. So many folks used that as a their "get out of jail free card" and that doesn't earn points with security officials. That is to say "Don't hassle me--I'm actually a citizen of another country besides India--and I'll just call that Ambassador, and he will show you who's boss". The system doesn't work that way, and you will probably get laughed at by your embassy.

Actually, in the case of the U.S., the people who they'd likely reach at the Embassy (or Consulate) are U.S. State Department Consular Officers, the very people who issue the passports. They are in fact the proper authority to contact to confirm issuance and validity of a U.S. passport. The Ambassador has nothing to do with it.

I have traveled extensively in India over the past 20 years. All I can say is that there's always a new twist on graft and corruption disguised as some kind of travel hassle. For example, you get to the counter with a confirmed reservation and they cannot find you in the computer. $25 later your name pops up. Then, they won't let you check your bags. Another $25. Want to get through security? Pony up again. Same thing coming into the country. Depending on the city, and how the immigration officer feels that day, you can usually get through with another bribe. Or they'll say they need to keep your luggage for a special inspection. If you fall for that one, you'll never see your belongings again. Forget the embassy call. Just pay up now and forget it. Travel modestly and with old, worn suitcases and you're less likely to be hit up for bribes.

Actually, now in certain parts of India you won't have problems like this... at least if you're an Indian-American. I travel to Kerala's Cochin Nedumbassery International Airport, when I go to India, and the last 2 times, I haven't had any problems when I arrive there. They look at your Customs form, check your passport, stamp it, and let you go. No hassles whatsoever!
The only time I recall having any type of problem, in India was at the Trivandrum International Airport where they tried to figure out what my dad's camcorder was, because they were too dumb to know what it was for, and after speaking with the officer's supervisor, and my dad refused to give them money, they let us go.
I've never been north of Bombay so I can't speak for anywhere else.

My family of 2 kids (one minor) took off on an United flight from SFO to JFK where we were supposed to take an Air India conection to Delhi India via Heathrow London. After the SFO sector when we arrived at JFK, we were not allowed to board the Air India flight on the pretext of not having a DATV visa for UK. Not being prepared to fight after a long flight, I let the airlines staff know that we were carrying Canadian PR cards which they refused to accept and said would accept only US PR cards. At sub zero temp outside and the baggage being checked for India, we were let off the airport and scrambled to get to a hotel nearby to make the little ones warm. Did online research and found out that the Canadian PR cards were legally acceptable but we were turned down. On hagling with the same staff the next day and threatening them, they let us take the next days flight after warming some pockets of several hunderd $$.

We arrived a Heathrow finally where they still treat non British like dogs. They crammed us all (about 400 passengers) in a small room with temperatures over 40 deg C. 4 bottles of water and no one gets out of that room. When asked for water, we were told we'd get some on the plane. Decided not to fly out of or thru Heathrow and suggest no one should too...

I had my connection via Heathrow enroute Houston. I just had 2 hours of time to reach the connecting flight and the security check line was really messy. However, the staff was quite good and helpful. Although I had to run to make it on time for my flight, overall it was quite good. Sorry about you.

Honolulu, home to the most rude discourteous customs and immigration officers in the US. Everyone is thought of as a drug smuggling criminal, it's just rude, and not exactly the great welcome that the US should be giving foreign visitors

You are entirely correct. Honolulu are the worst and have been so for years. The seem to have an inferiority complex. It has nothing to do with drugs or smuggling. They just treat everyone badly for no reason except to satisfy their inferiority complex. Since they are badly trained I guess and have really not much to do, it adds to their confusion. Such a shame.

I agree, Honolulu is rude. I was coming if from Hong Kong and was rudely asked how many new suits I had. I said none and the guy unpacked my bag and just left in in a pile on the table. I went after a supervisor to damand they repack my bag. They did by just piling my belongs in and closing the lid. I filed a coplaint with Washington, no reply. This was pre 911 by the way.

I agree,100% after 2 connection flight starting in Hokkaido Japan I finely arrive at Honolulu airport where i was hearded off the plane like an animal where you then are put on a dirty rickity shuttle tram drivin by a very rude Hawaian with an attitude problem NO smile at all(so much for the aloha spirit) once I reached the terminal bldg at the filthy airport I was hasseled for about 15 min. by a VERY rude imigration person wanting to know why I came to Hawaii, I told him I was on vacation and wanted a break from the snow in hokkaido,for some reason that didnt satisfy him. I am an American born and raised on the mainland but with his continueous rude attitude you would think I was holding an ak47--Infact I found most of the native Hawaii people to be VERY rude---NEVER GO BACK.all they want is your $$$$$$ ALOHA(ha ha)

Honolulu has got to be one of the worst,dirty,unfriendly with the rudest personel starting the moment you get off the plane and are hearded onto the filthy rundown shuttle tram with a driver whose face would crack if she smiled(so much for the Aloha spirit) all the people on that island are only interested in one thing --MONEY-- never again