Repeatedly, airports in the Philippines make it to the list of the world’s worst airports. There are many factors that contribute to this sad fate. One of these is lack of government budget for the improvement of airport services in the country. Another is corruption among airport officials
Anyone who travels extensively is familiar how inefficient services at our airports are. While much has been done to improve the facilities in our airports, they unfortunately have done little to improve the services and make them truly world-class.
Take the check-in and check-out system of our airports. Instead of making things easy and smooth for passengers, they are a perfect example of how bureaucracy corrupts the delivery of services in this country. Just consider the following:
The Checkpoint Mentality
Upon entry to the airport facility, security guards start the nightmare for you by doing cursory check on your car, waving flashlights, pretending to check your glove compartment and the trunk. But what they do really is waste precious time.
After surviving that hell of a garrison, you think you are now safe at the doors of the airport. But no, another guard checks your plane tickets and demands for identification papers. Another precious time lost. Before you, more guards are waiting to create more delays.
And after layers and layers of security checks, you have finally checked in. Happy now? Not so fast. You still have to pay an exorbitant amount of P200. They call it “terminal fee,” something that is only found in the Philippines. You can’t help but ask if they cannot just incorporate this fee in the ticket fare to save plenty of time. Imagine how much time is saved and hassle avoided if passengers no longer have to queue to pay that annoying terminal fee.
Related: NAIA Terminal 1 Worst Airport in the World – Survey
After paying the terminal fee, another airport official meets you to waste more of your time by cutting the stub off from your terminal fee receipt. He is called the Inspector Verifier. Notorious for this are the NAIA 3 terminal and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. From the Inspector Verifier, you need to hurdle another obstacle, another X-Ray machine that will check hand-carried bags, one more thing that’s only in the Philippines. Even in other stricter airports, like those in the US, you only have to pass one X-Ray machine check, and that’s immediately before you go to the pre-departure area.
More Checkpoints Ahead
Then just when you think you are finally boarding, more checkpoints are coming your way. These are the boarding pass check before entering the immigration area, payment of P750 terminal fee, boarding pass check prior to pre-departure gate, and more baggage check before boarding.
These are just few of the many things that make travel feel like hell at the Philippine airports. We haven’t mentioned yet the many incidents involving lost or damaged baggage, and arrogant personnel who think they are gods at the airport. The sad thing is that it usually not a matter of how big and new the airport facilities are, but rather it’s a matter of creating a system that eliminates unnecessary checks to significantly cut the process. We are all for a tighter security and safer travel at the airport, but we also believe there’s always a better system that will make things a lot more convenient to passengers.
The Little Things We Can Do to Improve the System
But we cannot just keep blaming other people for the problem that we as people can help solve. Instead of pointing fingers, we can actually do things that can help improve the services in our airports. We have listed 5 of these things here for you to try when you find yourself in any of the country’s airports, international or domestic.
1. Prepare all necessary travel documents – You can help lessen the negative energy at the airport if all your travel documents are in place. Things will run smoothly for you and the check-in counter and security personnel. Before arriving at the airport, you must already know the items that don’t pass security check. Avoid bringing these items with you.
2. Follow all airport rules, from check-in to boarding – If you noticed, many people who complaining about airport services are those that have violated airport rules. They complain as a way to fight back at airport authorities who have called their attention about some infractions. If everyone will just follow the rules, everything will run smoothly at the airports.
3. Stay calm and composed – There are times that no matter how prepared you are for your trip and how you followed all the rules at the airport, problems will still arise. When this happens, keep calm. It must only be some minor glitches in the airport system that will be solved in a few minutes. Blowing your top will only make matters worse.
4. Be ready to lend a helping hand – Many airports in the country don’t have efficient customer assistance. You can do your part by offering a hand to other passengers who are in need of help. Entertain their queries and tell them what to do, especially if you are already familiar with the place.
5. Keep a generally cheerful demeanor – Nothing beats a smile when things go bad. You cannot help improve airport services by being cranky and whiny. You can try opening a friendly conversation with the person beside you during delays. Find something positive, like a harmless joke or two, for every difficult situation that you and your fellow passengers find yourselves in.
You may not be able to eliminate all the problems at the airport with these tips overnight, but for sure you are making things a lot more bearable for everyone.