Vientiane Airport: Check-in
Wattay International Airport; IATA: VTE; ICAO: VLVT. Let us check-in and fly out! As said in my previous story, I got to this airport after only 16 minutes from city center.
How far is this airport?
Travel guides, official pages and/or information brochures usually say this airport is 3 kilometers away from the city center and is reachable in 15 to 20 minutes. Quick?
I don't know where that 3kms reckons to/with, but as far as my ride was concerned, Ibis Hotel (few steps from KM Zero, Nam Phou Park) is about 6 kms, yet only 12mins!
Na! I ran twice faster than normal? How lucky (well, I usually am anyway hehe)!
Simple, No Frills Entry
Entering international terminal's main door, check-in counters are but a few steps.
Where I stood to take that picture was probably just 5 or 6 steps from the door. And, like at modern airports, no lining up for an x-ray machine to scan you and everything!
That was already the 3rd pogi point of this small airport!
First, the curbside isn't packed with non-passengers nor long-staying vehicles, since their parking lot is just a few steps across. And eveything is at ground level. Simple!
Second, the foyer/walkway has trashbins with ashtrays at almost every other post.
Third, yun na nga sa taas. No manong blue guard and x-ray ek ek. You just enter!
This early, I already felt makakarami ng pogi-points s'akin ang airport na'to.
2 Hours, Not 3 Hours!
Those check-in counters in that picture above were not for my flight - except for the rightmost, Counter 15. Not open at 1219H - natural, eh 1430H ang flight FD1041 ko.
They open 2 hours BETD. So, lumabas at nagyosi. Pag-balik ko at 1233H, eto na!
Ambilis naman humaba ng pila! But what can I do, inuna ang bisyo eh, pagdusahan! A "check-in counter opening surge". Folks used to 3 hours BETD rule are already there!
Come to think of it, the farthest flights from here (Vientiane, VTE) are just within the region (PEK & SEL north; SIN south). No big wide body planes with tons of luggage!
Check-in would usually be quick (as of now, that is) - so what's the rush hehe!
Yet the line was moving fast than I wanted it to be hahaha! This happens, when most passengers have web-checked-in, so just bag-dropping. Eh nag-kokokodak pa ako eh!
Is this new?
Why does everything seem to be still new? Is this a new airport? Or a new terminal?
Having fun staring at things, I wished my check-in line would run a bit slower hahah!
Yes there are times when we the curious and observing are better-off tucked inside a throng of people. Than walking around alone, visible as if auditing the whole facility!
See? I took the 2 pictures above while standing in line with fellow passengers about to check-in. Hindi halata diba? Ah those already 'inspired' me to ask and know more!
Ano yung sinulatan ng 'counter numbers', bond paper? Aw hindi naman - something thicker! Is it always this 'empty'? No, it's congested on some days. I was just in luck! How come everything looks new? This terminal was opened just 4 months ago. Da!
Who did I ask? The check-in agent - but only those 3 questions. She was busy.
In fact, we talked while she was checking me in, as I kept looking around, shooting!
Through the years of traveling & telling my stories, I learned (even still mustering) to always prop my antennae for bits-n-pieces of infos that I can tell you sooner-or-later.
Yes for you my dear readers! Para akong detective minsan! But I do enjoy it hehehe!
Example? Ah, that picture above already has many things worth telling you. Like: Air Busan was at that moment 20 mins from counter closure, but no more passengers.
Yet, they must man their counters, as it is actually one of the most crucial moments in their operations - until exactly 1300H for "last minute check-ins" - since ETD is 1330H.
Hindi ko inembento ang mga oras na yun ha? Those are on the display monitors!
When you are last at Check-in.
Let me share something I learned lately... from some of the best airliners on earth.
For Air Busan's operations at that time frame (30mins before counter closure), some (or at least one) staff with handheld radio would already be 'standing-by' at that area.
If you're the last, or one of the last passengers - as declared by a check-in boss, that radio-wielding staff will tail you, at times even "helping you" on your way to the gate.
Why? Because flights start boarding at 45mins to 1 hour BETD, while check-in close their counters at 30mins BETD. Thus, if you made a "photo-finish" at those counters?
Chances are boarding na yan. What if all other passengers are already boarded, and you, nagse-se-selfie pa sa duty free area, OR ini-interrogate pa ni Immigration Officer?
You are potentially a cause of delay, so they will want to watch you.
Note: while you may see radio-wielding staff of your airline (they usually do not show themselves to you unless it's time to literally drag you to the gate), they can't, therefore they won't help you w/ any immigration matter, lalo kung me problema ka. Bawal yan!
Pwede pa sila makulong pag tinulungan ka!
But they are there (if ever they are) to know kung makakasakay ka ba talaga o hindi. Their objective is NOT to help you, but to ascertain if they should offload you or not.
It takes time to look for your checked-in baggage, so they radio blow-by-blow as to: who you are, how many bags, what are the tag numbers, what is happening up there at immigration. Bags will be located - readied to be thrown out in case sablay ka na!
So, don't be late at the check-in counters. Showing up 1 hour BETD will be stressful. How much more kung dadadating ka at 30 mins BETD. Ang tawag dyan: good luck!
FYI lang, there are those who make it; meron din mga na-heart-attack kakamadali!
Anyway, back to the picture above.
It was the same case for Thai Smile Airways, doon sa Counter 9, may tao pa o! Kita nyo ba? ETD: 1325H; check-in would close 1255H. Eh 1240H pa lang - so pwede pa.
That family (a father, a mother and a toddler) doing their "last minute check-in". Hwag na huwag gayahin, lalo na sa malalaking airport. Dito sa VTE, pwede pa, kasi maliit!
Aw, further at the end, there is SilkAir going to Singapore. There are still passengers since their ETD was 1410H. Matagal pa, 1240H pa lang. How'd I know? Nasa 'TV' o!
Commercialist attack!
A picture paints a thousand words, right? Well, I'm not yet done with stories I got, just from the above pic. Only 3 Lightboxes on the wall so far - water, beer and softdrinks!
Yep, the advertisments, behind the check-in agents. Ad people call them Lightboxes now. In the past they were even called Dioramas! 3 pa lang? Ah this terminal is new.
FYI, airline check-in people hate them! Why? Because those boards make their work space too hot for comfort. Mainit nga yan. Too many flourescent lights in each box.
There are only three of those ads right now. But imagine when other advertisers put up theirs too - all the way to Counter 33. The place will be too hot, pati mga ulo nila!
We know that is common, kahit sa airports natin meron nyan. Saan ba naaalala nyo na ganyan? Ako CEB T1 as I'm often there. Oo nga, abot sa mukha ko ang init nyan!
I like the style at Noi Bai Airport. No flourescent tubes emitting too much heat.
Anyway... o eto final na...
Go Up to Go In!
Still on that pic above, at extreme left are stairs - where you go up, after check-in.
So let's go there.
In my next story!
How far is this airport?
Travel guides, official pages and/or information brochures usually say this airport is 3 kilometers away from the city center and is reachable in 15 to 20 minutes. Quick?
I don't know where that 3kms reckons to/with, but as far as my ride was concerned, Ibis Hotel (few steps from KM Zero, Nam Phou Park) is about 6 kms, yet only 12mins!
Na! I ran twice faster than normal? How lucky (well, I usually am anyway hehe)!
Simple, No Frills Entry
Entering international terminal's main door, check-in counters are but a few steps.
That was already the 3rd pogi point of this small airport!
First, the curbside isn't packed with non-passengers nor long-staying vehicles, since their parking lot is just a few steps across. And eveything is at ground level. Simple!
Second, the foyer/walkway has trashbins with ashtrays at almost every other post.
Third, yun na nga sa taas. No manong blue guard and x-ray ek ek. You just enter!
This early, I already felt makakarami ng pogi-points s'akin ang airport na'to.
2 Hours, Not 3 Hours!
Those check-in counters in that picture above were not for my flight - except for the rightmost, Counter 15. Not open at 1219H - natural, eh 1430H ang flight FD1041 ko.
They open 2 hours BETD. So, lumabas at nagyosi. Pag-balik ko at 1233H, eto na!
Come to think of it, the farthest flights from here (Vientiane, VTE) are just within the region (PEK & SEL north; SIN south). No big wide body planes with tons of luggage!
Check-in would usually be quick (as of now, that is) - so what's the rush hehe!
Yet the line was moving fast than I wanted it to be hahaha! This happens, when most passengers have web-checked-in, so just bag-dropping. Eh nag-kokokodak pa ako eh!
Is this new?
Why does everything seem to be still new? Is this a new airport? Or a new terminal?
Yes there are times when we the curious and observing are better-off tucked inside a throng of people. Than walking around alone, visible as if auditing the whole facility!
Ano yung sinulatan ng 'counter numbers', bond paper? Aw hindi naman - something thicker! Is it always this 'empty'? No, it's congested on some days. I was just in luck! How come everything looks new? This terminal was opened just 4 months ago. Da!
Who did I ask? The check-in agent - but only those 3 questions. She was busy.
Through the years of traveling & telling my stories, I learned (even still mustering) to always prop my antennae for bits-n-pieces of infos that I can tell you sooner-or-later.
Yes for you my dear readers! Para akong detective minsan! But I do enjoy it hehehe!
Example? Ah, that picture above already has many things worth telling you. Like: Air Busan was at that moment 20 mins from counter closure, but no more passengers.
Yet, they must man their counters, as it is actually one of the most crucial moments in their operations - until exactly 1300H for "last minute check-ins" - since ETD is 1330H.
Hindi ko inembento ang mga oras na yun ha? Those are on the display monitors!
When you are last at Check-in.
Let me share something I learned lately... from some of the best airliners on earth.
For Air Busan's operations at that time frame (30mins before counter closure), some (or at least one) staff with handheld radio would already be 'standing-by' at that area.
If you're the last, or one of the last passengers - as declared by a check-in boss, that radio-wielding staff will tail you, at times even "helping you" on your way to the gate.
Why? Because flights start boarding at 45mins to 1 hour BETD, while check-in close their counters at 30mins BETD. Thus, if you made a "photo-finish" at those counters?
Chances are boarding na yan. What if all other passengers are already boarded, and you, nagse-se-selfie pa sa duty free area, OR ini-interrogate pa ni Immigration Officer?
You are potentially a cause of delay, so they will want to watch you.
Note: while you may see radio-wielding staff of your airline (they usually do not show themselves to you unless it's time to literally drag you to the gate), they can't, therefore they won't help you w/ any immigration matter, lalo kung me problema ka. Bawal yan!
Pwede pa sila makulong pag tinulungan ka!
But they are there (if ever they are) to know kung makakasakay ka ba talaga o hindi. Their objective is NOT to help you, but to ascertain if they should offload you or not.
It takes time to look for your checked-in baggage, so they radio blow-by-blow as to: who you are, how many bags, what are the tag numbers, what is happening up there at immigration. Bags will be located - readied to be thrown out in case sablay ka na!
So, don't be late at the check-in counters. Showing up 1 hour BETD will be stressful. How much more kung dadadating ka at 30 mins BETD. Ang tawag dyan: good luck!
FYI lang, there are those who make it; meron din mga na-heart-attack kakamadali!
Anyway, back to the picture above.
It was the same case for Thai Smile Airways, doon sa Counter 9, may tao pa o! Kita nyo ba? ETD: 1325H; check-in would close 1255H. Eh 1240H pa lang - so pwede pa.
That family (a father, a mother and a toddler) doing their "last minute check-in". Hwag na huwag gayahin, lalo na sa malalaking airport. Dito sa VTE, pwede pa, kasi maliit!
Aw, further at the end, there is SilkAir going to Singapore. There are still passengers since their ETD was 1410H. Matagal pa, 1240H pa lang. How'd I know? Nasa 'TV' o!
Commercialist attack!
A picture paints a thousand words, right? Well, I'm not yet done with stories I got, just from the above pic. Only 3 Lightboxes on the wall so far - water, beer and softdrinks!
Yep, the advertisments, behind the check-in agents. Ad people call them Lightboxes now. In the past they were even called Dioramas! 3 pa lang? Ah this terminal is new.
FYI, airline check-in people hate them! Why? Because those boards make their work space too hot for comfort. Mainit nga yan. Too many flourescent lights in each box.
There are only three of those ads right now. But imagine when other advertisers put up theirs too - all the way to Counter 33. The place will be too hot, pati mga ulo nila!
We know that is common, kahit sa airports natin meron nyan. Saan ba naaalala nyo na ganyan? Ako CEB T1 as I'm often there. Oo nga, abot sa mukha ko ang init nyan!
I like the style at Noi Bai Airport. No flourescent tubes emitting too much heat.
Anyway... o eto final na...
Go Up to Go In!
Still on that pic above, at extreme left are stairs - where you go up, after check-in.
So let's go there.
In my next story!
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