When you know what to expect and you arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) alone for the first time, you don’t have to worry much. Immigration process is 20-60 minutes. An arrival card must be full before arriving at the counter. Once you’ve had your luggage, you proceed to customs. Then there is the exit, where there are ‘touts’ who approach and harass every unsure traveller. When you book a Dhaka airport help service with Global Airport Assisting Services (GLAAS) before the flight, the trained man will be by your side from the airport gate to the vehicle. This article outlines all the things that most first-timers end up doing incorrectly.
The Line that Holds Up the Whole Line
All foreign passport holders are required to complete an arrival card at the immigration counter at HSIA. When arriving without it filled it will be filled while standing in line, while the rest of the line waits.
The card requires you to give your name, passport number, flight number, nationality and your address in Bangladesh. If it is a hotel, record the hotel address.
Write the address of people you are staying with, if you are staying with family. It can be obtained on the plane or at immigration, but if pre-filled, time is saved.
The Bangladeshi e-passport holders do not have to go through this process and enter through one of the three e-gates in the arrivals hall, where they are able to pass immigration in less than 20 seconds.
The manual counter takes 20 to 45 minutes under normal conditions and 90 minutes during the busy seasons, such as during Eid and December.
Foreign passport holders use the manual counter, which takes 20 to 45 minutes under normal conditions and up to 90 minutes during peak seasons like Eid and December.
Your Bag Will Not Wait for You to Figure Out the Belt
Once you have been immigrated, look for your baggage belt number on the overhead board before heading towards the baggage belt area. Bags may be in a different belt on the same flight, and you don’t want to need to walk to a different belt.
You can select your customs channel once you have your bags. The Green Channel is for no declaration passengers.
The Red Channel will be used for passengers transporting dutiable items, cash of more than USD 5,000 or gold of more than 100 grams.
A scanner is positioned in both channels of all bags. When other passengers have retrieved their bags, but your bag remains on the belt, check the airline’s baggage desk before you get off the plane.
Compensation is lost if you do not leave the airport with a Property Irregularity Report.
What’s Awaiting You Beyond the Exit Door
The HSIA arrivals exit is into a public hall. Drivers hold placards. Families are at the barrier. And peddlers come up to anyone who doesn’t know what to do. They provide transportation, sim cards and currency exchange. It’s all unofficial. There is nothing worth engaging in.
If no one is picking you up, open up Uber before you head outside. Uber operates within the terminal without having a local SIM for 1st booking.
The taxi fare to Gulshan or Banani is BDT 300 to 600, depending on traffic. Purchase Grameenphone SIM at the kiosks outside the arrivals hall for connectivity right from day one. Take your passport when you register your SIM.
The First-Time Traveler’s Wish List For Before He Arrives
A GLAAS Meet and Assist agent greets you at the aerobridge and takes you to the right immigration counter and assists in filling your arrival card (if required), watches you complete your baggage and escorts you to your driver at the exit.
No signpost to read or asking someone who is not familiar with the area for directions. The agent has performed this many times.
The normal service: BDT 500 per person. Book at globalair.com.bd, WhatsApp +880 1976 333 444, or call +880 9647 222 888 at least 24 hours before your flight.
That isn’t the difficult part of the airport. If you don’t know what to do next, it’s.