Introduction: Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Economy Class Showdown
Review: Zurich Airport Observation Deck
Review: Emirates A380 And 777-300ER Economy Class Zurich To Dubai To Delhi
The Delhi Airport Ground Experience
Review: Air India 747-400 First Class Delhi To Chennai
Review: Jet Airways 737-800 Economy Class Chennai To Mumbai
Review: Qatar Airways 777-300ER Economy Class Mumbai To Doha To Beirut
Transiting Beirut Airport On Separate Tickets
Review: Etihad Airways 787-9 And A320 Economy Class Beirut To Abu Dhabi To Muscat
Review: Premier Inn Abu Dhabi International Airport
Emirates Vs. Etihad Vs. Qatar – Who Has The Best Economy Class?
Both Ben and I have had interesting experiences transiting in Cairo. I’ve yet to share my stories from my three connections there, but they were not smooth, to say the least.
Given my experiences there, I had no idea what to expect in Beirut. While the cities are obviously entirely different, something about the airports and the airlines that served them made me put them in the same category. So what was it like connecting between flights on separately booked tickets in Beirut?
I touched down on my flights from Qatar around 12:00 pm and followed the connecting flight signs for my next leg on Etihad to Abu Dhabi.
After going down an escalator, I took a left, walking away from immigration and towards a connections desk.
There was a small desk with two employees handling connections for all airlines. Since Middle East Airlines is a SkyTeam member, they specifically signed for Air France and KLM at the desk.
While the line looks long, it didn’t take more than 10 minutes. The primary reason it went so quickly was that everyone was connecting to SkyTeam flights. When I realized this, I started to get nervous.
Once it was my turn, I explained that I was connecting to Abu Dhabi and needed to pick up my boarding pass. After discussing for a while in Arabic, they asked me to take a seat next to the desk. This was immediate deja vu to my experience in Cairo, which was worrying. I didn’t want to end up waiting for two hours and potentially miss my connection again…
In contrast to Cairo Airport, Beirut Airport has free Wi-Fi (only 30 minutes though). I decided to take the risk and connect straight away.
Just fifteen minutes later, a man came down and delivered my boarding passes.
There was a small security checkpoint right next door.
I was through in less than two minutes and entered the departures area. While small, Beirut Airport has plenty of intriguing local shops.
Overall, I really enjoyed my connection. Unfortunately, it was cut short by Etihad — stay tuned.
Bottom Line
Connecting in Beirut Airport, whether on one or several itineraries, should be a smooth experience. Everyone I interacted with was friendly and professional, and the airport itself is a cool place to kill a few hours.
Have you ever connected in Beirut on separate tickets? How was your experience?
I need to book a flight from Milan to Cairo with a connection in BEY airport but unfortunately there only one hour between the two flights I am wondering if this time enough to get off From the first flight and get in to the next flight
I plan to do a connection in Beirut on separate tickets/ airlines. I will fly from Istanbul to Beirut on Turkish Airlines. 4 hours later I will fly on Alitalia to Rome (with onward flight to Dallas). I was wondering if I will have to clear customs etc. in Beirut, or if I can do what you did with the connections desk? I would like to check a bag, but it if that will disqualify me from using the connections desk, then I can carry on. Your input is appreciated! Thanks!
> This is rather about an organized money-hungry airport staff and corrupt inept customs/immigration officials
"But it's not about culture, muh rayyysism". Funny how this never happens in Scandinavia, for example.
Entertaining reading, thanks, Daniel
Can't help but wonder if William Y. is Debit/Credit given the nature of posts made under these IDs
@William, this was an actual horrifying experience and not about their culture, race, or ethnicity. This is rather about an organized money-hungry airport staff and corrupt inept customs/immigration officials who enabled them as I'm sure they share "the bounty". For sure we don't want to emulate or import such culture.
Flown into/from SE Asia cities tens of times, and despite the poverty there, this has never happened to me there.
Re. the Cairo experiences; this is what happens when the media calls you a racist for pointing out we probably shouldn't try to emulate or import the culture of these places.
I had a horrible time in Cairo. All these cheap fares... not worth the trouble. They threatened to put me in prison for a suspicious routing and after cash bribes finally got out of there. Never again!
I’ve done the transit in BEY twice on separate tickets. The first time was Qatar Airways arrival and FlyDubai departure with luggage. It was simple as they have a person at the transit desk who goes and gets your luggage at arrivals and then tags it for the onward flight. Second time was a turnaround flight with Qatar Airways and no luggage, easy! :)
No checked luggage for this connection?
Never been to BEY but was transiting and change of plane at CAI on a FRA-BGW itinerary. My experience was way more than interesting as I was robbed by airport employees with the assistance of their customs agents who ransacked my luggage. Thus, my flying requirements now is never to fly through CAI.
Be forewarned!
@James
So how does it work? Just connect to VPN and it works until you disconnect? Do you connect before or after logging in?
I like these type of articles. Keep them coming.
My experience was not as smooth--
http://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/2017/02/16/beirut-airport-transit/
A trick around time limited wifi networks are VPN apps. They work very well