I would like you ppl to post your views on Islamabad Airport.
I would like to know as much information that a person can give me such as the duty free shops, customs, check-in desks, arrivals and security.
Upon leaving the plane does one have to still catch a bus to go to the terminal or has that changed, has Pakistan introduced a jetty system.
Is there a viewing area where one could see the planes??.
I hope that some body will help me.
Thanks be4hand
Islamabad Airport has gotten a LOT better but still its not a first class capital Airport or as nice as compared to the KHI Airport. Some years ago it was a hole, looked like a crappy bus station, but somehow they have changed the outlook a bit by making new floors and some new adjustments, so its a bit better now. The first thing you get to see when you enter the airport if you are landing, is a big hall when you enter, yes you still need to catch the bus to go the the landing hall where the passport formalities and luggage handover. There are now new luggage carriers thank God, the 'Kulees' (Luggage carriers) are still there but they have controlled them now as they are not so pushing and demanding as they were before, they even wear brown uniform now.
The passport officers are ok, they sometimes take a pic of you, so dont forget to smile :-) There isnt any open rishwat anymore as before, some years ago, I was like a teenager and a bit behind my family, one fat & kala security officer asked me if I had bottles with me, I was like (§$"§$$$!!!) of course they meant alcohol. Now they are nice and dont ask openly at least, I think things are better in that direction.
Customs, coming in there isnt any custom, atleast I have not encountered any, going out, you have to go through the custom check, so make sure that you dont have anything thats not allowed through.
Check - ins, the most crappist part is when you are over weight, they ask for money for the over load, so make sure that you dont have more then you are allowed or you have some good 'connection' in the Airport. ;-)
Duty free shops, there are some, but the things are expensive, you would get much better deals outside in the city.
Thats all I can think off now. Hope it helped, btw are you going there?
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Originally posted by SaadiaB: *
**btw are you going there?*
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Firstly thank you for your reply. Yes I am planning to go to Pakistan next year around June time.
How has the facilities changed if you are departing from Islamabad.
Do you have any pictures of Islamabad Airport, please also let me know any other useful inforamtion that you think would be useful for me.
Also when did you last go to pakistan (see my other thread):)
The last time I went there was the beginning of this year. Sorry dont have any pic of the airport with me, (I had some with the pakistani national cricket team but its lying somewhere in my parents home.)
I dont think you should worry about the Airport that much, believe me you will be there for only an hour if not more and its more fun to get outside and see the crowd there :)
I was at Islamabad Airport this year, and it has gotten much better, IMO. I agree with what SaadiaB said. It be nice if they had terminals, but riding in the bus to the airport from the plane isnt so bad. Since the airport is relatively small, the luggage pick up isnt so bad, then again, our flight arrived at 1am ISL time. One of my suitcases was lost, but they were quite helpful and quick about it. The beggars can be annoying, as you leave the airport, but they are everywhere so you cant really ignore them. As you leave the airport for departure, I encountered no problems, but then again my flight was 8am so i was there at 6:30..The customs people werent so bad, they make you open your suitcase, they just browse through and your done, then you check in. Then you go through the security gate, and go upstairs to the lounge/waiting area area. I was impressed by this the most. It looked new/renovated, and had nice comfy seats to wait in. They had some Tv's to pass the time and there are a few shops up there. The typical waiter comes to your seat and asks you chai or cold drinks, etc, etc.. Of course it isnt free :p But as you wait, you have a clear view of the runways, so you can look out the window as you wait, but you still have to get on a bus to go to the plane. But its much better than before, IMO.
I heard there are plans to build a new airport and the design is complete, not 100% sure tho
^Somewhere near I-16, hope its true.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by SaadiaB: *
I dont think you should worry about the Airport that much, believe me you will be there for only an hour if not more and its more fun to get outside and see the crowd there :)
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Saadia you are right, it is more fun getting outside and seeing the crowd and in between the crowd you will notice one of your relative who has come to pick you up.
watch out for the treacherous coolie's they try their best to take ur trolley of you, even when some ppl can manage, and they ask u to cough up some cash for nothing.
be careful with your passports, wallet, electrical items etc as custom par ja ta hai if u take loads and secondly airport staff r very greedy but u have to be strict with them don't be soft warna they'll take u for a ride.
as an airpirt of a darulkhalafa man it's not nice at all, no roonak, just dust, dust, dust...........
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by #let uz chat#: *
watch out for the treacherous coolie's they try their best to take ur trolley of you, even when some ppl can manage, and they ask u to cough up some cash for nothing.
be careful with your passports, wallet, electrical items etc as custom par ja ta hai if u take loads and secondly airport staff r very greedy but u have to be strict with them don't be soft warna they'll take u for a ride.
as an airpirt of a darulkhalafa man it's not nice at all, no roonak, just dust, dust, dust...........
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Nothing has changed with the coolies then.
Yes you are right about passports, wallet etc, they even take thinks out of your suitcase without you knowing.
i have a few pics of islamabad airport. Just so you know gov is currently working on a new airport that will be better than the karachi’s airport 
. The old airport is still operational till the new one is built. I can send you pictures if you want. The waiting hall and everything else was very welcoming and soothing. i went to islamabad 11 months ago. let me know if you want the pics
ppl please check out islamabad airports website.