In this post, Ed talks about some of the dangers present in the baggage claim area of a third world airport. He’s right. Lots of shady characters hang out there. Be careful.
Two more tips:
1- Keep you baggage claim tickets. In third world countries there are often security guards who compare the tags on your luggage with the tickets as you exit the baggage claim area. Not having the claim ticket will cause a big hassle.
2- As soon as you clear baggage claim, rip off the luggage tags and throw them away. You don’t want scam artists working the airport to know your name or the flight you were on.
In some countries, criminals will casually survey the luggage tags, and then google the names. If they find someone who is wealthy or has a prominent position in a large company, they will follow that person and “arrange” transportation for them in the taxi queue. That transportation will be taking them straight into a robbery or kidnapping.
