Baku Airport

I was in the Baku Airport twice and was caught once by the scam of wrapping my bags in plastic. A helpful guy meets your cab at the curb and whisks your bags on a cart to the "wrapping station" which seems like an official stop on the way to the ticket counters. Only when the wrapping is down and the hands come out looking for payment does one realize that it was a scam. I offered five dollars a lot of money in Baku I expect and the guy was visibly miffed. My return thru Baku had me on the lookout for the scam and yes the guy met me at the curb again but this time I firmly said.."NYET" and moved him to the ticket counter while his "wrapper" buddy looked dismayed. Other then the fact that the seats in the waiting area are miserable the coffee shop awful and sour faced security people it was a fine fine airport!! Not!

Even though the days of the regular shakedown at Baku's bus terminal-style old airport be wary of efforts to make you bribe your way in and out of the airport. This includes the passport control pre-boarding (checking tickets and also just before actually entering the aircraft where army personnel can again take your passport and hold it quizzically sighing. Apart from these exotic annoyances Baku remains relatively clean to the point of being austere. Not recommended for the faint of heart.