Kinshasa Airport

David De Beer needs to visit other airports in Africa if he thinks Kinshasa is the worst. With most African airports you will get hassled either by baggage handlers customs or the "Document man" who guide you through the complicated checking in process. At Kinshasa ensure you have 2 x $20.00 notes in your pocket and nothing else. Each person in the customs line will insist on opening your bags unless you "dib" them so don't bother packing nicely when you leave the hotel (Memling is the best). Let the first two officials rumble through your smalls without payment and the others don't bother when they see you haven't handed over the dosh. The $20.00 is for the document man who takes over as you arrive at the terminal. Let him take over otherwise you will be there for ages he sorts all the tickets out baggage etc and will ask for $100.00 for his trouble and $100.00 for his sidekick who carries the bags. he always asks for this whilst he has your boarding cards ans passports in his hand so take out the $40.00 and show him your empty pockets. Also don't count on asking for leg-room or aisle seats be grateful for anything as they can seem to be overbooked this is another scam to get money from you don't offer money if they say overbooked stand your ground. Try Lubumbashi Kitwe or Lusaka airports for a real fun time!

This is what West Africa is all about. If folks do not gain that sort of knowledge before start working in West Africa they should stay home. I have been all up and down the coast since early 1980 and have seen things I do not even want to write about. But that is what it is. Live with it. Brace yourself Do not stand out Do not be smart and blend in - you will cruise through.

I endorse what David de Beer wrote. I'd add that just before our flight departed a troop of armed soldiers strode menacingly down the aisle of the plane entering at front and exiting out the back of the plane. We'd been forewarned not to look at the in the eye.

This is by far the worst airport in the world. Be very sure that you will be hassled by everybody from immigration to airport security. Everybody will demand a bribe or be sure to have enough troubles coming your way. Checkin is a total joke with absolutely NO queues or rules it is orginized choas. Do not go there unless you have a contact to help you clear all the corrupt officials.