What do I do?

[Prescottdanni123]

I'm currently on holiday, due to fly home on Tuesday. My BA flight doesn't leave until quarter past 11 in the evening. The tourist company will be dropping me off at 5:30 in the evening. They cannot drop me any later be ause they have to pick up the next batch of guests up from the airport.

I cannot check in/drop off bags until 3-4 hours before departure with British airways I believe? So what do I do for the first few hours? There is no where at the airport to really sit and wait. It is a south African country and I have no desire to kill a bit of time by roaming the city streets on my own after dark. So do I just stand with my bags inside the airport waiting until I can check in?

Could you get a taxi?

I could but I would have to pay an extortionate amount of money. I am currently seven hours from the airport.

I'll wait inside the airport if I have to but would that look a bit weird?

Is the airport safe? I'd just sit in a corner on my bags with some treats and a book to read.

Or look for someone else to drop you off at the airport.

I think I'll have to wait but I'm just going to feel silly just standing there. The way the airport is set up is you go in, go through security/scanners and then the check in desks are in front of you

Have you had a look at the airports website? It might have a business suite or something you can pay to access? I've been in a similar position before and just ended up curling up in a cafe in the airport and watching downloaded movies on my tablet.

No one will be caring. You sound very insecure.
Just go in I'm sure there will at least a seat. Sit and read magazines or browse on your phone. Install a game

Check into an airport hotel?

Business suite is an idea. If it has one. Thanks.

@Hungrycaterpillarsmummy
I've been in this airport before. They have not allowed for people being dropped off to early. You go in, and there is check in desks straight ahead. No seats.

Take a book with you and find a seat/somewhere to wait. Not ideal but will just be a few hours.

Buy a low cost pillow and rug and leave in the waiting area if you need to make yourself comfortable with your book and snacks on the floor.
To have no seating or creature comforts is terrible.

Is the a local restaurant you can get some food?

@autienotnaughti

Only ones that I'd have to walk to. It would be a bad idea for me to start walking the streets in the capital after dark. Apparently there is a waiting area but you have to ask to be shown to it so I guess I'll just wait. I have my kindle so that will fill a bit of time.

Are there any facilities in arrivals?

If it's Cape Town, the 'meet and greet' area on the ground floor might have a cafe where you can sit for a while until you can check in?

https://capetown-internationalairport.co.za/airport/airport-maps.html

No cafes etc within taxi distance of the airport? No taxis or airport shuttle bus from the city centre to the airport? If they could drop you off city centre, go to the cinema then taxi to airport? Have you got loads and loads of luggage?

double check you can’t check in as soon as you get there. Lots of airlines allow twilight check in the night before these days. Then I’d book myself into a lip ge after security.

This sounds like bliss to me! No one to bother me for several hours. Go sit on your case, get a book and some treats. Little slice of heaven.

Lip ge - lounge.

Going to arrivals is a good idea, it might be more set up for waiting around!

Then just ask to be shown to the waiting area?

Does your Boarding Pass give any info?
Ask BA about check-in at that specific airport. They might well allow early check-in

@BitOutOfPractice

I only found out about the waiting area from another guest after posting on here. It is not an official waiting area. It was a makeshift isolation room where they used to put people who needed to do a covid test. They let her wait there last time so I'll try asking about it.

@TakenRoot

If I get dropped off at a cafe/cinema, I will have all my large suitcase (been here for five weeks) and all my camera gear with me. The tour company will drop me off somewhere near the airport but again, it will involve walking around an African capital, in the dark.

@Georgyporky
Thanks. I'm going to try to asking if I can check in straight away.

@BarbaraofSeville

It's not South Africa.

Perhaps if you tell us the name of the airport we can be more helpful?

what about being dropped at an airport hotel nearby and booking yourself in for dinner? Then get a taxi to the airport later? Is that safe?

1. check check-in /bag drop times with BA
2. check out airport hotels - they will usually have a shuttle or an easy taxi ride if not walkway to terminal. You could get dropped there for a meal/possible swim