So, I ended up passing through Vientiane Airport – Wattay International, I think they call it. Not my first time in a smaller, regional airport, you know how these things go. Each one’s got its own way of doing things, its own little personality, if you can call it that.
Getting In and Checked
Dropped off right at the curb, pretty straightforward. No maze-like parking garages or endless walks to even find the terminal doors, which was a good start. I’ve been to places where you practically need a packed lunch just to get from the taxi to the check-in counter. This wasn’t one of them, thankfully. Walked in, and it wasn’t a complete zoo. A definite plus in my book, especially when you’re just trying to get where you’re going without a major headache.
Check-in was next. Queues weren’t horrific, which always makes me breathe a little easier. I remember thinking, “Okay, this might not be too bad.” The folks at the counter, well, they were doing their thing. Not exactly rolling out the red carpet, but efficient enough. Got my bag tagged, boarding pass in hand, no real drama. Sometimes, that’s the best you can hope for, right? Just get through it.
Through Security and Waiting
Then it was on to the security shuffle. You know how it is. Always a bit of a gamble what they’ll be picky about. I always try to be ready, saves everyone a bit of grief. Here’s the usual checklist I run through in my head:
- Liquids all bagged up? Check.
- Laptop easy to whip out? Check.
- Anything jangling in my pockets? Nope.
It was pretty standard stuff, really. The line moved, people fumbled with their trays, the usual airport ballet. No big surprises, which, again, is all you can ask for. I remember one time, in some other airport I won’t name, they made me unpack half my carry-on because of a tiny souvenir. Total pain. This was nothing like that.
Once I was through, I wandered into the departure area. Not massive, definitely not one of those sprawling shopping malls disguised as an airport. But it had seats, and I spotted a place to grab a coffee. The coffee itself? It was… airport coffee. Did the job, fueled me up a bit. Found a spot to sit, watched the usual mix of travelers – some looking bored, some anxious, some just glued to their phones. The usual human tapestry you see in these places.
One thing I did notice was that it seemed pretty clean. You go to some airports and you feel like you need a shower after just walking through the concourse. This place felt alright, maintained. And the boarding announcements weren’t blaring at you like a foghorn, which is a small mercy.
Boarding and Final Thoughts
When they called the flight, it was pretty orderly. No mad stampede to the gate. People just got up, queued, and shuffled on. Easy peasy. Found my seat, stowed my bag, and that was pretty much my Vientiane Airport experience wrapped up.
Overall? Yeah, it was fine. Look, it’s not Changi or Incheon, you’re not going to find butterfly gardens or movie theaters. But it gets you in, gets you out, and doesn’t try to make your life miserable in the process. It’s functional. And sometimes, functional is exactly what you need when you’re traveling. No fuss, no muss. For a smaller capital city airport, it did what it needed to do. Can’t really complain about that, can you?
