By / MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 
Arriving at the airport full of excitement for your trip, you might occasionally run into embarrassing situations—like having an expired passport or accidentally going to the wrong airport. If you’ve never experienced these issues, you might not know how to handle them. Here we’ve compiled the five most common troubles you might face at the airport along with ways to deal with them. If something does happen, don’t panic—handle it properly and you can still enjoy your trip.

● What to Do If You Realize You Went to the Wrong Airport/Terminal
Many people arrive at the airport only to realize they’ve gone to the wrong airport or terminal, which may result in missing their flight. To avoid this, it’s recommended that you double-check your ticket for the correct airport and terminal the night before departure. If it does happen, besides heading straight to the right airport or terminal, if you find you've missed the final check-in time, you can call the airline’s airport counter and ask for a short extension. If it’s truly too late, you’ll have to ask the airline to arrange the next available flight.
● What to Do If Your Passport Has Expired
Many countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months from your date of departure in order to allow entry. If you do find yourself with an expired passport at Taoyuan Airport, you can apply for an emergency renewal at the airport and get a new passport quickly.
 
However, it’s strongly recommended that you renew your passport before you depart. Starting in April, the cost for emergency passport processing at the Bureau of Consular Affairs has increased from NT$900 to NT$3,600. When combined with the regular passport renewal fee of NT$1,300, the total cost at the airport comes to NT$4,900.
● What to Do If You Forget Something Important
Occasionally, you might arrive at the airport only to discover you’ve forgotten something important. If you can’t go back to get it yourself, you can ask someone to bring it to the airport for you, or use an international courier service to send it to your hotel (be sure to include the recipient’s name and check-in date), and have the hotel hold it for you. To avoid such situations, it’s a good idea to make a packing checklist before you leave so you don’t forget anything important.

● Bringing Prohibited Items or Too Much Luggage
Aside from forgetting things, you might also end up bringing too much—such as accidentally carrying prohibited items or bringing too much cash and securities. There are two solutions: ask a friend or family member seeing you off to take the items back for you, or go to the airport post office or a courier service to mail the items back to yourself. If you’re carrying excess cash or securities, you must declare them voluntarily at customs. Also, remember to double-check the baggage allowance policies of your airline and destination country before you depart.
● Getting Stopped for Not Completing Military Service
According to regulations, all Taiwanese men are required to serve in the military once they turn 18. Those who haven’t completed their service must apply for an exit permit before traveling abroad. If you are over 20 and still a student, you can directly apply at the “National Immigration Agency” counter at the airport and receive the exit permit quickly. If you don’t meet the requirements, you’ll need to apply through the “Military Service Office” at your household registration location, then have your parents apply on your behalf and fax the exit permit to the airport.

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