Originally Posted by
irishguy28
They do indeed. But many aiports do this.
People intending to leave the airport SHOULD follow the signs for arrivals/exit; rather than following the signs for transferring passengers. I understand that pax often want to visit an airside lounge before swanning off to the city, and in some airports this is possible. But those airports that separate arriving pax from departing pax are designed around the concept that all of those in the airside departures area will leave in one way only - on board a plane.(...)
Not sure what you are trying to say regarding his query.
The issue is not what he SHOULD do, but what he CAN do.
My experience tells me that you CAN (even if not advisable) exit the airside.
In my case, I had a good reason.
In his case, the good reason could be "I misunderstood and followed the wrong signs".
There is nothing that gives them the right to keep you air-side if you wish to go, as long as you accept all passport and security checks.