Palal

I bought a ticket LIS-LAD-WDH and have 5 hours in LAD on the return. Is it worth getting a transit visa and getting out of the airport?

EDIT: trip report

Stewie Mac

While that would probably give you time to nip out and get a tasty snack ,it's a right pain to get a visa for Angola, so probably not worth it for a couple of hours.

Palal

The transit visa doesn't look too hard to get

cargueiro

A transit visa will not let you leave airside (and, in any case, most nationalities do not need a transit visa)?

You need a temporary visa or better to get landside! Normally, though, these sorts of visa are not easy to get and are a perrenial PIA!

A word of caution re transfers at LAD (assuming you are stuck airside):

There are no transit desks at LAD.

So if you fly in on one carrier and transit onto another (let's say, for instance, Air Namibia to TAP in this instance) you will arrive in to the arrivals hall and be directed to a seating area for transit pax; this area is located before the passport booths for pax entering Angola, and is on the left.

This seating area is very basic! There are some loos but I am not sure if they have running water. These loos probably do not have soap and it is almost certain there will be no paper towels or a working hand dryer! There are no refreshment facilities at all (if you speak Portuguese you may be able to pay an immigration guy to go buy you something but he will probably want a commission for this service)!

Meanwhile, assuming you have checked luggage, it will be placed on the carousel in the baggage reclaim area as LAD has no facilities for transit pax!

You will have to remain in this waiting area till check-in for your next flight opens. Once check-in opens, an agent from your onward carrier should appear with your boarding pass. He/she will get permission from immigration to temporarily escort you into Angola (you will not get a stamp though!) so you can reclaim your luggage. It is likely an immigration officer will closely follow you to check you do not try to enter the country illegally! Once you have your luggage you can go back through immgration to the waiting area you were waiting at. The agent will then show your boarding pass to immigration to prove you are a transit pax and you will be taken through a security check point and then you are airside in departures (you will then probably again be escorted landside to check in or possibly the carrier may gate check your luggage if above cabin levels - procedures vary by carrier).

In airside departures there are three lounges (TAAG, PALL and Crystal). Each is in the region of $30-$50 for a few hours entry - but none are very good and wifi is sporadic in all). There are a few pastelarias if you choose to slum it with the proletariat (the enclosed one nearest the TAAG lounge does a passable pain au chocolat! - better than the lounge food IMHO but at $4 is not cheap). There is also a smoking lounge (about $10 for entry including 2 free soft drinks or 1 alcoholic). Once airside, though, life will suddenly be much more bearable (although you may well struggle to find a loo with water, soap and paper towels outside the lounges)!

If you list your flights and arrival/departure details, I can advise how long you may have to wait (in the arrivals area) depending on when check-in opens for your onward flight. Bear in mind some pax are doing overnights there - Angola has not yet fully grasped the hub airport model it aspires to and the consequent need to look after her transit pax!!!

Good things to have with you for the wait:

- Loo paper
- Water
- A good book or two
- A wash kit
- Mosquito repellant
- Patience and a sense of humor
- Assume no power chargers - so if you want to use any electronic device ensure it is fully charged prior

Five hours is quite doable so do not worry. But you may choose another route next time if it is only a few hundred dollars more! This will likely be an adventure but I am sure you will be fine!

NB If you are transiting on TAAG (both inbound and outbound) your connection will be more bearable. TAAG is trying very hard to improve the transit experience. But, come with low expectations and see if they beat those! TAAG cannot control the immigration folk who are far from welcoming.

NBB If you can get a temporary visa to enter Angola it would be preferential as you can leave the airport. There is not much near the airport but you can at least get some fresh air. There are some landside cafes (none are very good but they are better than airside AND MUCH CHEAPER). You can also find a clean bathroom (go to KFC). But I doubt is worth the hassle unless you have very good Angolan connections to arrange a visa for you...

NBBB A slight word of caution - crime is on the rise in Luanda, due to the oil price slump, so you need your wits about you even to go to KFC. Don't roll a TUMI over there!

If you explain flight details, I will be happy to help more!

Palal

Thanks for the info!

That's not the info I got from the consulate today. It should be valid for up to 5 days staying in Angola and entering the country. I guess we'll see what happens when I get the visa and on the ground I definitely do not want to pay the super expensive price for the visto de curta duração (short-stay visa).

It's TAAG>TAAG WDH>LUD>LIS

Outbound:
LIS to LAD 11:00 PM-07:15+1
LAD to WDH 10:00 AM-1:30PM

Coming back a few days later
WDH to LAD, 5:30 PM-7:00PM
LAD to LIS , 11:55 PM-06:10+1

I also have priority pass which should get me into one of the lounges.

cargueiro

OK - I have heard of these visas. If you can get one with ease and very little money, I might consider it in your case if you just want a country stamp in your passport. I do not think it is designed for the use you intend, however! It is generally for overlanders who get five days to cross from Namibia to DRC or vice versa. I guess the consulate is desperate for cash and will sell you one of these! However, since you are on TAAG, I would only consider investing in the visa if it was cheap and you are keen to get an Angolan stamp.


On your outbound, the transit time is too short to consider entering Angola. On your inbound, bear in mind it will be dark. I would not recommend even walking to KFC at night. You can get a taxi (look for the app Allo Taxi for iPhone or Android) but as traffic is always slightly unpredictable, I think it would be unwise to travel far and so I feel it is not worthwhile.

I would, I am afraid, recommend waiting at the airport.

TAAG staff should be available when you arrive on both legs so hopefully you will not have to wait long at arrivals.

That should get you access to PALL lounge. I would print out the small print just in case. Ideally print it in Portuguese if the PP site offers this. The PALL lounge is nothing special but the seats are comfier than outside and the air conditioning works properly.

ETA I am in Luanda airport at present so I will ask PALL if they accept Priority Pass as it is advertised on the Priority Pass website - I will let you know how vacant (or not) their expressions are to my enquiry!

Palal

At 30€ I'll give it a try

How early should I get to the airport before my flight? Will TAAG give me all the BPs at check-in at WDH?
I'm trying to see if a friend of a friend is in town and can show me around a bit.

Thanks!

And thanks again for the tips!

cargueiro

Just bear in mind the immigration officer at LAD may feel your visa is not suitable for entry into Angola. This visa was designed for overlanders! There is a chance you may be denied entry - but as you are transit this will not be a problem. You might just lose EUR30 or so...

I would advise getting to airport 90 mins before departure at the very minimum. By 90 mins I mean in the check in hall - not parking etc! I have absolutely no idea if TAAG will give you a BP in Windhoek - I would assume not! If it does, this will be a nice surprise! I really would not venture far from airport as traffic is unpredictable and the new TAAG management are trying to make aircraft depart ontime. If you are one minute late, you may be denied.

Welcome to the new TAAG!

Apologies - I was there today but forgot. I went for lunch in Crystal lounge which was very disappointing and pretty pricey for what was delivered.

I am back on Monday so will try to remember to enquire at PALL.

ironmanjt

Famous last words.... (says the guy who made 22 in-person visits to the embassy to get one)

ironmanjt

Granted it's been 18 months, but I would never have arrived LAD 90 minutes before my flight. It took 2.5 hours to clear security/immigration/customs shakedown...and this was in business class.

First, you check in, which took nearly an hour. Security for me, at least, was then a breeze. Immigration also wasn't too bad. But, then there was customs...where you get taken into a small room one by one, and searched for cash...and if they find one cent you didn't declare...prepare to forfeit all the cash you have on you.

All 196 countries completed, and Angola was one of only two where I had serious corruption issues with border officials. Take that for what it's worth...

jphripjah

It's a valid visa to enter the country for five days, issued by Angolan consulates and embassies to people who are flying in and out of Angola. The visa is not restricted in any way to overlanders.

Palal

Got the visa. We'll see what happens

ChiefNWA

How was the process?

Palal

I did it at the consulate in LIS. 2 hours to deliver the docs, one hour to pick up. Minor issues, but all was super fast, easy and friendly.

Palal

Updating my post:

After entering the terminal, there's a transfer desk on the left and a security scan. If both are manned - you're in luck. Otherwise you have to wait for someone to come help.

I was expecting no aircon at the airport, but it was fine. On the way down, I had 2.5 hours, and used the priority pass lounge. The airport has only 4 gates. What's shown on the monitor does not necessarily correspond to reality.

LAD-WDH was showing as departing from gate 4, which was verbally changed to gate 3. TP's LAD-LIS was departing around the same time, and it started at gate 1, then moved to gates 2 and 3 after boarding started.

Boarding on the monitor starts at T-90 min, even though actual boarding starts at or after T-60, usually while check-in is still open.

On the way back, I went through passport control with the transit visa. There were not problems at passport control or customs. I met up with a friend, who brought along 2 other friends. We ended up having beers at Lookal, in Ilha De Luanda. As this was a Sunday, no traffic meant getting there and back in less than 15 minutes in each direction, which left some time for beer and snacks.

On the way out, you first go through security, then passport control, then you get questioned whether you have any money stashed anywhere or if you're bringing Kwanzas out. Then you're back in the departure lounge.

full trip report