... and when departing

1. Find out what your terminal is! 16 or so airlines have moved to Terminal 3. One rule of thumb is that Skyteam (AirFrance, KLM, etc) is in Terminal 2, while Star Alliance (Air China, Thai, Singapore Air, etc) and Oneworld (BA, JAL, Cathay, etc) are in Terminal 3. While this rule might hold true, don't trust it! Always check.

Terminal 2
2. Check-in smartly! If traveling in Business or First, or having a card (Silver, Gold, whatever) that allows you to go to preferred desks, you can pretty much use any check-in counter for your airline. If traveling in Economy, while you typically cannot move around to other more "premium" counters, it there is "low traffic", try. Check-in is remarkably relaxed around these parts.

3. Get the departure paper! If you don't have it yet, ask for it when checking in. Some airlines don't have it around (Air China when at T2 used to be a notable example) and therefore pick it up when you get to the immigration hall. If the line is a normal one, you will most likely have time to fill it while on the queue. No need to stop to fill-in. When you have your paper, put it in the Visa page (I know, I know... but still it spares some seconds for the nice immigration officer to look for it).

4. All queues lead to Security! With the exception of the Olympic, Diplomatic and Group Visa lanes, all immigration lanes are both for National and Foreign citizens. Just choose the smallest, BUT be aware of the number of officers serving each queue. Although it's typically similar, it may prove an advantage/handicap or your queue.

5. Prepare for Security! While still in the immigration counter, get ready to get that laptop out as well as the liquid bag. Before you go into the Security ticket check, people will ask you if you need bag, etc, etc. Just show them yours and if it's good, you're fine. If it's not, they will give you one. The security check in itself is preceded by a ticket check. Although I've never understood the point of this, since you have just come from Immigration, it probably serves some purpose including control or number of people on the security check itself. Put your stuff into the machine and go.

6. Beg even when you are not right! If you have brought something that you shouldn't have, namely a bigger Perfume flask than the authorized capacity (100 ml) or somethings else, ask nicely and most of the times the Officer in charge will let you go. Don't give up straight away, as there is actually some stronger flexibility and common sense than you expect at these junctures.

7. Lounge ... safely! If you have access to one of the lounges, enjoy yourself... although with the exception of the BGS one, you are more likely than not to want to leave earlier and browse the nearby stores. Beware of your belongings. Although I don't think there is anything systemic going on, I have "lost" one my phones at the ex-Air China lounge after having my back to it for no more than 10 seconds. Never found, cameras were not on. Announcements at lounges are very vocal so you will only miss your flight if you really don't pay attention.

8. Go to the line! When boarding in Business or First class, don't worry too much. You typically have a lane for you and the other "premium" people. If in Economy, go for it as soon as you see they will start boarding. The boarding per row is a lot of times ineffective and you will regret not having gone to that queue earlier. That said, the ground staff is typically very aggressive on "early queuing" and will only let you queue 5 minutes or so before Boarding... Business and First is totally up to you.

9. Be smart when in the gates 1A, B, etc! If you fly in Business or First, you most likely have special gate to Board through (into the VIP Bus). Although this was an Air China thing (now in T3), take a look, it might still be around.

Terminal 3
1. through 5. Largely the same as for T2. On point 5., be patient with the Security officers. They are mostly very young, somewhat inexperienced (at least for now) and a bit too diligent. I recently found myself having to tell one of them that the object he had been looking at for 2 minutes was actually just a pen.

6. Doesn't work as well here, but still give it a try.

7. Lounging... but better! The new lounges at T3 are much better. If going to the Air China lounges and need to access the Internet, I believe the WiFi connection is still not working so kindly exchange your boarding pass for a LAN cable and go for it... for free.

8. Shop! Some good stores around, although I am not sure I understand why most of the best stores, restaurants, etc seem to be in 3C and not 3E (International).

9. Queuing! Similar to 8. in T2 although probably more space around you :-)

10. Beware of the gate numbers! Some of the gates - namely the ones for Bus access - are not sequentially distributed with the rest so you might jump from E20-something to E-60 something and then back to the normal "programme".

11. Everything is BIG so plan! From getting to the airport quite early - check-ins close 60 minutes before the flight - to going to the Gate early... everything here should be done (you guessed it) ... early. The airport is quite large and you will have to walk a lot.