How to Deal with the Porter Scam at the Manila Airport (NAIA-3)

Yesterday, news came out that the dreaded airport (NAIA) has a another passenger scam being implemented. According to news reports, unscrupulous porters approach passengers and tell them that there's a long line at the airline check in desks and most probably, they will miss their flight.

Such kind of words are quite alarming especially for passengers are only at the airport because of their connecting flights. This is also bad news for passengers whose tickets cannot be re booked, non transferable and non refundable.

Scam No 1: The crooked porters, knowing how such inconvenience can affect the passengers, will offer to "Fix the problem" with a $50 grease money and their tickets will be processed ahead of the other passengers who are already lined up.

Scam No 2.: Other/same porters will approach the passengers and ask for more money saying that the initial $50 was not enough. The porters this time can be more menacing.

For Passengers ( How to avoid these scams):

1. Do not engage in scams. If you are about to get delayed, ask for official remedies. Approach the airline desk directly and explain your problem. As airline/airport employees, it is their obligation to help you.

2. Record every conversation. Download spy apps and use it to catch criminals.

3. Report the criminal activities observed to the authorities and send it to your lawyer, friends, and relatives.Those people will become your insurance polices. Also consider the legal implications then decide if it is worthwhile uploading it to the social media.

For Airport Authorities (How to Prevent the Porter Scams):

1. Prevent unnecessary interaction between porters and passengers. Porters at Philippine airports are all over the passenger parking, loading and unloading areas, etc.

2. Restrict Porters to their areas at the airport and whenever passengers need their services, they may approach the airport customer services and ask that porters be called.

3. Ban airport cops and personnel from asking passengers if they need  porters. They should also be banned from suggesting porter services to passengers.

4. Porters should be banned from unnecessarily speaking to passengers. Those who are done serving customers should never talk to other passengers and head directly back to their quarters.

5. Optimize the use of CCTV and scrutinize every movement at the airport.

6. Penalize every violation of airport rules.

News Source: Beyond Deadlines