Do you get scared at airports?

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I am an 18 year-old Aspie who has been to an airport only twice in my life. I guess I get scared because of one very nerve-wracking scenario. I fear I will touch down at an airport to get on my connecting flight and I will not be able to find the right gate (and terminal) in time and will be marooned at the airport (away from my destination). I need someones advice on what to do. Please help!! !!

Airports are not that bad everything is usally well marked and there are many of those "you are here" type sign also with the incressed security there only people who are supposed to be there in the gate areas and more security gaurds to ask directions.

Animeboy, parts has a point. You're far from the only person who sees an Airport as a giant maze.

After my most recent trip, I hate airports, especially going through security. I didn't like having to take my shoes and coat off, and having my drink taken from me.

They touch you!!

yeah that part of security sucks but once your in the gate areas it's over you don't have to go though it again just to reach another gate at most airports

Thank you for the advice. It's nice to know I am not the only alien at the earth airport who doesn't know his way around

I love airports. Mostly because when I go through security I plaster my face against a window and watch the planes. The crowds are annoying when you first check in, and when you're past security it's still a little hectic but I have space to myself. It also depends on what airport you go to. I have a major one in Georgia that has several restaurants(I hope the rat infestation is gone. They tore up a huge patch of land building a new runway, and the homeless rats decided to make themselves at home in the airport. If the construction is finally done it might not be a problem anymore.) and the area where you wait for the plane has plenty of seats. I had at least two or three seats separating me from everybody around me.

I am amazed by the size of airports, the runways, and planes. I don't have any fears. Nope.

I know the missing-plane anxiety - I tend to be very early for any flight (making sure there's "spare trains" in case I miss any one, etc.). Usually have direct flights though... When I do have a connecting flight, I tend to ask the first blue uniform I see where I have to be, get there, and usually I have enough time left to get profoundly bored.

I generally like airports as well. Planes with different colours going to different faraway destinations, etc. I only tend to get cranky nowadays as there is no place anywhere anymore to have a cigarette on most airports.

One thing I hate about them is them losing your reservations for your flight to go soemwhere.

I find airports fun--except for the security checkpoints. Last time I went to an airport, the screeners were very rude, but they didn't rough anyone up or anything.

Tim

...especially since you can't bring anything liquid on planes anymore.

Tim

I hate airports.

I hate flying too - well I hate the idea of crash landing or getting attacked by someone trying to go out with a big bang.

I get anxious when I think I'm going to miss the connecting flights too.

I think I make the staff nervous with all my anxious fidgeting too. They ask about it and I tell them why I'm anxious and they seem to cope really well - I'm never hiding what I'm anxious about and lots of people get anxious about the same things.

One time after an international flight I got stuck in quarantine after my fight got delayed 5 hours and I had a connecting fight on the far side of the airport - so far you had to catch a bus to get there - and I was so anxious, the quarantine guy thought I had something bad in my bags. I had stuff he needed to check and was perfectly upfront about that (souvenirs made out of wood) and I was also up front about the connecting flight - so he calmed down. He said if I missed the flight through no fault of my own (eg airport searches) - the airline would get me on the next fight - and it's no big deal. I calmed down a bit after he told me that. I made my connecting flight so it was all ok and I don't know if that is true about getting on the next fight - but you can ask the airline staff to confirm, I guess.

The trouble is - airport staff are always looking for signs of nervousness - or the sort of "tuning out" that people do to block out something that should make them nervous. And I do both the nervous fidget and the tuning out which sets off all their "dangerous person" indicators. But since I can still talk to them about what is making me nervous and I don't get more nervous when they want to check my stuff - they usually calm down - even if I can't.

The ones they should be really worried about are the ones that are completely calm and have no bad feelings about their nastly plans whatsoever. Unfortunately those blend in nicely with bored business people and happy holiday makers.