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Home » El Salvador » Trapped In El Salvador International Airport!
El Salvador

Trapped In El Salvador International Airport!

Matthew Klint Posted onNovember 5, 2021November 14, 2023 43 Comments

a plane on the runway

Yes, I was trapped. No, I did not stay trapped…I flew home as scheduled. But if you ever deliberately schedule a long layover in El Salvador International Airport, don’t expect to leave the airport.

Trapped In El Salvador International Airport!

When I scheduled my trip from Brazil to Los Angeles, I had a choice: a three-hour layover in El Salvador and a trip home on United or a 7.5-hour layover and a trip home on Avianca. I chose the Avianca option not just because I wanted to review Avianca (that was a mistake), but so I could go into San Salvador and spend a few hours there.

Turns out that was a fool’s errand. After arriving (and after my interrogation by U.S. agents), I proceeded downstairs to the immigration hall and purchased a visa sticker ($15). The lady selling the visas was quite friendly and asked me what I knew about cryptocurrency. She was very proud that President Nayib Bukele had just made Bitcoin legal tender and was thinking about investing. I warned her not to put all her eggs in that basket…

a couple of framed pictures of a man and a woman

I proceeded over to the immigration desk where an agent took my passport and boarding pass, typed away for a moment, then told me that I could not enter.

Why not?, I asked.

He explained that I would need to go upstairs and pay more taxes if I wanted to enter the country. Because I was just a transit passenger, I could not enter during my layover without paying immigration and security fees.

While that was not the case last time I did the same thing, it made sense and I headed back up. But there was no one at the Avianca service desk. After waiting 20 minutes, I returned to the lounge and asked the agent. She told me to go to the service desk. When I told her there was no one there, she told me someone would come.

No one did come. After another 30 minutes, I just gave up and did my coffee run.

a group of people in a hospital

Does This Count As “Visiting” El Salvador?

This is a moot question for me, since I’ve been to El Salvador before, but would you count my seven hours on the ground at El Salvador International Airport and my interaction with immigration staff as having visited El Salvador?

My answer: yes. What does it mean to visit a country? Stay at least 24 hours? Take in the culture or cuisine? To me, it means interacting with locals, even on the other side of passport control. I wasn’t actually in no man’s land for almost eight hours…

CONCLUSION

I’ve been “trapped” in airports around the world over the years. A similar thing happened to me in Costa Rica (and I’ve had problems in Belarus, Cuba, and Kazakhstan). While that made my layover particularly long, at least there was some logic behind the move. Still, it would have been nice had they just let me through or if an Avianca agent had actually been able to help me get through.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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43 Comments

  1. Christian Reply
    November 5, 2021 at 4:01 pm

    So if you interact with locals strictly within the airport, that counts as visiting a country? Interesting.

  2. Aaron Reply
    November 5, 2021 at 5:15 pm

    “What does it mean to visit a country? Stay at least 24 hours? Take in the culture or cuisine? To me, it means interacting with locals, even on the other side of passport control.”

    I think it means actually leaving the airport by walking out of it. Which you clearly did not do…this time. But hey, at least you got to actually visit the country previously, so there is that.

  3. MarkM Reply
    November 5, 2021 at 5:43 pm

    OK, then I also was in El Salvador…..for 45 seconds.

    Flying late with Avianca, they held the connecting flight. Arrival gate and departing gate just across the hall and 45 second walk. My interaction with locals was Avianca agents saying “Go, GO!!” with a smile:)

  4. derek Reply
    November 5, 2021 at 5:52 pm

    How many countries have I been to? I have 3 answers in mind but give only one answer. I usually cite 2 and also cite 3 with an explanation.

    1. No threshold except to be on land. Airspace does not count. Most political entities count. For example, Hong Kong. Another would be the Free City of Berlin prior to German reunification. I rarely cite this number.

    2. Similar to 1 but cuts out things like Berlin.

    3. 30 days required, not consecutive days. I tend to have a deeper understanding of countries in this category.

    I have only been to 5 countries if I use criteria 3.

    • Asarious Reply
      November 5, 2021 at 6:21 pm

      Does transit via train without disembarking count as over land?

      Have I technically met criteria 1 for having visited Belgium by traveling via rail from Paris to Amsterdam via Brussels?

      Would you consider non-sovereign political entities to be separate and independent, or inclusive of their governing power? For example, is arriving in the Faroe Islands or Greenland via Iceland, the same as having visited Denmark?

      • derek Reply
        November 5, 2021 at 7:40 pm

        If I visited both the Faroe Islands and Denmark, I would count both in my category 1 count but only as Denmark in my category 2 count.

  5. Deltahater Reply
    November 5, 2021 at 6:01 pm

    My definition is overnight.

    • Asarious Reply
      November 5, 2021 at 6:27 pm

      Does that include transit at an airport hotel on an overnight layover? I definitely struggle to count some of the times I’ve gone through Japan or Tokyo as having “visited.”

      Conversely, I once visited Vienna on an extended layover during the day, where I arrived at around 9:00 AM and left at 7:00 PM. I enjoyed the city, walked around a park, ate a meal, and visited a museum. I personally consider myself as having “been to Austria” as a result. But, I’m curious, would you not count that one?

      I’m asking mostly because I personally always struggle to define how many countries I’ve been to, when people ask.

  6. Stuart Reply
    November 5, 2021 at 6:53 pm

    My rule is simple, you have to enter the country officially and leave the airport. Period. Transits are not allowed in my count. A passport stamp is key in this when possible. An example, I have transited a half dozen times in Dubai but never had time to visit. I won’t count it, as tempting as it is! The lounges do not count, lol. And besides, it’s often the middle of the night and not if I see anything but the planes and darkened skies.

    • DCA Will Always Be "National" Reply
      November 6, 2021 at 11:13 am

      Agreed. And I’d add to it that you must have an intent to actually experience the country and at least spend the night. Just like you, I’d been to Dubai three or four times before I scheduled a long layover (transit from a EK flight to an EY flight) to “experience” Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Simply setting foot in a country doesn’t count. I took the high speed ferry to Tangier from Spain and spent 4 hours there until I caught the ferry back. I was technically in Morocco but I would never say I’ve been to Morocco.

  7. Jeff Reply
    November 5, 2021 at 10:00 pm

    Once you clear customs, you’re officially in that country. Airport transists don’t count. Aren’t airports like a no mans zone?

  8. hibiki Reply
    November 5, 2021 at 10:27 pm

    The immigration at SAL checks whether entry taxes were paid with the ticket or not? Wow.

    I had several hours layovers at many airports, including Munich and Haneda, US-MUC-Turkey, and Thailand-HND-US, I had no problems leaving the airports.

  9. Bubba Reply
    November 5, 2021 at 11:16 pm

    There are different scoring systems. I would say you need at least one non-travel-related activity and one action of biological consumption (a meal, a drink, or similar). So, for example, changing terminals at Dublin airport and having a pint of Guinness doesn’t count, but going into town, visiting a library, and having a pint, and then going to the airport, does count.
    Airports are fascinating liminal places that bring in elements of the culture they’re based in, but they hardly count.

  10. Tom Reply
    November 6, 2021 at 12:33 am

    My rule is that you gotta leave the airport for the country to count. If a territory is distant from the mother country, it counts separately — Martinique and France, for example. And if a country’s geographical borders change significantly, each incarnation counts as a separate country. This, I count East Germany, West Germany and the current Germany as three.

  11. Hiro Reply
    November 6, 2021 at 1:06 am

    Not surprised by this, especially in Latin America. I’ve had the reserve situation happen to me on a IAH-LIM-LAP ticket. Arrived in LIM at 11pm with a 1pm connection next day. Was able to land and clear immigration at LIM and stayed overnight at hotel that I paid.
    Next day, with boarding pass printed from IAH, tried to proceed to immigration but they would not let me through until I paid the $30 usd departure tax which I guess was not charged since my ticket was considered a stopover. I understand the reasoning but a 13h overnight is hardly considered a stopover. And considering I spent money locally on transport, hotel and a bit of sightseeing. It was quite frustrating dealing with the illogical reasons of Latin America.

  12. Christine Reply
    November 6, 2021 at 2:07 am

    I built a long layover in Istanbul into my return flight from America to Thailand so I could take a city sightseeing tour. Unfortunately, Turkey is not on the recent list of countries approved for entering Thailand. I may be trapped in the airport like you. Ima try to interact with the locals so I can say I’ve been to .

  13. Jamieo Reply
    November 6, 2021 at 4:29 am

    At least you got the sticker for $15 or maybe you were the ‘stickee’

  14. Ron Reply
    November 6, 2021 at 6:03 am

    It would be interesting to learn what would’ve happened when you tried to pass thru El Salvador departure immigration counter if you did NOT present your onwards boarding pass and/or declare that you’re actually in transit on arrival? I doubt that they’ll check on every single departure ticket to make sure the security fees got paid.

  15. Joe Biden Reply
    November 6, 2021 at 7:34 am

    I only count countries where they give me ice cream.

  16. Bryan martinez Reply
    November 6, 2021 at 11:03 am

    How much ARENA AND FRENTE PAID YOU TO PUT THIS IN ORBIT ? YOUR COMMENTS ARE VERY INSENSITIVE BECAUSE YOU DON’T STAY IN THE COUNTRY FOR MORE THAT 7 HOURS!! YOU STUPID COMMENTS ARE NOT WELCOME TO ME AND MANY MORE PEOPLE THAT JUST PAST FOR THE COUNTRY AND TOOK THAT LIKE NUNCA VISITEN EL SALVADOR BECAUSE IS THE WORST PLACE OF THE WORLD. BULL SHIT.

  17. Jerry Reply
    November 6, 2021 at 12:58 pm

    I’m surprised they didn’t let you exit. I’m curious if the immigration officer was wrong. What if it was on overnight connection, that’s not at all out of the ordinary in SAL.

    As for a country “counting,” my theory is you get to set your own rules because people who have traveled less than you will always try to discount the validity of you counting a country. People who have traveled as much or more than you would never call it in to question.

    • Aaron Reply
      November 6, 2021 at 2:17 pm

      “People who have traveled as much or more than you would never call it in to question.”

      Not true. I’m sure many would.

      • Jerry Reply
        November 6, 2021 at 4:49 pm

        I’m curious if you just proved my point

        • Aaron Reply
          November 6, 2021 at 5:09 pm

          To sate your curiosity: no I did not.

  18. Eveling Reply
    November 6, 2021 at 1:28 pm

    Oh no! It’s a shame you couldn’t leave and go to the beach which is so close to the airport! And about Avianca…that is not precisely my cup of tea!

  19. MeanMeosh Reply
    November 6, 2021 at 7:15 pm

    Sorry Matthew, but I agree with the majority of the responses here. You have to physically leave the airport for it to count. My standards are very low otherwise. Go through passport control, go outside, order a coffee at a stand outside, then go back inside 15 minutes later? Fine in my book, but you do have to set foot outside the terminal building IMO.

  20. Beacon Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 9:25 am

    I’ve been to Aruba, Panama and Costa Rica as stops on a cruise, but would never admit to it as I don’t even consider a Cruise as ‘Travel’ For the record I’ve never been to those places, just depends on how much of a purist you are, or how much bragging is important to you.

  21. Ian Costigane Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 9:43 am

    I too had to return to the upstairs counter for a tax receipt before leaving the airport. I had to carry heavy carry on luggage which I had to haul around with me as there was no cart. I hope that I never see this airport again!

  22. Joe Reply
    November 7, 2021 at 8:15 pm

    U should keep going. Dont miss anything.

  23. Billiken Reply
    November 8, 2021 at 2:00 pm

    My rule is that you have to leave the airport. However, walking out the sliding doors and stepping into the outside air, before turning around and going back inside does not count! Sitting at a local cafe, going into town, or spending the night at a hotel will suffice.

  24. Linda Benavides Reply
    November 11, 2021 at 6:41 am

    We had a hard time getting out of El Salvador. Don’t go to that country

    • Aaron Reply
      November 13, 2021 at 2:28 am

      Hard how?

  25. Declan ludendorf Reply
    November 14, 2021 at 1:53 pm

    Sorry, that misconduct of the salvador int’l airport agent is not allowed by law and the act, it is avoid. (Vid.art.83 ley de migracion y extranjeria.)

  26. Declan ludendorf Reply
    November 14, 2021 at 1:56 pm

    Ibid. It’s void.

  27. Eduardo Carvajal Reply
    November 18, 2021 at 9:46 pm

    I used to travel extensibly for business, and always made my layovers to be overnight stays, it made for some amazing experiences and really got to experience the cities I stayed. Also, in some cases I ended up saving money on flight by doing so.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      November 19, 2021 at 10:37 am

      It’s actually a great way to do things if you have the time. It’s sad that it didn’t work out in the case of my SAL layover.

  28. Cici Chain Reply
    November 19, 2021 at 11:48 am

    I travel ELS many times per year, I have never had an issue. American Airlines is my only airline of choice to ELS, excellent customer service. Avianca is great for Latam travel but their staff show up only when flights landing and departure times. ELS airport is small. Airports I like for long layovers are Mexico City, Mexico and Panama. I don’t ever go by what I read, I have to visit a place or country for myself in order to put it on my list of unliked.

  29. Jose Lara Reply
    November 21, 2021 at 8:44 pm

    I do not recommend Avianca !
    Avoid it if you can !
    I was on a 7 day trip to Cuzco , Peru
    Avianca was my airline! They missed placed my luggage ! Got it back the next I arrived home !
    Compensation offered $150.00!!!!!

  30. Jimmy Reply
    November 22, 2021 at 2:19 pm

    Avianca is the worst airline ever.
    They always get away with anything.
    At one time they made paid an extra$100.00 after the fact that I have already paid for my ticket and threatened not to let me board the flight if I did not paid them right away.
    Very sad…but again they always get away with anything

  31. Anthony Reply
    November 23, 2021 at 1:25 pm

    @Matthew Klint
    Hi Matthew, I’m Anthony. And I hate that airline Avianca, I was in the Country of El Salvador in early November and I don’t have a TV at my grandma house. And didn’t know that I needed a 24hour COVID 19 test. I had gotten a 72 hour test both came out negative. It was such a headache and the airline was not accommodating in helping me. Even a worse thing had happened a young woman from Colombia they ripped her ticket in front of her face so rudely and cancelled her visa. I with my last $40.00 and a favor from Ernesto my taxi guy in El Salvador we both came to the rescue not letting her be stranded in the El Salvadorian airport she had only enough money for a plane ticket back to Columbia but was not able to get a covid test. SMH at El Salvador airport. I’ll be okay did not exist her in any way. SMH so much more to talk about. But yes

  32. Raul Reply
    December 2, 2021 at 10:35 pm

    The problem is Avianca, I had exactly the same problem just as you described. The only difference is that I was able to leave the airport after several hours. My layover was for 11 hours. I will never use Avianca on my next trips as I had a very bad experience with them. Really disappointed with avianca airline.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 2, 2021 at 10:35 pm

      How were you able to leave?

      • Raul Reply
        December 3, 2021 at 2:50 pm

        I waited for about an hour at the Avianca service desk. Then I returned to customs. I didn’t paid any taxes to get my luggage out (I’m a salvadorean citizen. I’m not sure if that will make a difference) Then after that I went to get my luggage to the avianca desk which it took another hour. Overall I think it took me about 3 hours to get out of the airport. Really bad experience but is more because Avianca customer service really bad.

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