I have been flying in/out of Kuwait International Airport for the past 4 years every month. I have noticed a major cheating/scam or whatever you can call. Well, this is what happens. The moment you get inside the airport & head towards the airline counter, there is an x-ray check. You might be using a trolley available outside the airport. Once you cross this x-ray security, the porters take away your trolley and then you have to pay for another trolley. There is a sign on every trolley that says that the passenger would have to pay for the trolley if it’s been pushed by a porter. But without the porter the trolley is free of charge. Can you imagine, the porters skimming almost every passengers off approx 2 USD. This has been happening ever for who knows how long. 2USD is not much for me, but I have had to argue with the porters twice as I did not have the local currency. I knew this is a scam, so I fished out my camera and told the porter to continue the whole charging for the camera, but then he got scared and told me take the trolley freely, cos I was the airport staff. I have confirmed that this is a scam as I used the camera for another passenger, when the porter saw this, he allowed the passenger to use the trolley for free.

I tried to complain this matter with the different airlines, who advised me to make a formal complaint with the airport authority. Well, I tried that, but all they did was take my passport and asked me to go away.

I feel guilty when some of the poor passengers are charged and even harassed by these porters. I wish I could use my camera 24/7 to make everyone an airport staff and let them use the trolley free.

I have not travelled too much, just Africa, far east, Australia, but even in the poorest of African country, I have not this happening. And its so shameful then this is happening in the airport of one of the richest country of the world.

Thank you for your time, and hope this helps to solve the matter.

Note: The trolley is free at the arrival gates & the porters rotate from arrival to departure, so everyone gets a cut. Hopefully, next time, I would take a few pictures.