Flight stories… what’s Iran got?

What better way to derive stories than to surround yourself with unfamiliar people, in an unfamiliar place, and with unfamiliar expectations. One specific way in which you can do this is to simply take a flight. Yes, just one trip on a plane is all you need to gain ample resources for reiteration at soirées, thereafter.

It is very unlikely that we’ll be seeing you at a soirée, so we thought we’d gather our weird and wonderful Iran related flight stories, right here. Aside from the entertainment value, we thought it would help enlighten our audience as to how it is to travel with Iranians.

To help us with this enlightenment task, we once again invited Shanay, to join us in sharing our experiences. Shanay is half Iranian, half Austrian and has recently moved to Iran to embark on a restoration project. She is a frequent flier and was kind enough to share her stories before once again embarking on another journey.

So, flight stories… what’s Iran got? Listen to this episode to find out.

Questions we also get answers to in this episode

• If you pack lacy underwear, is your luggage less likely to be searched?
• What is the name of Iran’s main international airport?
• How should I dress when arriving in Iran on a flight?
• Which souvenirs should you bring for Iranians?
• What is the name of Tehran’s domestic flight airport?
• How do people with Tourette’s sound while on a flight?

5 important things to be aware of when arriving at or leaving an Iranian airports

1. DON’T BRING ALCOHOL, IT’S FORBIDDEN
   The Islamic Republic of Iran is—as the name suggests—a Muslim country, therefore, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. If you are found bringing such beverages to Iran, you’ll find yourself in a lot of heat. Don’t do this!
2. DON’T TAKE EXCESS LUGGAGE FOR OTHERS
   For various reasons, Iranians shop a lot while travelling. These shopping sprees can result in excess luggage and therefore excess costs. To avoid this, they may ask you to take luggage for them. Don’t do this!
3. DON’T EXPECT NORMAL QUEUING ETIQUETTE
   Iranians can be creative with the concept of queuing, so don’t be surprised if they act differently from your expectation. On the plus side, they’re very polite to strangers, so just tell them if you feel they are being “out of line”.
4. DRESS ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC RULES
   When arriving in Iran you’ll be expected to adhere to the Islamic dress laws of the nation. Men shouldn’t wear shorts and women should have their hair, neck, wrists, legs and rear covered. Check with authorities before arriving.
5. BE PREPARED TO POSSIBLY PRE-PAY AIRPORT TAX*
   If you’ve purchased your ticket in Iran and your departure point is in Iran you’ll need to pay a tax before leaving. Pay this a day or two before at a Melli Bank. If you forget, you may be able to pay on a machine at the airport.

*Please double check this matter with your travel agent at the time of purchasing your ticket — there’s a chance that this might not apply to you.

How do I follow this episode’s guest, Shanay, online?

If you’d like to follow our guest and maybe see how her restoration project is going, you can follow Shanay on Instagram, here.

Translations of Persian (Farsi) used during this episode

Image credit: the cover image has totally been fabricated by Ask An Iranian