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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
This was in the former 'no-fly zone' so it was basically closed for 15 years; you can see the former grandeur of bygone years, marble walls and columns, faux Mesopotamian art on the walls, but now, it's all covered in dust, un-airconditioned (in Iraq!), trash all around outside. All the security is outside the airport (mainly Ghurkas and Iraqis under the eyes of the British military). The Iraqi guards at the entrance to the terminal don't bat an eye as you walk through the metal detector with a rifle. A couple of gift shops selling pirated DVDs, hookah pipes, and 'local' items made in Pakistan, India, China. The silence was defeaning; all sound is muffled inside and it was literally one of the quiestest places I have ever been in, quieter than a library. Place gets mortared on occasion thanks to the presence of the British, and of course all arrivals and departures are made 'combat style'. Looks like it was once a nice terminal.
I flew to Banjul, The Gambia in 95 via Senegal’s nightmare of an airport. The Gambia’s airport had its own level of absurdity (my understanding is that they now have a new facility). We landed on a very very long runaway in the middle of the jungle, then de-planed and were told to walk thru a field of chest high grass to the terminal (actually a small tin roofed shed). Once inside I noticed a photo of US astronauts on the wall. Apparently, the US built the long jungle runway for The Gambia as one of the designated emergency landing zones for the Challenger flights. There were goat and various hangers-on in the shed. It had started to pour and the tin roof was amplifying the sounds so it was difficult to hear the announcement that our luggage was dumped outside on the tarmac the shed for pick up. when my girfiend flew in a few days later on the smae flight, the flight was late..18 hours late. When I called Gambia air to ask when the flight was expected I was told that they were not sure but to listen for a plane overhead, when I hear it...head to the airport.
One more, and again in the mid 90s, Chuuk International Airport, Federated States of Micronesia. Airport not necessarily so bad, open air, not much to do though other than buy a mwarmwar and chew and spit betel nut. The daily Continental Micronesia flight was still an event for islander youth. However, the pilot sometimes had to buzz the runway to shoo livestock and children playing. In addition, when the island was without power for months on end, airport lighting was the only lighting on the island, only turned on for arriving planes. The airport emergency vehicle had died but still sat at the end of the runway. Its flashing red light would be turned on when planes arrived to provide comfort to those who didn’t know better. I was told by Continental pilots that the island hopper flight (Honolulu, Johnston, Majuro, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Guam) was a difficult flight, most of the runways built over the ocean, 6 take offs and 6 landings in 11 hours.
TIA was my home airport for the first 20 years of my life and now that I've been around the US, Europe, and Asia, I still think it's the best airport in the world.
It is the only large airport I've ever visited that doesn't feature the Olympic 1000 yard carry-on drag event. The terminal is in the center of the airport, with the concourses surrounding it and connected by shuttle trains. Parking is above the terminal, so you just walk from your car into an elevator, down to departures, check your bags, take the escalator up one level, get in the train, do a little security theater, and you're there.
It is such a stunningly logical and traveler friendly airport, every other airport looks like it was designed by accident in comparison.
I want to mention Shanghai's airport, also. For one thing, it's the only place I've ever been where an airport security guard took my carry on and weighed it and told me to go back and check it in because it was too heavy. Also, they have the absolute coolest ground transportation in the world, a maglev train. It doesn't take you anywhere beside a podunk subway station in Pudong, but man, it's really neat!
Delta's terminal at JFK is positively claustrophobic; its entrance area traps exhaust fumes, has bad lighting at night, and is just poorly designed.
AA at JFK is unfriendly inside the terminal. The worst part of it is the distance you have to walk to get to the gate (first going down the escalator, walking a long distance, then going up another escalator); it's airport terminal design at its worst. I also found the security guards at JFK's AA terminal sadistic. (If you're in a hurry just because you're missing your flight, it's more likely they'll stop you.) They don't seem to be so much diligent as intent on ruining you travel experience. This is one terminal to avoid.
MCI stands for Midcontinent International. Airport codes in the US never begin with K's, N's or W's, because those are reserved for broadcast stations. I am not sure why Canadian airport codes all begin with a "Y."
I enjoyed the airport at Brainard, Minnesota (I believe it is called Crow Wing Airport). One woman to run the whole place--she takes tickets, does tarmac work, loads and unloads the baggage, is the fry cook...
Madison, Wisconsin has a gorgeous new airport designed with Prairie Architecture. Good beer too. Minneapolis, Orlando, Houston and Washington-National (one of my home airports) are probably the best large airports in the US. Long Beach is indeed wonderful, but over capacity. I think that in light of how busy it is, O'Hare is actually a miracle--it works better than it should.
LAX, JFK and Boston Logan are pretty bad. Security at Logan strikes me as lax. Security lines at Dulles are moving much better now, and Terminal B there is quite pleasant--one needn't take an awful "mobile lounge" to get there, and the food options are good.
Relative to national affluence, I agree that CDG is the worst. Dhaka, on the other hand, is surprisingly clean and functional. And I just give a "porter" TK 50 to carry my bag 100 yards--he needs the money more than I do. Immigration is inefficient but polite.
Mumbai, Cairo and Quito are no better or worse than could be expected. Singapore is by far the best airport I have ever used; even with a 20 hour layover, it is pleasant. One can rent a room for a small charge, get a nice haircut, drink a Singapore Sling, and shop at interesting stores. I will be going to the new Hong Kong airport for the first time this summer; it has a great reputation, and so I am looking forward to seeing what it is like.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
