Letters to the Editor
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RDU
Aww, come on, RDU's Terminal C isn't so bad. I've actually become quite fond of it. Granted, the food options are few, and until recently I don't think I'd been on a full-sized aircraft since I've lived here. But there's rarely much of a security line and the TSA employees are quite friendly, especially compared to other places. Besides, there's now an express spa and an outlet of our local gourmet food store, A Southern Season. I'm afraid of what's going to happen when the new expansion opens and it becomes a mess like Terminal A.
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Patrick...
I agree with you about JFK and the mushroom cloud. However, we both know that would just result in people bitching about how crowded La Guardia is now.
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Denver and Atlanta
If you factor in the convenience of an airport in terms of how close it is to the metro area it's intended to service, then you have to consider Denver as pretty lousy, considering it's about 30 minutes from Denver and it sucks in most other departments as well (not a fan of their little subway train which makes insane slot-machine noises every few seconds.
Atlanta bites the big one. It is by necessity huge and sprawling I suppose, but it is also staffed by buffoons and has 1000 places to eat, not 1 of them appetizing.
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The Maui Minute....and Chicago
I LIKE that Maui time is slower than mainland rush. You just have to plan your return accordingly.
I used to travel through Chicago O'Hare to get home. Never more.
Do people still (secretly) live in O'Hare airport? I recall seeing what looked like folks camped out underneath stairways there about 30 years ago.... or perhaps Homeland Security has pushed them all out....
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Oklahoma CIty
Yep, not only is the commercial airport named after Will Rogers, there is also a municipal airport named after Wiley Post, who died in the same crash that killed W.R. But if you ever do spend anytime in OKC, you will likely notice that the natives do tend to have an odd sense of humor.
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ABIA?
I fly in and out of AUS a lot these days, since I'm living here now. It is a decent airport - needs free WiFi but other than that, how many places have just a single terminal and often feature live music? But RealName said:
ABIA is too far out in the sticks
The old Austin airport, on 37 1/2th St. was way more centrally located.
Sure, the old airport was centrally located, as anyone living in their flightpath will attest to. But it kinda ran out of room. Also, you can get from ABIA to the Capitol in about 10 minutes, or 20 if its rush hour. Its only about 7 miles away. That doesn't exactly strike me as being out in the sticks.
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In Defense of the Other NYC Airports
Just have to chime in here. I was glad to see neither Newark nor LaGuardia on the "worst" list, but a lot of people like to bitch about them. I, on the other hand, love them. So they're not sexy. No matter -- I've gotten through both efficiently and with decent customer service on 50+ flights over the last few years. There's something to be said for utility.
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Construction
On the bad list....ANY AIRPORT continually under construction.
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An update, an addition and something new
Update: DFW's shuttle system has been replaced and is significantly better than it was. Still an awful airport design, of course.
Addition: Yes, Washington National's great room is wonderful, but a couple of the concourses are far too narrow, overcrowded and otherwise lackluster.
Something new: Fort Smith, Arkansas's airport, relegated to second-in-region status by the creation of Northwest Arkansas Airport, responded by creating a traveler's oasis. No institutional seating, there are sofas and lounge chairs throughout. There are reading lamps and other amenities that make the traveler feel he or she is spending time in a comfortable living room instead of an airport. Not many people get to experience it, but those who do remember the surprising warmth and comfort of this well-designed, thoughtful space.
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aren't the all?
Mol -- aren't all airports under construction? I'm pretty sure airports are like painting the Golden Gate Bridge: once you finish, it's time to start over.
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SCHIPOL????
OK, I'm assuming the authors of the article have never been to this airport, one of the best in the world, by far!!!
Only drawback is that net access is mad expensive.
Otherwise- great signage, super easy to get around, friendly help, a full blown mall with loads of places to get a drink or something to eat, a relaxtion area with reclining seats, a non denominational worship area, great train connections, squeaky clean convenient bathrooms, huge duty free selection, good luggage storage area, easy access to Amsterdam, I could go on.
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Cheers for PDX!
I'd like to second (or third, as the case may be) Portland, OR. Other letter writers have mentioned the easy access to public transportation and the food/shopping options, which seem to consist mostly of low-cost, local businesses (including a small branch of the best bookstore in the world, Powell's). I would also note that the larger terminals (which house Southwest, Continental, among others) are really beautifully done -- the inlaid flooring depicts the rivers of the Pacific Northwest while the skylights give the whole area an atrium feel.
My vote for the worst: Oakland. Miserable food choices and apparently always under construction.
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FAT (Fresno Yosemite International)
A ridiculously expensive expansion started in the heydays dot.com era now makes one walk what seems like a mile, past the 6 empty original gates, up long escalators to the enormous terminal that looks like it was designed to handle A380s, 747s, and dirigibles of the future, then walk down several flights of stairs, only to the walk across the tarmac to board a dinky regional jet.
MSP (MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL): The road signs on the Interstate indicate two separate exits for the "Lindbergh Terminal" and the "Hubert H Humphrey Terminal", with no other description-- which do you choose? You'd think Humphrey would be the main terminal (being VP and all, and with Lindbergh being a Nazi apologist), but Humphrey is only the charter jet terminal. Thanks, I missed my flight.
M