Why Can’t They All Be Like PDX?
Just returned from a trip down to San Diego to visit the fam for Christmas (the fact that Christmas was a sunny day nearing 70 degrees can be either good or bad, depending on your weather perspective), and I wish every airport could be like PDX. The shuttles from the economy lot run regularly, the security line is rarely unbearable, and there is a ton of stuff to do while you wait for your flight. Me? I had a tasty breakfast at Gustav’s while perusing a book bought at Powell’s.
Contrast this to the wait in the San Diego airport (next to San Jose, possibly the worst airport I’ve ever been to). They had two security “terminals” open, and the line zig-zagged from the lobby out across the skybridge and into the parking lot. Good thing I got there two hours early for my flight, as it took nearly an hour to get through security. Once I was in the terminal, there wasn’t much to do. Breakfast options were limited to McDonald’s, and time-killing options were limited to a generic airport bar, or sitting in the crowded terminal. Fun, fun.
Any favorite airports out there? How about airport horror stories?
I guess it depends on which terminal you’re flying out of at PDX because I wouldn’t say it’s the best. I typically fly United for work and personal and once you get beyond security, the dining options are limited to a Coffee People/Starbucks and whatever’s edible at the magazine stand. As mentioned previously, the one thing I do love about PDX is the free wi-fi.
I’ve travelled pretty extensively for work the last 2 years, and there is absolutely a reason why PDX won the “best airport for business travelers” from Conde Nast magazine last year. It is the best, bar none. Easy security, plenty of space, good transportion (MAX!!!), free wifi, pizza schmizza, laurelwood, etc.
Other airports that I think are pretty decent are Albuquerque (easy security, free wifi, but rental cars require a shuttle bus), Salt Lk City, Ontario, Orange County, and of course everybody’s favorite layover, DEN. Terrible airports are made even worse when there are perennial weather issues coupled with airline hubs… atlanta, chicago, etc.
Random Citizen: actually, all the concourses are connected beyond the two security gates, so you can eat anywhere you want in the secure area, provided you have the time to walk there. I once arrived particularly early for a flight from gate D1, but had a nice enough meal at Gustav’s in the C concourse, not to mention a tasty beer at Laurelwood in the A concourse (really, I had a lot of time to kill). All Gustav’s had for local beer was a Widmer hefeweizen, and this was in winter, but now that I know Laurelwood’s there, I’ll never drink at Gustav’s again!
I fly out of Dallas and Houston a lot and they’re … both fine, I guess. Dallas doesn’t have free WiFi … unless you sit next to the wall abutting the Continental Presidents Club!
Funny, I just got back from San Diego yesterday and have the same feeling about that airport. While it is not the worst airport out there, it is pretty damn user-unfriendly. From the Skyway to cross the street to the rental cars being way off-site, it is a pain in the ass – and trying doing that with two little kids in tow. We were very happy to land at PDX last night
Is San Diego worse than Atlanta? Atlanta *JUST* got to the point where they’ve figured how to get people through security in less than an hour on a busy day. Plus, you have to take a train to each terminal. Oh, and planes are always late. And you sit on the runway for a long time.
I’ll second Albuquerque. The one thing that really struck me about ABQ was how QUIET it was. People were all sitting around being quiet. No blaring TVs (like in ATL), no loud people being rude. Just polite people being quiet. And the plane was on time.
Of course, smaller airports are probably better, in general, than large ones.
The NW terminal at Detroit is uber-snazzy; I like the Minnesota/St Paul airport as well. Denver airport equals horror, no two ways about it. San Jose used to be a great alternative to SFO but that’s definitely changed. Dallas is okay unless there’s any snowfall in which case it shuts down. Newark’s better than La Guardia but JFK is, in my experience, pretty nice. SLC and Phoenix are pretty “meh,” too. Oh, I could go on and on and on after 4+ years of flying 3 weeks outta every month…
And the best part is that they don’t rob you blind to have a beer and food at the airport..PDX has a legal agreement in place that the shops charge no more than they do in any regular location – unlike most other places where a basic sandwich will cost you $10+
Diverbarwife, I think that’s the best thing about PDX, too.
I’m from SD so I hear you on the security gripe! Luckily when I was there on the 24th the line only went to the pedway, and it only took me 15 or so minutes to get through.
The worst terminal I have been through lately was Delta at JFK. It is literally falling apart, all the signs for the way overdue refurbishing are wrong so that people end up at an exit rather than an entrance when rushing into the terminal and end up confused and upset, and if you want to eat anything you have to go through security and half-way through the terminal to choose between a Mc Monald’s and a T.G.I.F. (I think, I had a Big Mac) where there are a colony of house sparrows flying around. (living off of french fries I guess) You would not think you were in the US.