Do you enjoy airports?

[audreyh1]

Dislike everything about flying, except getting to my destination in a timely manner. I’m not afraid of flying. I just dislike what public air transportation has become. IMHO it’s nothing more than a glorified Greyhound bus and a glorified Greyhound bus station...

It gotten that way because it’s significantly cheaper than it was 40 and 50 years ago. Can’t expect frills.

You can always pay up for first class.

 

[pb4uski]

I do not like airports at all - I only tolerate them when I have to be there. And your post mentioning the Tampa airport struck a particular nerve with me, because I was just there a couple months ago, and was particularly upset about being ripped off for parking. We parked in the elevated parking structure there, for about an hour, having a bite to eat in one of the restaurants while we waited for a friend to arrive. The restaurant was overpriced and the food was not very good, but I expected that. What I did not expect was the $18 charge for parking when we left. Eighteen bucks for an hour, really? Good luck attracting people to come enjoy the Tampa airport! No thanks, I will pass.......

Not sure where you parked or what you did but about a year ago we took DS to TPA for a flight home and had a nice lunch at P.F. Chang's before his flight and parking wasn't anywhere near that much.

https://www.tampaairport.com/parking

 

[pb4uski]

.... My "favorite" part of the Tampa airport is the ridiculously short "peoplemover" tram ride out to the terminals. It is, what, 150-200 yards from end to end? And for that you wait for the little trolley to arrive every 3 minutes, then pack into the trolley with all your bags and everyone else with their bags, then do the same thing in reverse 45 seconds later. There's no other way to travel that 200 yards--everybody has to wait for the trolley. It breaks down a lot. A moving sidewalk would make so much more sense. I can only guess that they got some sort of federal mass transit dough to do it like this.

Agree... I've frequently wondered why they don't just have a hallway or moving sidewalk like the have between terminals at O'Hare... But then they would have to cool it.

 

[pb4uski]

When I was a kid my Dad used to take us to the airport (Cleveland Hopkins) just for fun. There was no TSA to deal with and one of the concourses had an outdoor rooftop area for folks like us to go out and watch the planes take off and land. There were even benches out there so people stayed a while and just watched. I remember it being windy and LOUD and wearing a hat on a sunny day. ....

I recall going to our local airport as a kid (4-6 yo) to see planes take off and land. My home airport, BTV, has a small observation area.... it's particularly fun when the Green Mountain Boys (Air National Guard) are flying the their F-16s (F-35s soon) or when the Thunderbirds are visiting.

 

[pb4uski]

Hard to believe today, but back when the 747 first came out, TWA had a quiet PR program where you could visit an unattended 747 that would be parked for the night.

Some buddies and I found out what day and time and we were able to walk right into Boston's Logan, to the gate and right onto the plane. Absolutely no one around.

We went up to the top lounge (well before they put seats up there) and played with the electric piano, took the elevator down to the below deck area and I even have a picture of me sitting in the pilot seat flipping switches.

At the time, Logan also had a lounge atop the air traffic control tower. You could sit there with a drink, watch the planes land and have a beautiful view of downtown.

I was on a 747 from Heathrow to the US back around 2000 (definitely pre-911) and wandered up to an empty upper deck to stretch my legs.... the cockpit door was open so I walked towards it to see the view... the cockpit crew noticed me lurking there and I invited me in for a couple minutes.... not much to see other than clouds but lots of gauges and switches. Still pretty cool.

 

[pb4uski]

I think my favorite terminal is Jet Blue at JFK.

 

[marko]

Seems that most everyone's opinion here is formed by which particular airport they've experienced and how much they paid for their flight (first vs economy).

 

[Nick12]

Newark NJ airport security tried but to no avail steal some cash in my carry on while on the conveyor belt during security check. When he attempted to open one zipper compartment on the side of my bag when I was tying back up my sneakers I questioned him in a loud tone " what do you think you're doing ?? ". I startled him and he mumbled something. I took my bag and rushed to the gate to catch my flight. Newark is not on my list of favorites.

 

[T-Minus]

Other than the crowds, the overpriced, expensive and lousy food options, the uncomfortable and dirty seats, the remote, expensive and dangerous parking, and the proximity to lots of noise and jet exhaust, they’re GREAT! What’s not to like?

 

[imoldernu]

Last time I was in an airport was 1984, although up til then, almost every workday. Closed the last of 2400 stores in Turlock flew back to O'Hare, and never went back to an airport. 2 years of almost constant flying was enough for me, forever.

But... such fond memories... On a one day roundtrip to Portland Ore., to give a speech.... sat next to a lady with a baby... she put him over her shoulder to burp him, and he threw up allover my suit and into the vest pocket.

One more... a trip to Japan from Kennedy... JAL...After an hour of flying over water to jettison fuel, pilot advised that the nose wheel wasn't working, and we had to head back. Faulty warning switch. An experience. Few Americans on the plane, with everyone buzzing, and a few hundred panicky faces.

 

[GrayHare]

I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning.

Actually, I don't. I think the last time I went to an airport other than for travel was because their arcade had a certain game I wanted to try. That was a long time ago.

 

[W2R]

Other than the crowds, the overpriced, expensive and lousy food options, the uncomfortable and dirty seats, the remote, expensive and dangerous parking, and the proximity to lots of noise and jet exhaust, they’re GREAT! What’s not to like?

Oh, but then you forgot all those people with colds, influenza, TB, or unknown illnesses that love to sit down right next to you, lean on you, and cough in your face. Plus the crying babies, the announcements to awaken you if you should dare nap in your uncomfortable chair, and more. Lovely, just like home (not!)

 

[Spudd]

The Singapore Airport has an enclosed rainforest butterfly garden. That would be cool to visit, but you'd have to have the time.

We were just there, but it was pouring rain so if you wanted to see the butterflies, you'd get soaked. So no butterflies for us. It's enclosed, but the roof is open-air (with mesh, I guess, so the butterflies won't get out).

They also have free (!) foot massaging machines. I enjoyed a lovely massage.

 

[snowboarder]

I enjoy the Airline clubs. Free booze, food and good coffee. other than that nah, they can be pretty lame. Worst offenders are: La Guardia, Newark, Dulles, Dallas/Ft.Worth, Atlanta.

Surprisingly enough, I have enjoyed smaller aiports like Indy and RDU.

 

[Nick12]

I enjoy the Airline clubs. Free booze, food and good coffee. other than that nah, they can be pretty lame. Worst offenders are: La Guardia, Newark, Dulles, Dallas/Ft.Worth, Atlanta.

Surprisingly enough, I have enjoyed smaller aiports like Indy and RDU.

Sometimes I just blend in and use their bathrooms. The main bathrooms in the main terminal have long lines and are at times disgusting.

 

[audreyh1]

We were just there, but it was pouring rain so if you wanted to see the butterflies, you'd get soaked. So no butterflies for us. It's enclosed, but the roof is open-air (with mesh, I guess, so the butterflies won't get out).

They also have free (!) foot massaging machines. I enjoyed a lovely massage.

Oh, I didn’t realize the roof was open to the elements! Being located in the tropics they don’t have to worry about butterfly unfriendly weather. My sister enjoys it.

 

[nhcycling]

Don’t like them. Too many years of business travel sitting in them. Currently sitting in DCA ground delays in BOS and thunderstorms in D.C.

 

[WestUniversity]

It gotten that way because it’s significantly cheaper than it was 40 and 50 years ago. Can’t expect frills.

You can always pay up for first class.

True, but that only addresses one aspect of the whole process. We usually get upgraded seating, priority boarding and go to the club before the fight as well as occasionally use a car service instead of parking at the airport.

We've been across the pond twice in the last 8 months and we have four more trips (possibly a fifth) stateside this year.

All that said, still not a fan...

 

[Nick12]

The actor and pilot John Travolta and his family live in the Ocala FL area where he and the other residents park their private jets in their backyard of their homes. There is also a private runway where the planes take off and land behind their homes. I have never seen the set up due to I am not a resident and it is a secured gated community but Vinne Barbarino knows how to fly in style!

 

[audreyh1]

The actor and pilot John Travolta and his family live in the Ocala FL area where he and the other residents park their private jets in their backyard of their homes. There is also a private runway where the planes take off and land behind their homes. I have never seen the set up due to I am not a resident and it is a secured gated community but Vinne Barbarino knows how to fly in style!

Yeah, he's rated to pilot a Boeing 747. And has flown for Quantas. He's got a few airplanes scattered around his house.
https://www.velvetropes.com/backstage/john-travolta-plane/

 

[Stormy Kromer]

The only airports I enjoy now are sea-plane bases.


In 3 weeks I'm going to overnight at a lakeside cabin next door to one then fly out the next morning. There will be DeHavilland Beavers, Otters and maybe a Piper or two on floats.


No lines or security, you back your vehicle up to the dock then help load the plane yourself and pick your seat out of the 3 or 4 on the plane. I like to sit next to the pilot. You can't hear a thing over the big engine, some of the planes are old enough to claim social security (at 62).


Fly an hour or so to a peaceful cabin on a little lake, catch fish, relax and wait a week for your return flight. That's how I like to travel by air now.


Otherwise, I try to avoid flying from airports if I can. It's the parking hassles that I dislike the most.

 

[Alan]

Do you enjoy airports?

No.

 

[Lewis Clark]

So, I see a story on the local news (Tampa) that the international airport will be opening up to the nonflying public. They will allow a limited number of "guests" to pass through TSA and "enjoy" the use of all restaurants, bars, and stores in the particular concourse they select. They can only visit one concourse.

Today's newspaper said about 600 people signed up in the first three days.

 

[Badger]

No!


Somehow I don't think this idea is gonna fly.


Cheers!

 

[neihn]

35+ years of business travel by air - a big fat NO to airport enjoyment.

I've slept in too many of them for hours on the floor or on a hard bench. Also sat for 12 hours in foreign airports waiting for planes that didn't show. Now that I am retired, I want nothing to do with air travel.

+1

However, I am still traveling by air and wandering around every time I got layover. Kind of hate and love relationship.