Is it just me, or is Newark one of the armpit airports in the USA? Just flew in from Paris on UA a couple of hours ago. I was surprised to find that one is expected to PAY for a baggage trolley (which I did not need). What a lovely "WELCOME TO THE USA" to those folks coming in for a visit from abroad, who have traveled long distances, and many with lots of luggage in tow. Have your US coins/dollars/credit card ready if you want to cart your luggage around instead of dragging it behind you. OHare used to charge for carts, and it was so embarrassing to welcome visitors that way, they gave up the practice a number of years ago. Not sure what the reasoning was behind it, but I just didn't think it was an appropriate way to generate funds in any case.

Who else charges our guests from abroad for a cart? I have yet to pay for a cart anywhere in Europe or Asia or Australia.

The layout of EWR is also very confusing. Yikes! Good thing to give yourself plenty of time between connecting flights. Between trying to determine where you should be, and then maneuvering the security/immigration lines. it's not very pleasant. And I'm a 1K with United, so I get to go to the Premier Check-In line.

I'm always hearing comments about OHare (my "home airport, more or less) being so huge and difficult. No way! It is much easier IMO than Newark,.

I don't have any plans to return to this airport until October, and then it will be a simple domestic connection, not international. I doubt I would consider doing anymore int'l departures/arrivals from here in the future.

SFO has charged for many years so does LAX

newtome - SFO charges for domestic flights, international arrival is still no charge.

Herb Caen fought to get it to be free about 20+ years ago.

Carol, we will be flying home from Paris next May through Newark and I am not looking forward to it. I hope you had a fine time there!

Kathie, the trip was really lovely!! I enjoyed staying in the apartment (at guenmai's reco) in the 6e. The location was absolutely fantastic! We walked and walked and walked (and rode buses and boats too...) from that location. I hope your trip is just as nice. May weather should be perfect.

Well, if one's connecting UA Int'l to UA Domestic, I'd say at least half the passengers at EWR don't have to take the train, as they'll be just doing Terminal C to Terminal C. But at ORD, basically 100% of those connecting from Int'l (not including Canada) will have to take the train from T5 to T1/2.

As for being an armpit airport, well this is Newark after all.

You are right about the int'l arrival in ORD, and then for SURE having to transfer to another terminal by train. I'll grant you that. But I think signage is better at OHare. At EWR we had to end up asking at least two people how to get around, and then we ended up following a couple who appeared to know what they were doing?? I just wasn't that impressed with EWR, I guess. Maybe Kathie will be fortunate (probably so, because she flies UA and the arrivals and departures are in the same terminal) and not have to try to feel her way around "in the dark" without adequate signage and such.

EWR trains have very small compartments and if very many folks climb on board for the ride, it gets very tight. My knees had to be permanently bent because of bags that were bumping up against my legs. NO ROOM to stand upright, barely.

Oh, and Kathie, I believe there are two lounges for star gold UA in that terminal. We were always in the same one, and it did get very busy. Especially in the late afternoon when the int'l flights are departing from the area. I don't know about the other lounge, the one closer to my gate for the flt from EWR to ORD upon returning from Paris. I just went back to the familiar location, but I did see the lounge sign as I approached my departure gate. So there are TWO. Beer and wine (not top shelf) were free, so we enjoyed a couple of glasses before getting on the flt to CDG. (to relax, you know)

Thanks for the info, Carol.

(I was just talking with a friend, telling him about my trip. I told him I flew through EWR... he asked "Isn't that the armpit of an airport?"....lol I thought that was funny)

I never feel signage is a big problem at UA's terminals at EWR. Main problem is that the elite security lines are long, and those 3rd party security guarding the entrance of the security lines have no brains but believe they have more power than TSA.

rkkwan..... lol! And yes, the elite line was long and slow!

I have no problem with EWR. Of course, it is always the end point of any UAL flight from Hawaii that I've been on, so I know my way around. I don't like the way their security lines are set up.

I do like the UAL lounges there. There are two in Terminal C.. One near gate 120 (left after TSA) and the other down right near Gate 74. The one near 120 is bigger, has showers and the views are nice, but the one at 74 is more relaxing and has better food.

I also like the restaurants and shops in that terminal. Grand Central Oyster Bar and the museum shop provide an interesting way to kill a little time when I have a long layover.

On the other had, I only fly into O'Hare every few years, so I find it overwhelming and quite confusing. I think it's the familiarity that makes us like any airport better than a strange one.

Are there any US airports besides SFO that provide free luggage carts to international travelers? It is such a unfriendly way to greet people who have been on a long flight and have to stand in long lines.

Familiarity does, indeed, have something to do with it. You're right, Lucy.

OHare has free carts in the int'l terminal. But you might be wanting something on the west coast?

I fly into and out of Terminal C at EWR a lot and like it the best of the terminals I have to deal with in NYC. Of course, there are many, much nicer terminals in the world (Singapore, Vancouver, T1 at Toronto Pearson, Copenhagen), but there are many US terminals that are much worse than EWR-C (Miami, anyone?)

Seattle has free carts in the international arrivals hall.

I used to fly though ORD a couple of times in month - for years. Back in the old days before they built the new United terminals there, I used to avoid it. Once they built the new terminals, I've loved it and prefer flying though Chicago to flying through Denver.