L

Sandi, I really wasn't so much as a political statement as a local right to self determiniation statement. (Has L lost his mind, you say.) What I mean: we have a local authority that should decide names ... but Congress wsa looking for things to name Regan, and intervened, and Clinton agreed and signed, just as a way to get votes for another bill. Now, Bob Barr (R-Ga.) is threatening Washington Metro because it has not changed the adjoining subway station to Reagan (which under Fedeal law is actually within the authority of the local political jurisdiction). Ron Reagan, of course, knows none of this, to his credit. So, I really wasn't making a statement about RR, but I would say Barr is a real AH. By the way, the folks at National who own concessions are angry now ... because the airport is laid out in such a way that is speeds the travellers thought the terminal ... there's less opportunity for tourists to shop at their stores. So, it's a great airport for you. Too bad US Airway is selling us out in the merger with UAL ... our wonderful new airport will be at the mercy of DC Air and American. We'll be a feeder to such mammoths as Charlotte and Pittsburgh. 17 million people a year!!

Chuck

L-Is the merger between UAL and USAir a done deal? I was hoping that wouldn't come to pass.

As for airports I hate:
O'Hare
Dallas
Detroit
LaGuardia
Houston
Miami

Airports I like:
Raleigh-Durham
Cincinati
Columbus
Tampa
National in DC

L

Chuck, you are quite correct ... the merger is not yet a done deal, and as UAL has reported, there is delay after delay. US Airways is now pleading with the Federal Gov't to get the formal review underway and decided. One key issue: Bush has not nominated all key DOJ and DOT people who must decide. Best thinking here in DC: no decision before late 2001. There is also the matter of American Airlies attempts to buy a portion of DC Air, and the betting that in five years, there will be no DC Air - all assets will be AA, and with the merger, you'll have a UAL and AA in total control of our market. Bethune at Continental has said that Wolfe and others at US Airways are not interested in managing to make a profit ... but instead are focused strictly on how to merge. The deal to merge and cerate DC Air was arrived at in a closed meeting between Wolf, UAL and Johnson of BET (who would "own" DC Air). This is a very bad situation for all of us. And we have the wonderful new airport that is being in effect abandoned by US Airways (they made a profit five years in the 1990's, but now are losing again). They want the merger so Wolf et al can get their $18 million fee, and then bail out. Criminal behavior, and so anti-consumer it is astounding. Ciao

Chuck

L-I wonder why the consumer advocates are not screaming their heads off. I am going to write to my representatives, maybe that will help.

L

Chuck, Good leverage points: members of Congress whose towns will lose direct flights from DCA, plus key committee chairmen, such as McCane, Frank Wolf, etc. There are some interesting new complexities to this situation. One is the first time a major airline will be owned by an African American, Johnson of BET. Also, the degree to which United has spread money all over DC. And finally, Bush's views about corporate mergers (it's hard to predict what he'll do, if anything). Then I would imagine law suits galore, after a decision. In the wings, probably Continental, which would like to grow in the DC area, thus taking over the US Airways slots at DCA would be a natural move. By the way, I'm not sure we even have a consumer movement these days which is focused on mergers ... things have changed. UAL is a huge mess, just waiting to become worse. If they are successful, Charlotte, Philly and Pittsburgh will be the players, and DC will become a second rate feeder. And the larger perspective: Dulles and BWI are embaked on major expansions. Will DCA wither, or expand to match the growth in DC? We are now planning major new subways right throught th ehart of downtown ... this could be a fabulous chance for DCA. If we got a winner in here to run a safe ailrine. This is going to be an interesting thing to watch. Ciao.

hookem

What's with the bashing of DFW? It has to be the greatest large airport in the U.S. I'm sure its just the fact that a lot of you just connect there. No other airport its size lets you check in your bag w/ the skycap, walk 30 paces, and get to your gate. Thats something you don't realize unless you do business there.

Ok, here's my Best and worst in the U.S. Prettiness and restaurants don't count. Ease of travel is what does.

Worst
1) Chicago O'Hare - Idiots only built/planned 4 major runways for one of the biggest hubs in the world. Delays. Delays. Delays. Did I mention the relentless United music in the underground passage?
2) Houston Intercontinental / Bush - Whoever designed this was smoking crack as well. Just look at the terminal layouts. The name intercontinental makes me laugh because the politicians thought this would be 'the airport'. Sad, cause Continental is a pretty decent airlines.
3) LaGuardia - Why 3? and not 2 or 1? Well its closer than Newark & JFK to Manhattan. True, you wait all the f'n time and can slide off the runway to a watery/icy grave, but come on, the 'over the water' runway landings are cool!
4) SFO - Anyone notice that they only use 2 of the runways almost ALL the time. Probably the fact that they built the runways CROSSING each other in the middle.
5) Phoenix - Just the fact that its America West's hub.

Best

5) Atlanta - The passenger leader in the world and they don't do too bad a job. Too bad I hate Delta. Valujet (uh hum), I mean AirTran as well.
4) DFW - Shows what planning can do. 7 major runways. The Dallas Cowboys shops can easily make you throw up.
3) Oakland - Much better than its counterpart accross the bay.
2) Chicago Midway - Lets see, you take off on time, take half the time on the El train into downtown, and actually hear that stupid United music in the hallways.
1) Las Vegas - LAS? What? You've got be kidding! Where else can you gamble, check into your hotel in the baggage claim, and take off/land next to a stupid pyramid, castle, empire state building......?

Howard

I like Chattanooga and Cinncinati, Salt Lake, Kansas City, Atlanta. Orlando, Tampa, Pittsburgh.

BTilke

Two favorite domestic airports are:
Portland, OR--great shopping (airport merchants have signed agreements that they won't charge more than they do downtown) of quality items--places like Real Mother Goose, Powell's, etc. A pleasant way to pass the time after check in. Also, for the restaurant--how many airports have an all you can eat hot breakfast buffet for under $10? Not to mention a lounge with a FIREPLACE where you can relax with a drink.
The view coming into Portland is spectacular when the weather's clear (ditto for Eugene, OR--I used to love sunset flights from Portland to Eugene).
Next favorite is ABE (Allentown, PA). I fly into and out of Allentown instead of Philly if I can. Once you get by the nightmare of the never finished route 22 construction, the airport traffic is minimal. Parking is a snap. Staff are courteous and the airport's small size makes getting around simple. Nothing to do though while you're waiting, so bring a book.
I hate Atlanta, particularly the international terminal, where there are NO luggage carts of any kind. They should take a tip from places like the Vienna airport that provide free mini luggage carts you can put your carryon and coats in and wheel around without bumping into store displays or other passengers.
BTilke

M&J

Ever try to find some place quiet?
Well, relatively quiet at an airport?
Someplace to just think, or read, or
people watch? Well at Atlanta Hartsfield that is nearly impossible.
With CNN blaring out of the ceiling and constant gate changes/delayed departures somewhere quiet is an enternal quest.
Hummm, maybe the chapel?

lia

LAX is okay - it just takes forever to be "taxied" in especially when all you want to do is get off the plane !

Philip

I like both Heathrow and Schiphol. Heathrow gets points for having an easily accessible subway connection to the city. Schiphol is the cleanest airport I've ever seen.

I hate both LaGuardia and JFK. You would think a city the size of NYC would have a nice airport. JFK is the only airport where I've had to walk up a long flight of stairs, carrying my luggage while being jet lagged from an international flight (I felt sorry for the poor senior citizens who were walking behind me).

Cali

I personally like Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. They are contunally making it better and there are shops and restaurants everywhere and no problem getting something to eat and drink and read down by the gates. Many other airports don't have easy access to food and drinks when at the gates. I also like Ontario, Ca. airport. It is new and very easy to use. Not used anywhere near it's capacity. Hate Detroit Airport but look forward to trying it when the new terminal is done in Dec. Might get lots better let's hope so!! I am not as thrilled with Tampa and Orlando as some of the others, but they are definitely better than some!! Some terminals at LAX are fine but others aren't too great at all. Kansas City Airport is just too quiet and too little food and drink available easily!! No shops either and I seem to always have a long layover there.

Cali

Ooops!! I just realized I spelled continually wrong in my previous post and didn't correct it!! Sorry to all you teachers out there!!

bennie

For JoJO - Logan is named for a local war hero - Edward Logan. Its my least favorite airport.

curious

I just have one question. If the LA airport is called LAX, what's the Tampa airport called?

Suzie

Hate, hate, hate SFO. Do any planes take off on time there?

Used Ontario recently, fabulous and convenient.

Like Oakland, CA

Burbank is dumpy but it's a pretty easy airport to use.

NY Native

I second the person who said he likes Las Vegas. I went there for the first time last fall and I loved the view out the plane window. Too cool, having all those crazy casinos right there.

Pittsburgh was great. Greenville-Spartanbug is nice and small. LaGuardia and JFK are my home airports. LGA isn't so bad except that we don't have enough runways. They want to build another one but some environmentalists have complained on behalf of the wildlife in the water. The water is polluted and smells bad anyway, and I'd really be surprised if anything were alive in there. I think (hope) they finally got permission to build a new runway, but heaven only knows when we'll see it.

JFK sucks rocks. It took us years just to get those nice luggage carriers like they have in Europe, and even those are too small and clumsy. Also, the layout of the airport makes navigating it a big headache.

kam

I seem to remember O'Hare was a WWII pilot. Pittsburgh is a great airport and I think LAX is the best of the big ones. O'Hare is impossible and getting worse. For those SFO haters (and I agree), try either Oakland or San Jose. San Diego was nice the last time I flew in. For those touring in Tuscany/Umbria, try connecting through London to Pisa.

L

It may be a miracle ... but I don't believe anyone said anything negative about DCA ... i.e., Reagan National, or just National to those who'd like to keep the historical and avoid the political. It is indeed beautiful, and when people ask what they should see in DC, I always send them right back out to the airport, to DCA, to take the tour and see the original art that was commissioned for the new terminal. So, the next time you are at DCA, look around and enjoy. And do you realize that the old, original terminal is being refurbished to serve as both a working terminal and a museum of how the airport was in the 1940's when FDR was President. I will miss it when I move, but I'm going to the Sunset beach area, and wow, TIA is a good one too, as some have already attested on this thread. Now, who would like to talk ships ... and if you do, how about HMS Queen Mary, and her namesake coming in 2003 from the Cunard folks? Ciao.

ldsant

SOAR:

Pittsburgh
Oakland (CA)
Burbank
Chicago (for as many people as go through there every day - it's great plus, I have NEVER seen such clean bathrooms anywhere!


LANDMINE:

Seattle (I live here - it's the worst airport - always construction, no way to get anywhere easily, parking is outrageous, etc.!)
SFO - same as above - does any plane ever leave there on time?
LAX - can you say peoplemovers that get you somewhere?????