“Shoes off, tablets removed and separated!!! Don’t defy us or we will pat you down and check every bag!!!
Worst US airport experience - either one off or consistently
- Thread starter gamecockcat
- Start date
“Shoes off, tablets removed and separated!!! Don’t defy us or we will pat you down and check every bag!!!
2 years ago I was on a work trip to Florence (not KY). My flight from London (also not KY) to Bologna was delayed (not from Heathrow but from London City Airport). I take the tube into the city from Heathrow, get to LCA and cannot check my bag yet because it is more than 3-4 hours until the delayed flight. I don't want to lug this big suitcase around with me to a pub to get some lunch.
A week later I'm returning to NC, and on the BA app it lets me check into my 1st leg (Bologna to Heathrow) but does not let me check into the 2nd leg (AA flight from Heathrow to NC). I go to the AA app, no luck, I call AA and they say BA has to check me in. I call BA and can't get anyone. So I decide I'll do it when I get to the airport at Bologna in the morning. When I get there they say since I didn't check-in to the 2nd flight yesterday on the app, I can't do it now and will have to do it at Heathrow. Ok, there is like 90min between flights.
Flight is slightly delayed, deboarding is slow, as is getting my bag. I find the line to get my AA boarding pass, and although it's short, it's painfully slow. I get to the window, she says I barely made it in time, gives me my pass and I run to security 50' away, and security won't let me through, say that I'm too late (boarding is in 29min). At this point I blow-up, turn over the turnstyle and walk away to go back and see if the boarding agent can give me a pass to board late. At which point the security says that I reacted too severely and they will make it so I can't fly again. WTF. I apologize, and all is forgiven and I did get the pass to get through security. But at one point I was thinking, I'm going to have to take a boat back to the US.
A week later I'm returning to NC, and on the BA app it lets me check into my 1st leg (Bologna to Heathrow) but does not let me check into the 2nd leg (AA flight from Heathrow to NC). I go to the AA app, no luck, I call AA and they say BA has to check me in. I call BA and can't get anyone. So I decide I'll do it when I get to the airport at Bologna in the morning. When I get there they say since I didn't check-in to the 2nd flight yesterday on the app, I can't do it now and will have to do it at Heathrow. Ok, there is like 90min between flights.
Flight is slightly delayed, deboarding is slow, as is getting my bag. I find the line to get my AA boarding pass, and although it's short, it's painfully slow. I get to the window, she says I barely made it in time, gives me my pass and I run to security 50' away, and security won't let me through, say that I'm too late (boarding is in 29min). At this point I blow-up, turn over the turnstyle and walk away to go back and see if the boarding agent can give me a pass to board late. At which point the security says that I reacted too severely and they will make it so I can't fly again. WTF. I apologize, and all is forgiven and I did get the pass to get through security. But at one point I was thinking, I'm going to have to take a boat back to the US.
Update: flew home from Logan yesterday. Not a horrible experience. What was irritating (United) was the plane was scheduled to leave at 8:40 pm. We're on the plane and the doors closed by 8:20 pm. At 8:50 pm, the pilot announces 'we're waiting on some late baggage and should be ready to go momentarily'. At 9:05 pm, 'we're still waiting on a couple of pieces of luggage and we'll be pushing back in just a few minutes'. At 9:10 pm, we push back and sit. At 9:20 pm, we slowly make our way towards a runway. At 9:25 pm, we're wheels up, over an hour since everyone was on the plane and the doors closed. I mean, WTF? We have 130 passengers waiting for over an hour for 'late baggage'? Seems like the baggage department could use some better methods to ensure this doesn't happen but very, very rarely.
I should have clarified in my post about Logan. I have actually had good flying experiences there, it's just that rental car situation is dumb. But the airport itself, I don't mind. Oddly enough, the airport that I have had the most amount of delays out of is Richmond, VA. Which is kinda on brand, because I don't particularly like Richmond the city.
With as much traveling as I have done the last 5 years of my career, I have a great appreciation for the midsize airport. Louisville is my home airport, and is just a breeze, despite very limited options to the west coast. But CHS and RDU are just 2 examples of what I consider midsize airports that are just a breeze.
Wonder if nearby dc air traffic has anything to do with that? More than once i experienced delays in different parts of the country due to vip in the air space.
Okay, TSA Pre-check finally worked this time. Only requirements were remove everything out of pockets. Left belt and shoes on. Laptop remained in small carry-on bag. Relatively painless. Sitting at Austin-Bergstrom, awaiting Southwest flight to Nashville.
Having traveled all over Southeast Asia and flying plenty of local and national airlines, I’ll say that as domestic travelers in the US we are wildly spoiled.
That being said, in the US, it’s absolutely EWR. A complete shit show of an airport.
That being said, in the US, it’s absolutely EWR. A complete shit show of an airport.
I contemplate suicide every time I have a connection through Houston.
The last time I flew out of La Guardia there were about 10 pigeons walking around my gate. No one seemed to care.
SEATAC I like. Never had a bad experience and just everyone seems more relaxed to me.
People say Pearson sucks but I’ve flown through there three times in I think the last 8 years and never had an issue.
BNA is fine but all the stupid construction the last five years just annoys me and their whole ride share setup is garbage.
But seriously Bush in Houston I loathe.
The last time I flew out of La Guardia there were about 10 pigeons walking around my gate. No one seemed to care.
SEATAC I like. Never had a bad experience and just everyone seems more relaxed to me.
People say Pearson sucks but I’ve flown through there three times in I think the last 8 years and never had an issue.
BNA is fine but all the stupid construction the last five years just annoys me and their whole ride share setup is garbage.
But seriously Bush in Houston I loathe.
Currently waiting at Akureyi airport awaiting flight to Grimsey near Arctic circle.
Airline Attendant: what is your name?
Me: provides name.
Airline Attendant; Here's your boarding pass.
Me: one moment. Let me show my passport.
Airline Attendant; no worries. I'm not gonna stress over it.
Good looking little sweetie too Heh
Airline Attendant: what is your name?
Me: provides name.
Airline Attendant; Here's your boarding pass.
Me: one moment. Let me show my passport.
Airline Attendant; no worries. I'm not gonna stress over it.
Good looking little sweetie too Heh
Newark Airport, trip to Florida, long-term parking. Come back, snow storm had hit, snow plow had boxed us in with mounds of snow, 11 at night. Fun times.
At least you had solace of being in the murder capital of North America.
Only rent from Sixt now. Usually get a BMW 3 series for the same prize as a Hertz shit box Camry.
Once, we rented a car once from an off-site rental agency. There was a shuttle to the place, and it really was miles from the airport. Then, there was a shuttle back to the airport after we returned the car. Yes, it was definitely cheaper, but not much and the margin for missing our flight was teensy. I hate hate hate being late for something.
Most murders are between people who have regular dealings with each other. Not a lot of murders in airports.
I was tripping and this guy next to me appeared to be a creature in a human mask. I started yelling and telling everyone this guy wasn’t real and it went viral.
My story is too long to tell but I would go with Boston/Logan.
I looked them up and found them quite expensive. Plus i assume theyre offsite which i loathe.
Or am i somehow just way off base?
Just flew home from Colorado yesterday. First time taking all 4 kids on a flight. We drove from KY to Colorado in rental and then flew home. We were in Breckenridge and had left the house we were in for Denver (2 hour drive) the night before check out to stay in hotel by airport. It was that or a 5am drive to Denver on Saturday morning.
National rental drop off was awesome. Shuttle was perfect. One bag to check and was 5 lbs over, $100 on Delta...not thrilled.
Flight was solid, gave my kids all the snacks they could want. They really enjoyed first time flying.
Get to CVG and had left personal vehicle in long term parking for $11 a day. My wife and kids stayed by arrivals and I took shuttle to lot but there are two (valu and economy). My receipt wasn't circled so I had to guess, packed shuttle for economy and when I got there realized it was wrong lot.
Had the choice of waiting for whole shuttle to unload, ride back to airport and wait in line for correct shuttle or get out in wrong lot and walk.
I decided the one mile walk in 95° heat sounded better (350 bill driver thought I was insane). Dealt with it. Got my vehicle, drove back, picked up kids, loaded the 6 bags + other stuff into van...drove off. Get on interstate and hatch wasn't fully closed. Take exit, turn right, pulling up to gas station and hatch pops...lose a bag. Jump out and a guy had stopped, pokes his head out and says "gotta love when that happens". Made my day, nice guy.
Long ass day....but beat a drive home.
National rental drop off was awesome. Shuttle was perfect. One bag to check and was 5 lbs over, $100 on Delta...not thrilled.
Flight was solid, gave my kids all the snacks they could want. They really enjoyed first time flying.
Get to CVG and had left personal vehicle in long term parking for $11 a day. My wife and kids stayed by arrivals and I took shuttle to lot but there are two (valu and economy). My receipt wasn't circled so I had to guess, packed shuttle for economy and when I got there realized it was wrong lot.
Had the choice of waiting for whole shuttle to unload, ride back to airport and wait in line for correct shuttle or get out in wrong lot and walk.
I decided the one mile walk in 95° heat sounded better (350 bill driver thought I was insane). Dealt with it. Got my vehicle, drove back, picked up kids, loaded the 6 bags + other stuff into van...drove off. Get on interstate and hatch wasn't fully closed. Take exit, turn right, pulling up to gas station and hatch pops...lose a bag. Jump out and a guy had stopped, pokes his head out and says "gotta love when that happens". Made my day, nice guy.
Long ass day....but beat a drive home.
I'm with you on Denver. Horrible lines to get through security.
Good lord that sounds awful. Next week my wife planned a beach to trip to and her college friends beach house in Delaware. Have to fly with all 3 kids then drive 2.5 hours to the place 🙄 Sounds like hell. Rented a Chrysler minivan for the drive so hopefully kids will at least like that
Ha, that is what wife drives and what we rented to drive to Colorado...lol.
They have supposedly opened a brand new terminal that everything flies out of now, but yes the old building was awful other than security being right outside the gates. I got stuck there for 10 hours once due to a weather delay and it was absolutely miserable.
I'll never understand the hate that ATL gets. I'm usually there 3-4 times a month and while I've had some delays it's not any worse than other places and it's easy to navigate. It does suck as an origination airport because their TSA takes forever with the way they do the bag screening. Security lines were empty last Sunday evening and still took nearly 20 minutes for the bags to get through their whole process.
