was actually pretty good, once I got the car parked (two of the off airport lots that I use were 100% full and I didn't have my frequent parker cards with me); I ended up in the daily garage. I got there about 75 minutes ahead of my scheduled departure time on Monday 12/26.

This was my first time at BWI in at least six months (I've been flying out of DCA mostly). It was really odd to see the dark vacancy where the Delta counters had been since at least 1985 (and probably long before that). Delta is now the 4th stop on the parking shuttle bus.

At the entrance to Pier D, the elite line is not terribly conspicuous, but it does exist furthest to the right; I avoided the regular line which had about 50 people in it. Once beyond the TSA checker, the lines to the x-ray machines are sort of a mish-mash. I got in the line furthest to the right, behind 8 people. As it turned out, this line was using the WTMD; the other lines were using millimeter wave nude-o-scopes. I got through in about 15 minutes. The positioning of the equipment and the way the lines are set up there appear to be a recipe for chaos on busy flight days.

Pier D is Y shaped. Delta is on the left hand side of the Y.

Delta is using 6 gates in D, all of which are on your left--D3 is for regional jets; my flight to MSP used D5; then there is a food court/concession area; followed by D21, D23, D25 and D29 (there is a D27 door, but no jetway appeared to be attached to it). My return flight from MSP used D29. USAirways, United/Continental and jetBlue are also in D.

For Delta flyers at BWI, Wendy's and Potbelly's have been replaced by McDonalds and Quizno's. Ram's Head Tavern/Fordham Brewing has been replaced by The Greene Turtle. Pier D also has a Manchu Wok, an Auntie Anne's pretzel stand, Chesapeake Bay Roasting co. coffee stand and Mamma Ilardo's pizza; there are a couple of other bars in the concourse which were closed late Wednesday night.

The "pay per use" "Airborne Lounge" is the former United Red Carpet Club between Gates D10 and D12, on the right side of the Y.

Overall, if they can ever get the security situation at Pier D sorted out, the move to D is going to be an improvement for Delta flyers, as the concourse simply looks airier, brighter, cleaner and plusher than what we left behind in C (the end of which was built for Southwest in the late 90s).