Originally Posted by hfly

You know, as far as I am concerned, while T@ and T# are not ideal and there is a new solution needed, i have to say that in Ealmost EVERY SINGLE OTHER SERIOUS CASE such as this, such imporvements are loved by those who infrequently travel and HATED by those who frequently travelled.

Currently with the current T2 elite situation, I cannot recall a time where it has taken me more than 15 minutes from curb to gate in the last five years (maybe 20 if the elite security line is bad and I am at gate 8 or something like that). In the old days (pre-9/11) in the old set-up it NEVER took me more than 10 minutes. I can almost guarantee that no matter how shiney they make the new set-up that these times will at minimum double. I do not care for shiny new shops, the lounges are adequate for me, and while the place looks a shambles it is efficient. Furthermore, eliminating a time when every flight gets in at the same time and immigration is slammed, walks are short and assuming no check-in luggage I am normally off the plane and in a car within 10 minutes (the slammed thing can happen at and US airport/terminal).

I cite airports such as LHR T5, MAD T4, PEK T3, DEN, CDG and many others as examples of how shiny gigantic new airports/terminals have become the bane of very frequent travellers.

Compare my last BA departure from T1 area R, out of taxi, through security and at gate in SEVEN MINUTES, at the very worst to the farthest gate it was 20 mins. Now with T5 you would be lucky to ever do it in 20 mins, and could easily be 40 if security is backed up (which it always is) and you are at a satellite. Hell, MAD T4 is so bad that I consciously do not fly IB or BA in/out of MAD and prefer anything that goes out of the old terminals as you can be in/out in 5/10 minutes while last time I flew into T4, parkes at a satellite gate having sat in the first row of Business, walking quickly and with no passport line, moving at a fast walk with no luggage it took me TWENTY THREE MINUTES to get to the curb!

These new terminals are not a godsend and really generally only please people who arrive hours early, believe that the shops are good and believe that all things new and shiny are better.

I really have to think carefully of any example(s) in the last 20 years when new airports/terminals are really better and more efficient than what they replaced.