I hate hate hate T2. Bus "gate." 5-ish AM. At least that process was fairly efficient and avoided a potentially long walk. T2 immigration was quick, and transit security wasn't too bad. Once past that, oh boy. The entire walkway between the two main piers of T2 gates has narrowed. There remains only a narrow passageway on one side (the side with the elevators to the lounge level and most of the shops) - the other side is all blocked off and there isn't much room for anyone to walk. Heading toward the stairway at the far end (to get up to the AX lounge) - well, that is closed off, too, so off to the elevator through the DF shop. No wait and ample seating at the AX Lounge - but when we left at about 8am, the entry line was down the stairway near the entrance.

Getting to the gate - shoving our way through that narrow passageway and then out to gate 69 - what a cluster. And by the time we got to the gate (a bit over an hour prior to departure) there were already lines snaked through the seats for the various boarding zone markers - so we lined up in what appeared to be the Zone 1 line. After several minutes, we learned that this was for an IAD flight - you cannot tell as one approaches the gate 69 area that it shares the same lineup area with gate 70, as the 70 destination sign isn't visible as you approach. We weren't the only ones. And T2 is an echo chamber - Charlie Brown's teacher is more intelligible.

Boarding was fine once the IAD flight left - the agent started taking people in the Zone 1 line (which split out from a single 1 and 2 line that was between two rows of seating ) even prior to boarding annoucements. And then doors closed within a few minutes of scheduled departure time one way or the other, and then we sat and sat and sat awaiting taxi clearance. And then sat some more. And then sat longer. So glad that I won't have to deal with that terminal again for over another week!