With all the complaints - especially about PHL, allow me to recount my experience today.
I woke up half an hour late at 4:32 and had to catch the 6:10 PHL-DCA.
Shifted into high gear (still taking a shower) jumped into the car and drove to PHL. I live 8mi away. Parked in the F lot in the 5th space from the door breezed through security and was at the gate by 5:10. I waited for the club to open (5:30) got my coffee and went back to the gate. The gate closed at 6:05 and we were airborne at 6:15 - was early for my meeting in DC.
The way back was on my favorite 1776 - plane was fully boarded at 5:30, gate closed at 5:40 (5 minutes ahead of schedule) and we landed in PHL just a few minutes after 6. The F/A did two rounds of drink service - one before take off and one after. For the record, I have not missed an UG on this flight since 2005.
Makes a change for someone to post a positive review! Had a similar experience at PHL this Feb when overslept at the PHL Marriott.. was convinced I'd miss the flight but security took 2 minutes and still had time for coffee before boarding.
Although this sounds extraordinary - I really do have fairly regular experiences like this at PHL (not the wake up late part
)- with, easy parking, very efficient transit through the airport, and timely departures.
Just thought i'd float this one in the sea of negativity.