A Trip to the Dump (aka PHL Term F)
Jun 8, 2011, 7:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Amtrak S+, Kimpton IC
Posts: 298
A Trip to the Dump (aka PHL Term F)
Lessons in the Philly "F" terminal
I love Piedmont airlines as much as any carrier, especially any regional, but flying into the Philly "F" terminal, aka "The Dump" has taught me many life lessons.
- If at all possible, hold it
I am yet to use the urinal at the dump without coming out with sticky shoes... enough said
- Don't expect anything of the gate agents or the "special services" agents
I've had many interesting experiences, but I'll share this one. On a recent connection, I arrived early (yay Piedmont!) and decided to see if I could "move up" to the earlier connecting flight. I went to special services as there was no gate agent. The special services agent proceeded to tell me that the flight had already left... I then double checked the gate (wisdom for any FTer) and found that the incoming plane's jetway was just extending to the plane to greet the plane. I then went back to special services agent #2. She proceeded to call the gate (literally 20 ft from her) where there was no gate agent still. She told me she could not do anything and I had to talk to the gate agent (who was mia). I went and stood by the gate until the incoming plane had fully deplaned and only then did a gate agent show up who tried to talk me out of moving up (it's going to be really expensive) until I calmed her down and told her it was ok, I'm a US Preferred. Lesson - don't expect anything... you will receive wrong information frequently and must use your FT common sense
- Don't expect correct gate information
My gate information always says I'm departing to Harrisburg/York (a throw back to the Capital City days when Harrisburg's airport was in York county). They manually update the destinations and departure times. They are frequently incorrect and/or missing digits (flight numbers, departure times, etc). It's kind of like Wrigley Field's scoreboard but without the nostalgia.
- Lack of quality eatery
Don't arrive hungry here. Your choices are bad, worse, and inedible. There is a bar that serves 32 oz beers. You may need this.
- The "Dump Truck"
In order to connect to "the other airport" you must either walk and reclear security or take "the dump truck." The "Dump Truck" (passed off as a shuttle) rarely has climate control, runs infrequently enough that those with close connections will be wishing they had made the long walk/run, and often has to stop for planes enroute to the "other airport". The staff's job is to run this like a prison bus.
- Signage
A number of points here. Throughout the terminal they only sign F term flights. Many passengers become confused when they don't see their flight listed (is in cancelled? gasp! or worse yet if it is similar, but not exact they go to the wrong gate for the wrong, later flight. The only board that shows all US flights is next to the Dump Truck gate. Oddly enough, all throughout the main corridor, Amtrak is the key advertiser offering to "lower your CO2 footprint". Very interesting in a terminal filled with connections to those cities on Amtrak's NEC. Maybe they are trying to tell you something.
I've said enough. Now let's hear your lessons learned.
I love Piedmont airlines as much as any carrier, especially any regional, but flying into the Philly "F" terminal, aka "The Dump" has taught me many life lessons.
- If at all possible, hold it
I am yet to use the urinal at the dump without coming out with sticky shoes... enough said
- Don't expect anything of the gate agents or the "special services" agents
I've had many interesting experiences, but I'll share this one. On a recent connection, I arrived early (yay Piedmont!) and decided to see if I could "move up" to the earlier connecting flight. I went to special services as there was no gate agent. The special services agent proceeded to tell me that the flight had already left... I then double checked the gate (wisdom for any FTer) and found that the incoming plane's jetway was just extending to the plane to greet the plane. I then went back to special services agent #2. She proceeded to call the gate (literally 20 ft from her) where there was no gate agent still. She told me she could not do anything and I had to talk to the gate agent (who was mia). I went and stood by the gate until the incoming plane had fully deplaned and only then did a gate agent show up who tried to talk me out of moving up (it's going to be really expensive) until I calmed her down and told her it was ok, I'm a US Preferred. Lesson - don't expect anything... you will receive wrong information frequently and must use your FT common sense
- Don't expect correct gate information
My gate information always says I'm departing to Harrisburg/York (a throw back to the Capital City days when Harrisburg's airport was in York county). They manually update the destinations and departure times. They are frequently incorrect and/or missing digits (flight numbers, departure times, etc). It's kind of like Wrigley Field's scoreboard but without the nostalgia.
- Lack of quality eatery
Don't arrive hungry here. Your choices are bad, worse, and inedible. There is a bar that serves 32 oz beers. You may need this.
- The "Dump Truck"
In order to connect to "the other airport" you must either walk and reclear security or take "the dump truck." The "Dump Truck" (passed off as a shuttle) rarely has climate control, runs infrequently enough that those with close connections will be wishing they had made the long walk/run, and often has to stop for planes enroute to the "other airport". The staff's job is to run this like a prison bus.
- Signage
A number of points here. Throughout the terminal they only sign F term flights. Many passengers become confused when they don't see their flight listed (is in cancelled? gasp! or worse yet if it is similar, but not exact they go to the wrong gate for the wrong, later flight. The only board that shows all US flights is next to the Dump Truck gate. Oddly enough, all throughout the main corridor, Amtrak is the key advertiser offering to "lower your CO2 footprint". Very interesting in a terminal filled with connections to those cities on Amtrak's NEC. Maybe they are trying to tell you something.
I've said enough. Now let's hear your lessons learned.
Last edited by aztimm; Aug 7, 2011 at 1:24 pm Reason: updated thread title
Jun 8, 2011, 8:57 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
Lessons in the Philly "F" terminal
I love Piedmont airlines as much as any carrier, especially any regional, but flying into the Philly "F" terminal, aka "The Dump" has taught me many life lessons.
- If at all possible, hold it
I am yet to use the urinal at the dump without coming out with sticky shoes... enough said
I love Piedmont airlines as much as any carrier, especially any regional, but flying into the Philly "F" terminal, aka "The Dump" has taught me many life lessons.
- If at all possible, hold it
I am yet to use the urinal at the dump without coming out with sticky shoes... enough said
- Don't expect anything of the gate agents or the "special services" agents
I've had many interesting experiences, but I'll share this one. On a recent connection, I arrived early (yay Piedmont!) and decided to see if I could "move up" to the earlier connecting flight. I went to special services as there was no gate agent. The special services agent proceeded to tell me that the flight had already left... I then double checked the gate (wisdom for any FTer) and found that the incoming plane's jetway was just extending to the plane to greet the plane. I then went back to special services agent #2. She proceeded to call the gate (literally 20 ft from her) where there was no gate agent still. She told me she could not do anything and I had to talk to the gate agent (who was mia). I went and stood by the gate until the incoming plane had fully deplaned and only then did a gate agent show up who tried to talk me out of moving up (it's going to be really expensive) until I calmed her down and told her it was ok, I'm a US Preferred. Lesson - don't expect anything... you will receive wrong information frequently and must use your FT common sense
I've had many interesting experiences, but I'll share this one. On a recent connection, I arrived early (yay Piedmont!) and decided to see if I could "move up" to the earlier connecting flight. I went to special services as there was no gate agent. The special services agent proceeded to tell me that the flight had already left... I then double checked the gate (wisdom for any FTer) and found that the incoming plane's jetway was just extending to the plane to greet the plane. I then went back to special services agent #2. She proceeded to call the gate (literally 20 ft from her) where there was no gate agent still. She told me she could not do anything and I had to talk to the gate agent (who was mia). I went and stood by the gate until the incoming plane had fully deplaned and only then did a gate agent show up who tried to talk me out of moving up (it's going to be really expensive) until I calmed her down and told her it was ok, I'm a US Preferred. Lesson - don't expect anything... you will receive wrong information frequently and must use your FT common sense
- The "Dump Truck"
In order to connect to "the other airport" you must either walk and reclear security or take "the dump truck." The "Dump Truck" (passed off as a shuttle) rarely has climate control, runs infrequently enough that those with close connections will be wishing they had made the long walk/run, and often has to stop for planes enroute to the "other airport". The staff's job is to run this like a prison bus.
In order to connect to "the other airport" you must either walk and reclear security or take "the dump truck." The "Dump Truck" (passed off as a shuttle) rarely has climate control, runs infrequently enough that those with close connections will be wishing they had made the long walk/run, and often has to stop for planes enroute to the "other airport". The staff's job is to run this like a prison bus.
- Signage
A number of points here. Throughout the terminal they only sign F term flights. Many passengers become confused when they don't see their flight listed (is in cancelled? gasp! or worse yet if it is similar, but not exact they go to the wrong gate for the wrong, later flight. The only board that shows all US flights is next to the Dump Truck gate.
A number of points here. Throughout the terminal they only sign F term flights. Many passengers become confused when they don't see their flight listed (is in cancelled? gasp! or worse yet if it is similar, but not exact they go to the wrong gate for the wrong, later flight. The only board that shows all US flights is next to the Dump Truck gate.
I did notice late last week that on the monitors around F5 they put up a sign saying the monitors only had F departures and to go to F9 (the bus loading area) for the full flight list. That should help that issue a bit, except for those people who don't bother to read it, but it should've been done years ago.
Oddly enough, all throughout the main corridor, Amtrak is the key advertiser offering to "lower your CO2 footprint". Very interesting in a terminal filled with connections to those cities on Amtrak's NEC. Maybe they are trying to tell you something.
I've said enough. Now let's hear your lessons learned.
I've said enough. Now let's hear your lessons learned.
Aside from the food, the lack of cleanliness, useless employees, and misery followed by misery in a miniature seat when you actually board a plane, my other complaint is the remarkable lack of seating at gates. It's like the architects were expecting no more than 50% loads on any flight when they designed the waiting areas. And to think F is "so much better" than the Express loading mess that was once C16.
Jun 9, 2011, 1:17 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Silver
Posts: 189
Since F is the only terminal with a body scanner at TSA (unless they've gotten them in the D/E checkpoint, I haven't been through there in a while), as someone whose home airport is PHL, I've been clearing at B/C then busing over from C16. At least of late they seem to have newer buses or are cleaning them better. I'm not going to say I enjoy the ride, but I've been less repulsed lately.
tolkiennut - hilarious. Almost makes me want to bus over to F during a long layover just to see the fun firsthand.
-OM
Jun 9, 2011, 7:35 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
None at B as of last week, nor A-West as of Sunday night. Long lines aren't rare at either, especially Monday mornings or other peak times and aren't necessarily tied to body scanners. They definitely would have space issues related to getting them in both checkpoints, and even over at A as well.
Jun 9, 2011, 9:47 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: The views I express here are not necessarily supported by any airline or codeshare partners, nor do I represent their views and/or opinions. They are my own OPINIONS dont like them dont read them.....
Posts: 1,462
Two different companies working ground operations here. Mainline US is on A/B/C in PHL and B/C/D in CLT. Piedmont is on F in PHL and E in CLT.
I will say I have always had great service by Piedmont employees. I have some complex employee reservations and the F agents are the only ones that have been able to do them. The CLT mainline employees that I have come in contact with hate express so you can imagine how my experience with those agents have been.
Jun 9, 2011, 10:07 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 157
Waiting for a flight at the very end of F (F19-23, where muliple gates are crammed together), female GA is busy talking with multiple male BHs. She was standing at the podium at gate F22 where my flight was to depart. My flight is already delayed about 30 minutes awaiting the flight crew. Flight crew approaches, looks around and walks through the open door at gate F23. GA doesn't have a clue. About 15 minutes later, one of the pilots comes walking out of F23 and asks the GA for the paperwork for the Richmond flight. GA looks at the pilot and says, "Oh, that flight is leaving from F22 not F23." Pilot starts to say something, bites his tongue and goes walking back to F23 to get the others. They were real happy when they walked past the GA to get on the correct plane.
Aside from the food, the lack of cleanliness, useless employees, and misery followed by misery in a miniature seat when you actually board a plane, my other complaint is the remarkable lack of seating at gates. It's like the architects were expecting no more than 50% loads on any flight when they designed the waiting areas.
And now the construction is removing even more seats!! Outstanding!
More than once, this has happened:
Original departure - 9:15PM Gate F22
Monitor in F -Depart 10:00pm Gate F22
Monitor in USAir Club - Depart 10:30pm Gate F23
USAir Website - Cancelled
Jun 9, 2011, 10:32 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
PHL is home for me, but I avoid F to the extent possible, so forgive my cluelessness on this, but what are they doing? All I see is a bunch of torn-up concrete around the food court area. http://www.phl.org/construction.html mentions this but not that it has started:
"Terminal F is being expanded to accommodate the increasing passengers traffic due to additional service to new international locations. This project is estimated over $125 million and includes relocating the Baggage Claim, expanding the Security Checkpoint, installing a Checked Baggage Inspection System (CBIS), expanding the Baggage Claim and Concourse, renovations to the Ticketing area, and developing additional space for concessions. "
"Terminal F is being expanded to accommodate the increasing passengers traffic due to additional service to new international locations. This project is estimated over $125 million and includes relocating the Baggage Claim, expanding the Security Checkpoint, installing a Checked Baggage Inspection System (CBIS), expanding the Baggage Claim and Concourse, renovations to the Ticketing area, and developing additional space for concessions. "
Jun 9, 2011, 11:25 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 157
PHL is home for me, but I avoid F to the extent possible, so forgive my cluelessness on this, but what are they doing? All I see is a bunch of torn-up concrete around the food court area. http://www.phl.org/construction.html mentions this but not that it has started:
"Terminal F is being expanded to accommodate the increasing passengers traffic due to additional service to new international locations. This project is estimated over $125 million and includes relocating the Baggage Claim, expanding the Security Checkpoint, installing a Checked Baggage Inspection System (CBIS), expanding the Baggage Claim and Concourse, renovations to the Ticketing area, and developing additional space for concessions. "
"Terminal F is being expanded to accommodate the increasing passengers traffic due to additional service to new international locations. This project is estimated over $125 million and includes relocating the Baggage Claim, expanding the Security Checkpoint, installing a Checked Baggage Inspection System (CBIS), expanding the Baggage Claim and Concourse, renovations to the Ticketing area, and developing additional space for concessions. "
The things listed above are all OUTSIDE of security except the "additional space for concessions".
Can't tell you how excited I am for more overpriced fastfood.
Jun 9, 2011, 11:57 am
#14
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MYR
Programs: spirit elite, MRgold Hilton Gold
Posts: 454
Termina F stinks, especially if its a departure, and you have to try to figure out what gate to go to. That being Said Jet rock is the bomb, and If i can I try to fly through Philly just so i can stop there and get some Troegs. Only problem is i can only get there from myr on sat/sun, and its on express which means F terminal an no Upgrade(at least for a while longer)
Jun 9, 2011, 12:07 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Amtrak S+, Kimpton IC
Posts: 298
Termina F stinks, especially if its a departure, and you have to try to figure out what gate to go to. That being Said Jet rock is the bomb, and If i can I try to fly through Philly just so i can stop there and get some Troegs. Only problem is i can only get there from myr on sat/sun, and its on express which means F terminal an no Upgrade(at least for a while longer)