B Terminal at IAH is Miserable
 

not only do you have to enter the terminal with the knowledge that you are about to board an ERJ, but security is always a nightmare.

I understand that there are space constraints that cause the security delays, but there has to be a more efficent way of screening in this terminal.

Anyone ever clear security through E and then take the shuttle to B? I think it may be quicker.

Sure - I usually park at E if I know I'll be on a mainline flight on the way back. It's pretty painless.

For those that don't have a PC membership, there is a (usually) quiet area of tables in the back of the food court area in B. It makes for a much more pleasant wait than being crammed into one of the gate areas.

The presidents club in B can be a mess during rush hour as well. I can't imagine being jammed at the gate having to wait.

This is my second trip out of B this year, I hope it is the last.

If I know I'll be on an ERJ for more than 1.5 hours, I will usually just take WN out of Houston Hobby to avoid all the hassles at B and the uncomfortable sardine can of the ERJ. (although a packed WN B737 is no pcinic either). Just a personal preference.

I eagerly await the day I receive a boarding pass with B-84 stamped on it...only to discover upon reaching the ConUniHound terminal that I'm slated to board a CRJ to DEN (with a return on said aircraft as a red-eye :eek: ).

I think I would rather try to best wannaflyforless' 100K BIS in a week aboard US metal only, followed by a whirlwind marriage in Vegas to one of their personable PHL check-in agents...

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I don't think the lines at B are all that bad most of the time. The only time I see them taking more than about 5 minutes to clear is on Monday mornings. I fly out of B at least three times a month and rarely have a problem. I still really prefer E or even C, but I don't find B to be all that bad (provided I'm not doing a B84 flight).

With a PC membership, I really don't see what's wrong with the B terminal. I don't care what the gate area is like, as long as I get one of those big leather chairs to sit on in the PC. :D

With the exception of the B84 disaster, the rest of the B terminal is OK for RJs.

Look at what some other carriers do with their RJs at their hubs (e.g., AA's remote terminal at LAX, or the IAD terminal for UA RJs, or the PHL remote area for US). Many of these require buses to get to, and don't have jet bridges to the planes! The IAH B terminal is a palace in comparison.

Unfortunately, as the B84 experience can include 20+ different arrivals/departures at any given time, it represents a significant portion of CO' s terminal B operations. I was once "lucky" enough to arrive at B84 and connect to another B84 departure. The entire process of arriving, waiting for the bus, driving across the tarmac, boarding another bus, etc. took almost an hour - and this was to get to a plane parked two spaces away from the one I arrived on!

I think of B every time I hear Kellner's video intro and mentions CO's "state of the art" terminals. He obviously hasn't been in his own IAH Terminal B!

Contrast NW at DTW, where the Airlink operation is seamlessly integrated with mainline operations. Now THAT is a state-of-the-art facility.

The B PC is the most packed at IAH. Waay too many people in there for its size. I guess one could take the train to C or E, but that's a bit of a pain if you want to be near your gate. The last several times I've flown out of B, the PC there was SRO.

B is certainly not the one of the 'spacious new terminals' that Larry refers to in his little video :D

With all due respect DSA-IAH, this thread is beating a dead horse. I don't want to sound like a cratchety-old FT'er, but the Terminal B, especially the B84 complaint has been voiced here since the beginning of time...zzzzzzzzz.

Do I hate it? Absolutely!

Have I missed flights at B84 due to GA's yelling boarding instructions rather than using the P.A. system like they do at WN ;) ? Yes!

Is it hot, smelly, with funky bathrooms and no concessions? You betcha!

However, remember that this area is a bit smaller than normal right now due to the renovations going on, and it will re-open drastically in a couple of months with new restrooms, concessions, somewhat seperated waiting areas and NEW air conditioning (rather than the "re-used" jetway ac's that are cut and tied to the existing building).

Point being, don't fret, it's still better than a CRJ, a turboprop, or flying WN!! :D

Except the state-of-the art, spacious new Q400's, of course. ;)

I find griping about B84 on a semi-regular basis to be cathartic. Bit of venting, followed by "Serenity Now! Serenity Now!" :p

In defense of IAH B, the Chili's is better than any of the food in C, and the McDonalds may actually be better than all of C as well.

IAH Food:

C = Crummy
B = Better
E = Eat here

The Pappadeaux's by E6 is much better than the Chili's, IMHO. I lothe "casual dining" restaurants. :td: