Back from Japan. It was a pretty good vacation. Catching up on the box involved skipping ~90 pages.

What did I miss?

Yeah, the Sony lenses are pricey. I just saw that they are going to release an 80-400 zoom, which seems to be in the same price range as the 100-400 Canon. Also, the Sony camera bodies have optical stabilization built-in, which is a nice feature to have no matter what lens you use.

Preach on, brother.

I seek to avoid connecting in EWR at all costs, but is originating there a bad idea as well?

I like EWR for O&D - I'm also used to it. Thanks to the fiancee, I've come to know PHL a bit better than I did, and it's great if you don't mind the connection.

It all depends on the time of day. Departures during the morning and evening rush usually mean a taxi time of 60-90 minutes. I've gotten used to it and mentally prepare myself for it as we are boarding so it's not such a big deal. The airport itself is fine, IMO.

I usually only travel down to PHL for mileage runs.

Calling PHL "great" is a bit of a stretch. ;) The fares are great, but Terminal D is a dump.

I will be attending the DO.

Much harder to get an upgrade on many routes (esp. IAH).

LGA is a much smaller op for CO so the security lines are generally faster and things like parking are easier.

Traffic in getting there is a crap-shoot. Sometimes the Turnpike makes me want to gouge my eye sout. Sometimes the perpetually under construction Triborough* sucks.




*didn't they just change the name? :rolleyes:

EWR is actually one of my favorite airports, especially for "big" airports. The ground delays are annoying, but after 12 years of them, you get used to them. At least now a days you don't have to circle somewhere over PA on the inbound.

The only major airport I like more is LAX and that's just because there is never any wait, you push back, taxi to end of runway and off you go.

PHL is such a dump that I avoid it when I can. Plus having to fight with all the WN kettles just makes it that much more of a turn off.

Referring to Terminal D in the singular as a dump isn't necessarily fair either. The entire airport and a good part of the surrounding area needs to be nuked and rebuilt. :D Terminal D does suck, but I'm in and out of there so quick that it doesn't bother me. I can make D6/D8 to my car in 10 minutes (maybe less), and 10 minutes can't be said about anywhere on the EWR property to your car.

Terminals A-C at PHL actually looked pretty nice during my walk through them a few weeks ago. It's a shame they have to waste the newer part of the airport on US and WN.

I use off site parking at both PHL and EWR and usually get to my car much faster at EWR. It's still the drive that usually kills PHL for me.

From IAH, which airport is best if your are going to Manhattan?

I would argue that. I've made it from seat to curb side in five minutes and could easily be in the garage in another five.

Obviously if you come in on C-96 or C-138 you won't. Plus, if you fly another carrier it's even faster since the pods aren't quite as long as C.

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge