I try to avoid BWI as it's generally an hour's drive from my house even in the best of traffic conditions (DCA and IAD are both 15-25 minutes depending on traffic). But, sometimes I just have to fly from there, such as when tickets are far cheaper (i.e. a trip to RDU in '06 where it was $120 ex-BWI and $440 ex-IAD).

The last several times, I've found the (Daily Garage) parking lot shuttle drivers to be completely and unnecessarily surly:

• As I boarded the bus last week, the driver stopped me and said, "What part of 'behind the yellow line' don't you understand? You really need to stand behind the yellow line!" It took everything in me to ignore him and not say, "What part don't YOU understand? I was a good two feet behind it, yet you drove the bus OVER the line and nearly hit me!"
• Every time, the driver yells at people and refuses to drive off "until all bags are stowed on the racks, and not in the seats or the aisles." Funny when the bag racks are full and there's nowhere else to put them.
• We nearly had a pax riot one time when the bus was already late and was pretty full, and the driver refused to leave "until people move to the back." The back was jam-packed with people already, but he claimed that there were too many people "standing at the front." He threatened to make us all get off the bus, all the while people were beginning to grumble, then yell, about getting to their flights.
• At least two drivers refused to allow pax to board through the rear door, claiming "that one is only for pax getting off the bus; everyone has to enter through the front door." Of course, as people all stow their bags at the front but sit at the back, that makes for an interesting shuffle at each stop...

This hasn't been the same driver every time, either. They all seem to feel the need to lecture pax on "safety," pull passive-aggressive stunts like refusing to drive until people do exactly as he says (like the "no bags in the seats" thing when the racks were full but the seats were not), and in general cop a bad attitude.

Am I just unlucky, or are they all like that?

unless things have changed, the bus system (like most of the airport) is part of the patronage process of maryland. simply having a bus arrive, and to be dropped off at the correct stop is more than one can hope for. a large number of the busses are parked in one lot that can be seen when looping the airport. these busses have drivers(or someone being paid to be a driver).

I avoid the whole thing by using off-airport parking like Preflight.
The drivers meet you at your car and I've always found them to be pleasant. It might add 4-5 minutes to your trip each direction, but if it avoids surly people it's worth it!

The title of the OP's post says it all. The answer is "yes."

I NEVER use BWI. The situation has to be as dire as both DCA and IAD being closed and somehow BWI is still open.

Once upon a time, if the ticket was significantly less than half the price from BWI vs. DCA/IAD AND also a savings of at least $200 RT, I would suck it up and use BWI. I always treated it like travel to a developing country. Trains and buses are late (if they arrive at all) and the service staff speak a foreign language. From that perspective, and a 3.5-hour window to get from downtown DC to the gate, with an iPod and some reading for distraction, BWI almost seems like a reasonable choice.

Same here and those drivers understand what customer service means. The 4-5 minutes drive time is more than made up by the time saved having them meet you at your car and the quick pickup time at the airport.

After having to fly out of IAD this past weekend, this pretty much sums up my feelings on that airport.

I must confess that the gate attendant once called the cops on me because the service was so bad I refused to pay. (I paid, called for refund, which never happened, either).

After two years of dealing with lousy supershuttle, I found myself parking in the daily lot. If nothing else, the ride from daily is so short the drivers and attendants have less opportunity to be surly.

However, I had a minor restoration of faith one dawn before christmas (maybe it was the season?). I was travelling with my >75 yo mother. The driver went out of her way to load my mother's luggage and make sure she was seated safely. She lowered the bus to make it easier for her to disembark. My mother tried to tip her; she refused. I was too busy pulling my jaw off the floor to intervene.

So, the answer is yes and no....

The bus drivers to the rental cars are awful!

I'll second that.

Airport Fast Park. Nice, reasonably friendly drivers, and normally just as cheap as the BWI parking. (free newspapers and water too). Most importantly, for this crowd, another Frequent Guest program with points to collect!

I always park longterm and have never had problems.

It seems the top 3 are:

Airport Fast Park
Econopark Express
Preflight

I have not used Airport Fastpark as I come from RT. 100 so Econopark & Preflight are more on the way for me. All seem to have the same level of good service and offer some type of program. Prices are also about the same. I have been using Preflight the past couple years and have been very happy with them. I also like that the lot is never 'full' for members.

Tried them out for the first time recently ... I have to give them a thumbs up. The shuttle pick up at your car was very nice, especially since it occured during a downpour. ^

Also save $1 / day using their internet coupon.

Second this comment. Have never had a problem using either of the two lots run by Airport Fast Park. In addition to their guest program, use the internet discount coupon almost always available.

Actually, with the internet coupons, the off-airport parking places are cheaper than the long-term parking lots and significantly cheaper than the daily garage. Econopark Express and Airport Fast Park are under $7/day. The BWI economy lots are $8/day and daily garage is $10.

Given the off-airport lots' speed of pickup and better customer service, I now consider anyone that parks anywhere else crazy (except if they're doing what I've done a few times, which is to park in the hourly garage and run for their flight because he is so late that any other option would mean DEFINITELY missing the flight! )