What makes a bad airport?
Jun 5, 2010, 4:29 am
#91
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
EDI lacks "bag re-check" and an airside security checkpoint to route connecting international passengers back onto the concourse. This is particularly stupid given that the UK (as evidenced by LHR) ordinarily would not require a transiting, carry-on-only passenger to go anywhere near immigration, international bag claim, customs or "bag re-check," because they aren't entering the country. But at EDI, they manage to have a process that's even worse than the US. 
In the USA you pick up your baggage at the point of entry, take it through customs and then check it again.
In Europe bags are checked through to one's final destination, with no need to collect and re-check en route.
What you should have done is ask CO to check your bag to your final destination. They would almost certainly have done this (assuming this was in their Skyteam days). They did it for me some years ago when I was connecting CO to KL on separate itineraries. All I had to do was show them my onward reservation.
Jun 5, 2010, 6:33 am
#92
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,928
My huge peeve is the opposite--TVs everywhere blasting CNN's airport channel, or some other inanity, impossible to escape. The noise level at some airports is positively poisonous. I am always trying to get as far from the cacophony as possible, which usually means that I'm stuck sitting 200 yards from my gate.
Jun 6, 2010, 10:59 am
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: DL SkyClub Lifer
Posts: 10,000
What you should have done is ask CO to check your bag to your final destination. They would almost certainly have done this (assuming this was in their Skyteam days). They did it for me some years ago when I was connecting CO to KL on separate itineraries. All I had to do was show them my onward reservation.
Jun 6, 2010, 11:29 am
#95
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: MCO
Programs: DL-DM/1MM, HILTON-DIA, .HYATT-DIA/GLOB , IHG-PLT,HERTZ 5*, NATIONAL ES
Posts: 8,691
Jun 6, 2010, 1:08 pm
#96
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,409
Airports that use buses, whether between plane and terminal instead of jetways or between terminals/concourses, whether alndside or airside. I want the entire airport to be connected indoors, with heat and air conditioning, and ideally walkable (wide moving sidewalks are even better) so that one can run for a flight rather than being forced to wait for a train or whatever or to go up and down stairs (even a few steps, given that most of us use wheeled luggage) without both escalators and elevators.
Airports that lack elite facilities that I can use: lounges (at least Priority Pass accessible from all gates, airside with restrooms and showers), priority security, and priority check in lines for my airline.
Airports that lack elite facilities that I can use: lounges (at least Priority Pass accessible from all gates, airside with restrooms and showers), priority security, and priority check in lines for my airline.
Jun 6, 2010, 1:34 pm
#97
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: CO-Gold
Posts: 127
Definitely +1! At so many airports, the gas stations aren't all that far away, but they are PAST the airport, or on a side street off the freeway. You have to wander in the neighborhood quite a bit to find them, unless you've been to that airport before and learned where they are. A list from the rental agencies - even if the gas is obscenely expensive - would go a long way toward saving time when you are returning.
Add TPA, SJC, SLC, MKE, YYV to THAT list.
Add TPA, SJC, SLC, MKE, YYV to THAT list.
Jun 7, 2010, 9:04 am
#98
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: united, american, alaska
Posts: 1,782
does IAD come close to a bad airport ? arrive at gate , take the bus that rises up & down , arrive at immagration , baggage claim , customs
if a flight arrived before your,s it is either 50 minutes or 2 hours plus !
this is the airport of the capital of the USA .
little has changed since 1984 ! & i never used to be grey !
if a flight arrived before your,s it is either 50 minutes or 2 hours plus !
this is the airport of the capital of the USA .
little has changed since 1984 ! & i never used to be grey !
Jun 7, 2010, 9:13 am
#99
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: united, american, alaska
Posts: 1,782
It's not actually rail, but the Silver Line bus rapid transit to BOS works pretty well and is, in fact, at least as convenient as the Blue Line for most of the places I go to in the Boston area. You can get it right at the terminal and connect to the Red Line (to Cambridge, for example) or to commuter rail at South Station.
Jun 7, 2010, 9:50 am
#100
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,098
Definitely +1! At so many airports, the gas stations aren't all that far away, but they are PAST the airport, or on a side street off the freeway. You have to wander in the neighborhood quite a bit to find them, unless you've been to that airport before and learned where they are. A list from the rental agencies - even if the gas is obscenely expensive - would go a long way toward saving time when you are returning.
Add TPA, SJC, SLC, MKE, YYV to THAT list.
Add TPA, SJC, SLC, MKE, YYV to THAT list.
Jun 7, 2010, 9:55 am
#101
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Boston MA
Programs: Delta Platinum, Delta Million Miler,Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, Delta Sky Club
Posts: 663
This might be asking a bit too much - but how about 24 hour gas stations near the airport? It really is my fault if I don't fill up the night before an early flight, but I've certainly forgotten a few times. CMH comes to mind recently.
Jun 7, 2010, 9:57 am
#102
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Boston MA
Programs: Delta Platinum, Delta Million Miler,Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, Delta Sky Club
Posts: 663
It's not actually rail, but the Silver Line bus rapid transit to BOS works pretty well and is, in fact, at least as convenient as the Blue Line for most of the places I go to in the Boston area. You can get it right at the terminal and connect to the Red Line (to Cambridge, for example) or to commuter rail at South Station.
Even if you prefer to take the T, its a pretty short (free) bus ride up to the Blue line and the buses do run quite often.
Jun 7, 2010, 5:10 pm
#103
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: MEL
Programs: QF, VA, VN, BA, SQ, KC - all reds and blues.
Posts: 3,205
This is true. It's because EDI is not designed to be an international hub airport and it is unusual for people to use it as a hub. EDI has a single departure area for both international departures and domestic arrivals/departures. If you were airside in that area, you would easily be able to walk out of the airport and onto the street. That's why you have to clear immigration on arrival. However, in my experience EDI is very tolerant of people cutting queues when they are late for a flight. Some people abuse this tolerance.
Jun 7, 2010, 10:43 pm
#104
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
What makes a bad airport.. I would say, the cleanliness, whether its renovated.. is there enough restaurants that would keep prices competitive.. which country is it residing (i.e. the one in Cuba when we were vacationing felt like a military prison, especially when it was time to pay for the departure taxes).. etc.