Throwback airports
 

Not sure if throwback is the right term, maybe un-modern, outdated, or old fashioned is better, but anyway, as I was passing through Berlin Tegel (TXL) yesterday (for the first time ever) I thought to myself, you've got to be kidding - for a major city in this day and time, this is, unbelievable.

I'm trying to be diplomatic as there are probably some citizens of Berlin who
will miss this place when the new airport opens, but for me I'm certainly glad it's not my home airport. Looks like it was built in 1960 and never updated since. I landed on a flight from IST and our bags were co-mingled on one belt with a flight from Beijing, all in a postcard sized room with one small exit manned by two or three agents. It was more chaos than I want to see again any time soon.

Any other culture shock airports out there in major cities? I know folks will complain about MIA but at least some of the terminals are relatively modern.

Yes communist era airports in former communist countries - I think you will find many (not all) to be similar.

SVO-2, if you fly into the old terminal (SU's flights are now moved to a newer one, but plenty of hapless airlines are still stuck in the original hellhole). It was built for the 1980 Olympics and has never had anything more than very minor cosmetic improvements.

*shudders* Thank you God I was transferred and don't have to pass through Shitemetyevo ever again.

LOL. Had to look it up as I've, thankfully, never had to fly there.

"Flights to cities in Russia and charter flights arrive and depart from Sheremetyevo-1. There is no physical connection between the two terminal complexes; they are essentially separate airports using the same set of runways."

You'll be glad to know that TXL closes on the 2nd June.

Yes, I'm actually glad I got to see it before it closes.

All of LGA with that drab and distressed 70s look. Let things sit long enough and it becomes chic again.

Except you can't blame communism for the suckyness of Tegel. It's the airport of former West Berlin. :D

Yeah, you can blame the western Allies :D

Lagos!!!

When you arrive...the damp sweaty smell, the general run down nature of the place, the queue's for passport and baggage, the customs guards and yellow fever certificate checkers who often demand money and the hastle you get when you leave the terminal building.

When you leave...the 3 - 5 hour drive to the airport, the people who check you suitcases before you drop them at check in who habitually ask you if they can keep something (in my case they have asked for books, dvd's, toothpaste and even chewing gum). Then the torturous queue for passport control (with the steady stream of people passing you who have bribed officials to jump the queue), the poor quality lounges and that damp smell of sweat again.

It's a very special place !!

LAX :D

Gander, Newfoundland (YQX) has pretty much not changed since the 1960s.

DCA Terminal A. Hasn't changed in at least 20 years, probably longer. And this is the airport that, to many, represents our nation's capital.

WAW. Low ceilings, lots of gray walls, LOTS of remote stands. In fairness, I hear the airport is scheduled for a makeover.

DTW in the pre-McNamara days.

Throwback in a good way ... SBA.