Top Airport Complaint
#46
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AAdvantage, Skymiles
Posts: 156
SInce I’m actively sweating....”The APU on this aircraft is not working” should be a standard announcement that causes the groups to be boarded in reverse order. PDB should then be issued at the gate.
Edit: APU is fine it’s the vent blower at DFW B42 that’s the problem. Good job to the flight crew for passing out water to everybody.
Last edited by mdkowals; Apr 24, 2018 at 1:36 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: near Nashville, TN USA
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 185
Lack of signs and few display screens.
LAX is an example. Getting from a domestic terminal to the international terminal should be clearly marked. I cannot imagine how nonEnglish speakers figure it out.
LAX is an example. Getting from a domestic terminal to the international terminal should be clearly marked. I cannot imagine how nonEnglish speakers figure it out.
#48
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
Lack of TSA PreCheck at SAN in the main terminal, after 5pm. Pretty major airport that acts like a small town airport. TSA sucks at this location, but I guess I'm spoiled with real TSA at pretty much every other airport of similar size.
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
On that note I've taken to calling T1 the LCC terminal, which seems fitting considering that AS is going to move to T2 soon.
#51
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
Is this the norm at SAN? I and many others were shocked. T2 PreCheck was still open per my colleague at the same time. I just SAN a message at how screwed up they are.
Last edited by COSPILOT; Apr 24, 2018 at 2:12 pm
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
I don't fly many late flights so I can't say for sure. I do remember that even if official PreCheck is closed you still get some of the benefits.
#53
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
Had PreCheck light for my departure, which means I pull liquids, computer, IPad. Third world airport experience. That and the crowded bus from car rental back to the terminal, like DEN and PHX. Another fail. My wife and I love San Diego, but typical California BS keeps us from moving.
Last edited by COSPILOT; Apr 24, 2018 at 2:43 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Had PreCheck light for my departure, which means I pull liquids, computer, IPad. Third world airport experience. That and the crowded bus from car rental back to the terminal, like DEN and PHX. Another fail. My wife and I love San Diego, but typical California BS keeps us from moving.
(Also, speaking of the third world, last time I flew through Mexico I didn't have to take anything out or go through millimeter wave scanners. This was a few years ago though.)
#55
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
In fairness, there's not exactly much in the way of better options for the car rental facility considering space constraints. At least the buses have their own private road for part of the way.
(Also, speaking of the third world, last time I flew through Mexico I didn't have to take anything out or go through millimeter wave scanners. This was a few years ago though.)
(Also, speaking of the third world, last time I flew through Mexico I didn't have to take anything out or go through millimeter wave scanners. This was a few years ago though.)
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
DFW is another one like that. When you arrive at a terminal, the master display screens showing what gates your connection is at can be very far away. There should be more of them, and not necessarily ONLY where the trams are.
#58
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
As I've traveled through a number of foreign countries I've been thankful that signs in English are common-- at least at the major airports. Elsewhere, picture-signs help a lot. But in the U.S. many of our major airports have text-only, English-only signs. And sometimes they're worded poorly enough that even native speakers can be confused trying to follow them. I feel for foreign visitors trying to navigate these airports to change terminals, find the taxi stand, etc.
#59
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 163
I think my main complaint about airports, especially in Europe is that they are specifically designed and setup to do nothing but rip off the passengers.
It's really amazing how you can be charged money for every little thing here but then go to airports like SIN or HKG and everything is either free or very cheap.
It's really amazing how you can be charged money for every little thing here but then go to airports like SIN or HKG and everything is either free or very cheap.
Other than the occasional duty free purchase I cannot remember the last time I spent anything at an airport... the only near exception was at Manchester Airport which charged 50p for 2 clear bags for liquids but then someone gave me one of theirs. We normally fly from LHR or occasionally LGW and there are no mandatory charges for anything and naturally use the lounges (either with priority pass, status or travel class) and so free food/drinks etc.
#60
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
How?
Other than the occasional duty free purchase I cannot remember the last time I spent anything at an airport... the only near exception was at Manchester Airport which charged 50p for 2 clear bags for liquids but then someone gave me one of theirs. We normally fly from LHR or occasionally LGW and there are no mandatory charges for anything and naturally use the lounges (either with priority pass, status or travel class) and so free food/drinks etc.
Other than the occasional duty free purchase I cannot remember the last time I spent anything at an airport... the only near exception was at Manchester Airport which charged 50p for 2 clear bags for liquids but then someone gave me one of theirs. We normally fly from LHR or occasionally LGW and there are no mandatory charges for anything and naturally use the lounges (either with priority pass, status or travel class) and so free food/drinks etc.
Premium fares for some forms of public transport.
Fees to drop off and pick up at the terminal.
Fees for Uber waiting areas (passed on to customer).
Premium location fees for car hire.
Inflated car parking prices.
Fees for shuttle buses that were previously free.
At-airport departure fees.
Artificially restricted main security to drive traffic to pay-at-airport premium security.
Cosy arrangements with "preferred" taxi companies (particularly when the airport is outside the main urban area it's serving).
Inflated post-security prices (especially for drinks).
LHR/LGW/LCY passengers are, to an extent, protected from this, as the airports aren't quite as LCC-heavy as elsewhere.