Random Travel thoughts...
Oct 17, 2001 | 1:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: East Orange, NJ
Posts: 326
Random Travel thoughts...
I never get tired of visiting New York City.
Washington, DC is a great, pretty capitol city.
Calling Dulles a "Washington" airport is a
stretch. It's waaaaaay to far out!
What's up with those goofy people movers at Dulles airport? They lumber around looking like tipsy giants. They look so out of place and inefficient. Someone PLEASE tell me they're building a tram, train, monorail, or something!
LaGuardia has got to be the smallest major airport.
No, wait! Washington National (sorry I just can't call it Reagan) has got to be the smallest major airport!
The best place to view National Airport from is the military base across the river (bring binoculars). Unfortunately, you can only get in as a guest of the military if you're not in the military. I went on a company picnic there. Come to think of it, I wonder if they are still allowing civilian access in light of recent events.
What's up with United Airlines blue and gray color scheme? (civil war motif?) Who thought that looked good?
Ditto MetroJet with that gaudy red top, gray underbelly, and blue tail. Let's not even SPEAK of Southwest's color scheme! CO and AA are nice. NW and Delta are OK. USAir, try again! Airtran: Love that big A!
I can't remember the last time I flew American.
I can't decide which regional jet I like better, the CanadAir or the Embraer.
Wait! Isn't Chicago Midway the smallest major airport?
Mac
p.s. I'd love to hear all you guys' random travel thoughts.
------------------
Viaja con Dios!
Washington, DC is a great, pretty capitol city.
Calling Dulles a "Washington" airport is a
stretch. It's waaaaaay to far out!
What's up with those goofy people movers at Dulles airport? They lumber around looking like tipsy giants. They look so out of place and inefficient. Someone PLEASE tell me they're building a tram, train, monorail, or something!
LaGuardia has got to be the smallest major airport.
No, wait! Washington National (sorry I just can't call it Reagan) has got to be the smallest major airport!
The best place to view National Airport from is the military base across the river (bring binoculars). Unfortunately, you can only get in as a guest of the military if you're not in the military. I went on a company picnic there. Come to think of it, I wonder if they are still allowing civilian access in light of recent events.
What's up with United Airlines blue and gray color scheme? (civil war motif?) Who thought that looked good?
Ditto MetroJet with that gaudy red top, gray underbelly, and blue tail. Let's not even SPEAK of Southwest's color scheme! CO and AA are nice. NW and Delta are OK. USAir, try again! Airtran: Love that big A!
I can't remember the last time I flew American.
I can't decide which regional jet I like better, the CanadAir or the Embraer.
Wait! Isn't Chicago Midway the smallest major airport?
Mac
p.s. I'd love to hear all you guys' random travel thoughts.
------------------
Viaja con Dios!
Oct 17, 2001 | 3:15 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2001
Location: ATL
Programs: FL, AA, DL
Posts: 663
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by macbravery:
What's up with those goofy people movers at Dulles airport?</font>
What's up with those goofy people movers at Dulles airport?</font>
From the Dulles web site: "Mobile lounges and Plane Mates offer a unique service which transports passengers between the Main Terminal and the concourses and to planes parked on the jet apron mile away. The 19 mobile lounges are 18 ft. high, 15 feet wide, 54 feet long and weigh 76,500 pounds. The 30 Plane Mates are 15 ft. high, 15 ft. wide, 54 ft. long and weigh 79,300 pounds."
I'm waiting for them to start serving drinks, myself. Who needs an airport club membership with the mobile lounges?
Oct 17, 2001 | 8:16 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 2,098
San Francisco International Airport is really in Burlingame, CA, several miles south of The City.
Key West has the smallest airport I've ever flown into.
My favorite place to view takeoffs and landings from National Airport is at the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Arlington, VA located on the 11th floor at 2231 Crystal Drive.
Key West has the smallest airport I've ever flown into.
My favorite place to view takeoffs and landings from National Airport is at the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Arlington, VA located on the 11th floor at 2231 Crystal Drive.
Oct 17, 2001 | 9:42 pm
#4
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
idlewilde [sp] has really gotten to be a mess!..... edit to add san francisco & sydney are my top 2 places for views.
[This message has been edited by clacko (edited 10-17-2001).]
[This message has been edited by clacko (edited 10-17-2001).]
Oct 18, 2001 | 6:37 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 53
They are building an underground subway system out to the other two terminals at Dulles. The construction has been going on for over a year now, and I can't see where they are making much progress. The mobile lounges, as they are called, were the latested thing when the airport opened up in the late 60's. People used to just come out to the airport to ride them. They used to hook right up to the door of the airplane. Funny how odd they seem now. Smallworld
[This message has been edited by smallworld (edited 10-19-2001).]
[This message has been edited by smallworld (edited 10-19-2001).]
Oct 18, 2001 | 10:59 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: East Orange, NJ
Posts: 326
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by clacko:
[B]idlewilde [sp] has really gotten to be a mess!..... edit to add san francisco & sydney are my top 2 places for views.
B]</font>
[B]idlewilde [sp] has really gotten to be a mess!..... edit to add san francisco & sydney are my top 2 places for views.
B]</font>
By Idlewild, do you mean the former name for what is now Kennedy Airport in NYC?
Mac
------------------
Viaja con Dios!
Oct 20, 2001 | 5:58 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Nashua, NH USA
Programs: Seashore Trolley Museum "flight attendant"
Posts: 2,015
"Wiki wiki" means "quick" or "hurry" in Hawaiian. At HNL they have this tram called the Wiki Wiki Bus. Unfortunately it is usually quicker to walk to your gate than go upstairs, wait for the Wiki Wiki Bus and ride.
So the Wiki Wiki Bus is not very wiki wiki.
By the way, when I was last at Dulles several years ago, waiting for one of the mobile lounges to arrive to take me to the gate concourse seemed like an eternity, compared with Orlando Airport where the shuttle tram comes every three minutes or so.
I rate airports for the quality of ground public transportation to downtown.
Grade A: Has subway or other transit not encumbered by auto traffic, examples: Cleveland, Chicago, (Boston is A- because of short bus link to subway station at airport exit)
Grade B: Has city bus service, examples: San Francisco, Seattle, (Honolulu is B- because you are not supposed to bring baggage on the bus)
Grade C: Only taxis and limos. Example as of when I last visited several years ago: Detroit, Pittsburgh.
No rating if the city itself doesn't have public transit.
More travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm
[This message has been edited by AllanJ (edited 10-20-2001).]
[This message has been edited by AllanJ (edited 10-20-2001).]
So the Wiki Wiki Bus is not very wiki wiki.
By the way, when I was last at Dulles several years ago, waiting for one of the mobile lounges to arrive to take me to the gate concourse seemed like an eternity, compared with Orlando Airport where the shuttle tram comes every three minutes or so.
I rate airports for the quality of ground public transportation to downtown.
Grade A: Has subway or other transit not encumbered by auto traffic, examples: Cleveland, Chicago, (Boston is A- because of short bus link to subway station at airport exit)
Grade B: Has city bus service, examples: San Francisco, Seattle, (Honolulu is B- because you are not supposed to bring baggage on the bus)
Grade C: Only taxis and limos. Example as of when I last visited several years ago: Detroit, Pittsburgh.
No rating if the city itself doesn't have public transit.
More travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm
[This message has been edited by AllanJ (edited 10-20-2001).]
[This message has been edited by AllanJ (edited 10-20-2001).]
Oct 20, 2001 | 10:11 am
#8
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
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Posts: 17,927
OAK and SFO airports are about as close together (might even be closer) as some of the runways are to each other at DFW.
Oct 20, 2001 | 6:59 pm
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: AA GLD 1MM, UA PLT
Posts: 605
Yeah, and the time it takes to drive around DFW is about the same as the drive from SFO to OAK.
Chicago used to be a town where taking the train into downtown was 33 minutes and a cab was 90. Boston can be like that with the tunnel traffic. With Dallas and Denver, it is 35 minutes no matter what, because you have to go into another time zone.
The train-bus connection to SJC is not so bad. Too bad BART is not yet going to SFO.
Chicago used to be a town where taking the train into downtown was 33 minutes and a cab was 90. Boston can be like that with the tunnel traffic. With Dallas and Denver, it is 35 minutes no matter what, because you have to go into another time zone.
The train-bus connection to SJC is not so bad. Too bad BART is not yet going to SFO.
Oct 22, 2001 | 3:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 359
Dulles really is almost in West Virginia, I avoid it at all costs!
But I thin the best place to view National Airport is Gravelly Point, a little park right off the GW parkway as you head north from Reagan. Planes land or takeoff right over you.
But I thin the best place to view National Airport is Gravelly Point, a little park right off the GW parkway as you head north from Reagan. Planes land or takeoff right over you.
Oct 23, 2001 | 7:23 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 53
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by aqueouschief:
Dulles really is almost in West Virginia, I avoid it at all costs!
But I thin the best place to view National Airport is Gravelly Point, a little park right off the GW parkway as you head north from Reagan. Planes land or takeoff right over you.</font>
Dulles really is almost in West Virginia, I avoid it at all costs!
But I thin the best place to view National Airport is Gravelly Point, a little park right off the GW parkway as you head north from Reagan. Planes land or takeoff right over you.</font>
The problem for travelers from out of the area, is that connections can be a nightmare from National to Dulles. They are working on devising a railway connection from Dulles to National as part of the subway/Metro. Who knows when, tho. Every decision around here takes a quorum and there never is a quorum available at any one time!!!!!!!!!! Politics!! Bah humbug. Smallworld
Oct 23, 2001 | 12:20 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: GRR
Programs: DL MM & FO, HH Diamond
Posts: 583
Random thoughts from trips to LA:
...Wouldn't you hate to be a server at the Telepathy Restaurant?
...Overheard two valley girls looking at shoes, saying "those are really tight". I mean, how did they know without trying them on?
...How did Ozone Ct. get its name?
...You know it's all marketing when the most successful roadside beggar you have seen works a sign that reads "Blonde, Please Help"
...And then there is the receptionist who is unlucky enough to work at "One More Spa Store".
...The Museum of Tolerance? Man, I've had it up to here with that crap.
...How much more expense account business would they see if their name wasn't "Thai Porn Restaurant"?
...Which freeway wreck reporter coined the term, "Car-b-Que"?
And this was a slow day...
...Wouldn't you hate to be a server at the Telepathy Restaurant?
...Overheard two valley girls looking at shoes, saying "those are really tight". I mean, how did they know without trying them on?
...How did Ozone Ct. get its name?
...You know it's all marketing when the most successful roadside beggar you have seen works a sign that reads "Blonde, Please Help"
...And then there is the receptionist who is unlucky enough to work at "One More Spa Store".
...The Museum of Tolerance? Man, I've had it up to here with that crap.
...How much more expense account business would they see if their name wasn't "Thai Porn Restaurant"?
...Which freeway wreck reporter coined the term, "Car-b-Que"?
And this was a slow day...
Oct 28, 2001 | 6:38 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 77
Great topic! Here's my travel thoughts:
If you travel for business, I think you should be able to pick one airline that you will not, under any circumstances, be forced to fly.
I think that SLC is the easiest airport through which I've ever made a connection.
If the person booking your corporate travel doesn't understand why having a 35 minute connection time at ORD is a problem, then *you* have a problem (lets just say I missed connections both ways on one trip at ORD because of this).
Ditto if they don't understand the problem with a trip that leaves from DCA, and returns to IAD.
If I never have to connect again at CDG, I'll die a happy man.
If they're offering reasonable compensation for a bump, and you've got the time, take it.
Driving from Denver to Steamboat Springs in the snow because your flight was cancelled sucks.
Having to put my change through the X-ray machine at JFK was just dumb--what sort of terror weapon can I hide in a single 5p coin?
Gatwick must be the largest airport I've ever seen--judging by the amount of walking I did to get to immigration, the gates must be someplace in Wales.
I could get spoiled with Delta's BE seating.
Nobody in my family seems to understand flying to ANC for 10 hours just for the mileage.
My parents knew I'd have the "travel bug" when I gave up a chance to go to Disneyland for my third birthday, and chose to go to LAX to watch planes take off and land.
take care,
Scott
If you travel for business, I think you should be able to pick one airline that you will not, under any circumstances, be forced to fly.
I think that SLC is the easiest airport through which I've ever made a connection.
If the person booking your corporate travel doesn't understand why having a 35 minute connection time at ORD is a problem, then *you* have a problem (lets just say I missed connections both ways on one trip at ORD because of this).
Ditto if they don't understand the problem with a trip that leaves from DCA, and returns to IAD.
If I never have to connect again at CDG, I'll die a happy man.
If they're offering reasonable compensation for a bump, and you've got the time, take it.
Driving from Denver to Steamboat Springs in the snow because your flight was cancelled sucks.
Having to put my change through the X-ray machine at JFK was just dumb--what sort of terror weapon can I hide in a single 5p coin?
Gatwick must be the largest airport I've ever seen--judging by the amount of walking I did to get to immigration, the gates must be someplace in Wales.
I could get spoiled with Delta's BE seating.
Nobody in my family seems to understand flying to ANC for 10 hours just for the mileage.
My parents knew I'd have the "travel bug" when I gave up a chance to go to Disneyland for my third birthday, and chose to go to LAX to watch planes take off and land.
take care,
Scott