joshwex90

Where did you get that? I have seen luggage carts for $$$ at EWR, JFK, MIA, and others

Kacee

Not at SFO int'l arrivals. They are free for arriving international pax. This is a welcome amenity paid for by the airport commission. Pay in domestic.

joshwex90

Only ever arrived domestic but figured it was the same setup. Corrected. But still have seen at JFK and MIA (and I'm sure other airports, just never actively looked)

LaserSailor

The Immigration and Customs are GE friendly, but the re-check has no Premier, GE, PreCheck or any other line - its communist class except for flight crew.

I did see a DYKWIA take the flight crew line this week, walk past 6 layer of snake and then try to join the re-check line near the security - and people called him on it, and, to their credit, TSA sent him back.

allergictocoach

I vote IAD. If not only for the fact that it has a lot more flight capacity during poor weather. Once you've cleared CBP, your onward flight has a lot better chance of leaving on time at IAD. Multiple runways with adequate IFR spacing allows things to keep moving at IAD when they would grind to halt at EWR.

gpicur

Josh, the last time I arrived at MIA International Baggage Claim (May 2010) the baggage carts were free.

Generally it is the prevaling practice for world class airports to provide arriving international passengers with free baggage trolleys. I have arrived at the International Arrivals Sections at BOS, ATL, IAD, SFO, ORD, DEN and EWR and only EWR charges arriving INTERNATIONAL passengers for the baggage carts. My experience is that None of the International hubs in Europe: FRA, LHR, MUC, MXP, BUD, VIE, ZRH, GVA, Africa: CAI, ADD, JNB, NBO or Asia: DXB, AUH, KWI, BAH, DMM, NRT, BKK, KHI, ISB, DEL, KTM and MCT charge arriving INTERNATIONAL passengers for baggage trolleys.

If you think about it, it reflects poorly on a community to jack up arriving international visitors for using a baggage trolley.

Kacee

When SFO's new international terminal opened, they initially charged for carts. It became a public issue . . . Herb Caen rallied for free carts and then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein ordered they be put in.

joshwex90

I agree that baggage carts should be free. Especially international where you're forced to use them if you have a lot of luggage. In theory, when landing domestic, someone can meet you there and help you.
And I don't recall ever seeing carts cost money outside the USA, at least not in LHR, FCO, BCN, MAD, TLV, ORY, ZRH, BRU, and the myriad of other airports I've used in Europe.

No argument on that front!

I'm simply saying that EWR isn't the only one in the USA that charges international arriving pax for the use of luggage carts (tacky as it might be). JFK does (I believe also SmartCarte) and MIA does, at least the last time I was there which was after 2010. This certainly implies that's still the case: http://www.miami-airport.com/services_and_amenities.asp and this implies that the system did indeed change from being free to costing $5: https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.h...&f=5&t=1506322

When departing EWR, they cost money as well though they are generally free in the parking lot as people don't return them.

Stupid system, but not the only one in the US. No idea what the setup is at IAD