United concourse in DEN is of the DEVIL
 

Three times in the last 8 weeks, I have had to literally run anywhere from 40 to 50 gates to make (or usually miss) my connection. Who designed that concourse? Were they going for a Guiness world record for the longest uninterupted piece of carpet? The George Jetson moving sidewalks are nice, but there's 50 yards in between each one (I have had to run on those as well, trying hard not to knock over other folks).

When flying west of the Mississippi (and I have a choice of carriers), I don't think I will be flying United anymore - if I have to transfer in DEN. Until they devise some sort of tram or other transportation besides my two feet. This past week I was on my way to a funeral, and sweat clean through my suit. On the next flight, the A/C was not working!

Maybe we can make sure that whoever designed DEN doesn't get more work designing airport terminals. Maybe he could only afford a ruler, not a protractor to be able to draw ANGLES instead of STRAIGHT LINES!

(More info on me - I do workout 4-5 times a week, so it's not that I'm too soft for such a task - I just don't think it's a wise design)

How long are your layovers in DEN? Have irregular operations just eaten into them lately?

You ought to be able to get from one end to the other in 10-15 minutes.

I love DEN
 

Best shoe shine I've found. :D I try to add extra time into my connections just for a visit.

DEN is generally one of the best airports for connections as far as I'm concerned. That said, the new express gate area does add some considerable distance, though I still prefer it to taking the train over to the "A" gates. Is that what you're talking about - like going from B15 to B95? If so, I can kinda see the point. Within the main terminal though, I don't find the distances to be unreasonable at all.

No, casino/hotels in LAS are designed by the devil. Please....in order to get from the entrance to the rooms, you must travel thru 400+ yards of slot machines, making at least (4) 30 degree turns along the way.

DIA is simple. Large, but simple. Better to build big and have room for expansion/big planes than small and have to park planes on the tarmac for 30 min waiting for a free gate like happens in NYC.

Maybe they need those segways for customer use at each gate instead of the luggage carts? The walkways are wide, which I love. When idiot bring the carts on the walkways, you can still get around them.

You want devil terminals, go to LHR, or CDG. I must admit that AMS is great. It reminds me a BIT of DIA in it's size, but has som much more shopping. IF DIA opened up a StroopWaffel store, I wouldn't ever have to cross the pond. Well, and if UA had the KLM flight attendants based in DIA. who could ask for more than a coffee and a Stroopwaffel while looking at 1000's of 6 foot blondes!

I agree... DEN is one of the better U.S. airports, but still, no U.S. airport beats those you find abroad (HKG, SIN, KIX, MUC, KUL, etc...) :)

Ever been to the CID airport UA Skis? Simple, clean, easy parking, close gates, and a great model airplane museum (as well as one of the Wright Brother's report cards from their childhood in Iowa.) On a good day you can smell the high fructose corn syrup being roasted at the ADM plant a few miles north as well. Yummie!

Eat your heart out KUL!!

Heck, I love AMS - absolutely love it - for international connections. But if the definition of "of the DEVIL" is walking distances, AMS is about the 8th or 9th circle of hell, while DEN barely would hit the 2nd. ;)

But DEN is still waaaaaay better than ATL ;)

People, please...
 

I have three words for everybody:
I
A
D
Nothing else even comes close. Hands down, the worst of the worst in the entire world. Next to IAD, DEN is a walk in the park.
While at DEN, did you have to swerve and dodge around groups of people sitting on the floor in the hallways, like some displaced third-world refugees, because the gate areas are so tiny? No.
Did you encounter the surliest UA employees to be found anywhere in the system? (Yes, I hear you people who are shouting "LAX!" right now.) No.
Did the generally dilapidated and depressing terminal begin to suck the life out of you after just a few minutes inside? Probably not.
DEN ^
IAD :td: x 1000

This sounds very much like a guy who buys a new Lexus and then complains because there are "only" 8 cupholders.

DEN is a wonderful, efficient airport. Sure, there are smaller airports where you won't have to - heaven forbid - WALK 10-15 minutes to get around. Those smaller airports will also have no way for you to easily get from one city to another, because they won't have the proper number of flights.

While running through DEN a couple of years ago, I wondered just how many miles, or fraction thereof, I was running at over 5,000 ft altitude.

And that got me thinking: For all the millions of RDM or EQM miles that UA says I've "earned" over the years, the toughest miles I've ever traveled, and the ones I've earned the hard way, usually because of some UA screwup, are the ones running through DEN.

Ever since then I've kept modifying a proposal in my mind for UA to add 100 EQM/RDM to any itinerary with a connection. And if for any reason the connection time is reduced to less than what is "legal" then 1000 EQM/RDM would be added.

Won't ever happen, but it gives me something to think about when I'm scampering down the big hallway.

By the way, I think DEN is fairly well designed compared to other places. The Express gates are a rolling disaster. I really hate riding the train to the A gates.

Question: Anybody know how long DEN is from end to end?

If you want a looooonog walk try IAH. At least that was our experience when flying CO. :)

And UnitedSkies, how about starting another list of foreign airports starting with LHR? :D

Agree with the general sentiment that DEN is great for cxns. All airports have the potential for long walks. Just try connecting in LA from UX in T8 to one of those far-tip gates in T6. Now that's a "runner" for ya.

Also, I once had luck flagging down a golf cart for help in DEN. A year ago, mind you, buy the dude was cool with rushing me down there. And it turned out boarding hadn't even opened yet. :[