Which major US metropolitan airports still use buses to take passengers to the plane or require them to walk to the plane?

I remember walking to/from plane at SJC until new terminal was inaugurated. Then, I had a flight with COPA at LAX last year and we got bussed at the remote gate/bridge where we had to wait to board another 45 min.

As this topic pertains to US airports, we'll move this over to the USA forum. Thanks. /JY1024, TravelBuzz co-moderator

LAX has the remote gates that some of the international flights use; passengers take a bus from TBIT to them at boarding time.

Long Beach Airport (LGB) in California is a facility that still requires passengers to walk outside to the planes. The airport authority spent $136 million upgrading the main terminal, but decided to keep this antiquated method instead of installing indoor connections between the terminal and planes.

The lack of jet bridges is the main reason I avoid LGB. The worst flight I ever had was a red-eye from LGB to Fort Lauderdale. It was between Christmas and New Year's and a winter storm was hitting Southern California. Airline/airport staff were trying to keep passengers as dry as possible by loaning big umbrellas to walk from the terminal to the plane. Unfortunately, I got stuck outside just a few feet shy of the door. It was only 2-3 minutes, but I was soaked from my knees to my feet due to the wind and lack of a full-body trench coat. The umbrella simply wasn't enough protection.

Once inside, the Flight Attendent was mortified. She said they'd tried to get people into their seats to get us out of the rain, but people didn't comply. It was a miserable 5 hour flight.

American Eagle @ LAX also has a remote terminal that buses passengers from the AA terminal (4) to a regional connector terminal east of T8. Effectively quite similar to bussing to a plane.

SeaTac doesn't do this currently but just bought buses for job due to gate crowding. Look for it in the near future: http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/n...-buses-to.html

The days where a covered walkway is needed in Southern California are so incredibly few and far between. SNA has a few gates like this too. PLENTY of gates in European and Asian countries with FAR worse weather rely on uncovered airstairs for a large majority of flights. Major airports in Germany, UK, Africa and China all jump to mind from personal experience.

I far prefer it insofar as it's less claustrophobic and far more efficient loading/unloading if they are able to use the front and back stairs.

That's not particularly relevant to a discussion of "major US metropolitan airports [that] still use buses to take passengers to the plane or require them to walk to the plane".

Pedantry is alive and well!

SEA (that's in the US, right?) is adding bussing to their repertoire due to gate crowding. Certainly a far more wet climate than Southern California. I'm sorry you got a little wet that one time but for weather like we get here in the LA area, it's both a great cost saving measure that makes boarding a more pleasant experience (due to crowding and efficiency) when possible. Getting to walk on the tarmac is a rare treat these days. Enjoy it when you can!

I grew up in Southern California. I'm quite familiar with the weather.

Also, there's a huge difference between using a bus due to lack of gates and purposely choosing not to incorporate jet bridges into an airport modernization.

It's great that you find walking outside to board your plane. I don't...and I think I have a good reason why I don't. Being wet on a plane is not pleasant experience. As such, when other things are equal (price, schedule), I will avoid the possibility, however remote, that I'll have to go through that again.