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I also think a lot depends on what terminal you are in .... not all terminals are created equal ... personally, I love terminal 4 here in Phx ..... clean, modern looking, 4 different security points that can get you into the terminal ... enough options for food/drink/etc
I'd agree with this. Phoenix Terminal 4 can be pretty crowded but it is pretty clean, new, and has a larger selection of food than most.
I'm trying to think of a bad one... there is one in JFK (I think terminal 1) where the entrance area is far too small so the security line is just kind of jammed over to the left and sometimes spills past where you can a line forms. Last time I was there they had spider-like system of hoses collecting drips from the ceiling, that was neat.
Just be careful of what toilet you use. I wasn't overjoyed about using the "stradling a hole" method, stainless steal or not.
Best is when a toilet is at the end of a little rickety boardwalk that sits over the local river. Usually the same river in town where restaurants wash their dishes, kids swim in, fish pulled from, etc.
Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by annerk
Several problems with MCO--the main Orlando airport.
1. The majority of the food and shopping is located outside of the sterile concourse. So once you're through security that's it.
2. Speaking of security, it's terrible in Orlando. Lines can be almost an hour long, many TSA are surly to the point that someday one of them is just going to get the snot kicked out of them by someone who is fed up with them while other passengers clap.
3. It can take well over 45 minutes for luggage to come off the plane and onto the carousel, and that's if there isn't a work stop due to lightning in the area. If that happens you can wait up to 90 minutes.
They could fix most of the problems by moving the security check points so that the sterile concourse included the shops and restaurants. The problem is the hotel entry is from the main terminal, so they would have to rework that.
I would have to say that MCO was a very disappointing airport when I visited for precisely the reasons you laid out ... I felt the luggage carousel was not large enough to accommodate the number of passengers that travel through that airport. The food options were pathetic ... at least within the American terminal and they do need to redesign the airport to allow travelers to have more options inside the secured area. I don't recall my TSA experience so I guess that wasn't too bad.
Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slackjaw
Best is when a toilet is at the end of a little rickety boardwalk that sits over the local river. Usually the same river in town where restaurants wash their dishes, kids swim in, fish pulled from, etc.
I would have to say that MCO was a very disappointing airport when I visited for precisely the reasons you laid out ... I felt the luggage carousel was not large enough to accommodate the number of passengers that travel through that airport. The food options were pathetic ... at least within the American terminal and they do need to redesign the airport to allow travelers to have more options inside the secured area. I don't recall my TSA experience so I guess that wasn't too bad.
Are you sure you're remembering the same airport? The luggage carousels are huge. American doesn't have it's own terminal, in fact overall they are a fairly small presence at MCO. The dominant airlines there are Southwest and Airtran--once the merger is complete they will have about 35% of the total daily air traffic at MCO!
Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by annerk
Are you sure you're remembering the same airport? The luggage carousels are huge. American doesn't have it's own terminal, in fact overall they are a fairly small presence at MCO. The dominant airlines there are Southwest and Airtran--once the merger is complete they will have about 35% of the total daily air traffic at MCO!
This was in 2008, I flew into MCO via Delta and all I could remember was the huge crowd and the small luggage carousel. I remember thinking to myself about how inadequate the space was for an airport that caters to so many travelers. I flew out via American (long story) and was amazed at how limited the food selections were in the terminal plus it seemed that some construction was taking place as the terminal was plain ugly.
Several problems with MCO--the main Orlando airport.
1. The majority of the food and shopping is located outside of the sterile concourse. So once you're through security that's it.
2. Speaking of security, it's terrible in Orlando. Lines can be almost an hour long, many TSA are surly to the point that someday one of them is just going to get the snot kicked out of them by someone who is fed up with them while other passengers clap.
3. It can take well over 45 minutes for luggage to come off the plane and onto the carousel, and that's if there isn't a work stop due to lightning in the area. If that happens you can wait up to 90 minutes.
They could fix most of the problems by moving the security check points so that the sterile concourse included the shops and restaurants. The problem is the hotel entry is from the main terminal, so they would have to rework that.
I'm use to lax. I'd rank, lax maybe a 3, orlando maybe a 7. I liked the cinnabon in orlando. And it generally seemed pretty efficient...never had to wait for the tram. I've gone in january, when tourism is pretty light. Its worst in the summer?
I dont like the security anywhere. *Very* big brotherish and orwellian. I was in Philadelphia last year. Looked like 1940 Germany!! Six "guards" standing around. Checking "zee papers". Its so weird. I dont trust any of them.
I'm suprised there isn't more protest against the TSA at airports. They're the worst thing thats happened to this country in the last 25 years.
Location: The Chatterdome in La La Land, CaliFUNia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John23
I'm use to lax. I'd rank, lax maybe a 3, orlando maybe a 7. I liked the cinnabon in orlando. And it generally seemed pretty efficient...never had to wait for the tram. I've gone in january, when tourism is pretty light. Its worst in the summer?
You were fortunate that you flew into MCO during a non-peak period ... I think summer, Christmas time and Spring Break would be a different story.
Even though I live much closer to O'hare and the same distance to Milwaukee's Mitchell Field, I like Chicago-Midway. Most of the tome, I can deplane and be at my car at Midway Park and Ride (2 miles north) within thirty minutes. At O'Hare, it would take at least an hour.
This was in 2008, I flew into MCO via Delta and all I could remember was the huge crowd and the small luggage carousel. I remember thinking to myself about how inadequate the space was for an airport that caters to so many travelers. I flew out via American (long story) and was amazed at how limited the food selections were in the terminal plus it seemed that some construction was taking place as the terminal was plain ugly.
The food in the airsides (not the terminal) has always been a problem, although it's getting better each year.
There has never really been an issue with carousels not being large enough--I guess that's a perception thing for you. There are many airports with much smaller and more crowded carousels and baggage claim areas--SFO and BDL come to mind.
There has been construction ongoing for a number of years, some due to the significant damage from Hurricane Charley (which tore a good part of the roof off airside B in the gates 1-59 area) and some due to ongoing improvements and updates.
Most people find the MCO terminal to be attractive. While it's not going to win any awards in my opinion, it's definitely better looking than most.
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