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Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

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Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Brenthoven said:
For real? Obviously I don't travel as much as many of you here, and they had their sh* on point every time I've been through there. I'll give you long lines, but they make them MOVE, unlike MSP, IMO. MSP really means 2 hours lead time. At DEN (DIA, thanks for the info) I probably could have shown up 30 min before my flight and have been fine.
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I walked into DEN (DIA) at 4:15AM Thursday morning (at rental car place at 4:00AM), showed up at my gate while my 6:00AM was mid-boarding. No extra stops along the way.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

I have TSA Pre and Clear, and there's a reason one of Clear's first installations was at DEN. The Pre lines there have gotten really long on peak travel days (Mon, Thurs, Fri), to the point they're almost as bad as the regular lines.

DEN's problem is they have that one central checkpoint in the middle of the landside terminal, and they've outgrown it during peak times.

Having the 'A'-line rail straight to downtown and beyond for 9 bucks is convenient AF though. I love not dealing with taxis or Uber when I don't have to.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
I have TSA Pre and Clear, and there's a reason one of Clear's first installations was at DEN. The Pre lines there have gotten really long on peak travel days (Mon, Thurs, Fri), to the point they're almost as bad as the regular lines.

DEN's problem is they have that one central checkpoint in the middle of the landside terminal, and they've outgrown it during peak times.

Having the 'A'-line rail straight to downtown and beyond for 9 bucks is convenient AF though. I love not dealing with taxis or Uber when I don't have to.
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I think I'm going to sign up for Clear. I get a discount with my Medallion status. Think its worth it.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

bigblue_dl said:
I think I'm going to sign up for Clear. I get a discount with my Medallion status. Think its worth it.
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Depends on what airports you frequent. Not really worth it at DTW unless you regularly fly out on Monday mornings, but a big help at ATL, LAX, DEN, AUS, etc. Not sure it would be a big help at MSP, as I've flown out of there several times on late Thursday afternoons, and rarely waited more than 5 minutes to step up to the agent.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
Depends on what airports you frequent. Not really worth it at DTW unless you regularly fly out on Monday mornings, but a big help at ATL, LAX, DEN, AUS, etc. Not sure it would be a big help at MSP, as I've flown out of there several times on late Thursday afternoons, and rarely waited more than 5 minutes to step up to the agent.
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MSP can be very hit or miss. I've shown up when I expect busy (Monday morning) and its a 5 minute line, and Ive shown up when it should be dead, with a long as **** line. I'd get it just to have the reassurance that I can show up an hour before, instead of 2. Since now, I always show up 2 hours before and 1 time out of 10 I actually need to.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

I'm spoiled, Tampa is a really good airport. Nashville is pretty good, BHM is easy in/out, but not much to kill any waits.

I've just got TSA pre and Southwest's fly-by. I usually show up 1h15m to 1.5 hours before just about anywhere I fly out of domestic, never had an issue.

Death to all NYC airports, none of them have a redeeming quality.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
PHL is bad, but not as bad as everyone thinks - it's just old and has narrow concourses. BOS is okay if you're going out of Terminal A (Delta, SWA, a couple others), and presumably JetBlue's terminal is nice (I'll find out in October). The United & American terminals were horrible the last time I went through them.
DCA was a lot better than I thought it would be. MIA is awful.
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BOS isn't bad in Terminal C. We flew out and back there this past weekend. There's a few places to eat, plenty of outlets. I've definitely been in worse.
Kepler said:
All three DC airports are fine, though DCA is a b-tch to get to.
LGA is where happiness goes to die.
PDX is my favorite airport because it's so stupid.
RDU used to be a wonderful airport but that was a huge renovation ago so they probably ruined it.
ALB is still the easiest airport I've been to. Even with all the Forever War sh-t you can still drive right up, walk into ticketing and be at your gate in 5 minutes.
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DCA was nice for the weekend where we were in Arlington, it was super-convenient to the cemetery and that area. It was nice to use the Metro to get there in '09 for the FF -- not sure that would be a great thing to do now.

Scarlet said:
Once you’re inside JetBlue’s terminal at Logan Airport, it’s great. The area outside both arrivals and departures is a nightmare. Way too small.
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Ugh -- agreed. Congested, small, and a pain to navigate. We ran through 2 of the rings to chase down our bus back to NH on Tuesday. What a crap show.


MCO is one of my least favorite airports for security. You would think with Disney nearby that airport security could take a lesson in queue-ing and organization. It's a complete nightmare every time we go and most of the time, it really isn't the fault of the travelers. Like MIA, It also has a "welcome to FLA" toll right outside the airport.

Should any of you have a need to come to NH, MHT is lovely (it's tiny -- 14 gates), but has plenty of dining and a breeze through security.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

hockeyplayer1015 said:
I'm spoiled, Tampa is a really good airport. Nashville is pretty good, BHM is easy in/out, but not much to kill any waits.
I've just got TSA pre and Southwest's fly-by. I usually show up 1h15m to 1.5 hours before just about anywhere I fly out of domestic, never had an issue.
Death to all NYC airports, none of them have a redeeming quality.
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Tampa was nice and BNA was really nice (and super convenient for an emergency last year).
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

bostonewe said:
Tampa was nice and BNA was really nice (and super convenient for an emergency last year).
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They're still doing upgrades at TPA, it's nicer and nicer every time I come back from work.

I agree with you about the security CF at Orlando seemingly every time. The few times I've flown out of there has been a circus.
 
burd said:
I wonder about places like Tel Aviv or Beirut. They aren't huge like ATL, but they must be extremely careful there.
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I'll let you know about Tel Aviv in a week. I'm not sure which of the four airports servicing Milan I'll go to after that, but once I know I'll post it as well.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

bigblue_dl said:
I think I'm going to sign up for Clear. I get a discount with my Medallion status. Think its worth it.
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I've considered getting Global Entry and Clear (Clear probably wouldn't be worth it though since we don't have it here in IND). MSP moved the employee line again, and now I hear they're not letting non-uniformed employees through it. I actually had to wait in line on Sunday. It was horrible. I really hope we can become eligible for KCM.

IND's security lines are usually pretty good. The only problem I have with them is they aren't consistent with their procedures. Last Friday when I flew back to MSP they were only taking Pre-Check and KCM through the A side and everyone else had to go through the B side. The time before that, you could go through either. It's not the end of the world, except I don't know which is being used until I get to the A checkpoint (which is, in reality, a minor inconvenience).

TPA is a really nice airport, but sucks if you're a non-rev who can fly multiple carriers. You pretty much have to pick one and go with it. :p

I personally like MIA, but have admittedly never been outside security.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

I’m going to probably get Precheck since my credit card now pays for it. Not sure I need global entry but they pay for that as well.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

bigblue_dl said:
I think I'm going to sign up for Clear. I get a discount with my Medallion status. Think its worth it.
Click to expand...
I hate clear with an absolute passion!
I'm not paying for something that i should get for free. Especially i'm not paying to get something that I do get for free most of the time and once in a while could use help in.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

The places I have had the worst luck in security are: Maui, Dulles, Boston, Madrid. The places where security is generally ok, Detroit, LHR, Zagreb, usually Amsterdam.
Everything else is average for me.
As far as clearing customs. it really depends on where in the stream your flight arrives. 10 minutes makes a huge difference. Global entry sometimes helps but most of the time it doesn't matter all that much and might save you 6 or 8 minutes. IMHO Atlanta is the worst AP in the US. JFK is usually fairly quick.
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Mookie stayed out of the lounge today in heathrow. The beers and gins offered are abundant and amazing. If there was a hotel IN terminal five and open 24/7 mookie would consider it
 
Re: Travel Part 3: Destination Unknown

Going into Bangkok from the in-laws place. See some friends and get some boat noodles, barbecue chicken and sticky rice. Will watch the early WC game from a packed bar, come back and pack for a trip to the beach.
 
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