From WDW to DL With Love - January 06, 2011 part 2

[orlandothebeagle]

I liked LAX and Ive been to a few in my big old fat life

 

[Shoshie]

Like I said...there are other options!
And there are definitely worse airports. Just because it looks like it is stuck in the 60s doesn't make it a "hole"!

n soapbox:
I can only speak to the American terminal. I am totally spoiled by AA in Chicago (where it is a Hub), and AA in Orlando (where everything is better).
In LAX Terminal Four there are:

1) No coffee places in the luggage waiting area (actually nothing in the waiting area)

2) Not nearly enough seats in said area (I've often had to sit at the deserted rental car desks).


3) No separate security line for frequent flyers (yes we get a different escalator, but everything merges at the top).

4) Do we really need an On the Border AND Chilis? Talk about overkill.

5) Baggage claim takes so long at certain parts of the day that I can have a full meal at one of the above restaurants and would still be waiting for my bags.

LAX itself:
6) Poor design, which puts the VERY crowded SWA at Terminal one and clogs up everything in front of it.

7) Lanes that cut off at the arrivals level forcing people to merge in several times (I've seen way too many close calls for my liking).

Yes there are worse airports in the U.S., but given the number of people that fly into and out of Los Angeles, it should be better -- and continually remodeling the international terminal is like putting a bandage on an amputation.

ff soapbox:

 

[JenKatt]

I've flown in and out of LAX domestic and international. I HATED it everytime. I am spoiled, I was a Continental girl living in NJ and having Newark right there - talk about a very well thought out terminal. And between Tampa and Orlando, you really don't get much better than them for layout and the little things.
Now having said that, there are worse airports than LAX. LaGuardia and JFK are two. For as nice as Newark is, the other two suck. And there's not much you can do for either. It's location.
Atlanta stinks too. You can land at one end of the airport and your connecting gate be at the other.
SFO also stinks. It was the first airport I had the privledge of having to use a bus to get to the rental cars.
I don't mind smaller airports. My favorite airport was on Dunk Island in the Great Barrier Reef area of Australia. It's a tiki hut. You fly in on a airplane that seemingly has 12 seats for 13 passengers. The 13th seat is built into the door. I prayed that entire flight. But the tiki hut with the alcohol was awesome.
Frankfurt Germany is weird. One half of it is this great airport. The other half makes LAX/ SFO/ whatever look like the Ritz.
I just don't understand why LAX is so poorly laid out and looks so shoddy. For the amount of traffic that goes through it, it should have revenue to at least make it look nicer. It just seems like the airport authority knows that people HAVE to use it so why the heck bother making it work well or look nice. It needs the smaller airports in the area to start taking major business away and then you'll see LAX get nicer, not a moment before.
Anyways, once you fly into Tampa or Orlando, the rest of the airports have a lot to live up to.

 

[Shoshie]

I
Anyways, once you fly into Tampa or Orlando, the rest of the airports have a lot to live up to.

Amen!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

n soapbox:
I can only speak to the American terminal. I am totally spoiled by AA in Chicago (where it is a Hub), and AA in Orlando (where everything is better).
In LAX Terminal Four there are:

1) No coffee places in the luggage waiting area (actually nothing in the waiting area)

2) Not nearly enough seats in said area (I've often had to sit at the deserted rental car desks).


3) No separate security line for frequent flyers (yes we get a different escalator, but everything merges at the top).

4) Do we really need an On the Border AND Chilis? Talk about overkill.

5) Baggage claim takes so long at certain parts of the day that I can have a full meal at one of the above restaurants and would still be waiting for my bags.

LAX itself:
6) Poor design, which puts the VERY crowded SWA at Terminal one and clogs up everything in front of it.

7) Lanes that cut off at the arrivals level forcing people to merge in several times (I've seen way too many close calls for my liking).

Yes there are worse airports in the U.S., but given the number of people that fly into and out of Los Angeles, it should be better -- and continually remodeling the international terminal is like putting a bandage on an amputation.

ff soapbox:

I had to sit on the floor at LAX when waiting for my flight.
I like las vegas airport.
I have been to some real holes so I cant complain about any USA airport, should try Bulgaria for instancelol.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Actuall ,I hated heathrow, no seats there either, no where quiet to get some peace. Now Edinburgh airport is a nice little airport.

 

[Shoshie]

Actuall ,I hated heathrow, no seats there either, no where quiet to get some peace.

My goodness yes! Talk about packing them in!

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

Just popping in to say hello....

Welcome to those who have joined us! We have not yet booked our air..going to have to wait a bit ...will get there...

Just thought I would pop in and try and keep up on the postings!

Have a great day!

 

[Shoshie]

We have not yet booked our air..going to have to wait a bit ...will get there.

You better!

 

[disfaninca]

We flew into Miami a year and a half ago. That, in my opinion is a horrible airport. I was so grossed out by it. It was so dirty, it was in need of major work. I couldn't wait to get out of that airport. And on our flight home, security was not very strict at all. I would be afraid to fly out of that airport again.

 

[disfaninca]

Just popping in to say hello....

Welcome to those who have joined us! We have not yet booked our air..going to have to wait a bit ...will get there...

Just thought I would pop in and try and keep up on the postings!

Have a great day!

Hey Des!! Great to hear from you!!

 

[Aunt KatKat]

I don't mind smaller airports. My favorite airport was on Dunk Island in the Great Barrier Reef area of Australia. It's a tiki hut. You fly in on a airplane that seemingly has 12 seats for 13 passengers. The 13th seat is built into the door. I prayed that entire flight. But the tiki hut with the alcohol was awesome.

I flew into the San Juan islands off Seattle in a plane that was so small, they used the co-pilot seat for a customer seat. As part of his pre-flight spiel, the pilot told the passenger, "Don't touch ANYTHING!"


Katherine

 

[tinkryansmom]

I flew into the San Juan islands off Seattle in a plane that was so small, they used the co-pilot seat for a customer seat. As part of his pre-flight spiel, the pilot told the passenger, "Don't touch ANYTHING!"


Katherine

Thats hilarious!

 

[disfaninca]

I flew into the San Juan islands off Seattle in a plane that was so small, they used the co-pilot seat for a customer seat. As part of his pre-flight spiel, the pilot told the passenger, "Don't touch ANYTHING!"


Katherine

That is funny!!!

 

[danfromca]

I'm amazed by how many people are posting now! I was pretty active at the beginning, but then dropped off a bit in part due to my life getting busy, and in part because my focus was on the upcoming Baltic cruise... which as it turns out, isn't going to happen.

Like some others I noticed here, the combination of the economy and the pricing just made it a bit too steep to want to tackle right now. So tomorrow I'll be saying goodbye to that one and folding the deposits into this one, which is considerably less expensive (especially due to the dramatically lower flights and lodging).

Anyway, it's nice to be back. Look forward to being a bit more active going forward.

 

[danfromca]

n soapbox:
I can only speak to the American terminal. I am totally spoiled by AA in Chicago (where it is a Hub), and AA in Orlando (where everything is better).
In LAX Terminal Four there are:

1) No coffee places in the luggage waiting area (actually nothing in the waiting area)

2) Not nearly enough seats in said area (I've often had to sit at the deserted rental car desks).


3) No separate security line for frequent flyers (yes we get a different escalator, but everything merges at the top).

4) Do we really need an On the Border AND Chilis? Talk about overkill.

5) Baggage claim takes so long at certain parts of the day that I can have a full meal at one of the above restaurants and would still be waiting for my bags.

LAX itself:
6) Poor design, which puts the VERY crowded SWA at Terminal one and clogs up everything in front of it.

7) Lanes that cut off at the arrivals level forcing people to merge in several times (I've seen way too many close calls for my liking).

Yes there are worse airports in the U.S., but given the number of people that fly into and out of Los Angeles, it should be better -- and continually remodeling the international terminal is like putting a bandage on an amputation.

ff soapbox:

I suppose it depends on what you compare it to. When I think of LAX, I always remember what it was like 30 years ago before the renovations they did for the olympics. I've blanked most of the memories from my mind as being too traumatic, but I clearly remember that when planning to pick up someone from the airport one had to allocate at least an extra hour just for traffic (arrivals and departures at the time were on the same level).

Compared to then, LAX isn't bad.

My local airport is San Jose, which is in the midst of major construction. The traffic patterns now were designed by the same wizard who designed the stairwells at Hogwarts castle - the roads change almost hourly, and it is quite possible to drive around the airport several times before finding an exit (and blind luck if you happen to get the exit that takes you in the direction you want).

But otherwise it's not bad - and has been getting better.

 

[aan1701]

I'm amazed by how many people are posting now! I was pretty active at the beginning, but then dropped off a bit in part due to my life getting busy, and in part because my focus was on the upcoming Baltic cruise... which as it turns out, isn't going to happen.

Like some others I noticed here, the combination of the economy and the pricing just made it a bit too steep to want to tackle right now. So tomorrow I'll be saying goodbye to that one and folding the deposits into this one, which is considerably less expensive (especially due to the dramatically lower flights and lodging).

Anyway, it's nice to be back. Look forward to being a bit more active going forward.

Those Baltics prices are outragous. Looks Like we are going to cancel our TA in Sep due to flight costs to BCN. I can take a back to back on the Wonder for 950 for myself and DW at the same time. So looks like that is what might happen then stay at AKV for a week or so. Stay tuned.

 

[disfaninca]

I'm amazed by how many people are posting now! I was pretty active at the beginning, but then dropped off a bit in part due to my life getting busy, and in part because my focus was on the upcoming Baltic cruise... which as it turns out, isn't going to happen.

Like some others I noticed here, the combination of the economy and the pricing just made it a bit too steep to want to tackle right now. So tomorrow I'll be saying goodbye to that one and folding the deposits into this one, which is considerably less expensive (especially due to the dramatically lower flights and lodging).

Anyway, it's nice to be back. Look forward to being a bit more active going forward.

So sorry you have to cancel your Baltic cruise. But, welcome back!! Looking forward to hearing from you more!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I flew into the San Juan islands off Seattle in a plane that was so small, they used the co-pilot seat for a customer seat. As part of his pre-flight spiel, the pilot told the passenger, "Don't touch ANYTHING!"


Katherine

I think I would sit on my hands!

I'm amazed by how many people are posting now! I was pretty active at the beginning, but then dropped off a bit in part due to my life getting busy, and in part because my focus was on the upcoming Baltic cruise... which as it turns out, isn't going to happen.

Like some others I noticed here, the combination of the economy and the pricing just made it a bit too steep to want to tackle right now. So tomorrow I'll be saying goodbye to that one and folding the deposits into this one, which is considerably less expensive (especially due to the dramatically lower flights and lodging).

Anyway, it's nice to be back. Look forward to being a bit more active going forward.

When the prices came out for the baltic we were on the magic, I asked for a quote and nearly choked to death, I mean COME ON< we worked out we could fly to a week to every port for the same money!.
Glad you choose this one.

 

[danfromca]

When the prices came out for the baltic we were on the magic, I asked for a quote and nearly choked to death, I mean COME ON< we worked out we could fly to a week to every port for the same money!.
Glad you choose this one.

Well, I did a Med cruise the first summer they were there, and they really did a fine job (well, it's DCL - they pretty much always do a fine job). So I'm sure they are going to be great cruises. If it were my first time going to Northern Europe, I think the peace of mind and variety would be worth it if I had the cash to spend.

But....

I've been to every country except Estonia and Russia. And Estonia doesn't interest me that much - so really what I'd be getting that's new would be St. Petersberg. At about $300/day not counting excursions and transportation.... well, it just doesn't make sense.

Now this cruise is an entirely different matter. First, we're looking about $175/night, which is very reasonable by any standard, and downright cheap for DCL. We're also talking travel expenses in the $200 range (thank you SouthWest). And excursions should be much less expensive than Europe.

Plus - there are two new ports, and the opportunity to visit Aruba again (which I fell in love with last time).

Plus - Harry Potter Land will be open at Universal - and this is the perfect excuse to get back to Orlando

Dan