Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread

[dgies9156]

Have done an enormous amount of travel for business in the US and can't argue with most observations in here about airports. I'm a United Million miler and have had status on United most of my business life. United goes through cycles of quality and el cheapo that just grinds on one after a while. United is in el cheapo mode again now and that makes traveling suck.

That said, here are my nominees for best and worst airports in the land:

Best:

Orlando McCoy -- This one is easy, so long as you have TSA pre-check. Only downside to MCO is the multi-hour wait for security if you don't have TSA pre. Airport is roomy, well laid out and easy to access. A bit of a parking headache at the holidays but otherwise incredibly well done.

LaGuardia -- Since the revamp, this airport is downright nice. Used to be the worst airport in America. Now, it's pleasant. Traffic and waits, both airside and landside, can be a pain, but this is a huge improvement.

O'Hare -- Maybe because it was my home airport for 40+ years, but ORD is easy to get around, connect and has decent amenities. Security isn't too bad either.

Worst:

LAX -- The traffic getting into and out of LAX is preposterous. Best thing that could be done with LAX is to tear it down and start over.

Dulles -- The United hub at Dulles is in a temporary terminal that should have been torn down a century or more ago. Place is a dump, crowded and dirty. United was going to dump Dulles a couple of times, only to find out EWR can't handle the traffic.

MSP -- This airport was laid out in the days when Northwest and North Central both had hubs in the Twin Cities. Connecting in the Twin Cities is a nightmare. It has become better in recent years but the Twin Cities really needs a new airport. 

[WarriorFan]

Just flew into JFK int'l today.  (Delta).  Thank the heavens for Global Entry!.  I walked straight past what would have been a 2 hour queue for immigration.

Just to complete the "JFK Experience", the airline/airport ran my flight's bags out on 2 carousels!!!  Not even adjacent ones!  So, one had to walk back and forth until the bags finally came out an hour later. 

And - as always on Delta - premium bags come out last. 

Even after all of this, I still generally agree that Delta is probably the best of the American carriers - but it's like saying dog sh1t smells better than pig sh1t.  It's still sh1t. 

[warriorchick]

Best:


LaGuardia -- Since the revamp, this airport is downright nice. Used to be the worst airport in America. Now, it's pleasant. Traffic and waits, both airside and landside, can be a pain, but this is a huge improvement.

O'Hare -- Maybe because it was my home airport for 40+ years, but ORD is easy to get around, connect and has decent amenities. Security isn't too bad either

Agree with you on LaGuardia, but disagree on O'Hare, especially if you are actually departing from that airport and not just switching planes there.  Back when I lived in the Chicagoland area, I was 15 miles closer to O'Hare, but usually flew out of Midway because of the hassle factor.  From my driveway to the gate, it was much quicker to go to Midway.  One time I had a flight out of O'Hare that left around six in the morning.  I stayed the night before at the Hilton that is on property.  I walked over to the airport the next morning and TSA was slammed - at 4:45 a.m.

In my working days, I was shocked by the number of co-workers who refused to fly out of Midway because they hadn't flew out for there since the '80's and assumed nothing had changed.

[pbiflyer]

https://x.com/thatericalper/status/1791687659825270868?s=46&t=wj-kQtLCLPNb9xDTKbHRvQ

[Hards Alumni]

Agree with you on LaGuardia, but disagree on O'Hare, especially if you are actually departing from that airport and not just switching planes there.  Back when I lived in the Chicagoland area, I was 15 miles closer to O'Hare, but usually flew out of Midway because of the hassle factor.  From my driveway to the gate, it was much quicker to go to Midway.  One time I had a flight out of O'Hare that left around six in the morning.  I stayed the night before at the Hilton that is on property.  I walked over to the airport the next morning and TSA was slammed - at 4:45 a.m.

In my working days, I was shocked by the number of co-workers who refused to fly out of Midway because they hadn't flew out for there since the '80's and assumed nothing had changed.

Also my experience.  Connections at ORD are awful.

[MU82]

Now that our son has become a suburbanite, it's very inconvenient to fly into MDW. Either he'd have a long drive to pick us up, or we'd have to take a patchwork of trains to get to him, so it's almost always ORD for us since his move.

But I do miss MDW, and also miss being able to have Southwest as an option.

[4everwarriors]

Spring for a car service, aina?

[DegenerateDish]

Have done an enormous amount of travel for business in the US and can't argue with most observations in here about airports. I'm a United Million miler and have had status on United most of my business life. United goes through cycles of quality and el cheapo that just grinds on one after a while. United is in el cheapo mode again now and that makes traveling suck.

That said, here are my nominees for best and worst airports in the land:

Best:

Orlando McCoy -- This one is easy, so long as you have TSA pre-check. Only downside to MCO is the multi-hour wait for security if you don't have TSA pre. Airport is roomy, well laid out and easy to access. A bit of a parking headache at the holidays but otherwise incredibly well done.

MCO is the worst airport in the US.

Precheck…I mean no airport has longer lines, it’s comically slow.

Try getting a meal there, good luck.

That place can not deal with the mix of convention visitors and the once a year tourist family. If you’re a Group 1 or Group 2 UA flyer, it’s a maze due to a lack of space.

MCO flat out sucks, burn it down.

[MU82]

MCO is the worst airport in the US.

Precheck…I mean no airport has longer lines, it’s comically slow.

Try getting a meal there, good luck.

That place can not deal with the mix of convention visitors and the once a year tourist family. If you’re a Group 1 or Group 2 UA flyer, it’s a maze due to a lack of space.

MCO flat out sucks, burn it down.

Could say the same about Orlando, period.

[pbiflyer]

Could say the same about Orlando, period.

Tell me you’ve only visited the touristy place in Orlando without telling me you’ve only visited the touristy places.

But yeah, the airport is awful.

[The Lens]

Never been to Orlando, doing my best to keep it that way.

[MU82]

Tell me you’ve only visited the touristy place in Orlando without telling me you’ve only visited the touristy places.

But yeah, the airport is awful.

Well, I've driven all around Orlando and the surrounding area. Used to go there for work. I don't remember seeing anything there that made me say, "Wow, this is special. I gotta get back and see that again." But you're right; perhaps outside the touristy areas, there is not much objectionable, either.

I'll probably go to Orlando again someday if my wife ever participates in a grandkids-to-Disney trip. I've already said that I'm willing to foot the bill but that I'll be playing golf and enjoying a beverage somewhere well away from theme parks. I've already been to Disney/Universal more than a person needs to go there, and have no plans to go again.

[lawdog77]

Well, I've driven all around Orlando and the surrounding area. Used to go there for work. I don't remember seeing anything there that made me say, "Wow, this is special. I gotta get back and see that again." But you're right; perhaps outside the touristy areas, there is not much objectionable, either.

I'll probably go to Orlando again someday if my wife ever participates in a grandkids-to-Disney trip. I've already said that I'm willing to foot the bill but that I'll be playing golf and enjoying a beverage somewhere well away from theme parks. I've already been to Disney/Universal more than a person needs to go there, and have no plans to go again.

Disney Magnolia golf course is actually pretty nice.

[JWags85]

Well, I've driven all around Orlando and the surrounding area. Used to go there for work. I don't remember seeing anything there that made me say, "Wow, this is special. I gotta get back and see that again." But you're right; perhaps outside the touristy areas, there is not much objectionable, either.

Ive never seen the appeal of Greater Orlando, besides Disney/greater Kissimmee attractions.  But I know a couple people who have the money to live/retire in large fashion wherever they wanted who have retired to/have a winter spot in the area (despite having no other ties to the area).  So clearly there is some appeal.  One actually swapped a $$$ house in the greater Palm Beach area for another pricey pad in Orlando, so there must be some draws.

Now that I live less than a 2 hour drive away, I'm sure I'll see some more parts of it other than Disney or the massive Gaylord Resort and Convention Center.  Hell, I always thought Winter Haven was weird/unappealing as a spot, but drove around it a few weeks ago and was kind of impressed with how nice some of it was.  Not for me, but my former coworker who retired there didn't seem as bizarre.

[warriorchick]

Ive never seen the appeal of Greater Orlando, besides Disney/greater Kissimmee attractions.  But I know a couple people who have the money to live/retire in large fashion wherever they wanted who have retired to/have a winter spot in the area (despite having no other ties to the area).  So clearly there is some appeal.  One actually swapped a $$$ house in the greater Palm Beach area for another pricey pad in Orlando, so there must be some draws.

The ones that are straight up Disney nuts astound me.  I know several.  One of them was a male co-worker whose family spends two separate week-long vacations at Disney World every year. They have never been to any other Orlando attraction, and literally do not leave Disney property the entire time.

[The Lens]

I consider Disney a dumb peoples tax that most Americans don't understand is voluntary.  I cannot fathom how so many Americans spend 10-15% of their annual income at a place that sounds so unappealing.

[lawdog77]

I consider Disney a dumb peoples tax that most Americans don't understand is voluntary.  I cannot fathom how so many Americans spend 10-15% of their annual income at a place that sounds so unappealing.

It's a personal choice. Why do some people spend so much money on a nice car, or golfing, or alcohol. I get the appeal. Watching Disney movies with the kids, then spending quality time with them at WDW. It is also a way to look back at one's childhood, and the enjoyment (or lack thereof) with their parents.

[MU82]

It's a personal choice. Why do some people spend so much money on a nice car, or golfing, or alcohol. I get the appeal. Watching Disney movies with the kids, then spending quality time with them at WDW. It is also a way to look back at one's childhood, and the enjoyment (or lack thereof) with their parents.

That's fair. People spend their money on all kinds of things that other people might not "get."

I've done WDW, Universal and Disneyland multiple times. We had one especially enjoyable family trip to WSW. But I, personally, am over it. I don't begrudge others' right to go whole Disney hog.

[Goose]

While WDW is not high on my list of places to vacation at, I have always hoped any person/family that has ever wanted to go there gets the chance to visit. It is a special place for making family memories.

[warriorchick]

I read somewhere that on an annual basis, the average family puts more money into family vacations than their kids' college funds.

"Sorry, honey, looks like community college is your only option for higher education.  But, hey, didn't we have fun riding Space Mountain all those times?"

[JWags85]

It's a personal choice. Why do some people spend so much money on a nice car, or golfing, or alcohol. I get the appeal. Watching Disney movies with the kids, then spending quality time with them at WDW. It is also a way to look back at one's childhood, and the enjoyment (or lack thereof) with their parents.

I see it both ways.  My family was huge on Disney movies.  We weren't fanatical, but when I was a kid, the only movies we really owned were Disney VHS, by and large.  I went a couple times during my childhood and had fond memories.  I went 5 years ago for the first time as an adult and had a really interesting juxtiposition of smirking at the absurd consumerism of it all (that a kid obviously doesn't realize) and how small the park actually seems compared to the massive sprawl as a kid.  That being said, it was also an amazing nostalgia bomb and happy tie-in to childhood memories/Disney films/characters I loved and, for me at least, it was easy enough to separate that from absurd things there.  My son is a year and a half and my wife and I can't wait to take him there.

That being said, the people that go 2-3 times a year, from out of state, baffle me.  I mean, if it makes them happy, no worries cause I get the root love of the WDW affection, but its still crazy.

Amusingly tho, I've always said, I'd love to know the venn diagram breakdown of people who go on a major pricey Disney trip annually or more...and people who don't have passports and groan about how expensive traveling out of the country is.

[Goose]

warriorchick

As a whole, we took very few expensive family trips with our four kids. We focused on education and their sports. Far too much money sent on soccer and hockey, but it was a trade off on bigger trips. We actually took our biggest family trip when all four kids were still single and over the age of 21. We went to Vail for a long weekend to celebrate my wife's 50th birthday. It was a fantastic trip and even better because all of the tuition bills had been paid.

[dgies9156]

OK gang, I get we hate Orlando.

So do I!!!! Never been to Disney and never will go. Ditto for Universal. About the only Disney attraction I'll go to is the sports facility when and if Marquette plays in a tournament there.

I live 92 miles southeast of Orlando MCO. My choice is MCO, PBI or Melbourne. Palm Beach has some but not many flights to places I need to go and the traffic from Jupiter-in is a mess. Melbourne means connecting in Charlotte or Atlanta. I'm a United 1K, probably like Brother Degenerate, and I've found its easier to use MCO -- and cheaper too! Brother Degenerate, next time you come here on United, try the MCO United Club. It's by gate 45. The people are incredibly nice and the food and beverage service has improved dramatically, which is uncommon for United these days.

I get the Clear lines suck but the longest I've waited in TSA pre at MCO is about 10 minutes. I could do without the silly people movers and without Mayor BuddyDyer (yes, one word) telling me all about plastic mice and people eating alligators. For me, MCO is great because once I'm on the Beachline (FL 528), I'm out of the city traffic and up here, Interstate 95 is a raceway!

[Spotcheck Billy]

I've been to Disney World twice, both times were when they still used ticket books so one had to plan carefully before using all of their E tix (or whatever they were).

[WarriorFan]

People fly to MCO because it's better than 2 days in the car with the kids.  It doesn't need to be a good airport, it just needs to be better than the alternative.