Airports

Category Archives for Airports.

What On Earth Happened To Make This Airport Restroom Sign Necessary?

by Gary Leff on July 5, 2020

Jul 05 2020

When you see a novel warning sign, it’s almost always in response to something a person actually did. No one thought to warn anyone before some idiot came along. Occasionally these sorts of signs make you really wonder about people, like “this motorcycle contains no edible parts” and cartons of eggs that warn “this product may contain eggs” (or jars of peanut butter that flag, “may contain nuts or nut products”). Who are the people who need to be told “this electric drill is not intended for dental use” anyway? Austin’s South Terminal is a separate structure from the main terminal, less than three quarters of a mile away but a 7 mile drive. It currently serves Frontier and Allegiant. This sign was just spotted in the men’s room there: What in gods name was…

Man Walks Out Of Hong Kong Airport After Three Months In Transit

by Gary Leff on July 4, 2020

Jul 04 2020

A Cathay Pacific passenger boarded a flight from Canada to Hong Kong back in March, intending to connect to Vietnam. Hong Kong transit was shut down March 25. Vietnam closed its border to arrivals. He lived inside the airport for three months.

Then he walked out.

Cop Punches Black Woman At Miami Airport After She Tells Him He’s Black, Too

by Gary Leff on July 2, 2020

Jul 02 2020

Video shows a Miami airport police officer punching a black woman. She had just yelled at him, “You black, you acting like you’re white but you’re really black. What’re you gonna do?” He claims “she headbutted me” but the video does not appear to support that.

When Restaurants Closed, Rats Needed Somewhere To Eat – The Paris Airport

by Gary Leff on June 29, 2020

Jun 29 2020

There are several surprising side effects of the coronavirus pandemic, that make a lot of sense once they’re pointed out. For instance one of the prime drivers in reduced GDP during the first quarter was drop in health care spending. How can that be with all the investment in treating COVID-19? Elective treatments were put off, nobody was going to the dentist either.

When restaurants closed down, rats had to go scurrying elsewhere in search of food….

Airline CEOs Ask Vice President Pence For TSA Temperature Checks At Airports

by Gary Leff on June 26, 2020

Jun 26 2020

Temperature checks are health security theater. It’s one thing for airlines to require it themselves, another thing to make it an extra-legal government mandate that’s hard to turn back.

The solution is to make it easier for passengers who get sick not to fly, not to make passengers show up sick and infect others in order to get a refund.

After $2.5 Billion, New York LaGuardia Central Terminal Is Worse Than Before

by Gary Leff on June 24, 2020

Jun 24 2020

With the opening of the new New York LaGuardia Central Terminal building to replace the old terminal C, United, American, Air Canada and Southwest have a new home at one of the most important airports in the country.

I’ve been overall pretty negative on the renovation project because my fear has been that it would slow down travel, not make it better. A reader shares a report that confirms my fears. He concludes, “LaGuardia now requires an additional 30 minutes to get to the gate.”

LAX Airport Will Start Screening Passenger Temperatures Starting Tuesday

by Gary Leff on June 22, 2020

Jun 22 2020

Starting Tuesday LAX airport will begin to do temperature screenings at the Tom Bradley International Terminal as people enter the airport and in the arrivals corridor using thermal imaging cameras. This is similar to what I’ve experienced, for instance, in Hong Kong for over 15 years.

Plane’s Jet Blast Knocks Bicyclist Across Two Lane Road

by Gary Leff on June 20, 2020

Jun 20 2020

A woman in Naples, Florida riding her bike on Thursday morning was blown across the road beside the Naples airport as a plane took off.

The woman reported she “went sideways. So immediately as I started flying, that was the first thing that came into my mind, oh my god are there cars coming?”

Holy Cow: Half Of Employees Tested At Orlando Airport Are Positive For COVID-19

by Gary Leff on June 17, 2020

Jun 17 2020

Florida reported that 260 out of 500 employees at Orlando International Airport (MCO) tested positive for the novel coronavirus. They did widespread testing at the airport as a result of a handful of cases there, followed up by contact tracing. The 52% positivity rate is huge, but – without more information about the specific roles involved – makes sense for indoor air conditioned environment.

The New LaGuardia Airport Central Terminal Is Stunning. Who Cares?

by Gary Leff on June 13, 2020

Jun 13 2020

There’s been a lot of coverage this week of the opening of the new New York LaGuardia Central Terminal building (a.k.a. “headhouse“). The old terminal B was ugly, the new terminal B is bright from natural light and new. So, shiny things.

The truth about the new project is there’s only one thing about it that really makes the travel experience better, and that’s only going to last a short period of time: new restrooms.