I was perusing a Los Angeles Times article about how their airport needs a billion dollars worth of improvements -sorry, LAX, but you could stand a make-over.
Anyway, the reporter drew up a list of suggestions (my favorite: “An intelligible sound system, because right now, the publnc adrsses sn sd weoibchcn sod0ewnxfon, you know?”).
I admit it – I got inspired – so here’s my own list. Feel free to add to it.
Five Most Needed Airport Improvements
1.) Free Booties: For walking through security while your shoes are on the belt. I don’t want my bare feet touching that dirty floor – heck, I don’t want my socks touching it. Yuck.
Keep reading for the rest of my “Five Most Needed Airport Improvements”…
2.) Hygenic Rest Rooms: Sorry, but an auto-flush toilet does not a clean rest room make. How about a full-time attendant to pick up after the morons who fling dirty paper towels everywhere except the waste basket?
3.) Anti-Collision Lanes: No one follows any “stay to the right” rules when walking through terminals; it’s just mass confusion and constant collisions. How about slow lanes for families with strollers – and fast lanes for the “I’m gonna miss my plane” people?
4.) Free Baggage Carts: We already pay ever-increasing bag fees, shell out $8 for an airport hot dog, $3 for bottled water, $7 for an airline blanket – couldn’t we have just one little freebie?
5.) Updated Decor: Is anyone else reminded of a state penitentiary while moving through the airport? Sure, some airports actually look pretty good -but others would make fine backdrops for shooting movies about serial killers.
I have a bigger problem. I need signs or directions to the kiosis. I entered the airport for my return trip to find it overly crowded. I was looking for the kiosis, but could only find log lines. After I stood in it for a long time and missed my flight, only to get to the other end of the line to find out it was for checked baggage.
Well, Milan Malpensa actually does have free baggage carts. You have to put in a coin into a holder on the handle to release it from the other carts, but when you return the cart your coin is relased back to you.
And as a parent with 4 year old, I think the “fast” and “slow” lanes are a GREAT idea. Except that I’m not sure people would abide by the rules. It’s hard getting a little one through an airport without getting her run over by someone that’s late for their plane – but both (kids and “don’t want to miss my connection” types) have to be there.
How about some consistency in the rules when going through security? Many airports no longer require that you show your boarding pass to the screener after you’ve already shown both your boarding pass and photo ID to the TSA person as you enter the queue. Yesterday in Tulsa, I had returned my boarding pass to its accustomed place in my purse, which was going through the screening machine, when the TSA official told me to get it out. When I gently (I thought) asked why some airports require travelers to carry their boarding passes throughout the screening process and some do not, she barked, “because we are allowed to”.
Good answer.
Lindbergh Field in San Diego provides free booties just before the checkpoint. They also have free quart-sized baggies, in case you forgot one.
Actually, this might seem odd, but in Russian airports you get free plastic booties to cover your feet while going through security. So, it struck me as very sadly surprising that in hygiene-obsessed US you walk barefoot collecting all possible germs.
Amen, to all the suggestions. I’ve wondered about taking my own booties to the airport, but worried that the screeners would tackle me to the ground if I tried.
Here’s another: how about fast & slow lanes for the security checks? One for those of us who have the sense to have all our paperwork in hand, remove shoes, coats, belts, computers, etc. for a quick pass-through—& one lane for the morons who don’t seem to have flown in the last 8 years & don’t know what to do until told when they’re at the front of the line!
Yes, I know I’m too optimistic, but I’d love to see how they’d test people! An Airport Olympics would be more entertaining than the actual Olympics–it sounds like an annual event Rick needs to start!
Cheers!
How about having consistent international rules?
In the US, I am allowed to take knitting needles, in London, Mumbai, Cairo, Amman, etc… also, and in Paris, one day they allow them, and the next time that I went through their security, they take them away… Go figure!