MKE and RSW as well.
There’s also one of those in San Diego. Weird concept
There’s one in my local airport GSO, I would have thought they’d put one in RDU since a majority of folks flying to Pinehurst go through there. I agree it’s a bit weird as far as themed restaurants go, but I guess it works on travelers if they’ve opened as many as they have.
Currently in BUF for an early departure back to DCA. Didn’t see much of the airport when I landed on Saturday night but I got some time to kill here now. Pleasantly surprised by how clean it is. Also a big fan of the rocking chairs lining the concourses at random intervals.
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CLT has a bunch of rocking chairs as well. One of the few redeeming qualities of that spot.
these amish dancing all the way to the bank
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Fittingly, I listened to the Airports 2.0 podcast while I was on a flight from RDU to BOS on Saturday. Those are the 2 main airports that I fly in and out of. I’m always going to ride for Delta, did a status match in fall 2020 so now I have Platinum Medallion. The operation in smooth both in BOS and RDU. In terms of BOS, it’s a weird situation where Delta controls basically all of Terminal A, but there are 2 sections of Terminal A. The good food is in the first part of Terminal A, there is a Legal Sea Foods (shoutout @Tron and his love of the lobster roll) but there’s also a new restaurant called Alta Strada that has a chicken BLT that is my go-to in Terminal A. The second section of terminal A (have to go underground to get to it) got completely renovated early in COVID and now is really nice with tons of power plugs everywhere, hope they do the same for the first section soon.
I also fly JetBlue out of BOS a fair amount, and they control Terminal C. That terminal can be hit or miss, especially since Jetblue never seems to have enough people to adequately staff the check-in areas during COVID. Trying to check a golf bag and still make my flight has been a white-knuckle experience there.
On the RDU side, it’s such a pleasant experience when you arrive since the parking garage is right there, it’s a short walk into the terminal, Delta has their shit together at the counter, and security is never an issue. I always look over at the American Airlines check-in and it seems to be a shitshow at RDU, par for the course with that airline. The food selections at RDU past security are a bit lacking though, half of the restaurants always seem to be closed for some reason.
Also, if you ever get stranded at RDU, there is a Top Golf that is going to be opening later this year that is 5 minutes from RDU. So that will be nice.
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Seconding all the RDU delta love! It’s my home airport and the delta experience is pretty awesome
Strong agree. Came to the thread to say I love TPA’s airport. So easy to get in and out of for a medium airport of its size. Definitely not the fanciest in terms of lounges and stuff but I love the layout where you take a tram to your specific terminal and go through security there instead of sitting through a mob in the middle and going to your terminal afterwards.
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I know it’s regional but JetBlue would like a word
If you’re trying to build status with Delta, I’d go with their Amex cards. Particularly the delta Platinum and Delta reserve help out more with their MQMs and have MQD waivers if you spend enough. The Delta Reserve also gives you access to Centurion lounges now. However, if you’re only flying a couple times a year I don’t think it’s worth really shooting for status anywhere. Just take the flights that make the most sense for you.
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Good to hear this …headed to Buffalo this weekend.
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Haven’t listened to the pod, but gotta throw in some love for my OG airport, PDX. They have renovated a few times over the years, generally tons of great food options (along with the usual chain crap). COVID hit a few restaurants hard, so that sucks. If Kenny & Zuke’s in C terminal survives COVID, strong recommend. Their Tuna Melt, Reuben, and Pastrami (separate sandwiches!) are very good, as are their pastries/cookies.
One other things that’s both good and bad - they are a test site for TSA, so lots of speedy TSA Pre capability; first to switch to “just swipe DL instead of showing boarding pass”. Downside is a LOT of Olds getting TSA Pre who have apparently forgotten how to go through a metal detector…. YMMV
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Made for the big guy:
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MIA or bust fellas
Gotta push back on that and say MIA is awful. I’d take FLL over it any day.
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This looks like a much nicer version of the Cape Air plane we took from St Croix to San Juan a few years back. Wife sat up front in the co-pilot seat and loved it. A little disconcerting to watch the pilot roll up the window before takeoff. Felt like flying in the old family station wagon.
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I agreed with pretty much everything on the podcast.
I’m in MSP, so have little choice but to be a Delta guy.
MSP item: The Sky Club by F and G concourse is infinitely better than the one in the C concourse. Bigger, better food, etc.
Delta has been the beneficiary of several good airport projects. The new SLC terminal is really good, the reworked Delta terminal at PHX is a massive upgrade and the addition of a Sky Club there is great. I was pleasantly surprised with the newish Sky Club at RDU (which wasn’t there when I lived in Raleigh).
A few airports that I like:
- Agree that YVR has a great sense of place. The Fairmont at the airport is really good and was a favorite when I had early morning flights out
- Agree that the new IND is quite good
- DTW is always an enjoyable experience. Love that there are showers in the Sky Club there to clean up at the end of a golf trip (though Covid had the showers still closed when I was there at the beginning of August)
- PDX and SEA are both good. The new Sky Club by A1 in SEA is really nice with great views
Random travel hill I will die on:
If the final destination is Midtown Manhattan, I would much rather go to EWR and take the train and out of Penn Station from there. It’s always 35 minutes or so. The problem with LGA and JFK is that traffic into the city is such a crapshoot, especially if there’s any weather. Plenty of hotels within an easy walk of Penn Station.
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Fully agree that Newark’s primary (only?) benefit is accessibility from Manhattan. If that’s my destination, rather than visiting friends/family on Long Island, it’s gotta be Newark. That being said, everything else about Newark stinks.
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