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What's wrong with the market?

The guest poopooed market solutions to airport congestion. But this assumes there is already something like a market in operation. The solution to the "little plane" problem is indeed to impose a high per-airplane fee, or an auction for slots.

We do have a private enterprise solution, it is called cars. Limos and taxi's are the only tolerable way to get to and from EWR (especially at odd hours), and it is my belief that part of the disincentive to establish public to-from ground transprotatation is to maintain this part of the public sector. Also the port authority likes their $24 a day gravy train for parking.

All three local airports are awful. There is no reason why you cannot take a high speed train from either Grand Central or Penn Station to each airport. Newark tops the list of nasty customer service, probably because of its location and JFK is too far. The airtrain from Jamaica Queens makes no sense.

Jamaica is no Midtown Manhattan!

Em, consider yourself lucky. Zurich's traffic is so bad that I would never depend on a car to get me to a connection. Also, I was caught by a traffic cam going 11 mph over the speed limit on an empty road in the outskirts of Zurich at 1 a.m. I got a $200 ticket. Nice.

My favorite airport is Stuttgart, but it is a trick answer. When I fly to JFK from there, I walk a block to a tram, which takes me to the Stuttgart rail station. From there, I use my plane ticket to board the train, which wisks me right into the terminal at the Frankfurt airport, about two hours away. This arrangement avoids the need to take a small plane to Frankfurt, which takes about as much time and is far, far more energy-intensive. It is a breeze.

Coming back to NY from Berlin we had a 3hr layover in zurich. My girlfriend's cousin who lives there, picked us up, we catched a train and in 30 minutes we were swimming down the river in the middle of Zurich (CLEAN!!) had lunch by the river and went back to the airport making perfect time to board our NY plane.
The Best layover ever!
Only in Switzerland

Took that m60 last night from LaGuardia with my sleepy school girl to our home near the Javits center, smooth & easy! The longest part of the trip was in the airport stopping to pick everyone up. The driver was commendable, she didn't even bother to have us all swipe our metro cards since we'd be swiping them later when it we transferred. Only a couple stops after we left the airport before we hit Manhattan. We connected with almost every train. It was a GREAT deal easier and quicker & far less walking then that darn express to JFK where you must cross a road, ride up the elevator and still transfer walking with bags another hefty distance.

NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Trenton-to-New- York line stops at Newark Int'l airport. It may not be easy, but it's possible to go from any of the NJ transit rail lines to the airport if you're willing to transfer. All lines go to Secaucus, which is the main transfer point. One can also transfer to the NEC at Newark.

Newark. the most unfriendly airport in America after JFK. There's no good place for people to wait to pick up passengers without constant circulation, the directional signs inside and outside are confusing, Terminal C is a nightmare.

@ Cheryl: Re: JFK from Northern NJ, as much as people above have complained about the AirTrain, it's actually a cheap, reliable way out there. Take NJT to Penn Station, transfer to a LIRR train to Jamaica Queens, transfer to the AirTrain. It's not bad with a wheeled suitcase. Takes 45 - 60 minutes from Hoboken.

M60 is very easy to LGA. I found if you follow how the workers get to the airport, then you'll find the cheapest and fastest way.

Ask the gift shop clerk or TSA how they get to and fro and you'll have your answer to how to get out of the airport without a taxi.

That's the goal in America. Too get to your destination without a cab. If you have to take one though then share it with someone.

as discussed, LGA a pain using public transport, From NW brooklyn, I have to budget about the same amount of time (hour to an hour 15 minutes) to get to LGA (G to E to Q33) as to JFK (G to E to Jamaica airtrain) even through LGA is so much closer.

thanks for posting my question on aid earlier - and I do agree think that AirTram is great (and obviously it did cost a lot of $$$$). But why not continue it all the way to the city? Can you imagine someone coming from a different country not being a native speaker and trying to navigate Airtram to the subway to downtown manhattan? Or would you rather just pay the flat taxi fee (which most people do, unfortunately). I do think that the taxi & limo commission would have the most to lose if the powers that be developed the airtran all the way into manhattan or better tied to the main stations.

The Venice airport is the most magical: You get off the plane, hit the cash machine and walk a few steps to a ferry for a fabulous cheap ride to wherever you're staying. Plus it's beautifully designed and has great wine/food bars and shopping; you almost want to get there early to head home.

Like your caller, I used to always take the M60 to Laguardia. It used to be my favorite airport when I lived on the upper west side. Now that I'm in Brooklyn, it is only accessible by a 2 hour subway ride or a crazy expensive cab.

Now that I live literally 6 blocks from Atlantic Terminal, I can get on the LIRR (Flatbush Av stop) and get to JFK in less than 20 minutes for about 6 bucks. A dream! Then I get off at Jamaica and switch to AirTrain and I'm there. There are elevators at every step of the way. Besides, I rarely travel with a bag that I can't carry on my own, so it really works.

Berlin's Teel ( TXL ) airport, favorite airport in the world.

Hong Kong is outstanding...

The airport is coordinated to funnel you from the train right to the check in desks...and right to the gates with limited confusion.

You can check your bags in in Central Hong Kong and ride in just with your shoulder bag.

Perfect!

brian RFK bridge

Worst airport: Tallahassee FL--small and, one would think convenient, but security is run by Deputy Dawg--no stopping for more than 60 seconds to pick up or drop off in front of the terminal and virtual strip search to get through security. I fly 2+ time a month all over and this is hands down my least favorite.

the M60 works but it's no "luxury ride"...your comment about the bus being outfitted for luggage is not entirely accurate...they do have some space for luggage but nowhere near enough. All that said, it DOES work, it IS cheap, and my wife and I have taken the M60 to Laguardia a few times now...

Buffalo NY airport! Clean, bright, always on time, not scared of snow, good size!

For the M60, you're best taking the N to Astoria (next to last stop) and picking up the M60 on the other side of the Triborough...from that stop, it's only another 20 minutes.

In the USA, PDX has the best airport to city center connection by far.

I agree with guest, Oslo is most civilized airport I have ever been in..
QUESTION...we are flying out of JFK on Dec. 30th - is there a way to get there via publc transportation from northern New Jersey?

Thanks!

I really love the Pittsburgh airport. It's very clean, the people are friendly, and the "Airmall" makes delays (was delayed there last summer for 10 hours) a little more bearable. As far as I know, the prices can't be any higher than regular retail price, and no sales tax on clothes (even those over $110)

Just back from flying out of Detroit, they may not make the greatest cars but they have a wonderful airport...

If you are going coast to coast, forget LAX and go to Long Beach. It is a tiny airport, but you can get their coast to coast from JFK. Baggage claim is just feet away from the tarmac. The rental car desk is 100 feet from there. Your car is 100 feet from there. Driving into the heart of LA (yes, you need to drive) is about
20 minutes longer than from LAX. But the convenience makes up for every minute of that and more. Several years ago, fares were even lower (not sure if that is still true). What a pleasure compared to the zoo that is LAX.

The Air Train is a total joke. Why spend billions on a train system where you have to get out of one train, then hike your luggage a quarter mile to another? Why wasn't it designed to be a one-seat solution in the first place?

Favorite airport amenity: used book store in Milwaukee. Hope it's still there.

The bus is great, but too much traffic across 125th street during the day.

My travel is mostly domestic, but by US standards Laguardia is pretty bad, and JFK is so horrible in every way, from access to terminals it is beyond discussion. Giuliani was discussing taking JFK away fromt he Post Authority -- It should have been done.

The airport that sticks in my memory as beautiful, convenient, and humane is the one in Helsiki; wood floors, great food, mediation room, and smack in the middle of a pine forest. Amazingly beautiful, but not so accomodating is the Charles de Gaul in Paris. Pefect aesthetics, but boring in all other ways.

Mal Pensa (bad head) never had a good experience there. Last time we were there traveling with a lot of people in two cars, not knowing that there were two car rental drop offs, we missed our plane because we each dropped our car off at a different terminal and neither bothered to enter the return into a computer. the signage was terrible, and the customer service awful! I love Italy, but will never fly in or out of Mal Pensa again!

Your guest raised an important question, but failed to answer it. Why CAN"T Americans design airports the way they do in Europe? What forces prevent it? Otherwise, this conversation is just sophistry.

Shanghai and Vancouver also among the best

General Mitchell field in Milwaukee! It has used book stores in the air port itself! It deserves credit for probably having the only one in the US (possibly the world)

Agree with Amsterdam also because you can connect to any major city in the country from the airport by train without switching...

The AirTrain at JFK is a vast improvement, but why is it across the street from all the terminals? Other airports bring the train right into the terminal?

For ease of transport and beauty of the interiors, I vote among large airports Munich, Madrid, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul and Osaka.

AirTrain from NYC to Newark stinks. It took me 2.5 hours, door to door.
I used PATH to Hoboken and then NJ Transit to Newark. The trains need to run more frequently. I'll never use it again.
I lived in Boston for 8 years and used either the boat from Rowes Wharf or the T, 45 minutes tops.

Your guest mentioned the maglev train is being in Singapore. It is in Shanghai.

Why didn't she fly to Florence? or Pisa for that matter. There is a direct train takes 55 mins to Florence from the Pisa airport to Pisa then change to Florence.

The M60 bus is by far the best way to LGA. Subway to 125 St. and then the bus. Even beats a cab. No need for an AirTrain.

Madrid gets my vote for worst airport. They recently expanded it and now it is so huge that you can't make your connecting flight, because it can take two hours to get through passport control (the lines are total chaos), onto the train shuttle, and to your next gate. It's a very pretty airport, but a nightmare to navigate. I'd say the lesson is an airport needs to be the exact right size -- not too big, not too small.

My poor, poor girlfriend got wrapped up in the whole Bangkok airport debacle. She was en-route to Bhutan via Tokyo to Bangkok to Bhutan. Japan Airlines re-routed her through Delhi, where she had to spend TWO days in the transit area, not having a Visa(obviously, not planning on even going, let alone staying there), and not really being allowed to do much of anything because of the security situation. She told me it was the most terrible experience of her adult life with only two food stands in a dismal terminal, no ATM of any kind, no kind of TV or information, and, as she described it, all of the staff had the typical "Brooklyn indifference, minus the attitude." Eventually, she made it out, and said that it made her (two day late) arrival in Bhutan that much more rewarding.

She returned via Bangkok, and said that everything was fine, as if nothing had ever happened.

I know you're talking more about domestic stuff, but I offer my comments anyway

Andy

I find AMS and TGL among the best. Frankly FCO and FLR are also quite good considering Rome is normally just nuts and Florence is a tiny airport but there are plenty of taxis when you arrive. That's probably because it is tiny and not too many flights land or depart from FLR. For JFK is one of the worst for arrival. It's time we had a train that goes directly to JFK form Grand Central and Penn Station. It's been promised over and over and over and over in all my 62 years and it never happens. It's one of those NYC corrupt money grabbers like the 2nd Av Subway. They always start it, they claim to have the money then it just disappears off the radar screen long enough to come back and say there is no money for it and no one questions is. What crock.

is it true that the reason that public trans isn't being built in NYC is because of the taxi & limo commission?

One of my BEST airport experiences was in Charlotte NC, not with anything to do as far as air traffic but the fact that there was a spa in the airport ! During my two and a half hour stop over I got a one hour swedish massage ! Nothing so far has made air travel better than getting a massage while waiting for a connection.

As a worldwide budget traveler, this site has some in handy. http://www.sleepinginairports.net/

The Hong Kong airport was fantastic! I felt like I was in a hotel; cumfy chairs, plenty of space to sleep, good shopping and food, CNN, etc. The train into the city is fabulous as well, complete with little tv screens in front of each seat.

I had a pretty terrible night in Beijing, Luton, Rome, San Francisco... I can go on. Heathrow, though hectic, is also easy to navigate and come to and from. Bit pricey, but can't complain really.

Been to many airports around the world. Amsterdam, by far, is the best of the bunch. Even on the first visit, there was never any confusion as to how to get the train from the airport to the city - and what a smooth ride.

I know this segment might be about local airports, but my vote is for 1) Paris' Charles de Gaulle for the worst airport, and 2) Atlanta's airport for the best. CdG is terrible because of the incredibly long lines they have at security checkpoints, and whoever thought of that stupid bus that travels clockwise around the terminals. It takes forever and the english translation of the announcements are misleading. Atlanta's is great because of the people mover that takes you to exactly the gate you need in record time.

The nicest airport I've ever been to is the Keflavik airport in Iceland. It's absolutely beautiful with steel beams and hardwood floors and the best part: it's a silent airport, no announcements!

Went to JFK for Thanksgiving took the LIRR then the AIR-TRAN and it couldn't have been easier a total breeze.

Coming home from Laguardia was a different story. The line for the taxis was a mile long and a super shuttle guy said any where in manhattan for $16. So my girlfriend and I got in and it was a nightmare.

The driver had no idea how to organize dropping people off so we got out and took a cab home. All and all we didn't save a nickle, had a fight and wasted 2 hours.

Stay the hell away from Super shuttle you get less than the $16.