Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Tiny Airports

This is TRI Cities Airport, in Kingsport Tennessee. This is the entire concourse, six gates not all of them in use,  two baggage claims, no pre-check lane for security.  I have a love-hate relationship with small airports.  While small airports are easy and efficient, they lack services and amenities, and with the limited number of flights it can be more difficult when things go awry. This was the only commercial airport within 100 miles of the program site.  It was pricey to fly in and out of - $488, but the rental car was cheap - $56 total with tax for two days, and the car was new - it had 250 miles on it. 

TRI has a nice modern terminal.  And you are always Number 1 for takeoff at a small airport.  

When I lived in Lexington, my home airport was small, about 8 gates when we first moved there, then later about 12.  Two baggage claims.  It seemed tiny after Orlando.  Here in DC I fly in and out of Washington National Airport,  40 plus gates, over a dozen baggage claims,  lots of airlines, lots of flights, lots of traffic, and a subway station.  

What is your local airport like?  

11 comments:

  1. PHL is a fucking mess. it was not that way 60 years ago though.

    my co-worker flies into TRI every year; we have a few customers in the area that need on-site service of our products.

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    1. I flew into PHL on this most recent trip, then took the train home.

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  2. Anonymous9/17/2019

    Horribly large and involves lots of walking.

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    1. The walks! You wonder if the designers ever walked the walk.

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  3. Ditto with Anne Marie. It's nice, but confusing some nice art. I prefer smaller airports.

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    1. There is some good food at PHL, and a direct flight to Rome.

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  4. Malaga airport. Fourth busiest in Spain.

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  5. I don't think that the Livermore Municipal airport counts. It's for commuters, business folks and such. I've driven past it taking the backroads to my doctor appointments. There's a blimp there and I'm pretty sure I saw a biplane or two. For travel we have the choice of San Francisco (shudder!), San Jose or Oakland. All big, all congested, and all the reason I avoid airports now.

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    1. I bet you know the best cruise port

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  6. That would be PHX and it's race track lay out still makes us spin which side is north and south.

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