urbanSTL

stlterp wrote:The new AC at NRT is the best I've seen in the system...great tarmac view, nice showers, plenty of varied seating options, decent food/drink options, wi-fi, etc...



The AC here in St. Louis is pretty nice as well, and never crowded.



In all of my flights to/from Lambert recently, I've yet to use the W-1W runway. What % of flights are using the new runway? And will the garage construction ever end? There have been some improvement to Lambert in the past few years - new carpet, paint, and a few new restaurants/stores, but it's still light years behind most domestic airports. Perhaps the worst area is the damp basement baggage claim...

The club in St. Louis is nice, I know some of the ladies there so they let me in.



I myself have only been on the new runway back in February when a 757 was scheduled and replaced with a 767 for some reason. This was on a flight bound for ORD. While back in the Post, it said something like 5% of all operations were on 11-29 with the majority being Continental and US Airways (that would make sense as they A concourse is right there). If you would like to search for this article, use Newsbank which has a link on St. Louis Public Library's website. You can check the Bureau of Transportation Statistics or contact Lambert Airport. I must say-it's actually quite pleasant and smooth. After all, it really isn't any different. I think they are trying to get more flights but it's just an ATC issue. (I'm not a pilot, I don't know).



As for the garage, I wouldn't hold my breath for it to be done. They have been taking there time since 2003. I don't know what to tell you regarding the garage...I always take MetroLink or have a ride if I want to leave in the early AM or late PM.



They have made improvements with carpet and lighting. Add to the mix a fresh coat of paint here and there and some plants and there you have Lambert Field...



I agree Lambert does not leave a good impression of St. Louis. I personally think the airport experience is ridiculous and we should just build a new beautiful terminal like at JFK or DFW. While the cost would be substantially more ($100mm vs $1b) it would be a better long term investment.

bprop wrote:I actually came through the international arrivals terminal today on a charter operation from Mexico. A couple ladies on the plane were staying in StL for the night and heading back to Tennessee. They laughed at the purple carpet on the walls and asked if the airport was built in the 80s. Also, there are stairs leading down to customs with no way (that I could tell) to bypass them or take an elevator. There was a lady in a wheelchair on the flight whom I believe needed to be carried down the stairs by attendants. That area of the airport is really an embarrassment. Even back when the East Terminal was built, who the h3ll was putting purple carpet on the walls and painting doors orange?

I don't know who would decorate Lambert the way it is now...



I'm more interested in the wheelchair comment. If the East Terminal opened give or take 1997/1998, then it would need to be wheelchair accessible under the ADA (1990). However, I think there are several gates that are under the "E" that are infact in the old part of the airport. (Once you go down the ramp into the lower ceiling section) If this is the case, they would be affected. Nonetheless, they need to be ADA compliant. I don't think the C concourse is ADA compliant, but that issue is non existant at this point.

Gosh-T9 at JFK is beautiful. I spend a lot of time there. If you are non-reving STl-LHR this is the only way to go. Catch the 11:45 AE flight for JFK and you're set for success with five evening departures 30 minutes apart at JFK



B6 is cleaning up the old TW terminal 5, and is even keeping the TWA signage. (B6 isn't worried about competion from an airline that doesn't exist anymore).



The C concourse custom facility is still used-however there are no flights. I'm sure the lights are off and it is quite dusty down there.

Gary Kreie wrote:

b777stl wrote:

stlterp wrote:
STL-SFO will probably go back to 757s with demand, and possibly a 738 in several years. UA may start this route a the A320, as they continue to grow in SFO. I'm sure some business travelers would welcome them with open arms. It would also be great for pass travelers, as there would be more seats on that route.

What is a 738? Did you mean 787? The US airlines have not started buying 787's yet. Boeing is seeing record sales of the 787 all from oversees airlines. They are sold out through 2015 I believe. So when the US airlines need to start buying 787's, they will be at the end of the line unless someone convinces Boeing to start a 2nd assembly line.



I just flew to Vancouver and then back from Anchorage and I had to choose United up, and Contintental back to save $300 per ticket vs. American -- an I'm a Gold Frequent Flyer on AA. The new A concourse security station was swamped and we had to wait 1/2 hour at 6:30 AM on a Sunday. I heard another passenger say he waited 50 minutes here in prime time. They need to expand that station again to handle all the travellers American is pushing to other airlines with better connections and prices. The other airlines must be adding bigger planes on the A concourse, and using the gates more often, since no gates have been added.

1) "738" is the internal code used for Boeing 737-800. The Boeing 737-800 entered commercial service in 1998. AA has an outstanding order with deliveries beginning in 2009. They currently only serve MIA and DFW routes primarily. We rarely see them here unless there was a diversion or replacement



2) Continental, IFLC (Leasing Corportation) and Northwest have placed 787 orders. AA's 738 order has some 787 options attached. DL is expected to place a large order sometime soon



3) As for concourse A, I don't know what to tell you. I flew to ATL last month on DL and I waited thirty minutes as well for a 7:25am departure. The line was backed up all the way to the airport authority office. It would be nice if some of the airlines would relocated to B or D. This will happen at some point in the near future, but they don't know who and when.

sda wrote:How many of the B gates are currently empty? Versus how many that are filled? I rarely fly through there, but I'm curious.



Likewise, how many of the D gates are currently empty? Is it just Frontier with its two gates?



Agreed on all fronts re: Lambert asthetics. It's disapointing. I'd like to see even more done than the currently planned $100 million investment; I'm not sure a new terminal is necessary (or practical) at this point, but more can certainly be accomplished with regard to upgrading the passanger experience.



Also agreed re: the baggage-claim/parking garage situations. The baggage service at Lambert is consistently worse than any other airport I use (with the exception, perhaps, of Cincinnati, which I find even more maddening). Given our traffic levels, I don't understand why this can't be improved.

1) Concourse B has 10 gates. Currently, AirTran Airways (FL) is leasing one (1) gate, B12. [They actually aren't leasing it they're using it thanks to the airport incentive program]. There has been talk about them getting another gate as they plan an expansion here. By speculation I would assume that would be B10



2) Concourse D has 14 gates. Currently, Frontier (F9) is leasing two (2) gates. Midwest Airlines and Champion each lease a gate at the other end by the East Terminal.



3) I agree we need more than the airport experience program. However, I don't agree that a new terminal is unnecessary or impractical.



4) Baggage services is agreed. The bottom line is the airport says its the airlines fault and the airlines' say it's the airport's fault. However; in my opinion it is the airports fault. For example, AirTran shares baggage claims with four other airlines (DL, CO, NW, and one other). AA on the other hand has four (4) which they rightly deserve as they have the bulk of the flights. The airport could better assign the carouels according to flight schedules and # of daily departures. I think possibly the biggest weakness of the airport experience is that there will be no additional baggage space. Another issue here, is that our baggage services are tucked away in a little alcove. Go look at LGA or TPA for example and baggage services are right by the respective claim. That's how it is at the east terminal for WN (Southwest).

Two weeks ago, on a Friday evening around 6 pm I went through the security and there was not a single person in line. But I did see Ice-T and Coco coming through security the other way.

A 738 on ANC-IAH...That must have made for a quiet red eye flight. CO also has some wondeful 737-900 (and -ER)! The -900er is basically a modern 757.

Seriously? I frequently fly and if I am coming in on mainline it is always M1 or M2. American Eagle/American Connection use M3 & M4. For a while, the hub-hub routes (DFW-STL, ORD-STL, MIA-STL) would tend to me on M1 and spoke cities (SFO, TPA, MSY to name a few) would be on M2. It seems like in early 2006 this changed and the assignment are different. (Perhaps because we increasing mainline flights to more cities, however regional jet operations are still significantly higher)

I think it the early-mid 1990s there was a plan to have a tunnel of some sort, that would send the claimed bags over the the central baggage area. Transfer bags would have had to be separated and then routed to the appropriate aircraft. It was obviously not built and failed to materialize.



For connecting passengers on TW or AA, it was easy as they just went back up the stairs and were at the high Cs (C24 I think is where the door opens).



I must say, ATL has a similar set-up. If your destination is ATL, you have to ride the airport train the full length from international concourse E to the baggage claim. It's a big hassle, takes too long, and it's too bad the city of Atlanta didn't think that through before opening that concourse in 1996. (They were pressed because they wanted to have it open in time for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and faced budget/construction issues. I think there were even some law suits).

clellchatman wrote:Whenever I pass through the ticketing area I feel that it is by far the most beautiful of airports I have ever been to. The architecture is simply stunning with the bright blue paint on I believe the elevators. It is simply delightful to me and I am so glad this friend of yours felt the same way.

Minoru Yamasaki designed the terminal here at Lambert. He also designed terminals a JFK in New York and CDG in Paris. The ticketing area calls for Terrazzo floors I think, which may look a little strange with the existing design. I think it will be interesting to see the finished product of the "airport experience" and see how it incorporates today's contemporary designs with the original terminal.