St. Louis Lambert Int. Airport [airline/hub/operations/info]

ben1040 · PostOct 22, 2009#9512009-10-22T23:35+00:00

Glad to see Southwest picking up the money that American has left on the table in STL. Looks like we may in fact be better off than we were before, with more routes not being covered by legacy carriers seeking to find new ways to squeeze revenue out of their customers.

To American's credit, they were probably the least obnoxious in this regard. My other experiences have been a lot worse:

Everyone: "That bag is going to cost $15 to check. Wait, did we say $15? We meant $20."

Delta/NW: "Don't want a middle seat? $15 please."

United: "Pay $40-$150 more for 'Economy Plus,' or get less legroom than the other airlines."

US Air: "We seek to faithfully replicate the Greyhound experience at 30,000 feet. Pay for a cup of water."

jmstokes · PostOct 23, 2009#9522009-10-23T04:41+00:00

ben1040 wrote:
United: "Pay $40-$150 more for 'Economy Plus,' or get less legroom than the other airlines."

United Y typically has 31" of legroom, which is comparable to other legacy carriers. Economy Plus has 36+ inches of legroom.

On topic, I'm thrilled to see a mainline UA jet to SFO. I just wish it had been around when I was doing STL-SFO every week, either via Chicago, Denver, or Dallas, on United or American.

At 124 segments, somewhere around 240,000 miles for the year. fml?

matguy70 · PostOct 27, 2009#9532009-10-27T19:25+00:00

This couldn't be a better placement for the new Airport Director.

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... ily21.html

She is an excellent person and all about STL and Lambert!

PostNov 05, 2009#9542009-11-05T01:07+00:00

AIRTRAN ADDS ADDITION FLIGHT TO LAMBERT INT. SERVICE

Airtran announced it would add an additional (now three) flights to Milwaukee Mitchell Field.

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... ily44.html

Alex Ihnen · PostNov 05, 2009#9552009-11-05T02:12+00:00

For what it's worth - the American cutbacks have hit home for Grover! For the past several years AA had direct flights from STL-BOS at 7am, 2pm and 6pm (roughly). The only flight remaining is the evening flight. Southwest has added flights but the earliest is 10am, getting me to BOS at 2pm. Anyway, I'm spending an extra night in BOS on my next trip because I can't get there before noon.

captainjackass · PostNov 05, 2009#9562009-11-05T15:47+00:00

^^It should be noted that these flights are now through SkyWest Airlines, a new regional partner for Airtran in Milwaukee. So the flights are booked through airtran, but handled by SkyWest.

http://pressroom.airtran.com/phoenix.zh ... highlight=

matguy70 · PostNov 06, 2009#9572009-11-06T02:36+00:00

Skywest will operate the three Airtran Milwaukee flights. Airtran will continue Lamberts service to Orlando and Atlanta.

gregl · PostNov 07, 2009#9582009-11-07T16:43+00:00

The AirTran announcement is actually a *cutback* in service.

Right now AirTran operates 3 daily 717 flights to Milwaukee, with about 100 seats each. They are changing this to 3 daily CRJ flights with 50 seats each.

Good spin on their part.. but still a cutback.

tm8951 · PostNov 07, 2009#9592009-11-07T18:21+00:00

GregL wrote:The AirTran announcement is actually a *cutback* in service.

Right now AirTran operates 3 daily 717 flights to Milwaukee, with about 100 seats each. They are changing this to 3 daily CRJ flights with 50 seats each.

Good spin on their part.. but still a cutback.

Actually Airtran currently only operates two daily mainline flights between STL and MKE. Yes still a cut back in the number of seats offered though.

matguy70 · PostNov 10, 2009#9602009-11-10T02:31+00:00

EAST TERMINAL ADDS ADDITIONAL TSA CHECKPOINTS

WITH SOUTHWESTS EXPANSION AT LAMBERT STL INTERNATIONAL

Monday, November 9, 2009, 3:34pm CST

Lambert adds checkpoint to ease Southwest lines

St. Louis Business Journal

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport said Monday that is has opened a second checkpoint location in the East Terminal to increase passenger screening capacity during times of peak demand.

The addition of two new security lanes, along with the terminal’s original four-lane checkpoint, gives Lambert 50 percent more screening capacity and should improve wait times for passengers flying Southwest Airlines, USA 3000, Air Choice One and charter flights, Lambert said.

The first additional lane opened Monday, and the second additional screening lane will be operational by Thursday. The openings were timed to help ease congestion for the upcoming holiday season, Lambert officials said.

The East Terminal will see even more demand beginning next spring when Southwest Airlines adds as many as 13 flights a day between March and May of 2010. Southwest is overtaking American Airlines as the top carrier at Lambert.

The new checkpoint is located next to Starbucks on the west end of the East Terminal ticketing level. The Transportation Security Administration provided the screening equipment and will determine the operational hours of the extra lanes based on airport and airline needs.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE:

v

ben1040 · PostNov 10, 2009#9612009-11-10T23:32+00:00

Free wireless at Lambert (and 46 other airports) this holiday season, until January 15.

http://www.freeholidaywifi.com/

Now if only they'd keep it free.

matguy70 · PostDec 02, 2009#9622009-12-02T22:15+00:00

Terminals being renamed at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport

KSDK -- A project will kick off in 2010 to improve signage and rename the terminals at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

The St. Louis Regional Business Council will contribute $200,000 to the $1.2 million Wayfinding Signage Project. The installation of 75 new overhead and ground mounted signs along two miles of Lambert International Boulevard will begin in January 2010. Guardrails, street lights and fencing will also be improved.

The Main Terminal will be renamed Terminal 1 and the East Terminal will become Terminal 2. Airport officials believe the numerical terminal designations are easier for people to understand and remember.

Other features of the new signage program, includes: simple consistent messaging, color-coded symbols, distinct interstate signage, airline terminal locations, improved car rental signage and improved parking lot information.

KSDK

moorlander · PostDec 02, 2009#9632009-12-02T23:11+00:00

matguy70 wrote: Airport officials believe the numerical terminal designations are easier for people to understand and remember.

dredger · PostDec 03, 2009#9642009-12-03T02:08+00:00

I had to admit that it was a lot quicker getting through TSA at the East Terminal (or should I say T2 now) on my recent flight to OAK. Pleasant surprise after bracing for a fair size line security line on a Monday morning.

Now for my broken record statement. Please tear down Concourse D!!! then Terminal 1 and 2 will truly make sense!!

newstl2020 · PostDec 03, 2009#9652009-12-03T07:06+00:00

They couldn't find something more creative? something that speaks to our heritage? why spend the money to change to simply 1 and 2?

midcoaststl · PostDec 03, 2009#9662009-12-03T14:48+00:00

newstl2020 wrote:They couldn't find something more creative? something that speaks to our heritage? why spend the money to change to simply 1 and 2?

They are trying to make it easier. Nothing easier than 1 and 2. Plus it is not just the names but all of the signs around the entrance. So that is where all the money is going.

bprop · PostDec 03, 2009#9672009-12-03T15:06+00:00

Agreed. If we ever do get international visitors to the airport in great numbers, it's far easier to decipher if you're in T1 or T2 vs. the Lewis and Clark Terminal or the Mark McGwire Terminal.

matguy70 · PostDec 04, 2009#9682009-12-04T18:44+00:00

Air Choice One to begin offering service from Decatur to St. Louis with $49 fares

PostJan 18, 2010#9692010-01-18T03:39+00:00

'Southwest Effect' may benefit air passengers
Low-cost carrier launches nonstop flights to St. Louis
By Gita Sitaramiah
Minneapolis/St. Paul Pioneer Press
Updated: 01/08/2010 09:52:13 PM CST

Southwest Airlines launches nonstop service between St. Louis and the Twin Cities on Sunday — its third nonstop market from here — offering promotional fares as low as $49 each way.

Whether Southwest brings dramatic pricing changes to the Twin Cities-St. Louis market remains to be seen. The $49 fares were rare on the Southwest Web site Friday afternoon, with many round-trip options for short-notice travel priced at $500 or more, similar to fares for comparable flights offered by Delta Air Lines and its Northwest subsidiary and American Airlines.

Still, Terry Trippler, an air travel expert based in Minneapolis, said the competition from the low-cost carrier should result in the so-called "Southwest Effect." When Southwest adds a new route, fares drop on competing carriers and more travelers are inspired to make the trip on any of them.

The new route demonstrates Southwest's commitment to the Twin Cities, Trippler said. "The expansion hasn't been as rapid as in a place like Denver but nevertheless they are expanding."

Southwest debuted in the Twin Cities in March, offering eight daily nonstops to Chicago's Midway Airport, where it operates 215 daily flights to 50 destinations. Two months later, it added three daily nonstop flights to Denver, another major city for Southwest with 113 daily flights to 34 destinations.

The Dallas-based airline views St. Louis as an opportunity to gain market share. "It was definitely an effort to grow our St. Louis base, and so Minneapolis is reaping the benefit of that," said Paul Flaningan, a spokesman for Southwest. The carrier operates about 70 daily flights in St. Louis to a 32 destinations.

READ MORE:
http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_14153039

PostJan 18, 2010#9702010-01-18T03:41+00:00

http://www.wqad.com/news/wqad-airport-b ... 2770.story

Air Choice One Airlines adds 2 new flights from Burlington to Lambert St. Louis International Airport.

innov8ion · PostJan 18, 2010#9712010-01-18T15:23+00:00

^ Hmm, 20 minutes from where I grew up. It'll be interesting to see the prices.

shimmy · PostJan 18, 2010#9722010-01-18T21:16+00:00

Being a student in Vermont, I was hoping you meant Burlington, Vermont, but I guess I'll take it.

lukethedrifter · PostJan 19, 2010#9732010-01-19T05:13+00:00

Safety fears -- no slam dunk for plan to close Lambert fire house

Kevin Killeen Reporting
kakilleen@cbs.com

ST. LOUIS (KMOX Radio) -- A budget-cutting plan to shut down one of three fire houses at Lambert Airport is raising concerns with the St. Louis Fire Chief, the president of the city firefighter's union and a leading St. Louis County fire chief.

Earlier this week, the mayor's brother, Deputy Airport Director Gerard Slay, leaned on a podium and told the Airport Board of Directors in a tone of finality that the south fire house near the main terminal is closing.

"We are closing the fire house. It's going to happen, " Slay said. There was no indication the airport board would be offered a chance to vote on the plan, despite some members raising questions of safety.

Citing a recommendation by the state auditor's office, Slay insisted the closure could save the airport two-million dollars a year -- "without jeopardizing the public safety."

Slay claims that the two remaining fire houses could do the job of three, without slowing response times. "We can meet the response times within regulations and we also have mutual aid agreements with surrounding municipalities," Slay said.

Under the plan Lambert fire department personnel would be slashed from 79 to 58.

It's a tough call. I know the city has to find places to save money and there's an easy one right in front of them.

Problem is, you're never going to have a plane crash or fire at the airport ... until you have one.

gary kreie · PostJan 25, 2010#9742010-01-25T14:57+00:00

San Francisco Airport will offer free Internet access to all travelers.

Lambert needs to move to free WiFi permantently. Here is an article about SFO going this way, and San Jose and Oakland are already there. They say they are doing it to become competitive with international airports. If we want China to use STL, we need to uprade this area to the international norm, and make Lambert business friendly.

http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_14 ... ck_check=1

SFO to offer free Internet access for all travelers
San Jose Mercury News 01/24/2010
Author: Mike Rosenberg

Travelers stuck waiting at San Francisco International Airport will soon be able to surf the Web and check e-mail for free on their smart phones and laptops.

SFO officials say they will abolish the fee for Internet access when their current Wi-Fi contract with T-Mobile expires at the end of February. SFO will join its main competitors in San Jose and Oakland, which have been offering free Wi-Fi access for more than a year.

Fermin said officials are still trying to figure out how SFO can offset the cost of offering the free service. Some ideas include Wi-Fi-related advertising or sponsorships. Either way, officials think it will be worth it.

"The airport recognizes the value of providing free Wi-Fi services to the traveling public," Fermin said in a report to the commission.

The request also says the free service could help SFO be competitive with other international airports.

Mineta San Jose International Airport in May 2008 became the first Bay Area airport with free Wi-Fi service. Airport officials offset the cost by expanding advertising.

Oakland International Airport, which launched its Wi-Fi network through Sprint in November 2005, made surfing the Web free in November 2008.

matguy70 · PostFeb 17, 2010#9752010-02-17T05:38+00:00

St. Louis International Airport Terminal 1 (Main) has new LED Lighting systems.

ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL
February 16, 2010
Travelers flying in and out Lambert-St. Louis International Airport will notice new colorful LED lighting, skylights and 100,000 square feet of restored historic domed ceilings.

The LED lighting was designed to accentuate the historic modernist architecture of Lambert’s domes at night, said St. Louis-based Kwame Building Group, which was the program manager providing oversight, programming, design coordination and procurement for the project. C. Rallo Contracting Co. Inc. in St. Louis was the general contractor, and Chicago-based Teng & Associates, which has a St. Louis office, was the designer.

STL BUSINESS JOURNAL ARTICLE:
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/ ... ily16.html#

ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT ARTICLE:
http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010 ... skylights/

Naturally, The Post Disgrace did not cover this story (due to the fact it was "good" news of such)

St. Louis Lambert Int. Airport [airline/hub/operations/info]

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