When you have to pick a passanger at the airport—Do you:
- Park in the short term lot and meet your passenger inside
- Stay in your car and meet your passenger outside in the pick up lanes
- You don’t do airport pick ups. You have the passenger take a cab home
Some general thoughts on the Options:
Option #1. If you’re early, no problem, find a seat and read a book. If the plane is late, no problem, find a seat and read a book. If you’re late and the plane is on time, the passenger can find a seat and read a book. (Or get a cup of bloody coffee for the non reading types) Main Disadvantage: You’re out a few bucks for parking fees.
Option #2. If you’re early, you’re basic options are to circle round and round the pick up lanes until your passenger arrives. If the plane is delayed, you’re basic options are to circle round and round the pick up lanes until your passenger arrives—you have no way of knowing how long the delay will be, so you just drive round and round and round and round and round and round and round. If you’re late and the plane is on time, then your passenger gets in hang in the pick up lanes with the fumes and the weather until you show up. If you are on time and the plane is on time, then this option can work well. Otherwise, if you like driving around aimlessly, this is the option for you. Main Advantage: You save a few bucks in parking fees.
Option #3. Main Advantage: No costs, no lost time, no hassle. Main Disadvantage: You need a Pitting.
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NOTE: I’m basing the options on large, busy airports—(Washington National, Dullas, or BWI.) If you’re picking up at smaller airports, the circumstances could change.
Can you guess which I prefer?
I picked someone up at BWI this past Friday, where they don’t charge you for the first hour of parking in the hourly lot.
I made sure not to arrive early (in case the flight was late) and [Grandpa Simpson]made it out scot-free.[/Grandpa Simpson]
If I am picking up at SMF (Sacramento), Option #2
I check the arrivals on line. I leave my house about 10 mins before landing time. I live about 10-15 mins away from the airport. I’ve never had to circle more than a couple times. It’s not a big airport.
If I am picking up at SFO (San Francisco), Option #1
I still check the flight on line, but as it’s a 1½-2 hour drive to SFO, I try to leave 2-2½ hrs before arrival, take a book or magazine and hang out.
But then, I’m one of those weird people who like airports. I don’t mind picking people up. Especially from the International terminal. I like people watching.
At LAX, if you’re picking somebody up and actually go into the terminal, you’re lucky if you can find a seat, for there are almost none. You have to wait in one of the baggage areas, which weren’t really designed to accommodate many people comfortably. Due to security restrictions, nontravelers are not allowed anywhere near the actual gates, so instead you watch for your party to emerge from a subterranean tunnel. These areas where they make you wait now have very little in the way of amenities.
It makes me miss the old days, when you got to go out to the concourses; if your party was late, you could have a drink in the bar near the gates, or a meal, and then watch the plane pull up and your friend get off. I’m something of an airplane buff and it was fun to walk around and spot the different kinds of planes.
I think the message of this trend is clear. Not only with today’s security issues, but also with the rising amount of traffic around major airports, if you’re not flying, you should stay away. Barring extraordinary circumstances or needs, if you’re traveling, you should use the taxis, shuttles, and buses, as we do when we fly. That is what they are there for.
Sorry, this is a duped thread.
Maybe some kind Mod could close it.