# Why do all airports look alike? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404 "2011-03-03T20:37:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/21 "2019-07-08T04:02:09Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Not exactly. It was empty for years (decades?) but _very_ recently opened as a [hotel](https://www.twahotel.com/). But JFK was always a weird airport in that there were separate terminals for each of the major US carriers, along with one common international terminal for everyone else. I think there is a grand plan to rebuild it so that it’s more uniform. A friend of mine (and a former poster here) was just there a few weeks ago. In addition to the hotel, they’ve brought in a restored Lockheed Constellation and use it as a cocktail bar. I would love to check it out, maybe even stay there. I’m an aviation and architecture geek, but I’m not sure I’m geeky enough to go to a city just to visit the airport. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/22 "2019-07-08T04:25:20Z")
Not all airports are alike, although the departure terminals in major international airports tend to be the same. My fave ever airport so far is U-Tapau flying from Pattaya in Thailand to various destinations. Just four boarding lounges, a cafe and fuck-all duty-free shit to wade through. Oh, and they have a smoking area outside WITH COMFY CHAIRS. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/23 "2019-07-08T04:31:26Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > They could easily solve the “peeking in” problem by facing the doors towards each other in a vestibule. Which is how it’s done for example in BCN, although without doors: just frames. I’ve seen the “round wall” thing in a couple of the larger highway rest stops in France. It wasn’t particularly convenient for people toting kids or large luggage since the same places also had the “pay before going in” rotating poles arrangement, which really slows things down and clearly wasn’t designed by anybody who uses a wheelchair, crutches or has two toddlers. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/24 "2019-07-08T04:51:43Z")
This is probably more suited to IMHO than GQ. Please note that this thread was started in 2011. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/25 "2019-07-08T07:44:50Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > This is probably more suited to IMHO than GQ. Please note that this thread was started in 2011. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator NOW you tell us! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/26 "2019-07-08T12:33:53Z")
Since I fly for a living I pass through many, many airports. I think what’s been said so far mostly covers it - there’s a lot of similarity, but also a lot of places that have their own feel and look. What I do notice is extremely standard wherever I’ve been is, there are always TVs on. Everywhere. They’re inescapable in airports, even the private jet terminals I work from. It’s like someone decided CNN or whatever has to be on at all times, and the volume has to be on. It drives me crazy, and if I have the time I’ll walk a long way to find a quiet area. But as I walk from gate to gate it’s like there’s continual overlap of TVs. I wish that would go away. Music would be OK by me. But what’s wrong with a public space that doesn’t bombard us with TV? Especially when many of us have the technology in our pocket if we do want to sit down and watch? I suspect someone, somewhere thinks having TV always on makes it look like the place is “happening”, and that silence or even just music would make people think airports aren’t exciting or something. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/27 "2019-07-08T20:10:05Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > I suspect someone, somewhere thinks having TV always on makes it look like the place is “happening”, and that silence or even just music would make people think airports aren’t exciting or something. I wonder if someone, somewhere is getting paid by CNN to have the damn TVs on all the time. No one really watches the damn things especially these days when you can bring your own stuff with headphones. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/28 "2019-07-08T23:22:48Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > The design of the restrooms, for instance, with that rounded wall at the entrance. And the signs, the gate designs, everything. All the same. OK, so what rounded wall? I assume I will immediately recognize this once I see a picture, but I have been in many airports and can’t quite picture what you are saying. [Edit: This is a pretty typical bathroom entrance at an airport as far as I know.](http://www.cdaandi.com/wp-content/uploads/1959/01/phl03a.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/29 "2019-07-08T23:31:32Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > What I do notice is extremely standard wherever I’ve been is, there are always TVs on. Everywhere. They’re inescapable in airports, even the private jet terminals I work from. It’s like someone decided CNN or whatever has to be on at all times, and the volume has to be on. It drives me crazy, and if I have the time I’ll walk a long way to find a quiet area. But as I walk from gate to gate it’s like there’s continual overlap of TVs. Aside from the TVs everywhere, what annoys me are the overhead announcements for _every_ gate in the terminal, if not the whole airport. So when I’m at my gate, I really don’t need to know that the flight at a gate a quarter mile away is ready to board. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/30 "2019-07-09T00:46:06Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I wonder if someone, somewhere is getting paid by CNN to have the damn TVs on all the time. No one really watches the damn things especially these days when you can bring your own stuff with headphones. It’s the opposite. In 58 airports across the US, the airport managers pay CNN. From the **CNN Airport** media kit: “Take advantage of CNN’s technical expertise, system design experience, buying power and vendor relationships to put together a top notch television network in your airport.” > **[cnn-apn-media-kit-2019.pdf](https://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/airport.network/cnn-apn-media-kit-2019.pdf)** > > 1200.02 KB ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/31 "2019-07-09T06:17:20Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > What I do notice is extremely standard wherever I’ve been is, there are always TVs on. Everywhere. They’re inescapable in airports, even the private jet terminals I work from. It’s like someone decided CNN or whatever has to be on at all times, and the volume has to be on. It drives me crazy, and if I have the time I’ll walk a long way to find a quiet area. But as I walk from gate to gate it’s like there’s continual overlap of TVs. Rare in Western Europe. Screens with flight and airport information, yes. Noise, yes, from people. Actual TVs, no. I’ve only seen them in a few airport restaurants; usually American-themed ones, and not even all of those. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/32 "2019-07-09T13:04:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Aside from the TVs everywhere, what annoys me are the overhead announcements for _every_ gate in the terminal, if not the whole airport. So when I’m at my gate, I really don’t need to know that the flight at a gate a quarter mile away is ready to board. It’s a lot easier to list all gates at once than to send out different video signals depending on where the monitor is. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/33 "2019-07-09T13:23:19Z")
I was referring to the often very loud audio announcements via the PA system. The monitors showing arrivals and departures (including gate information) don’t bother me at all. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/34 "2019-08-17T02:05:21Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > I guess I would just say that as someone who flies every other week, to all different locations, modern airports work much better than the old “interesting” ones. And while in general I appreciate old, interesting things, airports are miserable when they work. > > That said, I really hate when an airport won’t let me walk between terminals. If I’ve the time, I much prefer a long walk to some diminutive subway system. Especially when you’re about to be sitting in a tiny airplane seat for several hours. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/35 "2019-08-17T02:34:47Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Aside from the TVs everywhere, what annoys me are the overhead announcements for _every_ gate in the terminal, if not the whole airport. So when I’m at my gate, I really don’t need to know that the flight at a gate a quarter mile away is ready to board. But ah, such fun watching the people who wandered off from that gate do that “OMG” sprint across the concourse dragging along their rollaboards, laptop bags, and family members, dropping the ocassional loose shoe, latte cup or child… ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2019, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/36 "2019-08-17T04:14:35Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I was referring to the often very loud audio announcements via the PA system. The monitors showing arrivals and departures (including gate information) don’t bother me at all. The ones I hear are for gates in the general vicinity, or gate change announcements which make sense to play near the original gate. I can usually see people queuing up after the boarding announcement. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/37 "2021-08-29T21:32:52Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m an aviation and architecture geek, but I’m not sure I’m geeky enough to go to a city just to visit the airport. More to the point, I’d love to visit NYC for many reasons, but I sure as hell wouldn’t want to stay at JFK. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/38 "2021-08-29T22:13:02Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > I wonder if someone, somewhere is getting paid by CNN to have the damn TVs on all the time. No one really watches the damn things especially these days when you can bring your own stuff with headphones. > > It’s the opposite. In 58 airports across the US, the airport managers pay CNN. From the **CNN Airport** media kit: “Take advantage of CNN’s technical expertise, system design experience, buying power and vendor relationships to put together a top notch television network in your airport.” > > [cnn.com](https://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/airport.network/cnn-apn-media-kit-2019.pdf) > > ### [cnn-apn-media-kit-2019.pdf](https://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/airport.network/cnn-apn-media-kit-2019.pdf) > > 1200.02 KB Since this thread was revived, you may be happy to hear that [CNN Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN_Airport) ended about six months ago. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/39 "2021-08-30T00:09:04Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I really don’t need to know that the flight at a gate a quarter mile away is ready to board. I know I’m replying to a two year old post, but I always assumed that was for the benefit of people who might have wandered away from the gate to use the restroom, or buy a snack, or whatever. It’s their cue to get their ass back to the gate, because their flight is about to board. Back to the OP, I can’t find the article right now, but I read an article a year or two ago about how one overreaching principle of airport terminal design is making it obvious where people should go with a minimal amount of signage. Because when people see a sign, they tend to pause momentarily to read it, and that gums up the flow of traffic. So architects try to design terminals such that there’s one clear, obvious path from check-in to security to the gates. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404/40 "2021-08-30T00:24:44Z")
Hard trivia question: What percentage of the world’s airports are in the US? Airports are very functional buildings. There are a lot of things they have to do - allow safe takeoff and landing, load and unload passengers and cargo, keep the public and employees safe through security, observation and documents, follow international and local laws, communicate changing information, provide parking and ground transportation, allow for connections, etc. There are also a lot of things they like to do: encourage high-rent commercial activity, feed people, help pass long waits, have nice if expensive amenity options, have more private areas, charge inflated prices, etc. They look alike since it takes a lot of space to have runways which confirm to specific safety standards, some building designs are more efficient at fulfilling the above roles, etc. I do not agree airports tend to be that much alike. Architecture, geography, local flavours, preferences do differ. But I would prefer much more diverse duty free shops and not the large and humdrum partial monopoly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-airports-look-alike/573404.md?page=3)