International Airports

[Shaun @ Tru6]

In general, international airports are much cleaner, nicer, brighter, more architecturally interesting than U.S. airports. in Dubai now, beautiful airport.


Why are ours dingy, dark big blocks of concrete?

[Cdnone1]

Probably because Americans are taking their manufacturing jobs over there, so they have the tax base to build new ones.

Steve

[Gogar]

Dubai's tax base? You're funny.

[ben parrish]

More likely is that most of the airports in the USA are OLD. many international airports are new and modern.
Want to see a beautiful, bright US airport? Go to DIA..beautiful and modern. The airport it replaced was dark and dreary/old.

[cashflyer]

Part of it is country size.
How many international airports does Dubai have?

Part of it is knowing your audience.
Many travelers see Dubai as a wealthy destination and their first contact with the country is their arrival in the airport. Dubai wants to make a certain impression with those travelers.

When I fly into IAD, I notice that the US is also making a certain impression.
An impression of a dingy, inefficient police state.

[Joeaksa]

Most countries care how they look to people coming for business or to visit. Ours usually could care less and the way people are treated by immigration/customs shows it.

[Laneco]

Bangkok (BKK) is very nice. Clean, modern, great use of natural light and live plants.

It was a very pleasant surprise after years of being stuck for endless hours in the hell-hole of our US airports... US does have a few bright spots, my favorite being Denver. My least favorite is LAX, especially if I have to switch terminals which involves walking outside of security and going through security AGAIN. What an incredibly stupid concept.

angela

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Most countries care how they look to people coming for business or to visit. Ours usually could care less and the way people are treated by immigration/customs shows it.

I've noticed that, and it's disturbing. People who come here to spend money here. They should be welcomed with open arms. What they get is indifference at best, and at times what appears to be hostility. It's been a long time since I was welcomed home as enthusiastically as I was welcomed to European cities.
I have noticed that USA's TSA people at international concourses have been pleasant and helpful.

[red-beard]

I've been background checked several times and now have clearance to pretty much bypass immigrations and customs in the USA. Why am I groped by the TSA everytime I fly? I know I have a nice package, but do they need their dirty mitts on it?

We have entered a world of Catch-22

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I've been background checked several times and now have clearance to pretty much bypass immigrations and customs in the USA.

How does that work? I didn't know anyone could legitimately bypass immigration and customs.

[Garp]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I've noticed that, and it's disturbing. People who come here to spend money here. They should be welcomed with open arms. What they get is indifference at best, and at times what appears to be hostility. It's been a long time since I was welcomed home as enthusiastically as I was welcomed to European cities.
I have noticed that USA's TSA people at international concourses have been pleasant and helpful.

I beg to differ. I've flown into many US airports (MIA, PHX, LAX, SEA, DFW etc) and have always been welcomed in a friendly and courteous manner. In fact I just received an e-mail from my wife who just arrived in NYC saying how friendly immigrations was in JFK. Perhaps there is a different attitude towards foreigners.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

How does that work? I didn't know anyone could legitimately bypass immigration and customs.

I do it all the time between Canada & the US. Although technically, you are only skipping the lineups. I walk by the hordes to a biometric machine which scans my irises & spits out a card that I give to the agent at the exit of the custom's hall. It saves me 30 minutes + on outgoing & 20 minutes + on return. $50/80 fee depending on program.

Here the program is called Canpass and/or Nexus.

Ian

[Gogar]

That reminds me: Did anyone else notice that "CLEAR" is back?

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by Garp

Perhaps there is a different attitude towards foreigners.

Perhaps it varies from airport to airport.
I am not a foreigner. Personnel at IAD treat everyone like dirt.

But I think OPs original post was more about the structures and not the goons who work there.

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Here the program is called Canpass and/or Nexus.

Here, it's part of the Trusted Traveler program.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Travel

[HardDrive]

Oddly, Detroit has a wonderful airport. Light, modern and airy.

[Normy]

Dubai is indeed very nice. I flew in to that place all the time at one point in my career; That is the only place in the middle east that I would leave the hotel to get dinner. There was a mall about 1 mile from the Metropolitan Palace where we stayed, and other than the traditional Arab garb on the occasional shopper....if you didn't know where you where, you'd swear you were in Pittsburg! Dubai does its very best to look like the west.

As to the airport? It works, it is well done, but in my opinion, Hong Kong is better. Orlando beats them all! In my opinion, Orlando International Airport is the best airport in the world. It is big, it moves people quickly, it is nicely designed. It does everything right.

N

[cgarr]

Its all about the money and companies (politics) behind them. Our little Grand Rapids (GRR) is an international airport only because the Amway boys wanted to fly their jets direct, come on, Grand Rapids an international airport?? please!!

[jluetjen]

I liked Dubai, and it was kind of cool seeing all of the Rolex watches and other expensive do-dads for sale. For this week's trip to Asia though I figured that I'd skip the mid-east connections. That and when flying back from Malaysia on Emerates I found that you're stuck with like a 5 hour a long layover in Dubai in the middle of the night, which just sucks.

[Zeke]

I think we should put big runways next to some of the real big truck stops. They are far better at serving the traveler than any airport I have been to.