Originally posted 4.10.08
Okay, first let me start by saying that I am currently - as in right this moment - in Vegas. Now let me add that I am not amused! I have flown in and out of this airport before but tonight is different than all the times before. Tonight, Vegas is just a connection point for me. I am on my way to Louisville (via Vegas and Cincinnati) to celebrate my grandfather's recent 90th birthday with the fandamily. I have never connected through Vegas before, it has always been the destination. And as a destination, this airport rocks! Slot machines in the terminals get the party started the moment you get off the plane and should you make it back to the airport with any money still in your pocket, this airport will certainly take care of that! As Holly and I once said on the now infamous Vegas/Phoenix trip - 'I just want to play til I run out of nickels'.
As a connection though, this airport is a nuisance. It doesn't help that my first flight was on a different airline than the last two legs. I landed in what appears to be US Air World and not only did I have to leave that terminal and GO BACK THROUGH SECURITY to get to my next flight, I couldn't even find any information about which terminal I needed to go to. Apparently, if it isn't a US Air flight, it just doesn't matter. Now, going back through security was not a major deal. I have a two hour layover and I am a security efficiency expert (hint: you will never see me wear jewelry or anything with zippers or clasps on an airplane). But inefficient design always annoys me. It might also be more annoying given the fact that I am already tired and the night is just beginning. I have a love/hate relationship with red eyes - love the fact that it saves me wasting a day on travel and that the crowds are minimal, hate the up all night and recovery.
My annoyance is heightened by the fact that I just paid $7.64 for a double cheeseburger meal at BK. $7.64!!! Isn't that like a 100% mark up for airport captive audiences?
So back to the point (there is a reason to this rant). I keep a mental list of airports that I will NOT travel through if possible. O'Hare is at the top of that list and has no contenders challenging it and probably never will. Don't even get me started on why I hate it so much - you do not want to hear about it. Let's just leave it at the fact that I have never once flown out of there on time and I once had a flight canceled there due to weather when it was 72 and balmy both there AND at the destination (which was less than an hour flight away so you can't convince me there was any weather in between). Really, that is all I can say without reaching the point of no return because even that brought me to the brink of rage. Don't move to Chicago if you want me to visit you often.
Las Vegas is now on the list. I won't avoid it like I do O'Hare but if I have an option, I won't connect through Vegas. It is still fine as a destination though. For now.
Just to end on a positive note, there are some airports I like. I love connecting through Atlanta, Charlotte (although they did lose my bags once) and Pittsburgh as they are all people friendly and very well designed. Atlanta is also home to some dear friends so I try to fit in a nice long lay over and a reunion breakfast when I can. Charlotte has a great ambiance and if I have to kill a few hours just sitting around in an airport, Charlotte would be my pick. Unless I am in the mood to shop. Then it is Pittsburgh all the way because they have a mall inside the terminals and the prices are fixed so that they can't charge more than they do at the same store outside the airport. Love it!
I used to enjoy flying. I have logged a lot of miles. But these days, the enjoyment is quickly becoming engulfed in the hassle and the headaches. It is almost like going to the dentist anymore. And you know how I feel about the dentist!
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