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The inspiration for this article came to me on a flight from Washington DC to DFW, while pondering my next feature for the Voorn Project. So I give you the Jet Set Guide to Flying I’ve been flying for a long time. My first flight was at 3 months old. I got my first passport at 5 months and flew to the Netherlands to see relatives. So since I’ve been in the air practically from birth I have acquired a lot of airline and airport knowledge that I’m going to pass along to you, the reader. Guide
to Airports
Austin Bergstrom. I’ve never had a layover here, but I imagine it’s a decent place. The airport is fairly new, and the city copied Denver by building new, not renovating old. It sits on the site of Bergstrom Air Force Base, so runways and space were readily available. Philadelphia International. I spent a few hours here in the summer of 1995. There’s a really cool Goldberg type ball Erector thing (hard to describe, but it’s fun to watch). DFW. From 1989 to 1994, I lived in Raleigh, North Carolina. This was a big move, leaving Southern California, so we made a lot of trips back to see grandparents and other relatives. Each time, the trip required a connection in DFW (or sometimes O’Hare). When you’re a kid, the moving walkway between Terminals A & C is an amazingly good time. I’d always hope for a layover and a gate near the sidewalk, and Adrienne and I would entertain ourselves that way. Now, since moving to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, there’s no need for layovers at DFW. Heathrow. The world’s busiest and most diverse international airport, Heathrow is great for people watching. Any flight from Africa, Asia, or Europe will probably connect through London’s biggest airport. It’s in need of a facelift, though. Palm Springs. Part of Palm Springs airport is open air, due to the dry heat. If you have time before your flight, you can kill time on the outdoor putting greens in the waiting area. Chicago O’Hare. Hans claims that he sees a celebrity every time he flies into O’Hare. He’s met Duran Duran and Prince in O’Hare, and I was with him about 15 years ago when Muhammad Ali was there, signing autographs on Muslim literature. Worst New York JFK. New York’s busiest airport occupies prime real estate in Jamaica, on Long Island. There’s little room to move or expand, so the construction is constant. Narrow hallways, 70s era decorations, weird smells, and poor waiting areas spells bad times for layovers. New
York LaGuardia. The other New York airport, LaGuardia is smaller
and services domestic flights only. It’s the oldest NY airport,
dating to the 30s. Luckily, they renovated L Boston Logan. Often called Boston Logjam Airport, Boston has the same problem as JFK. It sits on a peninsula over the ocean and there’s nowhere to expand. Expect terminal construction (overview photo at right). Miami International. As Hans calls it, “The Third World.” Miami is the gateway to Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Nowhere to sit and nothing to do. I should know, I spent 5 hours here in March. Security lines are a mile long, too. Other Important Stuff How to Go Through Security- Don’t carry stuff in your pocket. Stick your change, your phone, belt, and all metallic jewelry into your carry-on. Trying to sneak in hoping the sensor won’t go off isn’t a good idea. Then you get the wand treatment. Wear good socks. You’ll probably have to take off your shoes. Don’t be that guy with holes in his socks. The airport with the longest security lines is LAX. Allow enough time. On the Plane- On takeoff, I will always prefer the window seat. I’ve flown out of DFW so many times; I can identify landmarks from the sky within seconds. For instance, if I’m sitting on the left side of the plane and we land on the northwest runway, I know I’ll be able to spot my house from the air, and the rest of Flower Mound that sits on Grapevine Lake. If I take off on the south runway, I’ll see Six Flags and the Ballpark. Drinks. In first class, alcohol is free. In coach it’s not. Since AA stopped serving Dr Pepper, I usually order Pepsi. Ginger ale and apple juice are also fine choices on an airplane. Food. Airplane food really hasn’t decreased in quality, just quantity. A trip from Raleigh to DFW over 12 noon used to always have a full meal. Now, you’re lucky if it’s a bistro bag. When I was 14, I flew to the Netherlands. International flights always have quality meals, and my choice was filet mignon or vegetable lasagna something. I have a slight aversion to cooked vegetables, so I chose the filet mignon. My reasoning was, hey, I’m 14, and I’ve never had steak before, why not give it a whirl. Well, the meat was so fatty that I could barely cut it with my knife. I got thoroughly grossed out, and didn’t eat it. And now at 21, I still don’t eat any red meat. I'm working on some more stuff, so stay tuned!
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THE
VOORN PROJECT |
I
call myself a lot of things, but one that I’m proud of and enjoy
boasting about is my world traveler status. I’m (only) 21, and already
I’ve traveled to 12 countries and 32 states. Before you think I’m
some high class spoiled suburban kid, let me remind you that my traveling
is mainly due to my dad’s love for travel. That love led to his
job at American Airlines, which allows for swell perks, of which I get
to enjoy as well. But I am from the suburbs…
The
best airport I’ve ever been to is Denver International.
DIA is about 8 years old. Unlike some cities who renovate old airports
and are eternally under construction (see: Boston Logan), Denver simply
closed their old and opened a brand new one across town. It sits on the
Colorado plain away from everything, and is visible for miles. The airport
has a huge shopping area that sits under a white tent-like roof. The terminals
are connected by a super fast rail. It’s never fun to have a layover,
but at least there’s enough to see and do at DIA. Other good layover
airports to check out:
GA
in the 60s, but it needs it again. What’s also fun (not) is flying
into LGA, then taking a taxi to JFK for an international flight. We’ve
had to do that a few times.