I think DFW airport is going to be under construction and renovation for the next 10 years.

Scruffy said:

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Biggest issues with airports is there isn't enough space at the gates for the amount of people getting on the planes.

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Biggest problem with airports are the people. If we didn't have people traveling, flying would be awesome.

And - if you fly out of one terminal and into another terminal (with checked baggage), you simply take the skylink to your car and drive it around to the one hour parking near you baggage claim. By the time you do this, the bags may actually be there. You don't even need to deal with the terminal busses.

The interior setup of MCI and the number of gates was much closer to LBB than DFW. The main change at DFW post-911 was the closing of ingress and egress points and checking baggage downstairs.

The older MCI and LBB buildings were literally walk in directly to the gate buildings and had no room to separate flyers from non-flyers. DFW was large enough to create choke points for entrances and still have room for a full movement of passengers between gates.

If you want to compare DFW to other airports, choose those which have a minimum of 100 gates and probably closer to 150-200 gates.

How do you plan to expand the great new MCI to have 150 gates? Will you create 5 more terminals and extend the walkway under the tarmacs to 2.5 miles? Maybe include a 25-story skyrise for parking right next to the entrance. For these reasons and many others, you can't compare MCI to DFW.

DFW has many issues, but it is still one of the most accessible large airports - assuming there is no weather in the area

GAC06 said:

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Last response to you since it's becoming clear you're being intentionally obtuse. The design of MCI when it opened as TWA's hub and when DFW opened are largely the same. MCI has fewer gates now because it's no major airlines's hub. MCI aged worse because the terminals lacked space for security, but the inherent inefficiencies are the same. Having security, baggage, a garage, ticketing for every single terminal is not more efficient. It's significantly less efficient and there's a reason nobody is building airports that way anymore. I don't know how I can explain it better than that.

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Well you're wrong. It's definitely more efficient not less. Easier and quicker. From a personal point of view. Maybe you mean from a logistical or functional point of view. And sure maybe the airport has to staff more people to do it in a distributed way, but I don't care about that. It's more efficient for me. Distributed is better. With one exception I noted if you go in and out of different terminals.

Not being obtuse at all I'm being quite literal. It is better. It is the most efficient large airport in the country. Period. And it is routinely very highly ranked because of that.

King Koda said:

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And - if you fly out of one terminal and into another terminal (with checked baggage), you simply take the skylink to your car and drive it around to the one hour parking near you baggage claim. By the time you do this, the bags may actually be there. You don't even need to deal with the terminal busses.

The interior setup of MCI and the number of gates was much closer to LBB than DFW. The main change at DFW post-911 was the closing of ingress and egress points and checking baggage downstairs.

The older MCI and LBB buildings were literally walk in directly to the gate buildings and had no room to separate flyers from non-flyers. DFW was large enough to create choke points for entrances and still have room for a full movement of passengers between gates.

If you want to compare DFW to other airports, choose those which have a minimum of 100 gates and probably closer to 150-200 gates.

How do you plan to expand the great new MCI to have 150 gates? Will you create 5 more terminals and extend the walkway under the tarmacs to 2.5 miles? Maybe include a 25-story skyrise for parking right next to the entrance. For these reasons and many others, you can't compare MCI to DFW.

DFW has many issues, but it is still one of the most accessible large airports - assuming there is no weather in the area

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Exactly. Comparing MCI to DFW is really a joke. I lived in Kansas City for six years. It was terrible.

If you expanded MCI to have as many gates as DFW, you would end up with ATL. And if you switch terminals at ATL, you're also in for a long trek. And from some of the furthest gates all the way to the centralized baggage claim is at least 30 minutes.

DFW is by far the most efficient airport I have ever flown into or out of. The fact that it is so spread out and has TSA at all the terminals as opposed to TSA being in one spot and then once you're through you go to your terminal, makes for much shorter lines.

I can leave my house 60 mins before my flight, drive to the terminal parking garage, walk through security and grab snacks, etc. it's incredible.

Another nice thing about DFW that has nothing to do with design is that you can get a direct basically anywhere. Love that.

I can't remember the amount of money that's being invested but they are going to essentially redo most of the terminals and add infrastructure.

TexAgBolter said:

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IAH sucked, then they decided to make the entire area a permanent construction zone.

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IAH is God awful. I arrived at Terminal C today (my gate is C4)...TSA pre check was rerouted thru Terminal E. So they made all of the non-felons go two floors down, ride the subway to Terminal E and go thru TSA Precheck secruity there, then walk all the way back to Terminal C. Its a complete disaster while the new Terminal is being constructed.

FriendlyAg said:

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I think DFW airport is going to be under construction and renovation for the next 10 years.

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I mean, there's been a large amount of construction over the years there and they've tolerated it fairly well with the upgrade of the current terminals and even replacing some of the garages completely. And adding sky link. And a fifth terminal. I don't think adding the sixth terminal will be intrusive at all since it's all out there by itself.

But the redo of the roads and flyover bridges right now is pretty messed up. That is gonna be pretty bad. I don't know if it'll be better after the fact or not. I don't know why they thought they had to get rid of Left hand exits.

But they've got the space for it anyway. A lot of airports are very landlocked. DFW is actually laid out with a long-term possible vision of 12 terminals. I mean, I hope it never gets to that. But nice to have room for it and the runways.

Bottom line is that DFW area with DFW and DAL is the best airport combo location in the country.

Smack dab in the middle of the country with flights to anywhere in the USA. You don't realize how good you have it there until you move away. We were 10 min from DAL and 20 min from DFW.

You are totally spoiled living there if you use air travel a lot.

ATL and DFW are probably the best comparison you can make. ATL is MCI on steroids. Outside of personnel efficiency for the airport/airlines, DFW outshines ATL in every customer satisfaction survey there is. With the possible exception of flying Delta vs American and DFW weather.

It will be nice when terminal C is as nice as D. I feel like all my business travel is out of C and leisure for international is D. D is the nicest by far so it'll be nice to see upgrades.

FriendlyAg said:

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It will be nice when terminal C is as nice as D. I feel like all my business travel is out of C and leisure for international is D. D is the nicest by far so it'll be nice to see upgrades.

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yeah they delayed Terminal C redo (phases 2 and 3 of the terminal C plan) in lieu of the expansion of A/C adding 9 gates and building Terminal F. I assume it will get redone after F is open so the impact is less.

https://www.dfwairport.com/construction/terminal-c/

Terminal F scheduled for 2027 which is impressive.

https://www.dfwairport.com/construction/terminal-f/

Looked up the numbers.

MCI has finally topped 12M passengers in 2024 after the new terminal opened with 40 gates.

That's less than Love Field (18M) in twice as many gates. Of course it's going to feel nice and spacious and efficient. It's a regional airport at best (40th) in passengers.

DFW has 224 gates now - adding 9 more soon and Terminal F will add another 15 in 2027 bringing it to 248. In 2024 it had 87M passengers or 7x what MCI carries with about 5.5X the gates currently.

The current plan is a $9 BILLION investment for Terminal C redo, A/C expansion, new Terminal F, Sklylink added stops for F, modernizing baggage handling equipment, more concessions, and the major road construction for International Parkway traffic routing.

The entire new MCI terminal cost $1.5B

Quote:

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The interior setup of MCI and the number of gates was much closer to LBB than DFW

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This absurd argument was already blown to bits with pictures of the airports at the time

FriendlyAg said:

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Scruffy said:

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Biggest issues with airports is there isn't enough space at the gates for the amount of people getting on the planes.

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This. Ha. 20 seats and about 10 feet before you hit the walk way, for 200 people getting on the plane

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When I read that comment, the Charlotte Airport came to mind, When I was switching flights there, I remember walking past an area with Rocking chairs, and it had a cracker barrel porch feel......and then I got to the gate, There were about ten gates in a circle with seating areas for maybe two flights.

ToddyHill said:

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I don't get today's criticism of airports in the United States. Then again, I'm old, and I remember LGA back in the 70's.

Edit...actually, the 60's. I was a kid when my oldest sister was a stewardess for Eastern Airlines and based out of NYC.

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Our airport terminals should be immaculate.

Have you ever seen how much cities spend on airport terminals? The new IAH terminal B is going to cost $2.6BB

Huge amount of regulation and graft driving up the cost

Ferg said:

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FriendlyAg said:

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Scruffy said:

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Biggest issues with airports is there isn't enough space at the gates for the amount of people getting on the planes.

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This. Ha. 20 seats and about 10 feet before you hit the walk way, for 200 people getting on the plane

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When I read that comment, the Charlotte Airport came to mind, When I was switching flights there, I remember walking past an area with Rocking chairs, and it had a cracker barrel porch feel......and then I got to the gate, There were about ten gates in a circle with seating areas for maybe two flights.

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I've flown through CLT 4 times during the past decade and they've all been awful.

Even the AA Lounge when I was connecting to LHR in May 2025 was sad.

And the concessions in the terminal were way overpriced.

Fightin_Aggie said:

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ToddyHill said:

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I don't get today's criticism of airports in the United States. Then again, I'm old, and I remember LGA back in the 70's.

Edit...actually, the 60's. I was a kid when my oldest sister was a stewardess for Eastern Airlines and based out of NYC.

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Our airport terminals should be immaculate.

Have you ever seen how much cities spend on airport terminals? The new IAH terminal B is going to cost $2.6BB

Huge amount of regulation and graft driving up the cost

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And you'd think that 24 years post 9/11 that at least one of our airports would have decent security screening.

The new, hidden screening are downstairs at Las Vegas isn't too bad.

FriendlyAg said:

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DFW is by far the most efficient airport I have ever flown into or out of. The fact that it is so spread out and has TSA at all the terminals as opposed to TSA being in one spot and then once you're through you go to your terminal, makes for much shorter lines.

I can leave my house 60 mins before my flight, drive to the terminal parking garage, walk through security and grab snacks, etc. it's incredible.

Another nice thing about DFW that has nothing to do with design is that you can get a direct basically anywhere. Love that.

I can't remember the amount of money that's being invested but they are going to essentially redo most of the terminals and add infrastructure.

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THIS...

Having several TSA checkpoints per terminal vs 1 TSA checkpoint for everyone is nice.

ts5641 said:

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Hell, all I want from an airport is good signage.

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And Panda Express with street pricing.

94chem said:

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ts5641 said:

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Hell, all I want from an airport is good signage.

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And Panda Express with street pricing.

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PDX has to charge the prices as outside the airport by law.....it's still a $8 latte though

Hoyt Ag said:

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Its not just Europe but in Asia too. Our airports suuuuck.

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you mean being forced like a sardine onto the "Dulles Airport People Mover" is not as nice as Dubai International??!

That honestly looks better than the busses I have to take from the plane to the terminal at Frankfurt. Did the same in Rome. Quite a few large european airports still have way too many "gates" dumping you down stairs on the tarmac. That's embarrassing in 2025.

HollywoodBQ said:

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DCAggie13y said:

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A Net Full of Jello said:

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YouBet said:

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Here in Texas DAL, HOU, AUS, and CRP have been rebooted. Hell, DAL is about to get rebooted again, already.

SAT is being rebooted as well.

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But can we all still agree that for one of the more major airports in the state, AUS sucks bad?

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AUS is 10x better than any European airport. Namely easy to get in and out of and decent food choices.

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Austin sucks ass too.

Especially if you travel early, or late.

Delayed after 10pm - best of luck to you.

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Long time Austin resident here and I could not agree more that AUS is the suck. And there are NO decent food choices there. AUS is outgrowing itself quickly and its poor initial design will not make for easy or efficient expansion as best as I can tell. I also like the way the floor shakes from time to time. Comforting.....

The only European airport I've ever flown in and out of was Dublin. Nothing at all impressive there, except for the Aggie working for CBP doing the screening questions.

Wahoo82 said:

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HollywoodBQ said:

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DCAggie13y said:

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A Net Full of Jello said:

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YouBet said:

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Here in Texas DAL, HOU, AUS, and CRP have been rebooted. Hell, DAL is about to get rebooted again, already.

SAT is being rebooted as well.

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But can we all still agree that for one of the more major airports in the state, AUS sucks bad?

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AUS is 10x better than any European airport. Namely easy to get in and out of and decent food choices.

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Austin sucks ass too.

Especially if you travel early, or late.

Delayed after 10pm - best of luck to you.

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Long time Austin resident here and I could not agree more that AUS is the suck. And there are NO decent food choices there. AUS is outgrowing itself quickly and its poor initial design will not make for easy or efficient expansion as best as I can tell. I also like the way the floor shakes from time to time. Comforting.....

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Agreed. Connected through there a few times and it was just ok. Layout kinda sucks it is so linear. Food was ok though. Salt Lick BBQ and Hat Creek Burgers (is that still there?).

Still talking about a very midsize airport - 29th in US.

Get Off My Lawn said:

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My favorite airports experiences are almost always at ones with 4-10 gates. Sure, most of those show their age, but I'd take a single restaurant, no lines, & local business displays over some palatial facility that pretends it's not an elaborate machine designed to squeeze some cash out of the human cargo it shuffles along.

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This describes my local airport. Serves a population of ~1 million. Parking is easy, always faster just to walk to the terminal than wait for the bus. TSA never takes more than five minutes.

The downside is a dearth of direct flights. Most of the major airlines offer flights to their nearest hub, but on an Embraer with their commuter airline partner. And never anywhere you want to go.

Usually I find it advantageous to drive to a nearby larger airport and not have to deal with a layover and potentially missing a connection.

Zombie Jon Snow said:

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Wahoo82 said:

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HollywoodBQ said:

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DCAggie13y said:

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A Net Full of Jello said:

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YouBet said:

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Here in Texas DAL, HOU, AUS, and CRP have been rebooted. Hell, DAL is about to get rebooted again, already.

SAT is being rebooted as well.

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But can we all still agree that for one of the more major airports in the state, AUS sucks bad?

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AUS is 10x better than any European airport. Namely easy to get in and out of and decent food choices.

---

Austin sucks ass too.

Especially if you travel early, or late.

Delayed after 10pm - best of luck to you.

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Long time Austin resident here and I could not agree more that AUS is the suck. And there are NO decent food choices there. AUS is outgrowing itself quickly and its poor initial design will not make for easy or efficient expansion as best as I can tell. I also like the way the floor shakes from time to time. Comforting.....

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Agreed. Connected through there a few times and it was just ok. Layout kinda sucks it is so linear. Food was ok though. Salt Lick BBQ and Hat Creek Burgers (is that still there?).

Still talking about a very midsize airport - 29th in US.

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Keep in mind those airport locations are most likely run by a third party that licenses the restaurant name. Pretty much one vendor runs a whole airport's concessions operation.

torrid said:

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Get Off My Lawn said:

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My favorite airports experiences are almost always at ones with 4-10 gates. Sure, most of those show their age, but I'd take a single restaurant, no lines, & local business displays over some palatial facility that pretends it's not an elaborate machine designed to squeeze some cash out of the human cargo it shuffles along.

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This describes my local airport. Serves a population of ~1 million. Parking is easy, always faster just to walk to the terminal than wait for the bus. TSA never takes more than five minutes.

The downside is a dearth of direct flights. Most of the major airlines offer flights to their nearest hub, but on an Embraer with their commuter airline partner. And never anywhere you want to go.

Usually I find it advantageous to drive to a nearby larger airport and not have to deal with a layover and potentially missing a connection.

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I flew out of MFE a lot for business - McAllen - and that's what it was for sure. I think 8 gates but usually used like 5 of them.

One restaurant/bar that had a choice of sit down or counter serve. Decent food actually. One store. Security was a breeze and nicely set up.

But parking and walking was a breeze.

They did a major reno of the entire airport in maybe 2016 so it was actually nice too. But I hear they are already looking to expand and improve it again due to growth.

We just flew out of Puerto Vallarta yesterday. It sucked. No real control of passenger queues, Delta counter service started 15 minutes late while WestJet and United were serving their people quickly…
Mexico City is tough to get around…
US airports are sane by comparison.

Wahoo82 said:

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HollywoodBQ said:

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DCAggie13y said:

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A Net Full of Jello said:

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YouBet said:

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Here in Texas DAL, HOU, AUS, and CRP have been rebooted. Hell, DAL is about to get rebooted again, already.

SAT is being rebooted as well.

---

But can we all still agree that for one of the more major airports in the state, AUS sucks bad?

---

AUS is 10x better than any European airport. Namely easy to get in and out of and decent food choices.

---

Austin sucks ass too.

Especially if you travel early, or late.

Delayed after 10pm - best of luck to you.

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Long time Austin resident here and I could not agree more that AUS is the suck. And there are NO decent food choices there. AUS is outgrowing itself quickly and its poor initial design will not make for easy or efficient expansion as best as I can tell. I also like the way the floor shakes from time to time. Comforting.....

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I was on one of the last flights into the old Robert Mueller - after they had shut off the air conditioning.
Of course this was pre-9/11 but man, it was such an awesome airport.

Not even the awesomeness of DFW Terminal D could compare to the old Robert Mueller.

My wife used to slow down next to the terminal and throw me out of the car about 15 minutes before departure and I could still make the flight.

My record though (living in Round Rock) was buying a ticket less than 1 hour before the flight and still making it - airport commute and parking included.

The current ABIA is classic Austin thinking - if we don't build it, they won't come.

OK, we'll build a little bit. But, we're not going to get any bigger than that.

They're still coming. OK, maybe just a little bit more and then they'll stop.

My only criteria for airports is that they have whiskey and airplanes. All of the USA airports I've been in have all of the above.

torrid said:

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Usually I find it advantageous to drive to a nearby larger airport and not have to deal with a layover and potentially missing a connection.

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Yep... the Waco / Temple / Killeen / College Station problem.

Although, my last few trips up I-35 from Waco to DFW / DAL, have almost made me reconsider that strategy. I like to complain about I-45 in Houston but... driving to DFW just sucks nowadays. 5+ years ago, it wasn't that bad.

As a visitor to Texas for 23 years (from 2000 - 2023), almost every single Texas trip I made, I visited somebody in Waco or College Station. During that time, I flew into:

• Waco ACT (my father actually managed the project for the terminal remodel) - once
• College Station CLL - once
• Beaumont - Port Arthur BPT - once
• Ellington Field EFD - once
• Killeen GRK - twice - this airport is a hidden gem
• Dallas Love Field DAL - about 3 times - it got better and then worse
• Austin Bergstrom AUS - 10+ times
• Houston Hobby HOU - 10+ times
• Dallas - Fort Worth DFW - 15+ times
• Houston Intercontinental (Bush) IAH - 30+ times

The biggest delay I had was at DFW where I had a 24 hour delay (out of Terminal D) to Sydney, Australia but... that was because our flight out of BWI was late due to lightning in the DC area.

So yeah, I'll almost always take the longer drive to get to the larger airport to avoid a short connection and possible problems.

Yellerjacket said:

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My only criteria for airports is that they have whiskey and airplanes. All of the USA airports I've been in have all of the above.

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Even Salt Lake City - LOL

HollywoodBQ said:

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Yellerjacket said:

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My only criteria for airports is that they have whiskey and airplanes. All of the USA airports I've been in have all of the above.

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Even Salt Lake City - LOL

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I'm pretty sure I've had whiskey in Salt Lake City! Might have been beer. Either way. It works.