The Airports of the Future Have Arrived

[Peter1469]

The Airports of the Future Have Arrived

For those who travel-

Istanbul has opened (in part) the largest airport in the world. But Beijing is going to open a bigger one. I have been to the current airport in Istanbul- it is pretty nice.

Air travel is growing in popularity across the world, and the global aviation system is undergoing projects big and small to keep up.

“We’re forecasting that traffic will double in the next 17 years,” said Angela Gittens, director general for Airports Council International (A.C.I. World). “Millions more people will be traveling.”


And those people, she said, won’t just be in places where flying is already popular. “An emerging economy now will be an advanced economy later,” Ms. Gittens said.


New and expanded airports are needed to meet that demand. Istanbul, for example, has already begun opening its new airport in phases that will eventually be able to accommodate hundreds of millions of travelers a year. Beijing is set to get its own new airport up and running next year.

[Abby08]

I hate airports.

It has been several years since I've flown, so I didn't know you now check yourself in, using one of several convenient kiosks located directly in front of the people who, pick up your bags and, place them on the conveyor belt... That's all the 'ticket agents,' do now.

She says," did you print out your boarding pass and, tag your bag?" I say, " no, I didn't know you had to do that." She says," right there behind you, print those out, attach the baggage tag and, come back."

I do that, go back and, she says, " thank you, your gate is D6.

I already knew that, because it says on the boarding pass.

Seriously, they just stand behind the counter, take your baggage and, place them on the belt.

At least, that's how it's now done at Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix.

[Tahuyaman]

I wish that they would fix the operations of airports of today. Every time I've had a connecting flight into O'Hare, my connection seems like it's more than a mile from gate I arrived at and the time is so cramped that I'm running to the next gate. It happens every time, not just on occasion.

[Peter1469]

I hate airports.

It has been several years since I've flown, so I didn't know you now check yourself in, using one of several convenient kiosks located directly in front of the people who, pick up your bags and, place them on the conveyor belt... That's all the 'ticket agents,' do now.

She says," did you print out your boarding pass and, tag your bag?" I say, " no, I didn't know you had to do that." She says," right there behind you, print those out, attach the baggage tag and, come back."

I do that, go back and, she says, " thank you, your gate is D6.

I already knew that, because it says on the boarding pass.

Seriously, they just stand behind the counter, take your baggage and, place them on the belt.

At least, that's how it's now done at Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix.

It is getting easier and faster.

[pragmatic]

The Airports of the Future Have Arrived

For those who travel-

Istanbul has opened (in part) the largest airport in the world. But Beijing is going to open a bigger one. I have been to the current airport in Istanbul- it is pretty nice.

Sounds pretty fancy schmancy.

But why would 100 million people want to go to Istanbul....??

[Peter1469]

Sounds pretty fancy schmancy.

But why would 100 million people want to go to Istanbul....??

It is a really cool city and you can get to many other cool places from there.

[pragmatic]

It is a really cool city and you can get to many other cool places from there.

Where is it on the list for being "safe for Americans"?

Turkey as a whole doesn't seem particularly calm. Have you been there...??

[Tahuyaman]

I hate airports.

It has been several years since I've flown, so I didn't know you now check yourself in, using one of several convenient kiosks located directly in front of the people who, pick up your bags and, place them on the conveyor belt... That's all the 'ticket agents,' do now.

She says," did you print out your boarding pass and, tag your bag?" I say, " no, I didn't know you had to do that." She says," right there behind you, print those out, attach the baggage tag and, come back."

I do that, go back and, she says, " thank you, your gate is D6.

I already knew that, because it says on the boarding pass.

Seriously, they just stand behind the counter, take your baggage and, place them on the belt.

At least, that's how it's now done at Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix.

This is a good one. The last few times I have flown into Seattle from Mexico they installed a new system for customs. They installed kiosks which scan your passport and ask the questions about items you are bringing in and such. This is supposed to help make the customs process faster.


Then you get in line and go see the customs guy who checks and scans your passport and asks you those very same questions again.


The last time I went through customs, I asked the guy what purpose the kiosks serve if we are just repeating that process? He actually told me "by going through the kiosk, you avoid coming to see me". When I responded "I used the kiosk and It was mandatory for me to come to you for my next step".

Again he said "Yes, by using the kiosk you have eliminate the need to see me next". I said "then why was I forced to see you next"? His response "because going through me a necessary step in the process"

After that I just said "thank you sir, am I finished now"? He said "yes" and I went on my way.

[Peter1469]

Where is it on the list for being "safe for Americans"?

Turkey as a whole doesn't seem particularly calm. Have you been there...??

I have been there. Istanbul is pretty safe for tourists. Even the Kurdish terrorists try to only target Turkish police, not the tourists. I stayed in an apartment in the old city right around the corner from a police station. That was the only place in Old City where the tangos would hit. Well, except for one time they hit not far from there at the ancient circus maximus (whatever the Turks call it) but they were targeting a bus with Turk police. Some tourists got hurt then.

There are many other parts of Turkey than have historic interest to Westerns as well, and they are pretty safe as well.

[Tahuyaman]

Where is it on the list for being "safe for Americans"?

Turkey as a whole doesn't seem particularly calm. Have you been there...??

It's been my experience that most places are safe for Americans as long as you aren't tempting fate by going to areas which aren't safe for anyone.