I have flown through many airports. But last weekend was my first time flying through Philadelphia. I wasn’t impressed.
My flight from Las Vegas came into Terminal C. When I deboarded, I immediately went to the monitors to see where my connecting flight was. The monitors showed less than half a dozen arrivals, and no departures. What the? I looked at my boarding pass to see if it might list the gate. Sure enough it shows my connecting flight being at F6. I decided to head over to Terminal F. I started walking, and walking. I don’t mind walking at all. I like walking. But I like walking when I know that I am going to the right place. I wasn’t absolutely positive that my plane would fly out of F6. Gates changes sometimes. I kept checking monitors. I found some monitors that showed more arrivals and departures, but they still didn’t show MY flight! And my flight was only a little over an hour away. I kept walking. Then I was surprised to find that I had to leave the security area. Grumble. So I kept walking and following the signs to Terminal F. Soon I found myself in a parking garage. What? I back tracked, and found where I went wrong. Some some signage was poorly done, and instead of going across a bridge, I was supposed to have gone down some elevators.
Soon I was ready to re-enter security. I had already done this once today, now I had to do it again. I put all my stuff in the tray (shoes, watch, camera, mp3 player, change). The security person now wanted me to stick the EMPTY camera pouch from my belt. My camera is only slightly larger than a pager, and the little pouch is sized to fit the camera. I have never had to take it off before! They just make me remove the camera, which is what I had done. But here they wanted me to remove the frigging pouch to go though security to a terminal that I wasn’t positive was the right one! I asked her if she wanted me to take my pants off too. I was almost prepared to throw my pants into the tray and walk through the metal detector. She ignored my comment. I made it through security. I found more monitors, but they didn’t show ANY arrivals or departures! Just displayed airport logos and crap! I made it to gate F6, and they fortunately listed my flight. I still had a while, so went looking for food. Since it was morning, they had breakfast stuff. Mostly slim pickings of stuff like bagels. No McDonald’s or anything. Nothing looked appetizing. I noticed the prices for the daytime food looked pretty high, even by airport standards. One place listed just a cheeseburger for $8 or more. Heck, at the Las Vegas airport, I could have gotten a whole Burger King Whopper meal for under $7!
My flight came, and I finally left Philadelphia. Basically, my experience at Philadelphia International Airport was not good.
Philadelphia airport is HORRIBLE, I found the people that work there could give a F*** less about anything. Dont eat at the Burger King in Terminal E, the employees are more worried about themselves and if its time for their break then the customers, and they know your not going to waste the time to complain becuasse you havea flight to catch. I WILL NEVER EAT THERE Again, and maybe just boycott Philly airport all together. Oh yeah and if your white expect to wait longer going through security, apparently there some real race issues at the airport against white people.
Comment by Todd Johnson — October 11, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
Yea something bad is going on at the Phila Airport. The employees are rude, the airlines don’t care. And if you get booted from a flight, it may be a couple of days before you go anywhere, possibly ruining your vacation or trip altogether
Comment by PHL Parking Authority — February 4, 2008 @ 11:50 am
i won’t travel through tht airport. They handle your stuff likes it trash. It seems every time i complained i received the special treatment
Comment by onesource — May 12, 2009 @ 10:28 pm
I really liked this post, it’s a good article!
Comment by sejour thalasso — September 29, 2009 @ 6:05 am
Had a similar experience at PHL in Febuary. On the way though from the UK we were checked and double checked, water bought at Heathrow stolen and noone had a clue where we were supposed to go. Out bags were checked though, but we had to pick them up and then give them to someone to put on another converyer (never done that before). Then on the way back, it was exactly the opposite. No checks, bags went straignt through. One extreme to the other. Very odd airport.
Comment by Airport Person — April 30, 2010 @ 11:27 am
Gosh it sounds like a complicated air port! I have heard that Charles de Gaul airport in France is pretty bad too!
Comment by garage roller shutter doors — June 28, 2010 @ 6:07 am