Navigating the airport

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Anyone else feel that trying to navigate through a large airport is basically a living hell?

When I travel I always try to bring one of my older sons with me. But a number of months ago there was a 'family emergency' and I had to fly alone. Had to change planes in Cincinnati. It was a nightmare. My gate was 2 buildings away...the speakers were blaring and I couldn't understand a word. I wanted to ask for help but just couldn't...took everything I had not to stand and scream, 'who designs these things?!'
Finally found my gate and had about 90 minutes to wait and all I could think was I had to do it again in 2 days on the return. Would rather die than have to fly alone again.

One thing to remember is that most of the airports were built in the 50's. This was during an era where flying was mostly for wealthy people.

That being said, one thing that may help are maps. Many airports have maps online, and these can be used to plan routes and to find your way. There are also many airport workers that can assist, but be aware-this may take a little time, so be patient.

Another thing to be aware is the layover. If you can, try to have at least a one hour layover. This'll give you a little bit of breathing room between planes and allow you to relax a little. If you fly during the winter, plan a two hour layover. Most delays occur during the winter.

Another thing to watch for are breakdowns. Yes, aircraft do break, and many pilots won't fly if an important component malfunctions. Even a switch on a door can ground an aircraft. Is that door secure? Will it open in flight?

The key for airports is the planning and allowing yourself to relax. Airports are stressful-and idiotic-enough to make many people go nuts. Why do you think so many people patronize the bar before their flights? Airport induced alcoholism.

If you have the time, money, and incentive, learn to fly. You can fly to any public airport you wish-AND NOT HAVE TO HASSLE WITH TSA ! !! !! !! !! !! !

Take care.

Witch

Thanks for the input...one of my older sons just started flying lessons. Hopefully, if I ever have to fly again (God forbid) maybe I can bypass the insanity.

That's what I plan to do if I ever get the money. Of course, I'd probably only be able to afford a small Cessna or something like that. I wouldn't be able to clear NYC/LA with it, but I personally think airport-hopping in a smaller plane would be much more enjoyable then dealing with the BS for a commercial nonstop flight.

Heh, now I want to fly, I'll have to break out the simulator on my PC...

I've flown alone a couple times, from Buffalo to Portland and back. At first, I had an escort because i was only 13. But after that, I was on my own. Still scares me a lot, but I've acclimated considerably.

In my experience, some airports are reasonably well-designed, and others are just idiotic. I thought that despite being very large, Detroit was organized and had a good transport system. Airports always have some kind of map; it's just a matter of finding one. Once I found a map in Detroit, my problems there were solved.

At MSP, the structure is poorly laid out, as are the maps. I found a map and walked all the way to the farthest outer extremity of the building before I knew I was wrong. With help, I made my way across an enclosed bridge and caught a tram. I think.

The point is, keep calm. A meltdown will only scare people and alert security. If you have a long enough layover, just keep looking around. Airports have to be somewhat organized, or else they wouldn't be able to function. If you have a short layover, ask for help. It's much less embarrassing than having to explain why you're late. And if you don't manage to get a bite, being hungry for a few hours is better than sleeping on airport chairs.

My first time flying alone was about a week after my 18th birthday, so I haven't had to deal with being an "unaccompanied minor". Still it was iffy for me. I was flying from Memphis to Denver so I could visit the college in Laramie, WY; my dad was living in Laramie at the time and he was going to pick me up at the airport in Denver and drive me to his place. (This was, of course, before we all moved there.)

My mom dropped me off at the entrance with my luggage, as well as printouts of my itinerary that I had typed up the previous night. I stopped at a newsstand to buy a copy of Anime Insider magazine and a pack of gum (I get nasty headaches during descent because of chronic sinus problems, the gum helps clear my sinuses and equalize the pressure in my head.) Security wasn't much of a hassle, thank god. I was nervous as hell when I went through the line, so much so that after heading through the metal detector I put my shoes back on and walked off towards the gate and totally forgot about my luggage bag with all of my clothes and stuff that I had left on the luggage scanner belt. (Thankfully, one of the other travelers managed to get my attention and I had to sprint back to the security line to grab my stuff.)

Memphis Intl is kind of complicated, but I'm good with directions so I was able to find my gate no problem.

When I got to Denver Intl I was a little confused because it was an unfamiliar airport, but thankfully the layout is straightforward. There are three concourses that are connected to each other and the main building by a tram that runs under the tarmac. I was able to call my dad and get directions as well.

Yes. When I was aged 7-11 I would fly to my dads house to visit for one week every school holidays. The airport in the city that I live in is so large, so loud, so busy and just chaotic in general. Fortunately my mum always helped me to get around until someone attended to me (because I was a unaccompanied minor). Getting the plane back from my dads house was very easy though. He lives in a small town and the airport consisted only of two small buildings, a couple of runways and one gate to board your flight. I could never possibly get lost there.

After then, every time I've had to fly somewhere it's been with family so I've never had to do the navigating.

I found Heathrow Airport in London, Terminals 3 AND 4, both pretty unbearable and difficult to navigate around.

Last time I was there they even had SMOKING areas in the terminal.

These 'smoking areas' are of course right next to the designated 'non smoking areas' and unfortunately the tobacco in cigarettes has not yet been programmed to read and adhere to non smoking signs.

One of the Terminals (can't remember which one) forces/used to force passengers to squeeze through (like cattle) a hideous 'duty-free' area in order to get to the departure lounges. There was no other way to get to the gate.

'Terminal' pretty much sums up my experiences of Hearthrow.

There is an easy way around this problem. Tell them that you are autistic when you book your ticket and ask for free airport assistance. I do this for my daughter and it's great. She gets met at check-in and is escorted through security all the way to the plane. She gets met at the plane on the other side and is escorted all the way through baggage collection, customs and everything.

Just look at the signs and follow them.

A few are really frustrating to navigate, but most are OK. Airports are surreal to me. It's a sensory overload with all the chaos and people, but for whatever reason it doesn't put me on edge that bad.

I must look really weird chillin in an airport because my eyes are constantly darting everywhere, checking things out, watching people (people might think I'm staring too because my mind plays tricks on me and I always think I see people I know in airports for some reason), but generally I'm fine with it.

The airplanes themselves are the bigger problem as I have a fundamental fear of flying. It was really bad when I was a teenager--I started getting valium scripts for flying as soon as I turned 18, and was just a mess before then--but it's gotten somewhat better over the years. I haven't needed the valium at all in the last 4-5 years.

Also I don't know if it's just me but I almost always f**k something up going through security and end up getting additional searches. It happens so regularly that it doesn't even phase me anymore.

The last time was hysterical. I flew from St Louis to Portland and connected through Dallas. When I got to Dallas I went out through security to smoke a cigarette outside on my layover, and when I got back to security they immediately called me out. When I left St Louis it was 25 degrees outside so I was pretty bundled up, but being that it was 70+ in Dallas, and they didn't realize I was connecting and had just stepped out for a minute, they figured that I must be "hiding something" under my layers.

I didn't even want to try to explain and told em to just do it, the guy pats me down and then reaches forward and full-on squeezes my stomach with both hands and says "hmmm what have we here?" I was total matter-of-fact like "That's my gut, bro" and he didn't believe me! He made me lift up all my layers right smack in the middle of the security area so he could do a "closer examination"

I guess I did gain a little weight over the course of the semester, that certainly wouldn't have happened over the summer I guess he inspired me in a sense to start working out again, but I won't go so far as to thank him for it

When I used to go to the airport to catch a flight I always had to remind myself that the ARRIVALS sign on the freeway referred to people who were arriving by plane not people like me who were arriving by car or bus, and that the DEPARTURES sign referred to people who were departing by plane, not car or bus.
Since the airport put symbols of planes landing and taking off next to these written signs I have found it easier to understand their meaning.

At least MOST domestic airlines, and this includes Delta, which is the only major carrier I know of that has Cincinnati for a hub, has a magazine, behind the seats on the plane, that you can take with you. If it is missing, or you don't want THAT one, ask the attendant. she SHOULD have extras.

They show all the large airports they go to in one section. HOPEFULLY THEY can tell you the next gate. SOMETIMES it is printed on the ticket. Failing that, ask the gat agent at the hub. In any event, you SHOULD try to find a monitor, and validate it.

At least it isn't like Chicago. Chicago has concourses that kind of merge into one, so either side may be a different concourse! What idiot designed THAT airport!?!? And NO belts!