Company pays for flights if I want, they also pay for my car payments and gas. Working from home, lot of time on the phone - really hard to have conference calls on plane. Airports expect you to be at check-in 1 hour prior, instead I schedule my day the way I want it. And I don't have to pay for car when I get to destination. Save my budget for more travel, and can make several site stops on the way in my district if I feel like it. Win, win, win. Depends on what you do with your time. Population density in the east makes this a much easier choice. Doing it for years, took me a while to realize, when I did life got a lot easier.

Sure you can't conduct conference calls on planes, thank god, but that time can also be used for non-phone time. What happens during a conference call when you are required to reference some document you either have with you or on a laptop? You can't really reference that information while driving. It depends what you do as well. When you throw an additional condition of having multiple stops, then you aren't really just doing a direct 600 mile drive - so that changes things greatly. That would be going from having a business appointment in St. Louis and deciding to drive, but also have additional customer stops in Tulsa, Springfield, and Rolla. You are obviously not going to fly it when you can knock out all of those stops in one swoop.

Again, you are modifying what you originally implied so you can't apply the same logic to a multi-stop regional jaunt that you can to a limited direct trip to one location.

This is a positive new program starting at the airport. This has been common in hospitals and nursing homes for some time.

Therapy dogs help weary travelers at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport | News OK (http://newsok.com/therapy-dogs-help-weary-travelers-at-oklahoma-citys-will-rogers-world-airport/article/3950557)

This is a positive new program starting at the airport. This has been common in hospitals and nursing homes for some time.

Therapy dogs help weary travelers at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport | News OK (http://newsok.com/therapy-dogs-help-weary-travelers-at-oklahoma-citys-will-rogers-world-airport/article/3950557)

It's cool... but as a frequent traveler, my stress isn't in Oklahoma, it's typically in the hubs I have to transit through. Maybe people deplaning in Oklahoma City would benefit... or maybe those that just hate flying, period?

It's cool... but as a frequent traveler, my stress isn't in Oklahoma, it's typically in the hubs I have to transit through.

True, but often that stress starts here by delayed flights when you know it will cause you a tight or missed connection. It's not going to change the world but it's a nice touch by Will Rogers.

Most of my frustrations with travel surround the OKC/DFW American connections. Seems like they always seem to put the broken airplane on that one. 100% of the time, either going or coming, I get a flight cancelled or significantly delayed on that leg. AA says, "we have an on-time rating of 75% on that"....except they think that's good. I look at it and say, Uh that's a C...you're happy with a C? How about working that up to at least a B, or preferably an A. Maybe if we had something newer than those POS MD-80s, we wouldn't be breaking down all the time.

75% on time is pretty good. Considering 85% is almost near perfect.

When you are dealing with 4,000 flights a day, across 800 or so machines, which each have hundreds of systems that work independently of each other, but need to be working perfectly in sync with each other. Count in the uncontrollable weather across the globe, and dealing with traffic. 85% is about the best you can realistically achieve, not 100.

if we consider 85% to be perfect, 75 is 88% of 85. An 88 is a pretty good score for a crappy day.
75% is still an amazing feat, when you think of how many people and machines need to be working flawlessly to make just one flight on-time and successful.

While I can see calling 85% doing well, I think making that the mark of perfection is a bit too far.

While I can see calling 85% doing well, I think making that the mark of perfection is a bit too far.

Hawaiian typically always has the best ontime performance in the industry - shocker I know. The latest figures have them running around 92.8% on time and only once cancelled flight for January. If we go more reasonable at a mainland based major carrier we have Alaska at #2 at 87.8% ontime. The industry average? Around 67%.

Is 85% the mark of perfection? Maybe not, but it is pretty darn close. Expecting anything significantly higher than that is just exposing a lack of understanding of the industry and the complexities around it.

Kind of hard for me to remember the old way, the only feature I don't think I will ever forget was the old security checkpoint

http://airchive.com/galleries/1428.jpg

Several parts were featured in this old video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhXaPSz8Sto
I watched that entire video, thanks for posting it. The Stage Center was prominent a few times.

Most of my frustrations with travel surround the OKC/DFW American connections. Seems like they always seem to put the broken airplane on that one. 100% of the time, either going or coming, I get a flight cancelled or significantly delayed on that leg. AA says, "we have an on-time rating of 75% on that"....except they think that's good. I look at it and say, Uh that's a C...you're happy with a C? How about working that up to at least a B, or preferably an A. Maybe if we had something newer than those POS MD-80s, we wouldn't be breaking down all the time.

Huh? I for one am gonna really miss the S80s. There's no better Y class ride out there (at least on AA) than the AB side in MCE. Was even better until they added an extra row - those seats almost felt lie-flat. Too bad the planes with 2-3 seating have gone by the wayside.

^I agree with no1cub17. The MD 80s are one of the roomiest planes out there with enough space under the seat in front to stretch your legs out (the other ones being Southwest's 737s). They are also a fairly quiet ride being a rear-engined aircraft. And it's true, at one point AA was having some trouble a few years back with some fines and maintenance issues forcing flights to be cancelled, but AA had plenty of company. Those issues have been taken care of now and for the most part the M80s are flying on-time. In fact I flew in those twice a few summers back without any problems between OKC and DFW.

That video is awesome. It's hilarious to hear them tout some of the Pei Plan that we know lament so much. So many items that were so "new and exciting" in the 60's, that sat stagnant so long....ie Century Center. Helicopters landing at the Myriad...LOL! Too bad we lost so many jems in the short-sighted plans. And to think what would have happened had the oil bust and savings and loan collapse hadn't happened when they did...and as a double whammy.

Anyway, with the MD-80, what I hate is how often those that AA operates, break down. Personally, I always found them to be quite loud. I've probably been tainted over the years from bad experiences...just being my luck with them. United hasn't done me much better. But for me, Delta and Southwest have always been great. But I'm perfectly willing to say that other have the exact opposite experience so to each his own I guess.

Makes you wonder what will be lamented in 50 years looking back on videos from the first couple decades of this century...

Makes you wonder what will be lamented in 50 years looking back on videos from the first couple decades of this century...

Stage Center fanboys in 3..2..1

Just saw this from the Economic Development Trust:


Met with officials at OKC ARINC. Company has been bought by Rockwell Collins, who plans to divest the Oklahoma City operation. Assisting ARINC in community support for future ownership.


Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (http://www.arinc.com/about/locations/oklahoma_city.html)


ARINC’s Oklahoma City office serves three rapidly expanding markets: modernization of military aircraft, upgrading of commercial and general aviation airframes, and industrial and systems engineering services to Department of Defense and government agencies. To provide comprehensive services for those markets, the office has state-of-the-art facilities and resources:
Aircraft Modification and Operations Center (AMOC)—an 81,000-square-foot facility at Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport, featuring the largest commercial aircraft hangar in the OKC area
Oklahoma City Laboratories—ARINC's center for engineering services in nondestructive inspection, metrology (precision dimensional inspection), metallurgical examination, mechanical testing, corrosion research, electrical engineering and testing, and hydraulic filter testing

I have heard some rumblings that AAR (heavy maintenance contractor (private/commercial aviation) along Meridian Ave. at the airport) is interested/has made an offer to buy or takeover the OKC operation. Don't know if there is any truth to that at all.

^Takeover the operation as in operation of the airport itself?

The ARINC operation; replying to what Pete was referring to.

Ahh, ok. Yeah I guess I should have checked the previous posts, my brain was fried after studying for two programming tests this week and that apparently carried over.

Looks like they are set to move forward with the $70 million airport expansion.

RFP's going out soon.

So, will the first phase be to build the new baggage area, then demo the old one to add gates?

All of this is new construction. The cargo facility, ground equipment fuel, tritulator, to the east will all be demolished to make way.

No existing baggage areas will be demo'd.

Some other updates:
United was slated to move to gate 11 in June, looking like July actually. Within the next few weeks should start the move from gate 8.

The new consolidated TSA checked baggage screening area is well under construction. Currently working on the west end.

The airport installed new FIDS monitors throughout the terminal. They are about twice the size. Easier to see flight info now.

The EXCELLENT work the city paid for to repaint the aircraft parking lines a few months ago is already completely worn off in some areas. Gate 8 already has concrete showing through the paint. When they actually took pride in their work they laid down really thick paint in several layers. Gate 10 lasted about 4 years before it began to fade. This new paint is one layer thick and already completely faded in a lot of areas. And really they have not even completed the paint project yet. They still have to paint the vehicle driving lanes. Frustrating use of taxpayer dollars to do it so cheap it will need to be done again soon.

Just found out you can pay for parking at Tulsa's airport with a OTA Toll Tag. Why don't they do that for Will Rodgers airport hourly parking?

Because our airport management is out of touch, uncreative, and not interested in keeping up with modern times.

Well in order to do that, you have to pay for the infrastructure to put it in. That means they either have to charge those customers more to pay for it, or just eat the cost. The turnpike authority certainly isn't going to just give them hardware/software to do it. Somewhere along the way, a service fee has to be collected to maintain it. Otherwise, it's just an expense to the airport. Would you be willing to pay more with a toll tag than if you gave cash to the attendant just so you didn't have to stop? It might be that the answer is yes because you already made that decision when you bought a pikepass (but that one doesn't cost more).

The savings at the airport only comes if enough people do it to reduce the number of attendants having to work. The turnpike hasn't really even been able to do that yet. The volume in places like Dallas are the only places that it works out that way, and heck they just did away with attendants altogether. Still wondering how the cost/revenue balances out for North Dallas. Anyway...I digress...

So what you see as an uncreative unmodern outlook, I see as simply a matter of keeping costs in line with revenue intake.

The airport has long been (if always) in a financially stable condition. Adding something to improve convenience for the citizens does not have to be necessarily financially neutral.

I hate this idea that government services need to be ran like private enterprise. They serve two separate roles. Adding modern day convenience didn't seem to be an issue up the turnpike (see what I did there?) in Tulsa, as Tulsa has the OTA payment method.

But does that mean they should do something they know will be a financial loss? And does it really take you that much longer to have to go through the payment booth? I sit behind far more cars on the turnpike than I've ever even seen in the entire airport booth at one time. For me it just seems like the benefit that comes from it is so minimal that it doesn't make sense. Most people do not have a pikepass either, so you're limiting your pool of customers that would even make use of the thing.

Remember, you either will have to stop somewhere in a line to feed your ticket back to a machine and have your pikepass read (to minimize the number of readers that have to be installed) or you'll have to install a reader at ever single car entry point to track the entrance day/time of the car so it can be charged properly by the reading on the exit from the area. And then the staffing of the officer to catch the runners like you see at every toll plaza :) So with either method, you are still going to have to sit in line at some point...it would just be a slightly faster line. That reduced benefit is why I just don't see the point. It's like how they don't take Discover cards. I don't get to collect points on my card when I park because I have to use my debit card instead. For them, they just don't see enough Discover to pay to accept it. Slight inconvenience for me, but does it really change much.? Nah.

The operation of the airport bathrooms is a loss generating venue, the operation f the information booths is a loss-generating venue, the operation of many things at an airport are loss-generating.

An unmanned PikePass lane (like seen at hundreds of turnpike entrances and exit) would not generate significant cost. And you would need a maximum of 7 or so readers, and 1 exit reader.

There are actually significant lines at night, usually around 11-1230 at night there can be as many as 15-20 cars in the queue to pay the attendant.

You could even charge a 50 cent or dollar premium added to PikePass users to help cover the cost.

But again, city services are not in the business of profitability. The city is in the business of providing services that the private sector cannot or will not do profitably. Adding convenience for citizens is a worthwhile venture.

It's like how they don't take Discover cards. I don't get to collect points on my card when I park because I have to use my debit card instead. For them, they just don't see enough Discover to pay to accept it. Slight inconvenience for me, but does it really change much.? Nah.

Hmmm. I normally use cash and it seems to work fine. Also, I don't think I have ever had to wait in a line there for more than a couple of minutes at the most. If they decided to offer that, fine, but it's just not an issue to me.

Jibjab - that's what im saying. it's simply not an issue at will rogers and definitely not enough to put the money into it.

Catch - equating a bathroom use to this isn't a fair comparison either. Bodily functions are not the same as paying for a convenience. You aren't going to piss in the middle of the floor are you? And you know Ryan Air charges for bathroom access? In South America, you often pay for toilet paper. And i dont think you realize how much the equipment costs. There's maintenance on the hardware, software and it's maintenance, pikepass is going to charge a feel to integrate with their system, development of the code to interface the systems, support contracts to maintain everything. It's far more than just slapping a reader up on the thing. You made my argument for me with the 50 cent thing. If it costs me 50 cents more to have the convenience of a quicker line, then fine. If the pikepass holders are willing to do that, then by all means put that crap in there and let them pay for it. But unless they are willing to do that, it's a significant expense that the airport would incur, that gives them no benefit. They don't exactly care if you have to wait 2 more minutes at the toll plaza.

If it can work in Tulsa, why not OKC? Bomber? Do we have a lower standard for convenience ls in OKC? Are the stereotypes of OKC true where people are simple, not adaptive to change/new ideas?

Airports are continuously fighting to hold their relevance over driving and rail, and ease of use and convenience is a big item airports are working on. Adding convenience does not need to be a business decision for a public entity. If it improves the quality of life of the citizens and is not unreasonable in cost, it should not be an issue.

I'd be interested in hearing how much of a burden the PikePass integration is for Tulsa, an airport with much smaller volume of traffic, and a huge competing private owned parking center taking the majority of the airport parking revenue.

Hmmm. I normally use cash and it seems to work fine. Also, I don't think I have ever had to wait in a line there for more than a couple of minutes at the most. If they decided to offer that, fine, but it's just not an issue to me.

On the flip side of that argument, on a recent trip back from DFW, there was a traffic jam of nearly a half mile because the toll tag readers broke on the north entrance to the airport. By the time we got to the pay plaza, the attendees had just lifted the gates and were waiving people through. I can't imagine how much $$ they lost. From what people at work told me, this is not uncommon.

Maybe its just my own experience, but I knew several OKC "lifers" who never had a pikepass. I myself never had one for years and was just fine. Unlike Tulsa and NEOK, where toll roads are far more common and I would say the vast majority of people probably have one. Given that reading equitment is actually quite expensive and you will still have to deal with OTA (from what I hear they are not the easiest agency to deal with), there would need to be enough use to actually justify the initial expense. If pikepass use in OKC and western OK is not that high, is it worth it to WR?

Good point adaniel. If you look at the roads in Tulsa, you have to pay a toll to get in/out of Tulsa in any direction. And even then, some of the more populated areas are more easily accessible via a toll road than a highway. And that's really another part of my argument against it at WRWA...the population base that does not own a pass.

Catch, obviously you feel very passionately about this. I'm really indifferent. I dont own a pass and probably never will just because the 2 or 3 times a year i use a turnpike (since you dont have to use one IN okc), doesn't make it worth my time for the small convenience...to me. My parents have one and they travel about as often as i do on a turnpike. They made a different decision so hey, everyone views it differently...and in case of the airport it's the same way. Some people would be in love with the idea, others just dont care. I was simply trying to look at it from the airport's perspective in how it is a lot of effort for not a lot of return. Basically, they don't care if you wait 10 minutes in a toll line. But much like a fast food line, are those 10 minutes really going to kill us? We live in such a fast-paced world, maybe we should view that as a time to relax after a traveling. I always feel a little "ahhh" when i get back in my own car. I dont know...probably a bit too fluffy of a feeling to be reality :P

Well, I'm going to agree with Catch22 on this one.... it seems like a no brainer putting scanners in there to read pike passes.

I'm not passionate about the idea.

I am passionate about improving the services offered to our citizens. There's nothing wrong with keeping up with the Jones' when it comes to citizen services.

If it can work in Tulsa, why not OKC? Bomber? Do we have a lower standard for convenience ls in OKC? Are the stereotypes of OKC true where people are simple, not adaptive to change/new ideas?

...

I'd be interested in hearing how much of a burden the PikePass integration is for Tulsa, an airport with much smaller volume of traffic, and a huge competing private owned parking center taking the majority of the airport parking revenue.

It may have been a test for if it was viable/cost effective and found out it was not. It could have been something that their city government or airport authority thought was worth subsidizing for the convenience. There may have been a clash of management styles or personalities or contract terms, most gov agencies want to be as independent as possible and if you thing getting one agency to do anything is slow, just try getting something done when it takes action by multiple of them.

I'm not passionate about the idea.

I am passionate about improving the services offered to our citizens. There's nothing wrong with keeping up with the Jones' when it comes to citizen services.


If they make economic sense...not just to "keep up".

Citizen services are about providing citizens with a service, not an economic gain for the public entity.

Public entities are to provide services that aren't economical for the private sector. If our airport was run by a private company, you would have a point.

We are spending $70,000,000 on a 3 gate concourse expansion, I think we can come up with the several thousand dollars to install PikePass readers.

In the airport's RFP for the terminal expansion, the airports mission statement included a line to the effect of "maintaining a modern airport with modern day amenities". Automated payment is something that Tulsa is doing, and it's something we should do.

Another opportunity to not have interaction with a human being,? Meh.

I was at a luncheon today hosted by Mark Kranenburg and Karen Carney introducing the OKC - CLT nonstop service. I thought about asking about the toll readers but it just didn't seem important enough to me to bring it up. He did discuss the expansion plans and they hope to have it basically completed in 3 to 4 years. I asked him about space to eventually have a customs and immigration facility and he assured me that it is being planned for. The new baggage system should be complete in a few months and then they will change the airline check in counters back to the normal configuration.

Not quite normal config. Frontier will remain where they are by Delta, and United will be taking over the old Frontier and ExpressJet space in February, when the baggage system is complete on the west end of the terminal building. Then they will begin work on the east end of the baggage system.

Citizen services are about providing citizens with a service, not an economic gain for the public entity.

Public entities are to provide services that aren't economical for the private sector. If our airport was run by a private company, you would have a point.

We are spending $70,000,000 on a 3 gate concourse expansion, I think we can come up with the several thousand dollars to install PikePass readers.

In the airport's RFP for the terminal expansion, the airports mission statement included a line to the effect of "maintaining a modern airport with modern day amenities". Automated payment is something that Tulsa is doing, and it's something we should do.

FYI they cost over a hundred thousand dollars per fixed reader several years years ago and limited volume/low competition items like that tend to only get more expensive over time.

FYI they cost over a hundred thousand dollars per fixed reader several years years ago and limited volume/low competition items like that tend to only get more expensive over time.

Wow! Seriously? I had no idea they were that expensive. I haven't been involved in this particular discussion, but that actually helps explain a lot of other things for me related to these readers. Interesting.

Another opportunity to not have interaction with a human being,? Meh.

When given the choice between a human and a machine, I have started opting for the human. I don't even use the self check-outs any more.

Citizen services are about providing citizens with a service, not an economic gain for the public entity.

Public entities are to provide services that aren't economical for the private sector. If our airport was run by a private company, you would have a point.

We are spending $70,000,000 on a 3 gate concourse expansion, I think we can come up with the several thousand dollars to install PikePass readers.

In the airport's RFP for the terminal expansion, the airports mission statement included a line to the effect of "maintaining a modern airport with modern day amenities". Automated payment is something that Tulsa is doing, and it's something we should do.

I don't see how not putting in pikepass readers that serve a very limited customer base, makes the airport not modern? And the 70 million involves a lot of under-concourse work, not just slapping a few gates on the thing. And like ive said, it's not just a few thousand. And again, even if you're ok with the initial purchase, there is a lot more that goes into maintaining the system later.

We obviously aren't ever going to see eye to eye on this one, so I don't see the point in continuing to go back and forth though.

Something I would like to see at the airport is a faster food line. If I end up eating a meal there while I wait to fly out, every food vendor I've used seems to be incredibly slow. I'm sure it's because they don't have as large of an employee base in the kitchen given the smaller customer base, it just makes it take longer. And for time sensitive travelers, that's a pretty big issue.

I am well aware of what is being done to the current terminal building, as well as what will be required of in the expansion. I work at the airport and am in the "under-concourse" area about 40 hours a week.

My point was, we can afford to add the convenience. Our airport is not strapped for cash, and when there are areas to improve customer convenience that other airports are already doing (especially Tulsa, as we do compete with them for some traffic), we should look into doing it.

The restaurants are ran by a private company, any beef with staffing levels you should contact that company. Delaware North Companies.

My point was, we can afford to add the convenience. Our airport is not strapped for cash, and when there are areas to improve customer convenience that other airports are already doing (especially Tulsa, as we do compete with them for some traffic), we should look into doing it.

I'm all for making things more convenient if there's a problem (I have no preference regarding the pikepass readers; I don't have one and have never had to wait in line too long), but I don't think the readers are going to be the deciding factor in somebody choosing TUL over OKC. Price, schedule, and destination will do it. I've only started a trip from TUL once, and that was so I could say I've been on a 757 in Oklahoma. Let it also be said that I don't know where they stand in terms of conveniences they have that we don't, so I stand to be made aware.

It's been a very long time since I've been in TUL. I haven't seen any of the renovation work first hand, but some of the pictures look nice. Especially considering the limited construction that was done in the old low-ceiling structure.

One thing I do like at TUL is the line around baggage claim....at least I think that's where I saw it. A good 4-5 feet away from the carousel. Said something like Stand here until you see your bag! I've even had problems at WRWA having to stand sideways in order to get my bag. Very frustrating. I would LOVE to see that put in at WRWA and they don't even have to wait for construction to do that one!

I'd like to see more power outlets too. We have more than a lot of places I've gone, but comparing technology use to even 10 years ago, it's crazy how many people want to plug in. When someone has a power strip near the outlet, they're a miracle worker! And considering the cost associated with that, I'd actually love to see a green initiative too. All that roof space could be solar paneled up. It's not like they're going to make up the energy the airport needs to run or anything, but maybe they would be able to offset some of the concourse use?

Something else I've always wondered about airports is the grass space. Is there any reason why they don't use that land productively? I can understand the areas inside the runways for visibility, but outside the runway, WRWA has a TON of grassland. Why not grow something on that land? Don't want to go through the effort of raising a crop like corn or whatever, why not something like alfalfa or feed grasses? I'm no farm economist so I can't tell you if the ROI on that is dumb or not.

That's a good idea about the line. I wish people had more sense than to clog the area where other people can't get their bags. Same thing happens in the jet bridge when bringing up gate checked bags. There's always that 4 or 5 people who have to stand right next to the door and prevent others from getting their bags. See your bag, grab it. Don't wait and clog the path for everyone else.

The airport does sell the grass for hay.

Something else I've always wondered about airports is the grass space. Is there any reason why they don't use that land productively? I can understand the areas inside the runways for visibility, but outside the runway, WRWA has a TON of grassland. Why not grow something on that land? Don't want to go through the effort of raising a crop like corn or whatever, why not something like alfalfa or feed grasses? I'm no farm economist so I can't tell you if the ROI on that is dumb or not.

I work at the MMAC and take 104th to get to work and they do use the land to grow hay. About twice a year I see them bale it up. What happens to the hay after it is baled and hauled away, I don't know, but they are using it, at least on the South side of the airport.

Where is a good place to look at old pictures of the airport. I have only known the airport since it has been remodeled and would like to get a understanding of what parts are old and what parts are new.

Where is a good place to look at old pictures of the airport. I have only known the airport since it has been remodeled and would like to get a understanding of what parts are old and what parts are new.

Let me google that for you (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=will+rogers+world+airport+pictures)

I took a look at google but I can't really tell from the pictures what parts are original and what are new. Is the piece of the terminal where the Delta and Southwest gates are part of the old terminal?


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Will_Rogers_World_Airport,_2013-04-14_-_2.jpeg

It's been a very long time since I've been in TUL. I haven't seen any of the renovation work first hand, but some of the pictures look nice. Especially considering the limited construction that was done in the old low-ceiling structure.

One thing I do like at TUL is the line around baggage claim....at least I think that's where I saw it.


Wife and I flew out of TUL a few weeks ago and were stunned by how nice it was compared to OKC. Not that OKC is horrible - it isn't, but there are clearly things which could've been done better had they not cut corners. Nice also that TUL has a TGI Friday's (yeah I know, Frozen's), which by no means is great food, but I'd much rather eat there than anything we have at WRWA. Regarding baggage claim - the main thing isn't just the line around the carousel, it's that TUL actually spent the $$$ to install circular carousels rather than keep the old one-ways that OKC has. Clearly WRWA management didn't want to spend the money needed to redo the bag claim area here so with the current design, people will naturally crowd the opening to snatch their bags the fastest. Just human nature. Good thing our bags are usually priority tagged. Having said that, when we claimed our bags at TUL they made no announcement whatsoever that our bags would be coming out on a different carousel than the one posted, so an entire 737 worth of passengers stood at the "correct" carousel for over half an hour until suddenly we noticed our bags were on the adjacent one. No announcement at all from the AA agent standing there the whole time.

I miss the old claim area that was a straight line metal slope on the pax side and roll up doors on our side with the carts parked ride behind us. Who ever screamed the loudest about their bag got theirs last. Low cut blouses got priority.

Here's the west end of the bagroom. The columns are original to the terminal building. Often placed in awkward areas to the new design of the concourse. Everything kind of snakes around them.

http://i.gyazo.com/68c515d088bae108d26344d274e5d316.png

^^

This is looking east from the western most part of the bagroom. (By carousel 6 -- to the left)Can see in the above photo how narrow some of the tug routes will be with the gigantic bag checking system.

http://i.gyazo.com/7e7960c7564d7a5308563127c1ae03b7.png

^^

For reference, this is the backside of where Carousel 5 and 6 (on the right) are, looking west. The restriction on pulling carts will be at the end of the blue belt that is running on the ground. It will reach far enough to the wall, that there will only be enough turning radius to get two carts maximum through there.


http://i.gyazo.com/bd59ddf5ad72f65b773bbe452742d7aa.png
^^

Here's where that sharp turn will happen. There is a wall just outside of the frame, almost exactly where the edge of the photo stops.

Going to be fun pulling a long line of carts through that.

Well we won't be. The airport will enforce 2 cart maximum, and one-way routes.

150 bags. Will take 1 guy 3 trips, or 3 bodies to follow each other. Hope the passengers don't mind waiting an extra 15 minutes for their bags, if they happen to be on the 3rd trip....

Two cart max. Yikes. When SWA first opened we had 2 tugs. I can remember pulling 5 or more carts at one time. The airport seems so alien to me from the facility I started working at in 1980.

Sweet photos, catch. Always wondered what the innards looked like. Thanks for sharing!