Comments on: A Upcoming Death in the Dulles Family http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/ Thu, 24 May 2012 01:25:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tom http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/comment-page-1/#comment-294401 Tom Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:53:21 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/#comment-294401 Here we are another 2 years after the AeroTrains' start date, and the moon buggies are still an embarrassingly large part of the transport system at IAD. International travelers, seeing some of the most modern and cutting edge airports in the world, land here to experience/endure our 1950's technology, in the capitol of the world's greatest superpower... Impressive... And while we're at it, why are we the only western nation that requires everyone to walk our bags thru customs, even if we're just transiting the country...? We really need to move into the 21st century, here... Here we are another 2 years after the AeroTrains’ start date, and the moon buggies are still an embarrassingly large part of the transport system at IAD. International travelers, seeing some of the most modern and cutting edge airports in the world, land here to experience/endure our 1950′s technology, in the capitol of the world’s greatest superpower… Impressive…

And while we’re at it, why are we the only western nation that requires everyone to walk our bags thru customs, even if we’re just transiting the country…? We really need to move into the 21st century, here…

]]> By: J.T. http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/comment-page-1/#comment-184088 J.T. Sat, 16 Apr 2011 14:01:41 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/#comment-184088 I am one of those people that really hate the moon buggies. I'm flying IAD-SFO, which means I'm going out of C or D. I will walk through C to get to D if I have to. Anything to escape the moon buggies! :D I am one of those people that really hate the moon buggies. I’m flying IAD-SFO, which means I’m going out of C or D. I will walk through C to get to D if I have to. Anything to escape the moon buggies! :D

]]> By: Frog Man http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/comment-page-1/#comment-1462 Frog Man Fri, 01 Jun 2007 14:12:47 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/#comment-1462 To add a bit of international flavor, at CDG Air France loves the little buses - helps keep people employed, I guess. Lots of driving in circuitous directions without ever really getting anywhere. Possibly the most annoying aspect of flying air france -- even more than their elitest blocking of the coach cabin to prevent the unwashed masses from storming through business until all the well heeled travelers have left the plane. To add a bit of international flavor, at CDG Air France loves the little buses – helps keep people employed, I guess. Lots of driving in circuitous directions without ever really getting anywhere. Possibly the most annoying aspect of flying air france — even more than their elitest blocking of the coach cabin to prevent the unwashed masses from storming through business until all the well heeled travelers have left the plane.

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/comment-page-1/#comment-1459 CF Thu, 31 May 2007 21:52:36 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/#comment-1459 Fair enough, but if you hate the lounges, you can take the train to C and then walk to D. That's if you REALLY hate them. Fair enough, but if you hate the lounges, you can take the train to C and then walk to D. That’s if you REALLY hate them.

]]> By: Scott http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/comment-page-1/#comment-1458 Scott Thu, 31 May 2007 21:49:21 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/#comment-1458 Not so fast... passengers flying out of Concourse D (a very busy part of IAD!) will still be enjoying 'moon buggie' service for quite some time (until the new midfield terminal is built -- but I'm not holding my breath). Looks like UA flyers (as well as several other airlines -- such as BA) will not be saying goodbye to those people movers anytime soon. Not so fast… passengers flying out of Concourse D (a very busy part of IAD!) will still be enjoying ‘moon buggie’ service for quite some time (until the new midfield terminal is built — but I’m not holding my breath).

Looks like UA flyers (as well as several other airlines — such as BA) will not be saying goodbye to those people movers anytime soon.

]]> By: BAP http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/comment-page-1/#comment-1453 BAP Thu, 31 May 2007 01:23:06 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/#comment-1453 Actually as one who flies out of Dulles on a fairly regular basis, here are my comments about this lovely piece of machinery: To begin, the mobile lounges run every 4 minutes or so. Of course if you arrive late at night, usually after 10pm, they pack everybody in them from an arriving flight and then wait for the crew members to board. Sometimes, if there are wheel chairs I have seen them wait upwards of 10 minutes. Just what one wants with an arrival that late! Secondly, there are 2 different types of mobile lounges. I am not aware of the specifics so forgive me! One type has doors on both ends and these are only used to connect to the concourses, the second type or the ones that dock to the aircraft ---- now these are the worst of the batch because you can only board and exit through the one end. These are the ones that passengers refuse to move all the way to the rear and the line to board the mobile lounges turns into a total fiasco.....the operators scream and people just refuse to move and lets not talk about all the carry on bags that are blocking the aisles. These are also the only lounges that carry International arriving passengers over to the customs terminal. Combine all of this together and you get on annoying experience overall. Personally I would love for one of these mobile lounges to end up over at the Smithsonian. If you take a close look above the drivers compartment, you will find a metal plate identifying that they are made by Chrysler and were manufactured in 1963. I believe in the early 1990's they were refurbished completely. Yes, I ride these things alot ;-) On another note, back during the 1960's I read that initially these mobile lounges were considered part of the onboard experience and they had a bar in them and were all fun and excitement. If you take a "google" I am sure you can confirm this. BAP Actually as one who flies out of Dulles on a fairly regular basis, here are my comments about this lovely piece of machinery:

To begin, the mobile lounges run every 4 minutes or so. Of course if you arrive late at night, usually after 10pm, they pack everybody in them from an arriving flight and then wait for the crew members to board. Sometimes, if there are wheel chairs I have seen them wait upwards of 10 minutes. Just what one wants with an arrival that late!

Secondly, there are 2 different types of mobile lounges. I am not aware of the specifics so forgive me! One type has doors on both ends and these are only used to connect to the concourses, the second type or the ones that dock to the aircraft —- now these are the worst of the batch because you can only board and exit through the one end. These are the ones that passengers refuse to move all the way to the rear and the line to board the mobile lounges turns into a total fiasco…..the operators scream and people just refuse to move and lets not talk about all the carry on bags that are blocking the aisles. These are also the only lounges that carry International arriving passengers over to the customs terminal.

Combine all of this together and you get on annoying experience overall. Personally I would love for one of these mobile lounges to end up over at the Smithsonian. If you take a close look above the drivers compartment, you will find a metal plate identifying that they are made by Chrysler and were manufactured in 1963. I believe in the early 1990′s they were refurbished completely. Yes, I ride these things alot ;-)

On another note, back during the 1960′s I read that initially these mobile lounges were considered part of the onboard experience and they had a bar in them and were all fun and excitement. If you take a “google” I am sure you can confirm this.

BAP

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/comment-page-1/#comment-1452 CF Thu, 31 May 2007 00:25:13 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/#comment-1452 That was actually a recent addition between the main terminal and the A/B concourse, but it would be a real hike to get all the way out to C/D. I'd say you definitely need transport to get there. That was actually a recent addition between the main terminal and the A/B concourse, but it would be a real hike to get all the way out to C/D. I’d say you definitely need transport to get there.

]]> By: Scott http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/comment-page-1/#comment-1451 Scott Wed, 30 May 2007 23:57:15 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/#comment-1451 What sort of distances are we talking between the terminals? If they're short (0.5mi or less), wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to just build some connecting walkways equipped with travelators? The one that really puzzles me is Narita - it must be only a few hundred metres between the main Terminal 2 and the satellite terminal there yet they have a full-on automatic train system between them. What sort of distances are we talking between the terminals? If they’re short (0.5mi or less), wouldn’t it be cheaper and easier to just build some connecting walkways equipped with travelators? The one that really puzzles me is Narita – it must be only a few hundred metres between the main Terminal 2 and the satellite terminal there yet they have a full-on automatic train system between them.

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/comment-page-1/#comment-1450 CF Wed, 30 May 2007 23:31:03 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/#comment-1450 It is the only one I know of that runs busses on a permanent basis. Anyone know otherwise? It is the only one I know of that runs busses on a permanent basis. Anyone know otherwise?

]]> By: Smail http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/comment-page-1/#comment-1449 Smail Wed, 30 May 2007 22:45:24 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2007/05/30/a-upcoming-death-in-the-dulles-family/#comment-1449 Is Dulles the only major US airport that runs busses (not counting trAAin, Skylink, etc) between check-in and departure terminals? I had never seen that practice until last fall when I flew through a couple European airports. Along with the busses that shuttle you from your gate to the actual aircraft, it was definitely a strange experience. The Dulles revamp reminds me of the Terminal 4 and Terminal 4 Satellite expansion at Madrid Barajas. Hopefully they make Dulles easier to navigate! Is Dulles the only major US airport that runs busses (not counting trAAin, Skylink, etc) between check-in and departure terminals? I had never seen that practice until last fall when I flew through a couple European airports. Along with the busses that shuttle you from your gate to the actual aircraft, it was definitely a strange experience.

The Dulles revamp reminds me of the Terminal 4 and Terminal 4 Satellite expansion at Madrid Barajas. Hopefully they make Dulles easier to navigate!

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