PHX Sky Harbor

It's just another airport. You gotta remember that the average person with some common sense will get lost at even the most user friendly airports...I've seen it happen time and time again having worked at a small airport, a mid-size, and now a hub. Take it for what it is worth...once you've flown through a few times it isn't "one of those confusing airports." Hell, if you think PHX is confusing, try ATL or something where you need to check-in and proceed to a train to get to the proper concourse...or perhaps DFW, same way! IAH is no fun if you are interlining. Back to the basics...it is just another airport, once you have mastered the lay-out, it is like strolling through a familiar place...not that hard. :huh:

Has anyone noticed the profile of our more recent passengers? They would have no chance of mastering any airport layout because many have never been on an airplane before. ;)
 
I quess same could be said of most new hires ;)
*cough cough* Well just to be fair, you guys should realize that PHX airport was there before US Airways.. and is wholly owned and operated by the Phoenix Aviation Department. ;)

http://phoenix.gov/AVIATION/

ABOUT SKY HARBOR
The City of Phoenix owns and operates the Phoenix Airport System which consists of Sky Harbor International Airport, Deer Valley and Goodyear airports. You’ll find Sky Harbor conveniently located just three miles east of downtown Phoenix.

The airport has three terminals – Terminal 2, Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 – each with its own parking garage, shops, restaurants, and ground transportation. Sky Harbor’s easily accessible Rental Car Center houses all the airport rental car company counters and fleets. A multi-colored “Rental Car Shuttle†provides free transportation from the airport curb at the baggage claim level to the Rental Car Center, just west of Sky Harbor. There is convenient parking for 8,859 vehicles and a free shuttle system provides travel between the terminals. Moreover, there are 23 domestic and international airlines operating at Sky Harbor, the two largest being US Airways and Southwest.
Help • Security • Privacy Policy • Accessibility

City of Phoenix Aviation Department
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
3400 E Sky Harbor Blvd, Suite 3300
Phoenix, AZ 85034
(602) 273-3300
(602) 683-4084 FAX
 
If there are eight concourses in that terminal, they should use eight different letters...not one letter for every two concourses.

MIA lettering goes to Concourse H.

Actually, MIA is up to "J" now. The new terminal is being built where the old Florida Shuttle island and the small semi-open hangar were.
 
OK, you come off your plane and check the fid screen for your connecting gate number, It says B-13 (or whatever.) You look up at the signs and it tells you which way to walk to get to B-13. You follow the signs and arrive at your gate. If you have problems doing this, you either shouldn't be flying, or you need to bring an escort with you that knows how to read.
 
Ya know, many passengers can't even find their seat on the airplane less navigigate around an airport. If people are that stupid that they can't read signs to get around then it's on them. Is the airport lettering in PHX odd? Yes it sure is but I doubt they will change it. Ever try driving around a city you have NEVER been? You pay extra attention. I mean, I have passengers stop me in the airport and ask me which way to baggage claim. I politely tell them how to get there totally thinking the whole time, "These people are clueless, read the damn signs and arrows all over the airport". I have overnighted in ORD many, many times and all the crews for the most part have NO IDEA how to find the van to the hotel. I guess we all have a hard time. :lol:
 
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with the Goldwater Terminal where the "Combined" USAirways operates. Yes, it is one vast complex with great shops and eateries, smooth security checkpoints and wide cooridors. Connection times under 30 minutes DO NEED to be eliminated and the flight display boards given NEW screens, but PHX is a nice airport. Customer Service is generally pretty helpful and AVAILABLE too.
 
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with the Goldwater Terminal where the "Combined" USAirways operates. Yes, it is one vast complex with great shops and eateries, smooth security checkpoints and wide cooridors. Connection times under 30 minutes DO NEED to be eliminated and the flight display boards given NEW screens, but PHX is a nice airport. Customer Service is generally pretty helpful and AVAILABLE too.
I agree there is nothing wrong with the PHX airport, but for traveler's the four concourses should be A B C D not two of them A and the other two B. A person coming in from A want to go to B can go down the wrong B concourse. People can't read signs saying certain B Gates this way and the others that a way. But when your rushing to make the connection it can easily be overlooked.
 
I agree there is nothing wrong with the PHX airport, but for traveler's the four concourses should be A B C D not two of them A and the other two B. A person coming in from A want to go to B can go down the wrong B concourse. People can't read signs saying certain B Gates this way and the others that a way. But when your rushing to make the connection it can easily be overlooked.
That is my point. It just doesn't make any sense that these different legs of the 'Goldwater Terminal' are named the same thing.

I never said anything about the state of the airport in terms of its upkeep and restaurants and the like. It is a nice brown building with the same crappy vendors we see all across the system. And I know that the terminal is owned by the City of Phoenix, but US Airways has the power to change things to make it more customer friendly. Why get defensive about an obvious design flaw? I have seen it happen a half dozen times now from connecting passengers who have never used PHX to connect before. People are confused (and quite frankly, I was too the first time I went to look for my connection to TUS on the B Concourse, not realizing there are TWO of them--I missed my connex, btw). Even the cluster that is PHL is easier to navigate.
 
Why get defensive about an obvious design flaw?
I wasn't getting defensive, and sorry if it was taken the wrong way. I basically was just stating that it was confusing. I never connected ever in PHX, its generally my stop. All airports have their good and bad shops. I miss the Krispy Kremes at PHL before going into Terminal E.I bought a 1/2 dozen ate one, then closed up the bag, and went thru security. One sticky hand trying to get to my stuff off to be checked. Did it not thinking, plus early flight.
 
I wasn't getting defensive, and sorry if it was taken the wrong way. I basically was just stating that it was confusing. I never connected ever in PHX, its generally my stop. All airports have their good and bad shops. I miss the Krispy Kremes at PHL before going into Terminal E.I bought a 1/2 dozen ate one, then closed up the bag, and went thru security. One sticky hand trying to get to my stuff off to be checked. Did it not thinking, plus early flight.
Sorry, I actually wasn't referring to you in regards to getting defensive...my bad...I was speaking of others who view anything in PHX as perfection. I quoted you only to agree with what you had said. Sorry.
 
Of course a REAL airline would have the PHX gate printed on the connecting boarding pass but due to the unsound operations in PHX and the wonderful SHARES they don't even post the gate on the monitor until an hour before flight time. What a "Cluster" and it's NOT the way SWA runs their ops that's fo sure
Need to look a little closer most of our flts in PHX are on the board at least 2-3 hours before dept and that is everyday
 
45 minutes out no gate for US 1192 last time out or the connecting flight last time PHX-AUS.

Wanna talk about the FAA nearly grounding your Trailerpark in the sky?
plz enlightin me since you are the all knowin when it comes to what AWA was doing before it raised the titanic