Feb 25 2009
Size Does Matter
Okay, I’ve been off the radar for a while, cause as you know sometimes life and the grind decide you don’t need or deserve anything even remotely resembling free time. But I’m getting a little rest & relaxation in at the least likely of places…the airport. My latest jaunt to bustling Ohio has highlighted a simple fact – for better or worse, small airports do what they do better than big hubs.
I landed most recently in Columbus, OH and found myself smack in the middle of a well lit, clean, attractive space. Wide open halls and inviting eateries were abound, and I swear that one of those airline employees actually smiled at me as I passed. FOR NO GOOD REASON!! Then, low and behold, no sooner than I found myself smack in the middle of this little slice of travel heaven I was out. No shuttle, no treadmill, no gauntlet of kiosks and credit offers, there I was at the luggage carousel. When what to my wondering eye should appear? My luggage…MY LUGGAGE!…before I even got to the carousel. Great googily moogily!
Now feeling swift and efficient I bounded off to get my rental car, but I was thwarted in my efforts because, well, I was there already…before I even got up to speed. Off I went to enjoy the many pleasures of Ohio.
As I depart the Buckeye State I’m having a similar experience, now at Dayton International. Not as much charm and a little more worn than Columbus, but much of the same pleasant efficiencies. Could it be that we’d benefit from a smaller, more agile airport network? Would service improve and delays be reduced? Let’s face it. Most major cities don’t have the land or money to develop several small airports instead of one large one. Chicago already has two, and both are too big for their britches, so what would we do there? I don’t know, I just know that sometimes bigger isn’t better…