John Wayne Airport Expansion?

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Comfort_IHB

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<p>I flew into John Wayne last weekend on Southwest and for the second time, we de-planed the aircraft outside of the airport. The first time this happened was with United a couple years ago and I thought it was a temporary thing. </p>

<p>I noticed that they have placed a portable gate near the end of the terminal (with United logos inside). It reminded me of the old Ontario airport. To me, this is an embarrassment to the visitors we have here. I can't imagine having to de-plane into the rain, and having to walk past another plane, and then port-a-gates and then walking through the whole half of the airport in order to get to the baggage claim.</p>

<p>If this didnt happen to me before, I would have thought it was part of Southwest's crappy way to save $$, but United too?!</p>

<p>Does anyone know if there is an expansion in the works there?</p>
 
From what I understood, it will be another 3 years of outdoor parking. Thats unfortunate. Oh well, at least they are working on something!
 
OC1....are you kidding me? Have you ever flown into Cleveland? If you have then you would know some of the gates are on the middle of the tarmac. So when you get off the plane you have to board a bus that then takes you to the gate so you can tread your way through the concourses to get to your baggage claim. Heck Cincinnati is just as bad.



Having to walk across a few hundred feet of cement to get into a gate is not that bad....come one.
 
<p>mino, also Some European cities are like that too.. But we are talking Orange County here, the entranceway to visitors expecting the OC experience, not some ordinary, boring, midwest town...</p>

<p>(btw, i was born in Akron. yes, Ohio is boring)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>and... dont get me started on LAX. that dump is past any chance of it being salvaged. That's why I will not even comment on it.</p>
 
<p>I remember when John Wayne Airport wasn't named after the dead actor (Orange County Airport), I remember the Skybar that overlooked the airfield, and I remember that baggage claim was a conveyor belt under a freestanding awning. Jetways, concession stands, parking garages and food courts were impossible to imagine in something that looked like a grocery store from the outside. 17 years ago, when the current building opened, we were amazed at how much they had "overbuilt" our little local airport.</p>

<p>Don't take this the wrong way, but claiming that the use of a portable gate is "an embarrassment to the visitors" just sounds pretentious on it's face. Considering the cost of flying into SNA versus Long Beach (all portable gates), I think I'll skip the Duke and save the dollars. The really isn't anything special about Orange County, or any of it's cities. It's scrub brush and sand underneath all the concrete, and it was never meant to compete with LA. But in reading some of the comments from people living there, you would think it's the French Riviera. If I had to point to one thing that I will enjoy about the current housing collapse, it is knowing that people who thought living on Turtle Ridge gave them status will not only watch their home's value tumble, but that they are going to be paying through the nose to support the cultural pathology. If they really wanted a world-class airport, it would have cost less to revamp the Marine fields at El Toro into something twice the size and commercial capacity of JWA, but that would have really trashed the land values of everyone owning land under the flight paths.</p>

<p>/rant</p>

<p>(Sorry, I'm in a foul mood)</p>
 
For someone travels as often as I have, SNA's trail gates are not a pleasuant experience. It is small, lack of seating, and lack of good air circulation. Does remind me of those bad airports at other parts of the country. Given the fact the the rest of the SNA is nice and convienant, it is a real shame in my opinion that we didn't do the expansion earlier. ( thanks to our NB, LB neighbours). I use those gates all the time, since I often connect via SFO on united. More than half of the united flights between SNA and SFO are on CRJ700s. Because those are the smaller jets operated by SkyWest, they got stuck with the trailer gates. If you are old, or you have little ones with you, it is a pain to get on and off those planes via the mobile jetways.



I am not from here originally. I lived in the major cities in Texas, largest cities on the east coast, and Atlanta. In my opinion, OC is the nicest place. I am not saying OC is perfect, but relatively speaking, OC is nice. I have been to Nice, and I liked OC better than Nice. Again, it is just my personal opinion. Every time my plane touchs down at SNA, I always feel lucky that I have an opportunity to live in OC. Guys, if OC is that bad, start packing tonight! I am sure no one is sentenced by any court to live in OC as a punishment! Maybe some of us does think this is our French Riviera (or better since no French is required)! I don't see anything wrong it.



I know of several people living in Turtle Ridge. They are successful business people who happen to be very nice, and down to earth. Home value going down is not a major concerns to them at all. They don't spend time worrying about the things they have no control over.



It is true and obvious that the land under the flight paths will decrease dramatically if there is an El Toro airport. I don't understand why someone will cheer for that???!!! The no. of homes will get effected is huge! It is from Aliso Viejo to Laguna Niguel, to Laguna Hills to lake Forest to Irvine. The only people really wanted the airport are the folks living in NB and LB - they want to move their noise to other towns, and have a shorter ride to the airport. From public policy prospective, not having a airport in El Toro is the right choice, and a fair choice. Lucky, voters agreed.
 
I like OC. Specifically, Irvine. Feels very safe. I breathe a sigh of relief once I exit the freeways and realize I am back in Irvine.
 
While most will say they are safely home once they reach their house. I actually feel I am home once I enter the city of Irvine. That's how safe it is.
 
those temporary gates at the end of the terminal at SNA are not that bad compared to long beach (a bus stop with airplanes) or if you've ever had to land at LAX and disembark on the tarmac, then take a bus (standing room only and people's carryons sliding all over the place.)
 
<p>Alright, if you truly want a Sci-Fi experience try flying into Washington Dulles. Check out these beauties you have to ride to get to and from some terminals.... They're like these 15 foot high buses on steroids. Look like they should be on the moon....</p>

<p><a href="http://www.mwaa.com/dulles/d2_dulles_development_2/d2_home/intl_arrivals_building"><img height="135" alt="03 IAB expansion.jpg" width="175" src="http://www.metwashairports.com/_/Image/_/03_iab_expansion.jpg" /></a></p>
 
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