Friday, December 28, 2007
Airport Frustration
I'd like to take a moment to complain. I know that I promised that I wouldn't whine about travel, and this isn't about traveling or amenities in a plane and not getting the perceived value I should get for my dollar somewhere. This is about the opportunity to spend my money.
Airports seem to have limitless places for you to waste your money. And before the days of super-tight security, anyone could shop at these places. Sure, you had to go through the checkpoint, but it was worth it if you had enough time to kill. Those days are gone, sadly, and it now a ticket is required to access most of the terminal. Including basically every restaurant and bar in the place at a lot of airports.
Chicago's two airports are very guilty about this. With the exception of International Terminal 5 at O'Hare, there are no places to eat or drink once you leave the sterile zone. It's frustrating when you have friends take you to the airport, because there is no opportunity for the goodbye drink. Or if your ride is stuck in traffic like mine was last November in Midway airport. I spent three hours with a dead iPod outside of security, and with nothing more to eat or drink than a diet Coke and a 1.50 bag of 25 cent chips. And on a day like that, there's nothing I want more than a beer. Or six.
Roger, 2:39 PM
