Whisperjet From Germany, joined Nov 2007, 552 posts, RR: 9 Posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2186 times:
Hi,
I just booked some unbelievable cheap flights to Boston for May 28th to June 2nd. Since i have never been to the states before for plane spotting I would be thankful if somebody can recommend some good airports where spotting is possible without a car.
Personally I do not like approach spots very much where you can only get the plane in front of a more or less blue sky.
AAairplane From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 94 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2146 times:
I don't understand. You will need a car unless you are staying close to the airport.
AKE0404AR From United States of America, joined exactly 13 years ago today! , 2534 posts, RR: 50 Reply 2, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2144 times:
So Stefan, are you planning on staying in the BOS area?
Whisperjet From Germany, joined Nov 2007, 552 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2135 times:
Hi,
I will stay in Boston for the first two days only and planing to go somewhere else by plane.
Since I'm too young to rent a car and that's why I'm looking for airports with easily accessible spots.
Alasdair1982 From UK - Scotland, joined Mar 2008, 461 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2135 times:
Head over to SFO then. One of the AirTrain stations offers good views of aircraft rotating off rnways 28 L/R from the open vantage point beside the elevator
Worth pointing out before people warn you about police hassling you etc, that only in October if last year, an airport official took the time to personally show me the location, as in his opinion, it was the "best" location!
San Bruno Caltrain station is good also for aircraft right after lifting off from 28
KaiGywer From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 12027 posts, RR: 43 Reply 5, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2133 times:
Well, it's on the opposite end of the country...but LAX
Whisperjet From Germany, joined Nov 2007, 552 posts, RR: 9 Reply 6, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2132 times:
Well, SFO sounds good to me but my favourite would be LAX. Flights from Boston are not too expensive at the moment and if something is possible without a car I will probably book it.
KaiGywer From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 12027 posts, RR: 43 Reply 7, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2129 times:
Quoting Whisperjet (Reply 6): Well, SFO sounds good to me but my favourite would be LAX. Flights from Boston are not too expensive at the moment and if something is possible without a car I will probably book it.
In N Out is accessible without a car. On your walk over, you will be walking right underneath the approach as well.
Sorry for the selfplug, but this is taken from the sidewalk at Sepulveda Blvd
Mclaudio From Portugal, joined Jan 2005, 170 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2115 times:
Quoting Whisperjet (Reply 6): Well, SFO sounds good to me but my favourite would be LAX
Hi.
If you already made your choice (LAX), then I think you should go ahead and visit it. I've been to KLAX and didn't rent a car (though later I had a ride there).
Spotters are normally creative people and that's what you got to do. Take advantage of free shuttle bus to hotels (for example) and you'll easily be on the Imperial Hill side and when you get there...just walk. Distances are very easy to do. I stood at the Embassy Suites South and it took me 15 minutes walking to get to the Imperial Hill everyday. Then some 5-10 minutes walking down the road you have several stores where you can buy food. Just as simple as that.
Have fun there!
Proudly one of the 6 million Portuguese that support SL Benfica!! Champions 2009-2010!
Dvincent From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1719 posts, RR: 12 Reply 9, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 2104 times:
Stefan,
If you're interested in hanging out or spotting around BOS or BDL (or any of the other ancilliary airports), send me a PM. I know all the good spots.
JRadier From Netherlands, joined Sep 2004, 4598 posts, RR: 51 Reply 11, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2076 times:
Stefan,
#1 is I think a hotel, but other can fill you in on this
#2/3 are Imperial Hill, you can get there by illegally taking the Embassy Suites shuttle
#4 is within walkingdistance from the In-n-Out burger
For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and ther
Mclaudio From Portugal, joined Jan 2005, 170 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2069 times:
Quoting JRadier (Reply 11): #2/3 are Imperial Hill, you can get there by illegally taking the Embassy Suites shuttle
Or you can take a cab from the airport or even from any of the hotels on the north side and go there. Just a few bucks and not very far. But yes, with the shuttle to the Embassy Suites South +15 min walking you get the job done.
Stefan, I think there is only one place a bit difficult to reach if you're walking. It's the Proud Bird restaurant. It can be done, but it's a rather long walk. The same for the beach which is an excellent place to make photos for traffic taking off from the North complex and to log regs on the Southern complex (backlight for photography most of the day).
You can get to the The In-n-Out, the Imperial Hill and the Flight Path museum without car and if you don't mind a few side-on frames with blue sky there is an excellent place for arrivals -a fast food restaurant- on the north complex near the Renaissance Los Angeles Airport (I'm sure they also have a free shuttle).
Proudly one of the 6 million Portuguese that support SL Benfica!! Champions 2009-2010!
AKE0404AR From United States of America, joined exactly 13 years ago today! , 2534 posts, RR: 50 Reply 13, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2042 times:
Quoting Whisperjet (Reply 10):
What about these spots, are they accessible to the public and without a car as well?
There are so many LAX locals, I am sure someone has time left to drive you around.
INNflight From Austria, joined Apr 2004, 3765 posts, RR: 62 Reply 14, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2036 times:
When you're at BOS, try out the parking deck overlooking the airport, nice shots with the bay doable from there. Dan Vincent is also a very helpful and nice gent, so make sure you drop him a line
LAX, perfect for spotting, as said before. LAS and PHX are good too, as you'd be in the area already.
RonS From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 761 posts, RR: 24 Reply 16, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2009 times:
If you are going to BOS, what Lenses will you be bringing? That would help on advising where to spot. I would think a 100-400 would be plenty, but 200 might not be enough. As INNflight said, the parking garage (terminal B garage) is where spotters go. You can take the hotel shuttle bus there and back. Hyatt harborside has the best airport view and costs the most, followed by Hilton...but no real view of the airfield. Cheaper on airport, no view, is the Embassy Suites, followed by even cheaper but off airport (shuttle to airport) is the Holiday Inn Logan Airport.
The above spot would be fine. But you can also take the train a few stops up from the Airport to Orient Heights and short walk to Constitution Beach if it's a nice day. Dan's site has alot of guidance and he would be the man for spotting at BOS http://www.neairports.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2
All opinions expressed by me are my own opinions & do not represent the opinions in any way of my employers.
Dvincent From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1719 posts, RR: 12 Reply 17, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2003 times:
Spotting on the garages is at your own risk, given that Massport actively shoos anyone they see with a camera that looks any bigger than a pocket point and shoot. If they miss you, count yourself lucky. It's doubly tough without a car that you can hop in and out of to serve as cover.
Unfortunately, things are just not as friendly here as they are on the west coast or in Europe.
AKE0404AR From United States of America, joined exactly 13 years ago today! , 2534 posts, RR: 50 Reply 19, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 1943 times:
Stefan,
there are a few ones in the KBOS area
Quoting RonS (Reply 16): Hyatt harborside has the best airport view and costs the most, followed by Hilton...but no real view of the airfield. Cheaper on airport, no view, is the Embassy Suites, followed by even cheaper but off airport (shuttle to airport) is the Holiday Inn Logan Airport.
depending on your budget, you could also stay outside the city....
Motel 6 boston north
Danvers, MA, 01923 for roughly 60 bucks, approx 25 min from the airport.
on Route 1 towards Peabody there are plenty of motels....
Shqiptari24 From Albania, joined Apr 2009, 7 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 1849 times:
Hey Stefan,
Welcome to the States! I would recommend you go on a trip to New York City. You can spot at LGA, JFK, and EWR. Since your coming from BOS, you can also stop by in area such as BDL, PVD, HPN, SWF, and even ISP. The Northeast has many areas for spotting, and it's all within a maximum 2 hour drive.
Chris78cpr From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 2813 posts, RR: 52 Reply 22, posted (4 years 1 month 1 week 1 hour ago) and read 1760 times:
Quoting Whisperjet (Reply 18): The hotel from which picture 1 in my posting above was taken would be great. Does anybody know which one it is?
Thats the Radisson on W Century Blvd.
I stayed there for 4 nights last month and there are no real shooitng oppotunities from there anymore unless you want to be renegade and sit in your room and run to the roof for anything special. The place where the EK was shot from is the roof terrace outside the penthouse bar which was being refurbed when i was there. It has been made clear by the hotel that spotting is not allowed up there any more.
I would reccomend one of the other hotels on Century over the Radisson if you want to stay there. If you have no car, limited time and want to shoot only then just get a room at Embassy Suites south and use that for your base.
5D2/7D/1D2(soon to be a 1Dx) 17-40L/24-105L/70-200F2.8L/100-400L/24F1.4LII/50F1.2L/85F1.2LII
Ag92 From India, joined Jul 2006, 1317 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (4 years 1 month 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 1755 times:
Sorry but something related is I plan to go to the States in June/July and am looking for like the 5 BEST places to spot, with some things into consideration
Airport Size - Larger the airport the better it is
Number of locations to view planes from - maybe a place where both take-off and landings are accessible
etc. Variety and widebodies are what I am actually looking for
The idea at the moment is this
LAX
SFO
NYC
SXM
SEA - just for the Boeing factory
I wont be going to all of them but having a list of 5-10 can help in choosing where you want to go and what routing you want to take.
Car will be there that is of no worry and any place in the US will do
Whisperjet From Germany, joined Nov 2007, 552 posts, RR: 9 Reply 24, posted (4 years 1 month 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 1747 times:
Hi,
thanks to everybody for the input.
Probably we will got for Embassy Suites in LAX then and the Holiday Inn in BOS then.
Stefan
Nobody is perfect - not even a perfect fool.
25 Mclaudio: Hi. The best choice if you want to hang around on the Imperial Hill. Bedrooms are huuuuge, breakfasts are superb and it's only a few minutes walking
26 KaiGywer: You know this is nowhere near the US right? Don't forget about the little donut shop. Awesome donuts and cheap too
27 Ag92: Yeah I know, isnt it like 4-5 hours away from New York? If I eventually go there that will just be a trip for a couple of days and on the way back
29 INNflight: Actually I found the public transportation in Boston hugely effective, alsmost like NYC I had my hotel up north (I think) near Harvard Square, very n
30 Paulinbna: I was going to suggest to this. Here at BNA I have met a couple of people at thier hotels and given them rides. (when I can because of my work).
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