RJpieces From United States, joined Nov 2003, 6896 posts, RR: 50 Posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 2903 times:
I had the opportunity to fly out of Terminal 3 at JFK a few weeks ago...I was rather surprised by how nice it was, especially given the consensus on A.net that it's a third world country.
Sure there are some parts that could use a renovation, but on the whole, the rotunda is rather nice, they have an excellent food court with perhaps the best runway views at JFK, the gate areas are average to good, definitly not the worst I've seen.
The best part was that it really felt like a global hub. My flight left around 5PM and there were planes going to Athens, Berlin, Istanbul, Moscow, all over the United States, and more. No other terminal at JFK has that feeling except perhaps Terminal 8/9 and on a smaller scale, Terminal 7...
I also noticed several bathrooms (near gates 12, 4 and 6) with tiles still in the old Pan Am colors...Pretty cool feeling being in there and I imagine there is even old ground equipment somewhere in there with Pan Am colors....
Overall, it is definitly a nice terminal that any A.netter should love to explore, not dread.
Does anyone else agree with me that it's a nice terminal?
"Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon"
DL787932ER From United States, joined Dec 2005, 577 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 2896 times:
Keep in mind that a big part of the reason JFK T3 gets put down on this site is because it's DL's terminal...if it were B6's terminal you'd see posts about how it's a nice combination of Paradise and the Garden of Eden
INTENSS From Czech Republic, joined Aug 2004, 317 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2888 times:
Let me know if you feel the same way when you arrive into terminal 3 and have to claim your bagage downstairs at baggage claim. What a cluster that place can be.....
Aeroflot777 From Russia, joined Mar 2004, 2088 posts, RR: 23 Reply 3, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2871 times:
Agreed. I love DL's terminal. One of the main reasons, as you already mentioned, is its global feeling. Being there in teh afternoon is amazing, flights leaving to major cities throughout the world. Amazing! Plus DL just rocks!
Aerolfot777
There is no such a thing as a bad airline or airplane. If it flies in the skies, I'm on it.
ArmitageShanks From United Kingdom (England), joined Dec 2003, 2901 posts, RR: 14 Reply 4, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2851 times:
I really enjoy going through JFK with Delta. Never had a bad experience in the 6 times I have been through there.
Jumbojet From United States, joined Dec 2003, 1159 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2846 times:
Quoting INTENSS (Reply 2): Let me know if you feel the same way when you arrive into terminal 3 and have to claim your bagage downstairs at baggage claim. What a cluster that place can be.....
-Rich
Couldnt agree more. Nothing worse then claiming baggage at term 3. I cant tell you how many times I have gone back and forth between the two carousels. As an after thought, it is rather cool to walk down the corrridors of Term 2 and check out all the intermational destinations served by DL. More impressive then any other terminal.
EddieDude From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 4489 posts, RR: 27 Reply 6, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2830 times:
The last time I was at SA)">DL's Terminal 3 was in February 2005. I do like the food court indeed... it does have a very nice view of the runways. And the area around the gate that AM used before movin to Terminal 1 is also quite cool... I like those windows. However, i always thought that the check-in area of Terminal 3 is quite bad, and I also recall that the baggage claim process is a bit disastrous. Something I really liked of Terminal 3 is the home of SA at JFK too, although I don't know if they will move to Terminal 4 once they join Star Alliance.
Terminals 1 and 4 are very nice. I really like Terminal 1 and the variety of airlines: AM, AZ, AF, LH and some others. As for Terminal 4, the same is quite nice as well.
Jrlander From United States, joined Aug 1999, 1065 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 2734 times:
Terminal 3 is slowly getting better, from my experiences. Prior to the post 9/11 renovations, when you had to screen ALL your baggage before the check-in desks, it was a lot more of a pain. Sometime in the last couple of years, they redid it again, so that there is a central security point, unless you are BusinessElite.
Personally- I wish that someone (hopefully a profitable post-BK Delta) would use the rotunda as the core of a replacement for T2 and T3- It seems to me they could tear down (progressively) the 70's addition to T3 and all of T2, use the rotunda as a check-in area, build a concourse (connected by an underground walkway) where T2 is and maybe a triangular concourse sort of where the addition to T3 is (again connected via an underground passage. This would allow them to restore, at least from an architectural standpoint, the original terminal, using it in a way that more effectively meets the needs of 21st century air travel. It would also allow them to build gates for RJ's and turboprops, as well as a better customs/immigration area.
But this is pure fantasy- and if the suckers are ever replaced it will be by either an expanded T4 ( the 2000 plan ) or maybe an expanded Terminal 1.
In any case- I don't think the terminals are nearly as bad as people make them out to be. I also find the BusinessElite lounges ( particularly the larger one with great runway views) to be quite nice. When I used to do a lot of business in New York- I always used JFK, and caught the Airtrain. I would make sure I was at the airport early to sit in the food court and watch the afternoon departures.
Superhub From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2006, 443 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 2732 times:
Quoting DL787932ER (Reply 1): Keep in mind that a big part of the reason JFK T3 gets put down on this site is because it's DL's terminal...if it were B6's terminal you'd see posts about how it's a nice combination of Paradise and the Garden of Eden
Not really. I like Delta, but I hate their JFK terminals. I do not like AA, but I love their T9 (and hate their T8).... I am indifferent about B6, but I find JFK T6 very cramped. It's got hardly anything to do with which airlines fly them.
What I don't like about T3 is not that rotunda. I actually like that part, lots of windows, spacious, and I was quite impressed with it. They should keep it if they decide to rebuild T3. But go to the other side of T3, that part is just very cramped and dirty, and do not offer any views at all...a bit like AA's T8, but a bit better. T2 isn't impressive either.
Willyj From United States, joined Oct 2005, 424 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2699 times:
Quoting EddieDude (Reply 6): Something I really liked of Terminal 3 is the home of SA at JFK too, although I don't know if they will move to Terminal 4 once they join Star Alliance.
SA have already moved to terminal 4. I saw their aircraft parked at Terminal 4 last thursday.
SA7700 From South Africa, joined Dec 2003, 2001 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (2 years 8 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2688 times:
Quoting Willyj (Reply 9): SA have already moved to terminal 4. I saw their aircraft parked at Terminal 4 last thursday.
Really? Please tell that to the staff at the SA reservations centre in South Africa, because they don't have any idea about this move. I am due to arrive during Easter weekend on SA at JFK and haven't got a clue at which terminal it is going to be.
FlyDeltaJets From United States, joined Feb 2006, 1003 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 2625 times:
Quoting EddieDude (Reply 6): Something I really liked of Terminal 3 is the home of SA at JFK too, although I don't know if they will move to Terminal 4 once they join Star Alliance.
SA officially moved out of Terminal 3 to Terminal 4 on Tuesday March 7th 2006. They are now handled by Swissport over there.
BTW Terminal 3 is a nice building but it just needs to be upkept better. A little soap and water never harmed anything. (Coming from a DL employee not a DL basher)
WesternA318 From United States, joined Oct 2004, 4267 posts, RR: 16 Reply 12, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 2609 times:
Quoting RJpieces (Thread starter): Does anyone else agree with me that it's a nice terminal?
I cant stand SA)">DL, but I love the terminal. Last May I flew out on a 600AM to ATL, and the sun filtering in through those windows, what a sight.
Quoting DL787932ER (Reply 1): if it were SA)">B6's terminal you'd see posts about how it's a nice combination of Paradise and the Garden of Eden
LMAO, exactly. Although I abhore SA)">B6, Theonly reason I like T-6 is becasue it was originally Nationals, then TWA's, but coming in through there I don't like one bit.
Quoting Jumbojet (Reply 5): I cant tell you how many times I have gone back and forth between the two carousels.
It's a hobby of mine every time I come in through there. Great workout I might add.
Quoting EddieDude (Reply 6): Something I really liked of Terminal 3 is the home of SA at JFK too,
Nothing like coming up that escalator looking to the right, and theres this HUGE SAA 744 trying to nuzzle its nose against you...
Get that worldly look, one country at a time. Work Hard, Fly Right.
WorldTraveler From United States, joined Aug 2003, 5195 posts, RR: 19 Reply 13, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 2537 times:
After DL spends $300 million over the next couple years (almost half of what B6 is spending for all new facilities (minus the ex-TWA terminal buildaround), DL's facilities at JFK should be nice. It's not a bad terminal and some things need more than just soap, water, and paint but the buildings are salvageable. I'd still rather have what DL has there now with enough flights to make it work than the huge new terminal DL was planning pre-9/11 which they undoubtedly would have had to reject the lease for in BK because it would have been way too expensive.
AA probably would like to renegotiate the terms on its JFK and MIA facilities if it were signing those contracts today. Kinda hard for AA to make any money on local traffic if they are having to pay $20 per passenger on airport facilities at those two airports which is exactly what those terminals are costing AA.
DL Widget Head From United States, joined Apr 2000, 1649 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2459 times:
I really like DL's T3 at JFK. It does need some repairs and cosmetic attention but, all in all, it is rather nice. Walking through the terminal seeing all of the INTL destinations is awesome. Spotting at the food court area is great. Used to be able to park your car right on top of that location and spot from the roof but sadly, that was closed down years ago.
SA7700 From South Africa, joined Dec 2003, 2001 posts, RR: 5 Reply 16, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2454 times:
Quoting RJpieces (Reply 14): Simply not true. As I mentioned earlier, the food court in the back of Terminal 3 has by far the best view at JFK, better than the Rotunda even.
Aside from the food-court view and the Pan Am tiles in the bathrooms, this is one terminal, apart from United's C-terminal/shack at IAD, that I personally hate. Flying on SA, I have made use of this terminal at least 7 times, using it both as a port of entry-and exit. I want to stick out my neck and say that it is far worse than SA's current arrivals hall in JNB.
I will never forget the "tomb-like international arrivals customs area" in which the escalator dumps you, a few minutes after you have stepped off the plane. Every time, somehow without fail the same old hag (working for USA Customs-and Immigrations) yell at passengers who just set their feet on USA soil. Let's just say, it is not a nice welcome to the USA.
Departing was okay, except when it rained and water seemed to pour through the ceilings at various places, sometimes in the middle of a gate departure lounge. It should not, but does however create a lasting impression. I am glad SA finally moved to T4.
Lhrmaccoll From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2410 times:
DL have made a real effort with T3 at JFK, and I get sick of the DL bashers on this site comparing them to NW and UA as a failure. Sure its tough right now, but they are holding with their business plans, and they are coming through the rough of it.
Alex
Panamair From United States, joined Oct 2001, 3040 posts, RR: 16 Reply 18, posted (2 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2275 times:
Overall, T3 Departures is much better than the Arrivals area. After the PA takeover, DL dd a decent job of sprucing up the Departures area with new flooring, lighting, signage, shops, etc. The new security set-up with the glass barriers does mar the appearance a bit but otherwise, it doesn't look and feel half bad...as many have mentioned, during the busy 3-7PM times, it feels vibrant and exciting.
Yes, T9, T1 and T4 are much nicer in terms of newness, modern facilities, etc. but frankly, they look like all these new "cookie-cutter" type terminals with lots of glass, steel, etc. I can't help but feel they are rather soul-less compared to the character and history that are part of the old glorious Pan Am pioneering days. As you walk through the rotunda area (Gates 1-3, Gates 16-18) with its high ceilings and large glass windows, you can almost imagine the days of the 747 inaugural to LHR....At least DL's flights to places like IST, TXL, ATH, SVO, etc. are upholding the tradition of T3.
The worst part of the Arrivals area, especially after emerging from Customs is the feeling that you have entered a dungeon. One of the worst parts is the route to the AirTrain and the parking areas - a long windy, narrow, and almost perilous uphill path from the Arrivals area. Unfortunately, I don't know how the infrastructure/architecture can be modified to provide an easier walkway to the AirTrain area.
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