RJpieces From United States, joined Nov 2003, 7378 posts, RR: 54 Posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 2451 times:
A few questions about MIA:
How is the construction going on the North Terminal for American/OneWorld airlines? Still shooting for 2011 completion? When will the tram open up there? And will the gates be re-numbered when it is complete?
Who will use the E concourse once the North Terminal is complete? Will non-aligned international airlines still remain in Concourse F?
Finally, what is the current shape of Concourses F/G/H? I haven't flown from any of those in years...Was H re-built as part of the South Terminal, or are there big differences between Concourses H and J?
I'm sorry for all of the questions! I've been reading a lot of articles and old threads about MIA, and I'm just trying to clear up these questions. Thank you!
"Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon"
IcelandairMSP From United States, joined Dec 2005, 63 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 2332 times:
F/G/H weren't touched by the South Terminal construction. They're all still awful. Little will be done to change this until the North Terminal is complete which, in my opinion, has taken so long that it is already a little outdated.
DFWEagle From United States, joined Dec 2006, 342 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2264 times:
Quoting RJpieces (Thread starter): How is the construction going on the North Terminal for American/OneWorld airlines? Still shooting for 2011 completion?
Yes, the entire project is scheduled for completion in March 2011.
The full length of track won’t be operational until project completion in March 2011, but as Mark said above, the first section of track and 2 stations will open later this year. When the full system is operational, there will be four stations along the terminal length.
Quoting RJpieces (Thread starter): And will the gates be re-numbered when it is complete?
Yes, all 48 mainline gates will be re-numbered in the ‘D’ series from D1 to D51, missing out 13, 18 and 35. A total of 9 gates will be large enough to accommodate the 744, while the rest will vary in size for either the 767, 757 or 737.
The two commuter contact gates will be numbered D53 and D55. In addition, there will be a commuter facility at the end of the terminal with 15 hardstands connected by a covered walkway for ERJ or ATR aircraft. A further three hardstands will be connected to the terminal by bus.
Quoting 28L28L (Reply 3): What's the status of concourse A construction? Do they plan on closing concourse C when A reopens?
Cheers.
Concourse A re-construction is progressing on schedule, and it should re-open in the second quarter of 2010. However, the gates will be without access to the FIS until the project is complete in the first quarter of 2011. Concourse C will be closed later this year, before Concourse A re-opens.
MIASkies From United States, joined Jun 2004, 1203 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2222 times:
Quoting DFWEagle (Reply 4): The two commuter contact gates will be numbered D53 and D55. In addition, there will be a commuter facility at the end of the terminal with 15 hardstands connected by a covered walkway for ERJ or ATR aircraft. A further three hardstands will be connected to the terminal by bus.
So no RJ dedicated Eagle gates at all? hmm it would be nice if they built at least 4 RJ dedicated gates at the "Commuter Satellite" no chance of that happening? I know MIA see's a ton of ATR traffic but RJ gates would be nice as well, the same way they were built at JFK.
DFWEagle From United States, joined Dec 2006, 342 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2201 times:
Quoting MIASkies (Reply 5): So no RJ dedicated Eagle gates at all? hmm it would be nice if they built at least 4 RJ dedicated gates at the "Commuter Satellite" no chance of that happening? I know MIA see's a ton of ATR traffic but RJ gates would be nice as well, the same way they were built at JFK.
Yes, the two commuter gates I mentioned (D53 and D55) will be dedicated regional jet gates, accessible from the main concourse. These will be just like the ones at JFK with full jet bridges.
Ckfred From United States, joined Apr 2001, 3043 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2163 times:
What happens to Concourse E? That place looks like it hasn't seen any remodeling since the 1970s.
I understand that the tram used to connect the "low" domestic gates and the "high" international gates, but now, the low gates and the D gates all have FIS access.
So, will AA (or whoever uses E) eventually take out the tram and fill in the space with gates?
No, it was rebuilt about 10 years earlier. It matches the style of A and D, so there was no need to rebuild it.
Quoting RJpieces (Thread starter):
Who will use the E concourse once the North Terminal is complete? Will non-aligned international airlines still remain in Concourse F?
E and F will be shared equally by nonaligned international carriers.
Quoting IcelandairMSP (Reply 2): F/G/H weren't touched by the South Terminal construction. They're all still awful.
H was completely redone about the same time that Concourse A was built. I think you mean Concourses E/F/G. Though F hasn't really seen any major changes since the 1980s, it's held up well and is a pretty nice concourse compared to E and G.
Quoting Ckfred (Reply 7):
I understand that the tram used to connect the "low" domestic gates and the "high" international gates, but now, the low gates and the D gates all have FIS access.
So, will AA (or whoever uses E) eventually take out the tram and fill in the space with gates?
The tram is on its last legs. We haven't been running the south train since last November (accident), and the north train goes tech on a fairly regular basis. The rumor I've heard is that the train will be demolished as soon as possible, and the E Satellite will be closed down indefinitely.
RJpieces From United States, joined Nov 2003, 7378 posts, RR: 54 Reply 13, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1891 times:
Another question: Will there be an airside connection between any of the three terminals when everything is complete?
Quoting DFWEagle (Reply 4):
Yes, all 48 mainline gates will be re-numbered in the ‘D’ series from D1 to D51, missing out 13, 18 and 35. A total of 9 gates will be large enough to accommodate the 744, while the rest will vary in size for either the 767, 757 or 737.
So there will be no Concourse A/B/C anymore?
Quoting OB1504 (Reply 9): No, it was rebuilt about 10 years earlier. It matches the style of A and D, so there was no need to rebuild it.
Quoting OB1504 (Reply 9): H was completely redone about the same time that Concourse A was built. I think you mean Concourses E/F/G. Though F hasn't really seen any major changes since the 1980s, it's held up well and is a pretty nice concourse compared to E and G.
So H is in good shape? Is Concourse J that much nicer than H? Besides, passengers on airlines using H still check-in at the new South Terminal right?
"Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon"
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 25728 posts, RR: 76 Reply 14, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1866 times:
Quoting RJpieces (Reply 13): So H is in good shape? Is Concourse J that much nicer than H? Besides, passengers on airlines using H still check-in at the new South Terminal right?
H and J are both part of the South Terminal.
Concourse H is in excellent shape. No, its not as nice J, but its still quite nice.
Sflaflight From United States, joined Nov 2005, 896 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1787 times:
Quoting RJpieces (Reply 13): Another question: Will there be an airside connection between any of the three terminals when everything is complete?
It's a misnomer. They are not separate terminals. It is really North side of Terminal, West side of Terminal and South side of terminal. I'm one who hates that because to me terminals are separate buildings like LAX or FLL. Currently North part and West part are linked together in the secure area to allow AA passengers to connect freely. If you are asking if there will be a secure connection between parts (North, West and South) after comlete construction, I can't remember if that will be possible. I believe that passengers will have to leave secure area, walk to other termnal area and reclear security. However, the new MIA was alliance designed so most people will be connecting alliance to alliance. Correct me if I'm wrong about future secure connections between terminal areas.
IcelandairMSP From United States, joined Dec 2005, 63 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1633 times:
Quoting OB1504 (Reply 9): H was completely redone about the same time that Concourse A was built. I think you mean Concourses E/F/G. Though F hasn't really seen any major changes since the 1980s, it's held up well and is a pretty nice concourse compared to E and G.
You're right. My bad. I wish they would rebuild concourses E-H to be as slick as J. Haven't had a chance to fly through it yet but it's one of the best looking in the US.
The North Terminal just looks like a giant hodge podge. The quixotic, if-this-were-Asia part of me wishes they had rebuilt A-D to be completely linear. An opportunity to get a MAD terminal 4 or something. But alas, this is the US and not just the US, but Florida. Architecture was probably the last thing on their minds all those years ago when they were designing it.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 25728 posts, RR: 76 Reply 19, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1567 times:
Quoting MIASkies (Reply 18): Will British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Mexicana and AA partners all move to "A" part of the North Terminal?
Yes. North Terminal will be Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, American Eagle, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair and Mexicana, as well as the four LAN airlines; and hopefully El Al will be back shortly, as they announced last month they are considering returning. They'll go to north, as well.
AA will also be building a brand-new Flagship Lounge and British Airways will be remodeling their Terrace and First Class lounges.
OB1504 From United States, joined Jul 2004, 2279 posts, RR: 11 Reply 21, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 1466 times:
Quoting Jfk777 (Reply 20): WHY though has it taken 20 years since the first AA 767 took off for LGW, EZE and GRU to do the NORTH terminal ? It should have taken 5 years.
Ask AA. They were the ones originally in charge of the project until they screwed it up so badly the county had to take control of it from them.
Quoting Sflaflight (Reply 15): It's a misnomer. They are not separate terminals. It is really North side of Terminal, West side of Terminal and South side of terminal. I'm one who hates that because to me terminals are separate buildings like LAX or FLL.
I hate that, too. Fortunately, the newer signs going up in the airport are downplaying the different "terminals" and they seem to be reduced to marketing names.
Once all is said and done, Concourses D and E and Concourses H and J will be linked behind security. No connections between E and F, F and G, and/or G and H. Of course, if you have ramp access, then they're all linked behind security...
Sflaflight From United States, joined Nov 2005, 896 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1435 times:
Quoting OB1504 (Reply 21):
I hate that, too. Fortunately, the newer signs going up in the airport are downplaying the different "terminals" and they seem to be reduced to marketing names.
In what sense? Are they just directing to gate numbers rather than using North, West, South. Maybe the MIA powers that be figured out that many people, especially Europeans, might thing that they need to take a train or bus to the other terminal! But then aain, these are the same people that have a major plan to raise revenue without extrapolating it from airlines!
Quoting OB1504 (Reply 21):
Once all is said and done, Concourses D and E and Concourses H and J will be linked behind security. No connections between E and F, F and G, and/or G and H
Would that be next to D31? The original current location?
Jfk777 From United States, joined Aug 2006, 3353 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1250 times:
Quoting OB1504 (Reply 21): Ask AA. They were the ones originally in charge of the project until they screwed it up so badly the county had to take control of it from them.
That is an AA Miami statement, AA doesn't have that problem in DFW or ORD or JFK. IF it can happen at other airports why not Miami ? ITs the political culture in Dade County.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 25728 posts, RR: 76 Reply 25, posted (4 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1175 times:
Quoting Jfk777 (Reply 24): That is an AA Miami statement, AA doesn't have that problem in DFW or ORD or JFK. IF it can happen at other airports why not Miami ? ITs the political culture in Dade County.
AA had the same exact problems at the JFK terminal - way overbudget and delayed. Facts always fly right by you.
Incitatus From Brazil, joined Feb 2005, 2666 posts, RR: 21 Reply 26, posted (4 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1285 times:
Valid question: Once this is all done, will MIA cease to look like a zoo? The immigration halls are just awful and too small for the job. They are staffed by some of the most rude officials in the country. The new confining TSA box (it looks like a huge water tank) for terminal D has some unending line and can't process people fast enough. No wonder many people will go out of their way not to connect in Miami.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 25728 posts, RR: 76 Reply 27, posted (4 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1278 times:
Quoting Incitatus (Reply 26): The immigration halls are just awful and too small for the job.
MIA's immigration is easily one of the most efficient in the country. It's huge. The South Concourse immigration is a lot bigger, but North Concourse immigration will become better when Concourse A re-opens.
I've gone through MIA immigration more dozens upon dozens of times and never waited more than 15 minutes. It's not a mess, and the South Concourse immigration is the size of two football fields. Its massive, the largest in the United States. If you want messy immigration, go 20 miles north to FLL. That's a mess.
Among major airports, I've found MIA's South Concourse and JFK's AA terminal to be the most ridiculously efficient immigration facilities. Their too big for their own good.
Quoting Incitatus (Reply 26): The new confining TSA box (it looks like a huge water tank) for terminal D has some unending line and can't process people fast enough.
That thing is a mess but it is also totally temporary, as one can obviously tell from the way it was designed.
Jfk777 From United States, joined Aug 2006, 3353 posts, RR: 0 Reply 28, posted (4 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1266 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 25): AA had the same exact problems at the JFK terminal - way overbudget and delayed. Facts always fly right by you.
MAH4546,
You always defend MIA status quo, WHY ?
You seem to some in at Miami-Dade or AA in Miami but I live in Florida have seen it all at MIA, Charles Byran: the man who ended Eastern and all the rest BEFORE AA got to town as the HUB airline.
THE basic JFK fact is the new terminal started after AA got to Miami( since that is he time line you want) and has been finished for 5 years already. Yes, New York a political town but my point is the terminal was finished and is operating, all of it not just parts. The New York political machine and the PANYNJ get things done and at the end that is what conts, Results. WE know what the result is in Miami NOW, Not Done.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 25728 posts, RR: 76 Reply 29, posted (4 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1259 times:
Quoting Jfk777 (Reply 28): but my point is the terminal was finished and is operating, all of it not just parts.
AA drastically reduced the final size of the terminal, cutting mainline gates and an entire commuter terminal was put on hold. The terminal is designed that these features can be added in the future, which is why the ends of the terminal are quite bare. Stating such facts is not defending the delayed MIA terminal, it's correcting your inaccurate information. The only reason AA was even able to finish it as quickly as they did was by reducing the size of the originally planned T8.
Furthermore, explain to me how Miami-Dade County had no problem building the South Concourse right around its $800M budget? And, while it was delayed, the delayed opening was due to supplier problems in installing a fibre optic network, not actual construction.
You always defer to making up things. Why is that?
MIASkies From United States, joined Jun 2004, 1203 posts, RR: 2 Reply 30, posted (4 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1246 times:
Quoting Jfk777 (Reply 28): THE basic JFK fact is the new terminal started after AA got to Miami( since that is he time line you want) and has been finished for 5 years already. Yes, New York a political town but my point is the terminal was finished and is operating, all of it not just parts. The New York political machine and the PANYNJ get things done and at the end that is what conts, Results. WE know what the result is in Miami NOW, Not Done.
Doesn't this argument get old fellas? We get it...MIA/Miami-Dade Politics is a mess..We get it..it's been said over and over and over again...AA has taken forever to build the terminal..we get it...
Let's focus on the fact that terminal is really shaping up to look great! and what a great job the skilled workers that work their day in and day out (not the investors) are doing!
Jfk777 From United States, joined Aug 2006, 3353 posts, RR: 0 Reply 31, posted (4 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1216 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 29): Furthermore, explain to me how Miami-Dade County had no problem building the South Concourse right around its $800M budget
Boy that is very Ted Kennedy and Frank Lorenzo, " don't look here at the bad stuff but over here at the good things we've done".
Terminal H is great for Miami but I know little about it, it was delayed though for a few years. H also was just a large empty commuter cemment tarmack, AA's A-D terminal is tearing down, remodelling and installing a train plus who knows what they discovered under those old Eastern terminals. H was a clean sheet of paper, the other was having to build around a terminal in use.
Sflaflight From United States, joined Nov 2005, 896 posts, RR: 1 Reply 32, posted (4 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1203 times:
Quoting Incitatus (Reply 26): The immigration halls are just awful and too small for the job. They are staffed by some of the most rude officials in the country.
To me it is one of the best. It always flows really well and quick. Agents are never a problem. At least going thru the line for citizens. Cant talk about the visitors lines. In March I had the opportunity to clear thru LAX's TBIT terminal. That was a crazy mess, so was my arrival at PHL last year. Crazy!
FlyMIA From United States, joined Jun 2001, 3843 posts, RR: 5 Reply 33, posted (4 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1174 times:
Quoting Incitatus (Reply 26): Once this is all done, will MIA cease to look like a zoo?
Well E,F,G wont look nice but the rest will be world class.
Quoting Incitatus (Reply 26): The immigration halls are just awful and too small for the job. They are staffed by some of the most rude officials in the country.
I never had a problem and have never had to wait more than 10/15 minutes I have been through at all types of times. 5am South American flight, Late Afternoon European, Early Afternoon Caribbean etc.. Also never noticed anyone being rude at all, its not like I have conversations with the officers. They say welcome back I say thank you, they say have a good day I say you too. Pretty simple and if they don't say anything oh well.
Quoting Jfk777 (Reply 24): ITs the political culture in Dade County.
Politics are crazy in Miami but most people wanted this airport to be re-done it was a necessity. AA was doing a poor job at doing it that is when the County took over, they might not being doing a great job but they are doing a better job than AA did. At least there is an end in site now and it will be fun riding the Terminal train later this year
Any information on the Miami Intermodal Center?
"It was just four of us on the flight deck, trying to do our job" (Captain Al Haynes)
Ckfred From United States, joined Apr 2001, 3043 posts, RR: 2 Reply 34, posted (4 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1061 times:
Quoting Incitatus (Reply 26): The new confining TSA box (it looks like a huge water tank) for terminal D has some unending line and can't process people fast enough. No wonder many people will go out of their way not to connect in Miami.
Here's my complaint. The First Class/AAdvantage elite line merely gets you to the front of the main line. You can still wind up behind someone who has no clue how to go through security, such as the woman I was behind who put her passport in her carryon, then had to dig it out, and she started putting her purse and her suitcase in bins for the x-ray machine, until a TSA screener started pulling her bags out of the bins and putting them into the machine.
ORD has a dedicated security area for the elites that moves like clockwork, because it's 95% road warriors going through.
OB1504 From United States, joined Jul 2004, 2279 posts, RR: 11 Reply 35, posted (4 months 1 week 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 972 times:
Quoting Incitatus (Reply 26): Valid question: Once this is all done, will MIA cease to look like a zoo? The immigration halls are just awful and too small for the job. They are staffed by some of the most rude officials in the country.
Wouldn't you be mad if you had to work there?
A new FIS is currently under construction in Concourse C (the entrance will be right above Gates D28 and D29, hence the low ceiling in that part of the terminal) that will be for American Airlines and its oneworld partners, and as I understand it, it's even going to have a security checkpoint built-in so connecting passengers can head straight for the gates without having to return to the main departures level.
Nothing's planned for Concourse E, but nothing is really needed. The facility is a little nicer (though it still makes me want to cry) when it's not overcrowded by dozens of AA flights coming in at the same time. When all is said and done in two years, most of its flights will be operated by smaller 737s and A320s. You have a 5L 767 and an AR 340 in the morning, a VS 747 in the mid afternoon, and an MP 767 and an AB 330 in the early evening, but that's it as far as heavies go.
Quoting Jfk777 (Reply 31): Terminal H is great for Miami but I know little about it, it was delayed though for a few years. H also was just a large empty commuter cemment tarmack, AA's A-D terminal is tearing down, remodelling and installing a train plus who knows what they discovered under those old Eastern terminals. H was a clean sheet of paper, the other was having to build around a terminal in use.
Concourse H was built in 1961 for Delta Air Lines. They rebuilt it in the 1990s, one half at a time, and all the while it remained operational.
Quoting FlyMIA (Reply 33): Well E,F,G wont look nice but the rest will be world class.
Correct. Concourse E depresses me, Concourse E Satellite has this smell of pizza and old food that seems to have stuck to the carpet, and it can be nauseating when you first walk in. Concourse F is in pretty decent shape, and Concourse G isn't falling apart, but it's not exactly the top of the line.
Quoting Ckfred (Reply 34): Here's my complaint. The First Class/AAdvantage elite line merely gets you to the front of the main line. You can still wind up behind someone who has no clue how to go through security, such as the woman I was behind who put her passport in her carryon, then had to dig it out, and she started putting her purse and her suitcase in bins for the x-ray machine, until a TSA screener started pulling her bags out of the bins and putting them into the machine.
As an employee, I sometimes have this problem, too. There's only so much I can cut in line before it becomes downright rude.
This is why the TSA requires that all flights to Cuba departing after 2:00 PM depart from Concourse G--that concourse sees little use and since Cubans take forever to go through security, they're not tying up the Concourse F checkpoint when there are several heavy European flights getting ready to depart.
Incitatus From Brazil, joined Feb 2005, 2666 posts, RR: 21 Reply 36, posted (4 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 858 times:
Quoting FlyMIA (Reply 33): Also never noticed anyone being rude at all, its not like I have conversations with the officers. They say welcome back I say thank you, they say have a good day I say you too. Pretty simple and if they don't say anything oh well.
Really, the welcome you said you get is what I get in other places. Once I came out GRU-MIA and we were the first flight in. There was one officer and 200+ people waiting. Somebody asked whether it was possible to open other booths. The officer answered with another question "Do you see anybody else here besides me?" That is, he screamed that back. I've had a friend hear another screaming officer joke that the USA starts north of Orlando, which may even be funny in some situations, but very improper out of the mouth of an immigration officer. MIA has the most rude officers - though Ok, they may even be in the minority there, but there are still lots of them.
Quoting OB1504 (Reply 35): Wouldn't you be mad if you had to work there?
OB1504 From United States, joined Jul 2004, 2279 posts, RR: 11 Reply 37, posted (4 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 809 times:
Quoting Incitatus (Reply 36): MIA has the most rude officers - though Ok, they may even be in the minority there, but there are still lots of them.
That's part of the problem, too. With so many INS and CBP agents, a minority can still be a pretty sizable amount of people. As is all too often the case, it's the bad ones that are remembered while the good ones are quickly forgotten about.
RICARIZA From Colombia, joined Apr 2005, 2191 posts, RR: 36 Reply 38, posted (4 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 772 times:
Quoting IcelandairMSP (Reply 2): F/G/H weren't touched by the South Terminal construction. They're all still awful. Little will be done to change this until the North Terminal is complete which, in my opinion, has taken so long that it is already a little outdated.
H is new.
Quoting Ckfred (Reply 7): What happens to Concourse E? That place looks like it hasn't seen any remodeling since the 1970s.
OB1504 From United States, joined Jul 2004, 2279 posts, RR: 11 Reply 39, posted (4 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 660 times:
Quoting RICARIZA (Reply 38): but I E has seen some work done too...
The International Satellite Terminal (E20-E33) opened in the late 1970s. Concourse E (E1-E11) was rebuilt in the early 1980s. Since then, they haven't really been touched.
RICARIZA From Colombia, joined Apr 2005, 2191 posts, RR: 36 Reply 40, posted (4 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 552 times:
Hm, maybe I was looking at D? I just walked through a series of detours to get into my gate E-10 a week ago for my AA-flight to MAD and I saw a new boarding rooms area with new food court, etc.., too bad I didn't take any pictures at that moment..
OB1504 From United States, joined Jul 2004, 2279 posts, RR: 11 Reply 41, posted (4 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 468 times:
Quoting RICARIZA (Reply 40): Hm, maybe I was looking at D? I just walked through a series of detours to get into my gate E-10 a week ago for my AA-flight to MAD and I saw a new boarding rooms area with new food court, etc.., too bad I didn't take any pictures at that moment..
Yep, sounds like D. The food court is located at Gate D44. There's going to be a similar cluster of restaurants in the older portion of D (Gates D31 thru D36), and the old Concourse A rotunda.