Triangle Trip

JFK Airport is a pretty confusing airport. Delta Airlines used to operate out of two JFK terminals: Terminal 2 and 3. With JFK Terminal 2 connected to Terminal 3 via a bridge, you always check in at Terminal 2 (see previous post for best practice). Back in February 2009, Delta started operating out of Terminal 4 for all of its JFK to LAX flights. Delta did not properly communicate the change with its customers nor did they coordinate with the Port Authority of NY & NJ to put up the proper signage (see previous post for more info).

Some time between the summer and now (I have not flown Delta from JFK to LAX since June), Delta decided to move its JFK to LAX flights from Terminal 4 to Terminal 2. Since JFK terminals repeat its gate numbers, it is very hard to identify which terminal your flight departs from when Delta operates across three terminals. Calling Delta’s customer service is no help as they are lack local knowledge. After searching through many web pages on Delta’s own website, I finally found a map explaining the gate changes to me. For my readers’ convenience, I have attached the map below.

Here are my suggestions to Delta’s team and feel free to contact us for more advice:

1.  Update Delta.com to show JFK Terminal and Gate information

2.  Tell all your JFK customers about the gate changes. I am sure Delta’s customer relationship management system has all the information.

Starwood sent me an email titled:  “Platinum Members: A Gift Awaits You as a Thank-You from SPG.” Apparently this email did not make it to every SPG Platinum member as Statusmonger was somehow left out. SPG is basically giving out limited-edition travel tags to its Platinum members. Here’s the main content of the email:

To receive your limited-edition tags, we just need the mailing address to which you’d like the tags sent. Simply click the link below, provide the address* by Friday, December 18 at Noon Eastern Standard Time and we’ll mail your gift to you.

There’s a link in the email (or click on the picture below) directing you to a web form which will validate if you are a SPG Platinum member. Once you are confirmed as a SPG Platinum member, you will have to provide your mailing address to receive these limited-edition travel tags. As stated in the email, you will need to complete the form by no later than noon Easter time (this Friday), December 18, 2009.

Enjoy the tags!

Chicago has the best public transportation system to get from the airport to the City. Regardless if you’re traveling from Midway (MDW) or O’Hare (ORD – which is one of the Top 5 airports in the US), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) can get you from the airport to downtown Chicago in about 45 minutes or less. No other major metropolitan area in the US has such an efficient public transportation system connecting airports to the City’s business district.

The CTA blue line is directly connected to ORD’s Terminal 2 and within walking distance from Terminals 1 and 3. The O’Hare terminal train station is clean, and has clear signs directing you to the next train departing from the station. Taking the blue line is the most efficient and fastest way to get you to downtown Chicago as I-90/I-94 traffic is horrendous. See map below for reference:

At MDW, there are clear signs and walkway from baggage claim that directly connects Midway Airport to the orange line Midway train station. The Midway train station is by the main garage of Midway Airport. You can get to Chicago’s downtown loop from Midway in under 30 minutes.

The only downside to the Chicago CTA is they don’t run 24×7. Trains stop at midnight or 1:00am and restart at about 4:30am. Regardless, you can’t beat the speed; I still remember taking the 5:00am train from the city to midway for a 6:30am flight with plenty of time to spare.

I don’t think there’s any other major city in the world where you only spend US$2.25 to go from the airport to downtown in less than 45 minutes. Taking a cab from ORD or MDW to downtown would cost you at least US$50, and the ride would be significantly slower with all of that traffic.