Baggage Claim

> >

Mon, 02/19/2007 - 09:57 — David Evans Jr.

With 63 airports in the Southwest system, I have the opportunity to view some very diverse architecture and decorating ideas as I pass through the various terminals. Some terminal and gate areas seem quite sterile and commercial, while others are very warm, airy, and inviting. During my last trip, I had an overnight in Sacramento, CA (SMF), one of ten cities I flew into in three days. When the Sacramento baggage claim area was designed, something very whimsical was added by a decorator who obviously had a great sense of humor. Hiding two of the ceiling support columns are old baggage carts which were used to transfer luggage from the terminal to the aircraft. These baggage carts have been distressed to make them look like they are swelled out as if crammed full of Passengers' luggage, obviously not the way we would do it at SWA!!!. Then piled from the top of the cart, all the way to the ceiling are numerous pieces of luggage in all shapes and sizes. In addition to being quite a conversation starter, it makes it extremely easy to find the baggage claim area in Sacramento.

Trackback URL for this post:

http://www.blogsouthwest.com/2007/02/19/baggage-claim/trackback

Tags:

Working at Southwest

View devansjr's profile

Comments

Captain Evans,
Thanks for sharing this photo! Even though it is not the way the SWA guys and gals try to stack your baggage carts, the humor and irreverence seem to go hand-in-hand with the Southwest concept of a "fun-loving attitude"!

If we can't laugh at ourselves, we're in bad shape -- and it looks like someone in Sacramento is able to chuckle about the mountain of baggage that they handle!
Kim :-)

Kim Seale — Mon, 02/19/2007 - 16:45

That is tacky.......... THE BEST AIRPORT BY FAR IS ABQ...... YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT SOMETIME...

francisco.delgado — Mon, 02/19/2007 - 17:49

I see my missing suitcase in that stack!!

(Not really, of course, but that is a clever idea!)

Thanks for sharing!

Vicki — Mon, 02/19/2007 - 18:35

as always Kim is the positive one.......................

francisco.delgado — Mon, 02/19/2007 - 21:34

ABQ is my home airport and I love. I forget how spolied I am when I travel and see these other airports that lack style and character. How many other airports are built in Pueblo Style, have Southwestern decor with brick floors and wood viga ceilings? Its more like being in an art gallery then an airport.

Plus ABQ has free wifi, how can you beat that? Now only if other airports could offer free wifi.

Kevin Murray — Mon, 02/19/2007 - 22:09

Kevin,
I agree with you! ABQ is a beautiful airport and the remodeling done there a few years ago really "spiffed" up the place. A good indicator of how "flyer-friendly" an airport might be is when they offer an observation area like ABQ does. Any of us plane nuts (sorta like the SWA ad slogan from a few years ago, I'm "just plane nuts") get all excited by an airport that gives us a designated, comfortable place with a great view to watch the runways and to enjoy the comings and goings of aircraft!

But, as much as you like ABQ, we're all partial to our "home" airports. My family lived two blocks from DAL when I was born, and I've always had a fond spot in my heart for the hometown headquarters of Southwest. It is a great place with a lot of wonderful memories for me, and they obviously embody the spirit of Southwest Airlines, since it is the only Field in the country with LUV, errr, "Love" in its name!
Kim :-)

Kim Seale — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 00:13

I JUST WANT TO THANK SOUTHWEST!!!
BECAUSE OF THEIR LOW INTERNET FARES, MY BOYFRIEND AND I CAN STAY TOGETHER!!! SINCE WE ARE BOTH POOR COLLEGE STUDENTS IT IS HARD TO FLY AND SEE EACH OTHER...
BUT SINCE IT ONLY COSTS US $100 ROUND TRIP.... WE CAN!!!
THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY RELATIONSHIP!!!!!!
:=)

AMY — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 01:09

That's great! I LUV it! That's a good idea. :)

Leah — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 01:22

KEVIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE SO LUCKY.... I MISS HOME..... I WILL BE IN ABQ SOON AND YOU ARE RIGHT, IT DOES FEEL LIKE YOU ARE WALKING THROUGH AN ART GALLERY. THERE ARE NO FAST FOOD CHAINS, INSTEAD WE HAVE HOME COOKED FOOD.. IN ADDITION TO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A BUNCH OF LUGGAGE STACKED UP... I THINK LAS VEGAS TERMINAL IS BY FAR THE WORSE... NEEDS A FACE LIFT..

USS BLOG BOY

francisco.delgado — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 01:57

Maybe I'm biased because I'm fromt here but personally I'm particular to PDX as a gorgeous airport. Especially D & C terminals. C is the newer of the two and incorporated some design elements but it really is an amazingly beautiful concourse and airport. :)

Matt D — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 03:10

To the ABQ afficionados and Matt D,
I am torn because Albuquerque and Portland are two of my favorite airports. I LUV the Spanish style architecture in ABQ, and I especially admire the original terminal building from the 1930s that is just across the ramp from the current building. I beleive it is now an art museum, but as a child I flew out of that terminal many times. El Paso had a similar style terminal but the current building has totally consumed it. As to Portland, I worked in that building for my previous employer for ten years, and I especially like all of the local stores inside the PDX Terminal, especially Taste of Oregon. Over the years, I have watched both facilities grow. I flew out of ABQ when the flights parked at a satelite concourse (where the current gates are) that was reached by a tunnel, and during my time in PDX, the airport began its expansion. Incidentally, if you go below the public spaces in PDX you can see how the original terminal has been engulfed by the present structure. By the way, the first PDX Terminal was on Marine Drive, and for years, the weather bureau was housed in that building.

And David, I always enjoy seeing the race paddies around the SMF Airport when landing. Also, if you approach SMF from the north, sometimes you can see Beale Air Force Base which is where the Mach 3 SR-71s were based.

While we are speaking of old airports, the North Terminal in Oakland, along Doolittle Drive has many of the original hangars and the first terminal. Of note is the former Navy hangar with the Navy symbols. The strectch of water you see along Doolittle on the way to Alameda was used by Navy flying boats.

The old Blog Boy

Brian Lusk — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 14:37

Hello All - if one of you thinks LAS is bad, you should spend some time at LAX. My thoughts on LAX are in no way a reflection on SW, but if any of you have been in the SW LAX terminal you know what I mean. It is bad. For goodness sakes, this is Los Angeles. It is time for our city to upgrade all the terminals at our airport. Terminal1 needs to be redesigned architecturally to make it feel more open, even though I know the real estate can't grow. The SW terminal is dreary and the restrooms are unsanitary. Actually to me, they are repulsive. And I wish someone would get that bird out of terminal 1 that has been living/flying around in that terminal for years!! That bird almost pecked me on the head one day.

TommyBlog

TommyBlog — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 15:55

Thanks for posting such a cool feature! I can't see any circumstance that might allow me to visit the Sacramento airport personally, so I'm really glad you guys shared things I wouldn't see any other way. And if somehow I DO get to visit that airport, I'll be tickled pink to see something I recognize. Teehee!

Jennifer Singh — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 22:41

Try the smith terminal out at DTW for the worst there is.
Baggage claim has 2 belts one was broken. There where 2 southwests and one america west all at the same time. Ours was first then they said the america west would be next but southwest got in front of them. The elevator has room for 1 suitcase and a stroller.
Sure will be glad when the new terminal opens next year.

"Remember what it was like when somebody up there loved you?"

I am not a blog boy but I play one on tv
Joe Friedmann

Joe Friedmann — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 22:53

Hey Joe,
Are you playing my role on TV? Where can we see the show?
Blog Boy

Brian Lusk — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 22:59

LAX.,.. I WILL NEVER FLY TO THAT AIRPORT EVER AGAIN... OLD AND WELL OLD. I LIKE FLYING INTO SAN BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE BAY AND YES MY SHIP (CVN68). BUT THEIR AIRPORT IS SMALL..........ABQ ONCE AGAIN HAS TO BE THE FAVORITE.. BRIAN CAN WE GET AN ONLINE POLL IN????

GO ABQ

USS BLOG BOY

francisco.delgado — Tue, 02/20/2007 - 23:46

Speaking of bad airports, Kansas city, MCI, I think thats the one when they redid thier security after 911, they put thier bathrooms outside the check point. All of them. My dad told me about them when he flew thru there a little while back. HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO REAL BAD BETWEEN FLIGHTS!!!!!!!!

Kevin — Wed, 02/21/2007 - 02:30

I and 3 of my friends flew to Vegas for a much anticipated vacation. Our flight on SW was delayed out of Louisville on Feb 14th for 2 hours. They then flew us to Birmingham so we could catch our connecting flight. SW decided to allow our flight out of Birmingham to leave before our plane from louisville arrived ... a span of 25 minutes due to the late arrival of our plane into Louisville. They then put us on another flight to Vegas that first had to stop in Dallas and San Antonio then Vegas. It only took us 12 hours to get to Vegas because we sat in the plane for hours and took off and landed 4 different times. They also ignored that we had "A" class seating and put us in "C" after allowing our proper connecting flight to leave Birmingham. They should have never allowed our connecting flight to leave and they should have honored our "A" class seating.

I'll find another airline from now on to fly to Vegas and I hope I'm never offered another bag of peanuts.

So, after looking forward for so long to a trip to Vegas, then arriving 12 hours later, it kind of took the thrill out of the whole trip. We were exhausted.

Terri Cardwell — Wed, 02/21/2007 - 03:20

TommyBlog,

Terminal 1 at LAX could be worse... it could be Terminal 3! It basically looks the same as it did when it served as Trans American's terminal at LAX in "Airplane!".

One of the issues at LAX is that many of the terminals are individually owned by their primary airline tenants. Some have invested in upgrades, while others have not.

David M — Wed, 02/21/2007 - 03:45

Yes, It is a very creative way to use unclaimed baggage to ID the baggage claim area. I look forward to Southwest adding more flights (in addition to the recently announced) to/from SMF.

Scott near SMF — Wed, 02/21/2007 - 07:31

Gotta love my current home airport!
=)

Oliver — Wed, 02/21/2007 - 09:06

Gee, USS Blog Boy,
I thought your favorite airport would be the Nimitz? After all, it is portable--goes anywhere that there is a lot of water, busy, and filled with fascinating jets, although most of them only hold one or two people.
Blog Boy

Brian Lusk — Wed, 02/21/2007 - 14:42

I'm with Blog Boy on favorite airports - ABQ and PDX.
ABQ because it is where I started my SWA career, and of course it's just a wonderful airport. I loved taking my breaks in the observation deck. But what I really miss watching all the military traffic each day....there's nothing like seeing F-16s take off, in pairs, after sunset, with afterburners lit......the air just crackles.......
And I love PDX, with all the earth tones, huge windows, and stores that don't charge a "premium" for the privilege of being in such a beautiful place. Plus, the approach into PDX is one of the most beautiful - Mt. Hood on the left, the Columbia River on the right....who could ask for anything more??

And USS Blog Boy ("the Admiral?"), say hi to ABQ for me when you're back there next month!

Phil Willman — Wed, 02/21/2007 - 15:59

Kansas City airport is the most people-friendly airport there is, at least as far as major cities go. There is less than 100 feet from the airport entrance to the gates. Security lines move very quickly as there is a checkpoint for every four or five gates. As far as Kevin's comment, bathrooms have been built in many of the gate areas, including all of Southwest's. So there is no more bathroom problem if you are waiting for another flight! But all the restaurants are still outside security, so if you are hungry, you've got to go through security again. There are a few small concession stands past security though, which sell beverages and sandwiches, so you can take them on the flight with you. And when you exit the plane, the corridor is only a few steps away, so your family and friends can wait just outside it (which is outside security).

It is a great airport if Kansas City is your arrival or destination city, but not that good if you are connecting since you need to go outside security to eat or buy a book/magazine/newspaper. But not to go to the bathroom!

Kumar — Thu, 02/22/2007 - 01:26

Well, if we're gonna get nostalgic about the favorite parts of our favorite airports, I have some special memories about DAL.

As a small boy, I remember thinking how BIG the world was as I would walk all around the globe there on the floor of the main terminal at Love Field. Ron Chapman, a local radio DJ legend, once said something about a trivia question involving that map inlay. Apparently, there is a misspelled name somewhere "in the world", but I never heard the answer and I never found it myself. If anyone knows the answer, I'd love to find out!

Second, I fondly remember going upstairs and outside from the main lobby to the observation deck to watch planes coming and going. Folks were able to walk along a nice wide sidewalk that ran the full width of the lobby and extended out across the top of the north concourse. The exit to the outside area was right next to the entrance to the Trader Vic's restaurant, if memory serves correctly.

Third, once I made it to high school and the "freedom to move about the city" in my own car, a friend of mine and I would drive down to Love Field on a Saturday and park in the remote Braniff parking lot. Then, we would board the Braniff Jetrail monorail that would whisk us quickly across the parking lots about thirty feet in the air and right INTO the Braniff terminal, where it would stop inside the building. As I recall, the parking was something like 50 cents an hour and the Jetrail was free. For the investment of about three or four dollars apiece, we'd have a three- to four-hour adventure roaming around Love Field that included lunch, a round trip Jetrail ride, all the plane watching we wanted and parking!

Fourth, as a proud Texan (that's redundant, isn't it?), I always enjoyed, from the time I was a small boy until now, when I'm a taller boy, walking into the terminal and seeing the reassuring presence of the statue of the Texas Ranger. For you non-Texans, I'm not talking about a baseball player, but rather one of the legendary Texas lawmen that still have statewide jurisdiction and are known for their toughness (somewhat represented by Chuck Norris in 'Walker, Texas Ranger'). The title on the base of the statue is: "One Riot, One Ranger", which refers to the storied response by a Texas Ranger sent to quell a major unrest when questioned by the folks greeting him upon arrival. The incredulous townspeople, expecting a large group of lawmen, asked where everyone else was. His response was, "there's one riot, so they sent one ranger". Various versions of that story have circulated, including the one on their official website: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/texas_rangers/

Whichever version or exaggeration of the story is accurate, it has been a tall symbol of Texas in the Love Field lobby since 1961. We may not have our observation deck or monorail anymore, but our Ranger is still protecting us today, stationed right in front of the world map that is on the floor!
Kim :-)

Kim Seale — Thu, 02/22/2007 - 03:18

Terri,

I am sorry about your experience. No airline is perfect but Southwest comes pretty darn close to being perfect. Your flight could have been delayed for a number of reasons such as weather. You should count your blessings that they got you to Las Vegas... I must say there are bigger problems in this world then arriving into Vegas 12 hours late.

Francisco

francisco.delgado — Thu, 02/22/2007 - 09:29

Brian, my show is on feb 29th bb. With reruns every four years at 12:59:59 ab.

Time for the first 737-300 with apb winglets to start flying.

Joe Friedmann

Joe Friedmann — Fri, 02/23/2007 - 01:18

I just came back from a trip to Ft; Lauderdale from chicago and our bags were lost for several days. This is very unfortunate as we took a direct flight so we would not have thee kind of problems.

Timothy Candiano — Fri, 02/23/2007 - 05:48

Gee Joe,
My Tivo won't set for those dates and times, maybe I should read the manual? The first winglet-equipped 737-300 should be in the air soon if it isn't already.
Blog Boy

Brian Lusk — Fri, 02/23/2007 - 14:18

Yes it is, I should have read airliners.net before posting here.

Up, up and away, my beautiful balloon.

Joe Friedmann

Joe Friedmann — Fri, 02/23/2007 - 19:20

Augh! The first 300 with winglets is coming to dtw today! flight 1880 from lax-phx-okc-stl-dtw-stl-bwi-moon j/k. I have to take a test this afternoon so I can't get to see it. Route it over my house please!

tylenol gotabs. Fast pain relief for people on the go.
Joe Friedmann

Joe Friedmann — Fri, 02/23/2007 - 19:57

I want my gr'daughter to be able to use her free roundtrip with SWA to connect to a Quantas flight. How big a problem would that be for her to make the connection from one terminal to the other? She is 16,a nd we fly fairly often, ÃƒÅ

J Flamming — Mon, 04/09/2007 - 12:47

We have five nonstops a day between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, so one of those should work for her connection. There is a shuttle bus that runs between the Southwest Terminal (Terminal One) and the Bradley International Terminal. If she doesn't have a lot of baggage, it's also possible to walk between the terminals, but the shuttle bus will be quicker. Here is the page from the airport's web site: http://www.lawa.org/lax/hotelShuttles.cfm

Brian Lusk — Mon, 04/09/2007 - 16:16

Thank you Southwest Airlines for actually taking action on my entry above Re: 12 hours to get to Las Vegas. Yes it could have been worse as one nice person pointed out but I felt compelled to share my experience. I guess I am so used to SW being the go to airline that I was truly shocked that such a delay even happened.

Because of their response, I've booked another trip to LA and then a quick flight to Las Vegas in June on their airline. I continue to be extremely impressed with the airline and their follow up. Truly rare customer care. I remain a loyal customer ( and the same 3 friends who will be flyig with me!). Thank you and Cheers,

Terri Cardwell

Terri — Tue, 04/17/2007 - 02:36

SMF and SWA are a great match. The "new" terminal in Sacramento is a pleasure to get around, and the landscaping of the whole airport is incredible. If you get a chance, look over the display case on the East Wall behind the escalator where they show the process of building the tower of suitcases. I do object to the term "designer" though. The creator of that piece,"Sampson" is Brian Goggin, a true artist, with additional work in SF and beyond.
By the way, airport workers are constantly removing SWA luggage tags from the piece.

Peter Labermeier — Thu, 04/19/2007 - 14:35

Post new comment

Southwest Airlines Blog

Nuts about Southwest is all about our Employees, Customers, airplanes, and airports. We really are Nuts about Southwest and we hope that our Readers will share that passion by posting their own comments.

For more information about the blog and participating, please visit our User Guide.