JFK airport nightmare

**bassybill** · #1 08-19-2010, 02:02 PM

First off, can I let everyone reading this know that I love the USA, love to visit and have enjoyed great hospitality and friendship from many of the people over there, as several on this board can confirm.

That said – sometimes your immigration checks at airports really, really suck. Other times it’s been okay, but when it’s bad, it’s very bad.

On Thursday last week I arrived, with my 80 year old father, at JFK airport, about 2-30 PM. Several other international flights arrived at the same time. In all, that must have been several hundred people waiting in the immigration hall. We joined the line okay (a long “snake” about 7 lines deep), but for a couple of hundred or so behind us there was no way even to tell where the line began and not a single official on the entrance side of the hall to be seen anywhere. Luckily nobody got nuts about it – I don’t like to think of the scene that could have ensued if they did. I could just see over to the desks on the far side of the hall and it looked like they had about three or four staff on duty to process these several hundred people (three or four desks staffed out of 18-20 or so).

After 30 minutes, we had moved one line up in the seven and I was ready for a three hour plus wait. My dad’s too old for standing in line like that, and there were mothers there with very young children who were also having a really hard time. There was no way I could see to go and use any toilet facilities (my dad was busting by then, weak prostate and all) and nobody to ask if there was somewhere the old fella could sit while I waited in line for our turn. I daresay the young mothers also noticed this total lack of care.

After about 45 minutes, some extra staff came on and the line moved more quickly, but only after I’d started to seriously worry about how to get my Dad through this awful situation. Eventually, we got through in about 90 minutes and I considered ourselves very lucky that it hadn’t been double that. After a seven hour flight, I honestly don’t think my Dad could have made it. What we could have done instead in those circumstances, I really have no idea.

This was just a totally disgraceful way to treat visitors to your country, especially when you consider the economic benefits any country gets from welcoming visitors from abroad for business or pleasure trips. I was really angry that this process should be managed so badly and with such an obvious lack of consideration for the people being put through it. Somebody, somewhere is really doing the lousiest job imaginable.

I’m pleased to say that after that, the normal American hospitality and high standards of service were impeccable throughout the trip and we had a real blast over there.

Okay, rant over. I needed to vent.

Relic · #2 08-19-2010, 02:07 PM

I hear you Bill, I've seen situations like that before and it never ceased to embarrass me as an American. It's not only the wait, often it's surly and rude agents working the desks. That's typical JFK for ya. Newark's not much better. The upshot is that there are more than a few other airports who do have their stuff together enough to minimize the wait and hassle.

MJ5150 · #3 08-19-2010, 02:08 PM

We have the same problems at grocery stores and WalMarts, so it isn't limited to airports.

-Mike

MatticusMania · #4 08-19-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

I’m pleased to say that after that, the normal American hospitality and high standards of service were impeccable throughout the trip and we had a real blast over there.

This is why its that way. They figure, if they put you through a really bad airport situation you'll see the average american hospitality as a blessing. "The airport was horrific, but y'know, the people werent all that bad"

**bassybill** · #5 08-19-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic

I hear you Bill, I've seen situations like that before and it never ceased to embarrass me as an American. It's not only the wait, often it's surly and rude agents working the desks. That's typical JFK for ya. Newark's not much better. The upshot is that there are more than a few other airports who do have their stuff together enough to minimize the wait and hassle.

I've been through Newark a few times and it's always been okay - not great, but okay. Likewise at O'Hare. The only time I've seen anything anywhere near as bad as this was a trip a few years back when I flew into LAX.

I would guess it's down to luck and timing at pretty much any big airport over there. That's why it needs to be managed a lot better.

MJ5150 · #6 08-19-2010, 02:15 PM

Part of it too is I don't think they really take airport security seriously over here in the USA. They hire the fewest people they can for the cheapest wage they can. Since there are no other options, it's not like they have to improve to compete with another vendor, etc.

-Mike

MatticusMania · #7 08-19-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

I've been through Newark a few times and it's always been okay - not great, but okay. Likewise at O'Hare. The only time I've seen anything anywhere near as bad as this was a trip a few years back when I flew into LAX.

I would guess it's down to luck and timing at pretty any much airport over there.

If you happen to be flying to So.California in the future, opt for Ontario airport over LAX. Its maybe an hour from LAX, but less than half as busy. The time you save at the airport you could easily drive to your destination.

karrot-x · #8 08-19-2010, 02:18 PM

I've never been to JFK but Newark is terrible.

Febs · #9 08-19-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

I would guess it's down to luck and timing at pretty any much airport over there.

Unfortunately, it's not limited to this side of the pond. I had a similar experience once when arriving at Heathrow.

**bassybill** · #10 08-19-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs

Unfortunately, it's not limited to this side of the pond. I had a similar experience once when arriving at Heathrow.

I wish I could say I'm surprised, but I have to be honest and say that I'm not. I've seen enough crap like that over here in other circumstances to know that we're far from immune from that sort of unprofessional idiocy over here in the UK.

MJ5150 · #11 08-19-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

....opt for Ontario airport over LAX.

HEY!!! Be quiet. If everyone finds out, I'll have to start using the LBC all the time.

-Mike

Rocker949 · #12 08-19-2010, 04:22 PM

I have to agree with the point that this sort of thing is not limited to the U.S. After a three month stay in Holland, I encountered a difficult situation at Schiphol. Unlike the last time I was there, you know have to get your boarding passes through a machine. I typed in all the correct info. It said it would be unable to issue me a boarding pass. I found someone to talk to and was told the only thing to do would be to go stand in a long line for people having problems. I stood in that for an hour. In the meantime, I was getting concerned but it was around noon and my flight left at 1:50. The ticket agent said I had been bumped from the flight--for no reason I might add. I went to the ticket counter for boarding my flight. I was told it didn't look good. The flight was overbooked. At one point I tried to go back to the ticket counter to see if there was any news for me. I was stopped by a security guard who got very upset that I didn't have a boarding pass. I told him the fact that I couldn't get a boarding pass was the reason I was trying to get to the ticket counter in the first place. He took my passport from me and ran it through a background check. I went back over to the area where the other passengers who did have boarding passes were waiting to board the flight. It's a long story, but another passenger actually ended up helping me get a seat on the plane. I was the last passenger to board the plane. Since this was a joint DL-KLM flight, I don't know who to blame, although I'm going to try to find out.

macaroni tony · #13 08-19-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

HEY!!! Be quiet. If everyone finds out, I'll have to start using the LBC all the time.

-Mike

as long as I don't have to come pick you up, this wouldn't be a problem

Gard · #14 08-19-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

HEY!!! Be quiet. If everyone finds out, I'll have to start using the LBC all the time.

-Mike

Look, I ain't worried about that, just keep everyone out of John Wayne out in Santa Ana for the NAMM show, hmmkay?

...did I just say that out loud?

FWIW, I LOVE our local airport, Piedmont International Airport (IACO code: GSO), 10 minutes from downtown, 5 from my front door, they have short-term parking 20 feet from the main entrance (and there's ALWAYS space), it's quick and easy in and out, good people working there.

Only gripe I have: few flights, and insane pricing.

Oh, and I'll probably start to really dislike it in a few years - FedEx has almost finished building their east coast "hub" here, so there will soon be a huge number of late night in/early morning out flights (they're estimating 170!), not to mention that they're also about to start production on these there:

MJ5150 · #15 08-19-2010, 04:58 PM

I like flying into the LBC the best, but Ontario is right around the corner from the tamale stand I've been going to for over 30 years.

-Mike

MakiSupaStar · #16 08-19-2010, 10:26 PM

Man, I hear you. I've had similar experiences in LA. It's bland, understaffed by unenthusiastic, apathetic drones, I've often wondered how anyone would ever want to return for a visit. So if you visit LA and go through the Tom Bradley terminal be prepared. I apologize. But I'll have a good beer waiting for you and your Dad.

Let It Fall · #17 08-19-2010, 10:34 PM

crazy everytime I fly its always right in and right out. Sure they throw away my 7" wrench that I knew was illegal to take on board but I cannot remeber a real line at all..

capnsandwich · #18 08-19-2010, 10:42 PM

JFK is notorious for that kind of stuff, IME anyway. I had a similar situation coming from Germany. There was a huge storm that blanketed the area 2 days before that so there were some crazy delays and people were almost panicking trying to find a place to sit or trying to get something to eat. We FINALLY were able to get a hotel room for the night at a roach motel in Manhattan. Room sucked but the Sunday morning walk and huge bagels we had at the bakery were worth it.

Munjibunga · #19 08-20-2010, 12:41 AM

Hmmm. We flew into JFK from Madrid on August 2nd, and spent no more than 15 minutes getting through customs. The line monitor sent us to line 29, but some butthead was having trouble getting through, so we just jumped into line 27 and zipped through. Then we settled in for our 7-hour layover.

Even going into Paris, the immigration guy asked us one question: "Where you going?" He took a long look at my wife's passport, because it's got stamps from all over Central America and Asia. No problems, though.

Bill, you've got to wear a less subversive look, is all.

Skeletomania · #20 08-20-2010, 04:30 AM

I think it's part of their operation. They under staff the counters to make passengers wait inline. The agents know that the longer a passenger wait, the easier they show signs of nervousness, and restlessness. From there, they can profile the passengers, and monitor their behaviors. When a passenger finally gets to the counter, the agent will talk to you in a monotone, and be very authoritative to further intimidate you. It is a way for them to root out a normal passenger from a smuggler/potential terrorist. My opinion and all that.