BWI deserves its 'best' award
As Michelle Deal-Zimmerman reports, Baltimore-Washington Marshall airport won the prize for best in its size according to customer surveys by Airports Council International.
We don't know how quantitatively credible the survey was; Michelle says it was based on 275,000 questionnaires. The results are very puffy. They're like the swim-team awards ceremony, where almost every kid gets a medal. Like the U.S. News & World Report college rankings, there are numerous categories, boosting the number of "winners." And the criteria that the council says are important for being a good airport are not the ones I would have chosen. I don't care about the "business lounges" or "good shopping facilities" or "helpfulness of the airport staff."
Nevertheless, BWI Marshall is an awesome airport. I can't help being impressed every time I use it or pick somebody up there. Why? It's not because of the "cleanliness of the washrooms," although that's fine. BWI rocks because it is the most hassle-free flying station I have ever experienced. There are tons of domestic flights. It's incredibly easy get in and get out. The parking facilities are top notch. Love the lights and signs that tell you where the spaces are. I don't even mind paying the new, higher parking fees. If it means avoiding a LaGuardia- or O'Hare-like experience, they're worth it. If the airport had more international flights that would be great, but it's not its fault that it doesn't.
Comments
I have to agree; I travel a good bit for work, and there are few airports that are as easy to navigate as BWI.
Parking is pretty easy (especially if you spring for the daily garage, with frequent bus pickups and easy to find well marked spaces). I also think the number of gates at each terminal is pretty close to optimal - they are busy enough to justify staffing, but not so busy to overwhelm the staff.
There are plenty of food and newstand choices, the airport is usually pretty clean, there's enough space, and everything is well marked.
Part of the experience is enhanced by the airlines makiing BWI their hub. Southwest and AirTran both do a nice job.
Posted by: Paul | February 18, 2010 10:32 AM
As I mentioned on MDZ's article, the only problem is that Dulles still gets all the non-stop transcontinental routes and international traffic. Even the one carrier we could always rely on--Iceland Air (They put the "I' in BWI) left so they could increase their service to Boston. They even moved their North American HQ from Columbia MD to Boston.
I realize that maybe a lot of international carriers like to go to Dulles because it's a United Hub, and they can take advantage of partnerships. But why can BWI not get any transcon? There are just a few (perhaps three) non-stops to California a day.
Until we can get more of those international and cross-country flights, I keep thinking BWI is just a well-kept secret.
Posted by: TCinDC | February 18, 2010 11:33 AM
The reason for Dulles getting the international carriers and non stop service, is the longer runways that can accommodate the 747s and larger planes.
Posted by: Capt Jack | February 18, 2010 2:28 PM
The reason Dulles gets all the international traffic is not because of the long runways. It is because of the market conditions. Closer to the Dulles tech corridor and to the richest counties in America: Fairfax and Loudoun. Even majority of the Montgomery county traffic (especially the businesses in Bathesda and 270 corridor) use Dulles. It has established itself as this area's premier gateway, however crappy the airport is. That does not mean BWI is losing - it has its own strenghts: convenience for domestic low fare flights. British Airways still operates flights to Heathrow from BWI. I hope others follow.
Posted by: Lyndon Marshall | February 19, 2010 11:25 AM
Having worked many years at BWI as an air traffic controller, I can say that without question short runways, limited taxiway clearances and poorly designed aircraft parking areas will always preclude BWIs wish to become truly international.
Posted by: Janice | February 21, 2010 1:55 PM
I agree with you about parking at BWI. They not only have less-expensive parking (compared to DCA or PHL, for example) they have the least expensive long-term parking in the airport, beating all off-airport providers. I can't seem to find any other large commercial airport in the US with the same highly competitive parking rate structure as BWI.
Posted by: Dan @ BWI Parking | August 13, 2010 5:44 AM
BWI's parking facilities could be top notch if the systems actually worked and if management knew how to deal with it when they don't. It's too bad, BWI could be almost a perfect airport for it's size if not for these annoying issues with the parking.
Posted by: Barb | August 15, 2010 12:28 PM