Long time no talk!

It has been quite some time since the last posting, lest you think I have nothing to say... it is approaching the end of the year. I made it to that highly esteemed Platinum level some time ago and will finish the year with around 105 flight segments.

Traveling for work during the Holidays is not my idea of fun. There are so many people who have never flown before and many others who have not flown in the last decade. They wander the airports aimlessly looking to find their way. Some airports have staff who will give guidance if you look lost... but the truly lost are oblivious.

As a fan of Human Factors and User Interface Design, I find it interesting at how difficult some airports make it for people to figure out where to go or what to do. Well designed airports have adequate signage and traffic flows that naturally guide you to where you need to be.

Take my connection in Cincinatti this afternoon as an example. I needed to get from the plane I arrived on to gate B37. The only clue that it wasn't near my arrival point was that there were no other airplanes at the terminal. Now calling it a terminal is a bit of a stretch, its more like a tented walkway that extends 500 yards from the nearest building and is without a heating system (it was 3 degrees above zero).

Walking to the center, a common theme for airports, I found a computer display that confirmed I needed to get to B37. The only problem was that all the signage for terminal B only went as high as 19. Having learned from prior experience that you must trust the signs, I sought a friendly retired Ohioan manning the information booth. He informed me that they changed the gate numbers yesterday and to go get on the bus that would take me to terminal B.

Having just 15 minutes left before the flight there was not a lot of room for error. Getting off the bus at B, I now only had to go the very end of the building to get to the desk just as they started the boarding process. It was sort of ironic that at this terminal you walk out the door, down a ramp, and then through a series of traffic cones to find your airplane out on the tarmac. Leaving gate checked bags on a cart and climbing the stairs, I made it.

At the end of the day it is hard to be too critical of infrequent travelers. It is foreign territory, lots of chaos, and lots of pressure to get it right. I don't blame the infrequent travelers but still wish they wouldn't block the entrance to escalators or clog up an entire moving walkway.

One half of the trip down... half to go. Happy Holidays!