General Manager
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
P.O. Box 68727
Seattle, WA.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I'm going to share my experience with you but in your head please multiply it by thousands of your other visitors to realize what a serious problem you've got. Fortunately, there is an easy solution to it.
Tuesday night when I approached Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at about 9:30 to meet my wife's arriving Alaska Airlines flight I couldn't help but notice the traffic gridlock going toward the terminal. Construction? No, all lanes seem to be open. Accident or disabled vehicle? No, we're all moving as freely as we can. Police or ambulance distraction? Nope, all clear.
It took me several minutes to travel the few hundred yards from the Cellphone Parking Lot to Gate 22, near the baggage claim area, where my wife was waiting curbside.
As I inched closer to the terminal I saw why. Cars parked two and three deep in the arrivals lanes! Parked! Waiting! Not picking up. With more than half of the available lanes filled up with cars not actually picking people up it left precious little room for those trying to get near enough to do so. Also burdened was all through-traffic and those cars trying to leave the arrivals area after a pickup.
Mr. or Ms. Sea-Tac Decision-Maker, why do you not have either uniformed police or uniformed airport employees strolling a beat to prevent stopping or slowly cruising by the curbside pickup area? That gridlock could have been broken up in 60 seconds with someone walking the length of the curb and instructing drivers to move along.
The passenger volume at Seattle's biggest airport is too large to allow visitors to behave as if its 1990 anymore. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that many other cities, some larger than ours, already pay attention to the traffic flow with the simple way I've described and with excellent results.
The Cellphone Parking Lot is a good start to stop loitering in front of your doors. You should consider expanding on that as well as educating the public on its advantage to all visitors to the airport.
Please accept my thanks for your time in reading this letter and I hope you will consider my suggestion. I am, of course, available to you for any further discussion on the matter if I may be of assistance.
Sincerely,
White Zone is for the loading and unloading of passengers only, no buttholes.
If you do that in "the bad place" the police are on you so fast.
Just another reason for you to move back.
Posted by: Edmund F | July 31, 2008 at 05:02 AM
"I am, of course, available to you for any further discussion on the matter if I may be of assistance."
God-damnit bean you pompous ass.
That is pretty funny though
Posted by: jes | July 31, 2008 at 09:23 AM
I think the only thing left to do - Run for office and build a reputation for your " No Shenaigans Policy! " You have the Audacity- You can CHANGE the world Mr. Baxter!
Posted by: db | July 31, 2008 at 10:06 AM
What in the heck is a "Cell Phone Parking Lot"? I've seen those at Sea-Tac, PDX, and Spokane Intl. My cell phone doesn't need a spot that big...
Posted by: Chris G. | July 31, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Yes, I am also curious, what is a cell phone parking lot? A lot where you can park to make cell phone calls? I guess I don't get out much anymore.
Posted by: Kelly | July 31, 2008 at 10:30 AM
i second db's motion - bean, you NEED to run for public office. i think you are exactly the kind of person who could make a lasting, positive difference in politics. if i lived up there on Solitary Island i'd vote for you. any chance of you coming down to "the bad place" and running for mayor here? i'd love to see tony out and you in!
Posted by: mel | July 31, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Wow! Even at the tiny Long Beach airport they don't let you park at the curb and wait. I thought that was the law now, anyway. Sounds like Sea-Tac needs a visit from Homeland Security! =)
Posted by: Jeanie | July 31, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I hate going to sea-tac when I have to work in our Bellevue office. It takes forever to get anywhere because everyone is parked! and what's with ALL the smokers lining the curb? they have designated smoking areas but it doesn't help that people dont use them. And it's kind of pointless when they are about 5 feet from the door. Also, sea-tac sidewalks are filthy! ew!
but i still love seattle :)
Posted by: Christina | July 31, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Hi. I assume a "cell phone" lot is a place where one waits to hear the "Honey, I'm here" call? Let me brag on the Nashville International Airport for a moment. Our cell phone lot has an electronic billboard that updates incoming flights. Ie. "SW#1788 from Phoenix on final approach." Furthermore, in addition the "move along" security detail at the arrival location, there are also about fifty 10 minute "standing" spots for cars. If you pull into one of these spots, the timer immediately starts counting down from 10:00 and the second it gets to 00:00 the "move along" police kick you right out. You have no choice but to circle the airport and hope there's another standing spot when you get back. It works perfectly. No one EVER sits in traffic. Granted, Nashville is not the vast metropolis of Seattle, but there you go.
Posted by: kimmy | July 31, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Take the law into your own hands Bean. Next time go early, park your car, get out and start directing traffic. You may have to get a haircut and wear some long pants first to look the part.
p.s. I got called for jury duty - US District Court.
Posted by: Fred G. | July 31, 2008 at 02:01 PM
This is why I refuse to pick up my spouse at the airport. He knows that he needs to take a taxi cab home.
Posted by: LiLa | July 31, 2008 at 03:34 PM
wow Nashville airport sounds great! too bad i'll probably never go there :)
ps I also got jury duty too! i forgot about it until i read that comment. i swear i get it EVERY year! lucky me... :-/
Posted by: Melika | July 31, 2008 at 04:20 PM
More helpfully worded than strongly worded...
"The white zone is for loading and unloading passengers."
"No, the red zone is for loading and unloading passengers."
"I know what this is about; you want me to have an abortion."
"It's the only reasonable solution."
Airplane, as best as I can remember it.:D
Posted by: Vic Rattler | July 31, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Leave a suspicious-looking bag there, then call the authorities to let them know that you saw it sitting there unattended. I'm certain that they'll clear out all those vehicles for you pretty quickly.
Posted by: Stacey | July 31, 2008 at 08:00 PM
Wow, great letter. I am surprised.
Posted by: Sketchbook by Chris | August 01, 2008 at 08:21 AM
My complaint with the Sea-Tac airport is it is too long. It took me an hour to walk from one flight at one end to my connecting flight at the other end. Sure I had a 3 year old with me, but really, too long!
Posted by: Phil | August 04, 2008 at 09:36 AM
I just flew in from El Salvador to LAX and they must have one cop for every ten cars circling the pickup area... they even harrassed this woman whose son was stuck in customs trying to track down his missing surfboard and bag while his luggage tags were stapled to another passenger's ticket...no mercy in the white zone!
Posted by: Rochelle | August 06, 2008 at 10:08 AM