Hannah on Her Travels: An Airport Adventure

“Approaching station- 44^th street and Washington,” the automated voice on the light rail announced as we slowed to a stop. I exited the train and proceeded up the escalator surrounded by only a few other travellers. Whenever I arrive at the airport it is always s mix of emotions, excitement for the adventure to come, a little bit of anxiety that everything is going to run smoothly and on time, and curiosity at where all the other people surrounding me are off to. Of course, this visit to the airport was a little different than most previous ones I have taken because I wasn’t going to actually be flying anywhere. Rather I would be learning more about the airport itself, taking in my surroundings in more detail, and simulating a departure and arrival with my fellow classmates. Keeping that in mind, I stared out at the surrounding city as I waited for and rode the Sky Train to the airport and admired all of the growth that the airport and city has undergone. According to the website Sky Harbor started as a single terminal in 1935 and was even nicknamed “the Farm” because of its rural location. Now it is made up of three terminals and located in the middle of the 6^th largest city in the United States with buildings, homes, and businesses in every direction.

Construction on the airport and surrounding city off in the distance.

I reached the airport and was immediately greeted by one of the main art installations that is featured throughout the airport. I thought about why an airport would feature art installations and started to think about the many hours I have spent in airports and how sometimes it is nice to walk around and see more than just families, food, and workers. I met up with half of my class and after waiting and wondering where the other half of the class was, had to be led by an airport staff member to the other half of the class. I couldn’t help but feel amused, because it seems like no matter what your circumstance is at an airport there is always some kind of miscommunication or hiccup in the experience.

One of the many art installations.

We got organized and took off for our departure flight on Delta flight 1546 to Atlanta in Terminal 3. Despite having flown in and out of Phoenix Sky Harbor dozens of times I had never visited terminal 3. We had to take the Sky Train to get there and I was struck by the differences between terminals immediately. This one was white and sparse and had very few people comparatively. The people who were moving around seemed to be mostly older men in suits. I figured businessmen leaving for work trips, since it was a Monday after all. I noticed a variety of staff members walking around. There was a pilot with his briefcase who passed by a security guard, a man in a purple coat offering his help to any traveller who needed it. I also saw a few construction workers as we got back on the Sky Train. The variety of staff members is something that I had never really thought about before watching the “Britain’s Busiest Airport” video. In the video they introduced many staff members who I would have never thought an airport would even have or need. A social worker or animal handlers for example! After they explained their purpose it all makes sense, but when I think airport I think pilots, baggage handlers, and the people who check you in at the desks, not much else. The video definitely helped me to simply notice and appreciate the depth of staff in an airport.

Pilot and security guard

Information/Help Staff

Construction Workers passing through.

Before leaving Terminal 3 I also noticed that there was no line at the TSA security checkpoint, which is always a welcome site. Watching the TSA Travel Tips you can see how the lines can get caught up if people haven’t been to an airport before or don’t realize many of the rules about liquids, shoes, or other hang-ups.

We made it back to Terminal 4, where we determined that our flight in from El Paso on Southwest 207 had arrived. We travelled down the escalator to baggage claim. There was quite a bit more hustle and bustle down at baggage claim. We saw a few drivers holding up signs with their passengers names on them, a man sleeping on a couch nearby, advertisements for March Madness everywhere, and plenty of people milling around different carousels. Our bags arrived on carousel 6 and once we had “collected” them we caught the Sky Train one last time out to the East Economy lot and just like that we were done with our airport adventure!