Chato_reyes

Is D-6 going to be moved to the expansion space as part of this? The corridor under construction runs right through the boarding area, gate, and gate agent podium.

Hotel with no fencing or scaffolding looks nice. I do have an observation about the departure lounges in the T gates, they are awfully small for 200+ passenger trans-atlantic aircraft. Did BA keep their gate in the B gates and the idea is these are just for arrivals? Princes will be the third hot chicken restaurant within 500 feet, centrally located between party fowl and Hattie B's, which to my frustration has a pretty thin menu. Voodoo doughnuts had a fabulous maple cream that was worth every penny. Had to take American back after a whale of a time in Tampa traffic, forgot how refreshing it is to be treated like a human and not a serial number. Was supposed to disembark at T-1 but the ground crew wasn't in position. Bags were out before I could get to the belt which was incredible. Looking forward to getting back in the air more often!

Headed south on Thursday and coming back Saturday. I have nothing to compare a BNA voodoo doughnut against so I'll be happy if they have any left. Will try and get 5th level pics of the Hilton lobby as well as any requests.

I'd like to know what's going on that fourth level overlooking the marketplace. Wouldn't hate a centurion lounge or some kind of upscale restaurant with windows onto the T gates.

Those hoping for aer lingus are out of luck https://simpleflying.com/aer-lingus-us-flight-network-summer-2024/

Why is a third of economy C still closed, and couldn't MNAA been creative in delineating some of the C lot as a cell phone lot (red) and reopen the closed segment (green) to make up for loss of spots? Just doesn't seem like they're thinking critically up there.

Quick shots while I'm here on a pickup mission. Shot 3 is just 5x zoom of 2. Initial reaction from back here is that it isn't as grand as I had in mind but I'll see for myself next time I have somewhere to go.

Am I the only one that thinks the D extension looks a little silly? I know the cooling tower and D6 present an interesting challenge but it looks asymmetrical. I think a 9th gate and a B extension would have been more practical but that's just me.

Flew to Omaha via St Louis this morning and have the following to report: -Southwest has expanded into the new ticketing area previously the south checkpoint. It's very strange, there's a dead zone at the corner and then more southwest counter space. I would expect Southwest to scoot down further to make room for Spirit and Allegiant. -Security took as long as it's ever taken this morning. Volume felt way up this morning. -Natalies candy jar bulk prices are about $26/lb. I thought we were doing street pricing? Filets at fresh market are cheaper than that. -Hattie Bs has coming soon art at the bottom of the hill for the C gates on the right side. -C bus station still looks a ways off but as you can see in the lousy picture, the concourse looks like it's coming together nicely. Jet bridges have been installed and are being labeled.. St Louis Southwest gates are strange and not preferred to other connection points. I don't like the idea of flying over Nashville to connect through Atlanta on Saturday, but at least there's more than 50 seats per gate.

Returned from MYR on Saturday and have the following to report (no pics unfortunately): Sheetrock going up on the outside of the bus station in C. 6/6 airlock style exit lanes done on A/B side, 2/6 done on C/D. The C/D ones were set to open and there was an officer standing (sitting) guard on the secure side. WN continues to load 3 flights on one baggage carousel while others sit vacant. Maddening. Parking shuttles need work. A lot. The queueing area for economy C put you in front of the exhaust and air brakes for the larger shuttles. Perhaps B and C can line up double file pointed away from the disruptions? Would like to see the abandoned ground level infrastructure used for parking shuttles as they are subject to the same awful traffic everyone else is currently. On the topic of Economy the lower third of the lot remains roped off and the exits inoperable. 2/3 exit lanes at main plaza opened and the lines got rather long as the machines are finicky. You'd think that a facility operated almost as a for-profit entity would try and sell everything they can. Overheard WN employees on the parking shuttles talking about lofty goals: nearly doubling staff and getting up to 10 turns per gate. Hotel skin looks great from the view of approaching the terminal. Hopefully they are on track for a 2023 opening, that rooftop pool deck will be one of the better planespotting spots in the country. I'll be back 8/3 and will try and get more pictures of the inside.

Flew out to MYR today, parking shuttles, check in, and TSA were smooth. Starbucks was 10 minutes in line+30 for 2 drinks and a muffin. I know there's 30 coffee shops but holy crap. I can appreciate wanting "local flavors" in the airport but sometimes your kid wants a pink drink and nothing else and that's just unacceptable. Didn't get to do much more exploring after that but I am curious if D6 will be chopped as part of building an extension on the concourse. That or the boarding area will need to be rejiggered significantly.

To be fair, I doubt they are writing rent checks to MNAA every month. There is more than likely a management company that serve as the "landlord" for all intents and purposes. They may not have to disclose future plans until they choose not to offer a lease renewal or give month to month tenants the required legal notice to vacate.

One lonely jetbridge installed on the satellite concourse.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/industries/2023/05/22/nashvilles-bna-named-among-angriest-airports/70235865007/ it's nice to be recognized!

Went through this morning and noticed some big changes: skin on the hotel facing the garage is almost done. The structure for the bus stop at C5 is coming along nicely, and the satellite terminal is getting there. Sliding doors have been installed on the satellite terminal bus stop, although the ramp wasn't totally done. No new restaurants or retail in the rotundas or C gates. Will try and get pictures on my return trip.

Flying to Dallas next week and I'll be checking to see if "garage B" is just an extension of terminal garage 1 or if it's separated by some kind of railing. When I went to San Antonio last month it just looked like an extension of the main garage. They seem to make things as confusing as possible and I wish I knew why.

Another opportunity for their comms dept to make a royal mess of things. At this point the state couldn't do any worse at the helm.

Flew out to San Antonio this morning on a completely full Southwest 738 (good luck WKU against UTSA). The first two pictures are a before/after of the pedestrian bridge, the first was taken 11/2021. Airport was packed but no significant waits at bag drop, TSA, or most of the retail. Hotel skin is almost done and the expansion space of garage could open any day it looks like, at least from level 5. I still think the grand lobby looks tacky with the stanchions in place, but what do I know. To help lend perspective to the glass jetway debate, they can't even get the fancy monochromatic glass in D to not make it 100° with a hint of sunlight, do you really want to stand in a glass tunnel run by the same people?

Flew last week to MYR and back. Half full down, completely full coming back with lots of connecting traffic. The lobby is very nice, but the stanchions being so invasive into the new space makes it feel a bit tacky. I wish more space had been created behind the glass walls for these. And I hadn't been in A/B since the central area was closed, but I couldn't believe how low the ceiling was in the rotunda. Doesn't feel as claustrophobic as the bottom level, but it's not far off. Perhaps when A is rebuilt there can be some adjustments since I would expect it to be flush with the central terminal like D is. The site where there was a temporary retail stand across from the USO lounge between C and D has been covered in sheetrock, no announcement of what's to come. Tennessee rickhouse was open and busy, although I'm not sure I would eat anything there as it looked like the kitchen was nothing more than a couple turbochef convection toasters. For anyone that hasn't looked at the board and subcommittee minutes, the amount of information posted now is significantly more than in years past. Scroll 2/3 of the way down to find the materials https://flynashville.com/nashville-airport-authority/leadership Thoughts and prayers to anyone having to fly with children anytime soon, hard to keep a 6 year old focused when the new stores in the marketplace area sell Legos, candy, and very breakable stuff.

Quantas is oneworld so it makes sense.

Airport has been saying 24, regional TSA director says 20. It's like MNAA is incapable of telling the truth.

It's becoming farcical how bad MNAA communications staff is. I read Doug Kreulen's comments on the police encounter viral video and he sounded like an idiot. There's no way they hadn't put 2+2 together on a major IROP event until 12/26. Back on topic, does anyone with experience using these machines know if liquids and laptops can stay put like the current CT scanners? I know pre-precheck there was a tradeoff with loading easily but bags taking longer to be analyzed.

Imagine the glass walls being where the American ticket counter used to be and then the central screening area. With more lanes and more efficient CT machines the depth of the "TSA area" should be slightly less shallow. There was also the addition of at least 50 feet when gates C1-3 and then B1-3 were permanently closed to expand the center area. Where I lose track of it all is whether the departure lounge for gates T1-6 will be on the same level or down a level, similar to A1-5 at BWI.

If I may veer off topic ever so slightly, it's amazing how much better NBJ photog captured everything compared to the Tennessean. I think what I'm most looking forward to is the unification of all 3 floors. So much focus has been on the departure level and not how this will give value back to the first floor and make the second floor look and flow better. I'll be flying 4 weeks from today and excited to take it all in.

Preview day for dignitaries and other notable Nashvillians: https://www.tennessean.com/picture-gallery/news/2023/01/20/photos-preview-new-grand-lobby-nashville-international-airport/11084253002/ I like the art in the floor at the foot of the escalators. Will be interested to see how long the walk is from the ticket counters to the security line.