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Survey Rates Services From Baggage Check-in to Food : Busiest U.S. Airports Get Report Cards on Efficiency

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From United Press International

The savvy traveler brings a magazine to pass the time for baggage check-in at Los Angeles International Airport. Frequent fliers know that Denver’s Stapleton is no place to be during bad weather. And at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport--the nation’s biggest--passengers do not just park, they commute from the parking lot.

Traffic tie-ups in the tunnels that lead to Logan International are the bane of the Boston traveler. In Atlanta, the hike through the concourses can be half a mile long. Persons who match the profile that federal agents use to spot cocaine carriers can face unique delays at Miami Airport.

And airport food seems to have no fans anywhere.

‘Terminal Trivia’

These were among the bits of “terminal trivia” turned in by UPI reporters asked to grade the nation’s most heavily used airports on location, accessibility, efficiency and general atmosphere.

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The 10 busiest--according to number of passengers--and their grades:

1. Chicago’s O’Hare--A.

2. Atlanta’s Hartsfield--B+.

3. Los Angeles International--C+.

4. New York’s Kennedy--C.

5. Dallas-Fort Worth--A-.

6. Denver’s Stapleton--C+.

7. San Francisco International--B+.

8. Miami International--B.

9. New York’s La Guardia--B+.

10. Boston’s Logan--C.

Even though Washington’s National Airport is only the 14th-busiest, it was included because of its location in the nation’s capital. National was graded a C+.

Reporters checked airports during afternoon rush hours to determine such things as access by mass transit, parking, ease of check-in and baggage pickup.

Here are two report cards:

O’Hare--Chicago

With 120,000 people and at least that many pieces of baggage passing through each day, O’Hare International Airport is a logistical nightmare.

But for most travelers who end up in the nation’s busiest jetport, O’Hare gets the job done just fine, thank you.

Last year, a record 46 million travelers used the 45 airlines that O’Hare serves. As the hub of the country’s airways, O’Hare’s bread and butter has been the “connecting flight.”

O’Hare’s Report Card

--Mass transit: Cab fare for the 15-mile trip from the Loop will set you back about $17. Traveling time by cab is 25 minutes in light traffic and 45 minutes in rush hour. An airport shuttle will get you there for $7, but the best deal is the CTA rapid transit rail system. It’s clear sailing from the Loop in 30 minutes for 90 cents. Grade--B.

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--Parking: With ample parking adjacent to the airport terminals, travelers have no complaints. Frequent traveler Bruce Reid of Tampa, Fla., rated O’Hare overall as “one of the best. Getting here is no problem.” Grade--A.

--Cafeteria food: Hot dogs $1.35; cup of coffee 55 cents. Grade--B.

--Tickets and baggage check lines: Waits ranged from 10 to 15 minutes for baggage check-ins and baggage claims on a recent Friday afternoon. Grade--A.

The biggest complaint was the size of the airport and distance between connecting flights. Fred Murphy, 35, a Houston businessman, said the sheer size of the airport sometimes makes it difficult to change planes, “but what can you expect from the country’s busiest airport?”

Overall grade--A.

Hartsfield--Atlanta

Another big connecting hub. A minister once joked that he overheard one parishioner ask another the best route to get to Heaven. “I don’t know,” the other parishioner replied, “but I’m sure you go through Atlanta.”

Indeed, Hartsfield handles 900 commercial departures each day and 4 million passengers each month.

Hartsfield is a sprawling, modern airport with two main terminals and four outlying concourses--the farthest one 1.1 miles from the terminals. But an underground rail system whisks passengers from concourse to concourse and can run the length of the airport in less than five minutes.

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Hartsfield’s Report Card

--Mass transit: Airport is 12 miles south of downtown, a 35-minute drive in heavy traffic. Atlanta’s rapid-rail system, MARTA, is due to reach the airport in 1988. For now, a shuttle bus runs every 18 minutes from the southernmost completed MARTA station. The rail and bus trip costs 60 cents. Regularly scheduled buses run from downtown at a fare of 60 cents, but, as one person said, “You have to pack a lunch.” A taxi from downtown is $13.50. Grade--C.

--Parking: Hartsfield has more than 13,000 parking spaces surrounding the main terminals, so there is seldom a parking crunch. Even the most remote corners of the lots are within reasonable walking distance. The airport does not offer parking lot shuttle bus service. Grade--B+.

--Cafeteria food: Hot dog $2.10; coffee 65 cents. The jumbo hot dog was terrific, but the price still is a little steep. Grade--B.

--Tickets and baggage check lines: Waits on a recent Friday afternoon ranged from nearly no time to 25 minutes. Baggage pick-up--Most passengers had their luggage within 15-20 minutes from landing time. Grade--A-.

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