First Look New Terminal 4 Interior, JFK Airport

The newly renovated security area Terminal 4 at JFK Airport is now operational. March 14 was the opening day and officials proudly stated that over 10,000 fliers had gone through the gates. Shown here is the inside of the security area. Notice the many video cameras strategically located throughout.

All travelers now need to show tickets upon entry into the terminal. Just a few months ago everyone was able to go to ticket counter upstairs, then head below floor to shop or see family and friends off at the security area near either the A or B wing. Now all visitors say goodbye just inside the outer doors on the Departure level.

Once past this point all fliers line up in in a couple of queues to pass through one of currently 12 security lines. Shortly there will be 16 operational and max out at 20 when Delta is finished moving its ops here in May 2013.

After fliers pass through security once past ticketed area.There are both stairs and elevators down to the retails concourse level where travelers can find many restaurants, gift, duty free shops and a large area to eat or just sit and watch passersby. Some retailers are not happy since a large number of potential customers are no longer allowed. See the top security area and concourse below.

Just two days ago there were elaborate security areas enroute to either wing A or B. It seems that overnight operations were switched from the retail area to upstairs. Lots of equipment was left behind in the process. Looks like a ghost town.

Terminal 4 is one of the larger terminals in the #JFKairport complex. Within a couple of months Delta will have completed its expansion here and continue to have more flights from this international terminal. The old Worldport, currently Terminal 3,is expected to be demolished as part of continued growth plans for Delta.

More to come on this Terminal 4 and JetBlue Terminal 5 growth in future blogs.

Let.s hope this effort continues the security and safety for all those traveling. Thanks  to Homeland Security for your vigilance.
and determination to keep us efficiently and safely moving.

Airline Cancellation and Airline Apps for Blizzard Feb 8

*Flights cancelled due to blizzard. More than 2800 flights cancelled in Northeast due to developing snow and rain into blizzard. According to Flightstats many carriers have a good outbound schedule until sometime this afternoon.
Many airlines are cancelling ALL flights out of NY as of 5pm today, Friday. Get the mobile apps to check your flights;( these apps are for all airlines. Need flight number):
- Ipad-Airport Zoom                                                                                                                                                                                 -iphone-Flightstats for iphone
-Droid-Flightview                                                                                                                                                                                       -Droid Tracker

**On individual airline apps, you can create a notification on your phone. This is good since it updates any delays and gate changes.

On a PC, go to www.flightstats.com , select airport and airline. It will bring up a list of all flights and status. This will also give you =a lot of airport info on delays and weather.

Follow @jfknewsandviews for other generalized #jfkairport news and views. Good place for all JFK info including sights, interesting history, photos, observations and info for travelers not easily found.

Why Save the Worldport

The shot below was taken this morning. I was able to capture the fleeting moments of intense color from the sunrise as it rose and back-lit the saucer shape building in the rear; the original Pan Am Worldport. Having been useful for decades it is now being faced with demolition taking its many secrets with it.

What is the Worldport and why should it be saved you may ask.
Well, the Worldport building is currently owned and used by Delta at JFK Airport as its Terminal 3.
Originally owned by Pan Am, infamous airline and trademark which went bankrupt many years ago.
It was built in the heyday of our early passion in space travel.
You can see a lot of the story on Facebook at this link. There is a movement to save this ( which I am not involved).
Check it out from a curiosity POV. Interesting stuff on this FB page. Although quite busy with Delta flights, this terminal is old and needs lots of work and is being considered to be rumble unless it is saved.http://www.facebook.com/PanAmWorldport
Who really cares?
I can't answer that question but I can share my belief that there are many older structures scattered all around the country that speak of our past and show us from where we have come. Many of these have been converted to museums because they are part of our American legacy, and just plain intriguing.
Architecture is a wonderful thing. Look at all the structures around the world that are part of the so-called 7 Wonders of the world. 
We are all amazed and awed by their design, place in history and roots of our civilization.
So too is this building. It belongs to the 60's age along with the TWA International Arrivals building now owned by Jet Blue that can be seen not far away.
Yes, we no longer have a space program to hitch our imagination to anymore so why not allow these structures which are a part of our aviation and design history to remind us of our youth and our fascination back in the day of our forays into space. 
I say not always "out with the old and in with the new". Let's renew our relationship with the old and let it teach something about our past and where we might go in the future.
 An besides it is a really cool looking building!

 

Automated Concessions at JFK

The times they are a changing, and changing and changing. Gotta make Bob Dyan’s chords twist by the light speed changes in our society. This is no more apparent that in social interactions which have gone from personal sit-ins, demonstrations to Facebook and Twitter.

The way in which we buy has been turned upside down by a sea change to buying on-line, packed and shipped to our doorsteps. And add the increasing appearance of kiosks in malls, tax payers, fishing stores and airports. Airports? Yes. They are creeping in more and more standing quietly and largely next to retail shops selling everything from a Dr Seuss book to Madison Avenue leather goods like Tumi and Coach. These kiosks have always dispensed soda, snacks and cigarettes. Gone are the cigarettes (and pay phones) but the junk food are still big sellers. Replacing the smokes are smoking items from Best Buy, and Kohls, yes Kohls. Why in the world would someone traveling from Jet Blue destination to another want to stop and buy from a Kohl’s kiosk at the airport. Did they forget to get the 3-pack of pasta sauce or set of bed sheets before leaving home? Did that Midnight sale escape before having time to shop at home in the car? I really don’t know but they are there at Terminal 5/6 at JFK airport right butted up against another shining unit. I don’t know about you but when I go to the airport I begin my vacation. I can kind of see buying an electronic that I had put off buying on my everyday budget but it looks so good nicely packaged and waiting in its little holder for me to choose and own. The $3 juice I would not buy at the supermarket on a weekend is frivolously purchased along with expensive bars of candy and high priced coffees. Fiscal caution is out the door and in walks the airport vacation mentality. Perhaps this is the underlying reason marketers feel that kiosks will do well here. All the everyday restraints are gone, all the prudence and budgeting. Hey I am on vacation! Why rent expensive retail space, hire employees, pay benefits or deal with human resource issues. Get a robot to do it. In fact we may see more robot retailers in the future. Why confine a dispensing machine to one small footprint in the terminal. Have your automaton wander around, dispense whatever and have a credit card machine built in.

Yes, these is a bit out there but let’s not think a stationery machine will continue to capture the attention of busy travelers as time marches on. Imagine a robot meeting you at the gate with your duty free cognac or package of $3 gum! Yes the times they are a changing for sure. Here is a photo of today’s kiosk. Don’t blink for before you open your eyes you may find it on wheels and calling your name as you wait at the gate for your plane. Let’s not go shopping let’s go kiosking. Meet you at the airport!