This blog originally appeared on my other real estate blog back in 2007. I think it’s just as timely then as now. In fact, very timely as I head north to Montana this morning!!

I still struggle as to what to write in my blogs, but in this case, I now can thank Mariana Wagner for giving me a whole list of things to Blog about…..

Now this topic does relate to real estate….in one way or another! AIRPORTS! You see, we’d love to be land owners close to an airport that’s planning an expansion (depending on what we get paid for our property) yet the last place we want to live next to is an airport. However, we like them to be conveniently located, just not next to where we live.

Take Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. First off, can our name REALLY get much longer? Maybe with Mayor Franklin taking on our sewer problems when no one else would, we’ll find room for her in there somewhere….anyway, the Metro Atlanta area is so spread out….some people have to spend the night at an airport hotel in order to catch their flight! Then there is the layout of our airport….many people find it very confusing…..I’m not sure why…6 concourses, laid out in a line, connected by an underground train. You might arrive on D, need to transfer to C, no problem (cept for those nasty afternoon t-showers…that will just screw everything up) Arrivals and Departures are all done in the same place. Now take Dallas-Ft. Worth…THAT is a confusing airport. I mean you have to start reading signs before you even get TO the terminal to see what building you need to go to for your flight….I’ve missed TWO flights at that airport….not one at Atlanta!

As some of you may have read in my last blog, I just flew home to Montana for a family visit. I did not realize until I was on the way to the airport in Atlanta that it had been ONE YEAR since I had last flown! Shreeeek! I use to fly every month to some social event somewhere, but since I buckled down to my real estate business, my trips have been closer to home and fueled by an automobile! But I can remember MANY hours in the past sitting in those not-so-comfortable seats waiting for a connecting flight….not this trip. 55 minutes to change plans in Salt Lake City so you hope there is no fog, smog, or other such thing to delay your arrival or departure.

Airports in the U.S. are a statement of our community! They reflect our progress as a growing business center…an opportunity to spur on economic growth, for an architect to make a grand statement….Just take a look at Denver’s…need I say more! It’s a sight to behold for miles as you arrive at the airport from the ground!

BUT, then there are those airports that have character like you have never seen the likes of…..I’d love to refer you to the Kona, Hawaii airport…..open air, just what you expect in that kind of climate…but their web site leaves much to be desired…..

And then….there is Gallatin Field, serving Bozeman, Big Sky and Yellowstone National Park

Now, years ago, when I was in college, I worked for Hertz Rent-a-Car at this airport. We had ONE, yes, ONE jet way and it was shared by Northwest and Frontier Airlines (not the Frontier you know now…the one merged with Continental)

This airport’s interior looks like a ski lodge….and how appropriate, since there are something like 5 ski areas within a couple hours of Bozeman (mainly Big Sky Resort ) We use to have wheelchair races down the lobby!

Flying is not what it use to be…with all the security and all….it can often take you 2 hours to clear Security in Atlanta…it took me over 30 minutes in Bozeman…and I lost my awesome little bottle of hotel lotion and my travel bottle of Scope as they were not in that ‘—-‘ little baggie! Didn’t have to be when I left Atlanta!!!

Airports….interesting real estate…whether you live by one, are affected by one, or use one….they are something we can’t live without…and have become quite a place to see these days!!

The next time you have a layover in Atlanta, give me a call…I’ll come have a drink with you. No, wait. We can’t get out on the concourse anymore because of security….oh well, guess you’re on your own to figure this one out!