JIA cited as America's best airport

[edjax]

But don't you only spend about two days per week in Jax and the remainder in central Florida? If so, that would make sense.

[thelakelander]

^I commute back and forth....and my parents stay down there but I live in Jax. But, yes, I normally take the opportunity to visit my family (immediately before or after) when flying, which is why I use those airports more.

[Scrub Palmetto]

Even when I have no business in Central Florida I still sometimes use MCO when traveling to J'ville or to other places when I lived in J'ville. It's sometimes cheaper even with the transportation cost between the cities. Heck, I even used FLL once, partially because I was planning to visit Miami during one of my trips home, and it would have been twice as expensive to go back and fly out of JAX at the time.

[I-10east]

If I was in a situation like Lake having ties to Central Florida, I probably would use those airports down there, otherwise there isn't any way in the world that I'll drive way down there, then have to drive back after the trip. Way too inconvenient IMO, even if the ticket costed a little bit less.

Dan Hicken went to Orlando Intl for the Gator basketball game in Memphis (I heard over 1010XL). There were delays there, and he got outta there late. That's another issue of those larger airports, the delay chances go up. IMO a Central FL drive down there and delays are very counter-intuitive compared to one stop in ATL.

[Ocklawaha]

All depends on where you are going, at this moment I could fly JAX to Seattle, a bit cheaper then MCO to Seattle. Going the other way flying down to Medellin and JAX falls off the radar at around $700 while FLL, TPA, MCO and MIA are all much less, in fact I can go out of Miami on Avianca (a classic full service carrier) for about ½ of that.

If your well traveled there is one thing I've seen in JAX that I would say needs immediate improvement, especially with a German bank landing here. LANGUAGE! We need to follow the example of our bigger brothers and get multi-lingual signage up everywhere. Houston Intercontinental does a stellar job of this. Nothing worse then landing in Paramaribo and not be able to find your bags, food, transportation or the resident lavatory. REALLY JIA - PLASTIC IS CHEAP!

[Ocklawaha]

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL AIRPORT - ALBANY


SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL AIRPORT - ALBANY


SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL AIRPORT - ALBANY


BRUNSWICK GOLDEN ISLES AIRPORT


BRUNSWICK GOLDEN ISLES AIRPORT


DOUGLAS GEORGIA AIRPORT


VALDOSTA AIRPORT


VALDOSTA AIRPORT

We've got some pretty stiff competition from small and regional airports to our north and St. Augustine is about to kick in to our south with Frontier offering non-stops to the northeast, likely followed by several other links. The Northeast Florida Regional Airport is arguably better located $$ then JIA and as they establish themselves and build the new terminal JIA could be in for an unintentional butt kicking.

[vicupstate]

This comment on the CNN article hit home with me.  I  don't share their thoughts on the skyway extention and I have my doubts on the 'turning the corner' part. I thought JAX was at that place in the early 2000's, only to be disappointed.  As the economy slowly recovers, I think now is the 'do or die time' for JAX to reach its potential to be a 'boom town' in the way Austin, Nashville, Raleigh, etc. are.

Emphasis in mine, not the poster on the CNN article.

DJSB, While Jacksonville's downtown has a long way to go to reach its potential, it is hardly the most boring in the U.S. That statement makes me wonder if you have really traveled to many other major U.S. cities?? I am a flight attendant with a major airline and I have traveled extensively in every major city in the U.S. (not to mention the world). Believe me, I've seen much, much worse. Jacksonville has a gorgeous natural cityscape that cities like Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando, Raleigh,etc. can only dream about but will never have . True, these cities have relatively vibrant urban centers versus Jax. I too have wondered what Jacksonville is waiting on. Why does our development seem to move at a glacial pace when many other cities seem to encourage urban, mixed- use development?

With assets like the St. John's river, the Riverwalk and urban bridges that are truly beautiful (especially at night), our downtown should be much farther along than it is presently. However, I really believe that we are "turning the corner" and major residential, retail and office projects are in the near future. We just need fewer feasibility studies, focus groups and downtown development boards and just one business or individual (perhaps a certain Pakastani–born billionaire), that dares to make a major commitment to downtown (IMAX, aquarium, centrally located convention center, major retailer/restaurant with regional draw.....you get the idea). Once that happens, the floodgates will bust open. Now if we can just expand the Skyway down Bay street to the stadium, arena and......I guess that is for another post!!

[vicupstate]

Airports are one of the most under-rated yet important tools in economic development.  It has been a huge part of Charlotte reaching the level that it has.  Atlanta got to be the 'capital' of the Southeast primarily because of the airport.  It has certainly played a part in Raleigh's rise to the top of the second tier of cities.

Just as JAX must keep it's seaport competitive, so to it must do the same with JIA.

[Ocklawaha]

Just a technical glitch there vicupstate my friend. We all know that in Jacksonville one cannot die and go to hell without passing through Atlanta first, but Atlanta achieved 'capital' status on the backs of its railroads. Something both Atlanta and Jacksonville have forgotten while Tampa-Orlando-Miami seem to be keen to promote.


ATLANTA UNION STATION


ATLANTA TERMINAL STATION


TERMINAL STATION

Meanwhile in Jacksonville!

[fsquid]

love our airport.  Getting in and out of it is a breeze.

As long as you dont have to wait for luggage...

I've never had an issue.