JIA 1 Of Best Airports To Be Stranded In

Duke · January 10, 2011, 03:59:09 PM

QuoteJIA 1 Of Best Airports To Be Stranded In
London Observer Cites Art That Covers Airport's Interior

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- If you're stranded at any given airport, there's not much you can do except for try to get comfortable and catch up on some sleep or catch up with a few friends. But if you're stranded at Jacksonville International Airport, you can spend a few hours contemplating fine art.

The London Observer ranked JIA as one of the best airports in which to be stranded.

It's what's on the walls inside the airport that has people talking.

"Oh, it's lovely here. It's lovely," said Chicago resident Patricia Kreuger, who was traveling at JIA on Monday.

The ranking is largely because of an area called the Haskell Art Gallery, which is said to be the largest of its kind in the U.S.

"Many people have come to the gallery and sent me an e-mail after the fact stating that a painting made their day," said Cabeth Cornelius, who works at the art gallery.

Cornelius said airport art is a growing trend internationally, but Jacksonville's airport was one of the first to institute an arts program back in the '90s.

Now, art is all around the airport, even in the bathrooms.

"I went to Washington, Dallas and Indianapolis, and neither one of them had an art gallery," traveler Yari Smith said. "In fact, this airport (JIA) made my expectations high for them and they failed."

While those who live in Jacksonville might take a finely decorated airport for granted, out-of-towners really do seem to notice.

Rebecca Cali, who works at an airport in Italy, said there is not much art in her airport.

"I just told him how nice this airport is," Cali said.

"It ads to the ambiance and soothes the nerves," Cornelius said of the art.

Being delayed is never a good thing, but at least the art gives travelers something to do.

"To say to people: 'This is who we are as a city. We are very exciting, diverse, dynamic,'" Cornelius said.

There are only four airports in the world that made the list of best airports in which to be stranded. The others are London's Heathrow Airport, Seoul Airport in South Korea and Amsterdam's Airport Schiphol, which is linked to the national museum.

Copyright 2011 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/26431925/detail.html

Sadly, I don't think I've ever ventured into the gallery. I guess like the article stated, I've taken it for granted. I'll need to make some time next time I fly out. Does anyone know if it is pre- or post- security?

BridgeTroll · January 10, 2011, 04:01:10 PM

Pre...

Doctor_K · January 10, 2011, 04:09:42 PM

When you make it to the bottom of the ramp from the check-in counters into that large open area, well before hitting the security suite, hang an immediate left - past the shoe-shine station.

It's actually pretty cool; a nice hidden and unexpected gem.

Overstreet · January 10, 2011, 04:17:31 PM

Quote from: Doctor_K on January 10, 2011, 04:09:42 PM
When you make it to the bottom of the ramp from the check-in counters into that large open area, well before hitting the security suite, hang an immediate left - past the shoe-shine station.

It's actually pretty cool; a nice hidden and unexpected gem.

It is the big open area where you enter security. Haskel art gallery is next to the restrooms.

Lunican · January 10, 2011, 04:20:23 PM

They also have free wifi and lots of power outlets.

Wacca Pilatka · January 10, 2011, 04:53:37 PM

Unfortunately, this is far from the only time that many locals do not fully appreciate a very nice amenity that Jacksonville offers.

blizz01 · January 10, 2011, 05:50:54 PM

QuoteThey also have free wifi and lots of power outlets.

Yet another thing we (I) have taken for granted.......I had to take a $10 hit in Miami & Atlanta last month. The rocking chairs & piano (sometimes) are a nice plus, too.

The inexplicable Medusa sculpture still gives me the heebee-jeebees at the entrance - I suppose that "freezing" travelers is one way to keep folks in town a little longer.

fieldafm · January 10, 2011, 07:03:41 PM

Quote from: Lunican on January 10, 2011, 04:20:23 PM
They also have free wifi and lots of power outlets.

Are they still using that Google wireless connection deal?
I apologize as I don't recall the technical/formal term.

Ocklawaha · January 10, 2011, 09:01:03 PM

http://www.youtube.com/v/FA6nRFpua0c?fs=1&hl=en_US

http://www.youtube.com/v/j3xtYm0ptno?fs=1&hl=en_US

http://www.youtube.com/v/iRzIUz-AJBY?fs=1&hl=en_US

Imagine what the one-two punch of a Jacksonville Belt Railroad around the North and Northwest side between Cecil - Westlake - JIA - Blount Island coupled with a new Amtrak route (which is in the planning stages) between Atlanta and Jacksonville could do for our airport several times every year.

Atlanta is socked in and a direct rail connection to JIA AND JAX TERMINAL could give EVERY airline and airline passenger a way around when Atlanta get's nasty.

What would a little railroad mileage do for the Port?

THINK ABOUT IT JACKSONVILLE.

OCKLAWAHA

jandar · January 10, 2011, 09:18:59 PM

Having been to quite a few airports, the power outlets and free wifi rocks.

Way too many airports have crappy wifi, and good luck finding a power outlet.

Coolyfett · January 10, 2011, 11:46:26 PM

Quote from: blizz01 on January 10, 2011, 05:50:54 PM
QuoteThey also have free wifi and lots of power outlets.
Yet another thing we (I) have taken for granted.......I had to take a $10 hit in Miami & Atlanta last month. The rocking chairs & piano (sometimes) are a nice plus, too.

The inexplicable Medusa sculpture still gives me the heebee-jeebees at the entrance - I suppose that "freezing" travelers is one way to keep folks in town a little longer.

I got stuck at MIA I was not gonna pay for wifi, had to use the smartphone instead. MIA does not have much art, but Hartfield does have a lot, both pre & post. Paying for wifi is stupid, the airlines or city should cover the cost.

ricker · January 11, 2011, 06:45:46 PM

Quote from: ricker on January 11, 2011, 12:28:55 PM
NOTICE the Rail line... . IS this to the S-Line through Gateway, into Sprinfield, DT, sports complex and Jax Terminal?

Quote from: simms3 on November 30, 2010, 09:00:54 PM
Jacksonville International Airport:

A model of what the airport will look like when built out.

Space still UC (recently remodeled)

The above photo seen from the plane:

Haskell gallery had some interesting art:

One of many food spots, the food court in the concourse with Sbarro, Freshens, and Quizno's.

One of the new concourses:

Planes at the airport:

connections will bring life back to the core.
In the model,
which rail line is this? HSR? Street car? monorail?

KennyLovesJAX · January 11, 2011, 06:59:40 PM

I believe that can be High speed rail connecting downtown and the northern neighborhoods to JIA.

cityimrov · January 11, 2011, 07:15:28 PM

I like JIA. The airport is nice, friendly, and even our TSA personnel aren't too insane. There could be some improvements like some couches to nap on around the airport but overall I think it's a nice little airport. I wished they kept airside open 24/7 but landside isn't that bad a place to be and the security line usually isn't too long.

The biggest problem I have is airports like ATL or MIA aren't JIA. I'm more likely to get stranded in the big hub cities than at JIA. Getting stranded in one of those big hub airports isn't fun.

Duke · January 11, 2011, 10:26:07 PM

Quote from: cityimrov on January 11, 2011, 07:15:28 PM
The biggest problem I have is airports like ATL or MIA aren't JIA. I'm more likely to get stranded in the big hub cities than at JIA. Getting stranded in one of those big hub airports isn't fun.

Case in point: Memphis... never fails. If there's even a hint of a storm, I know I'll be stranded or delayed.