David J. Danto

Travel thoughts in my own, personal opinion

eMail: ddanto@IMCCA.org Follow Industry News: @NJDavidD on

Terminal A at Newark: A Beautiful Nightmare – December 2024

Leave it to United Airlines and Newark Airport to turn something beautiful into a traveler’s nightmare. I’ve been on record praising the new Terminal A at Newark Airport. It’s a stunning facility built by a consortium that typically designs airports overseas, and run by a renowned firm also typically based outside the US – Munich Airport NJ LLC (MANJ). It’s clean, spacious, and thoughtfully laid out – a stark contrast to Newark’s often chaotic reputation. But as with all things that glitter with United, there’s always a catch.

For starters, Terminal A isn’t just a departure from Newark’s typical semi-circle design – it’s literally far removed from it. Instead of integrating it into the airport’s existing layout, they built it behind the main facilities. If you’re getting dropped off by a taxi or a family member, you might not notice the inconvenience. But if you’re driving, buckle up for frustration.

The Gate Roulette: A United Special

United Airlines, already infamous for its logistical disarray, has outdone itself here. There’s no rhyme or reason to how flights are assigned to terminals A or C. Passengers are left in the dark until their flight details are posted, usually just a day before departure. You could park your car at Terminal C, only to land at Terminal A on your return trip – or vice versa. It’s a maddening guessing game, especially for those who plan to leave their car at the airport.

This wouldn’t be such a problem if the AirTrain, Newark’s monorail system, connected directly to Terminal A. But no. It only gets you “near” the terminal, leaving you to either brave a 15-minute walk with luggage in tow or wait for a shuttle. How is this acceptable in an airport serving millions?

Simple Solutions, Ignored

The solution to this logistical chaos seems straightforward. First, why not extend the monorail directly to the terminal? I’m sure that ship has sailed at this point, but it’s worth wondering how this glaring oversight was ever approved.

Second, United could easily assign specific routes to Terminal A. They used to do this – flights to places like Atlanta, Washington, Orlando, or San Francisco (as examples) could be consistently assigned to Terminal A. Such a system would allow passengers to plan where to park their cars with confidence. But instead, United opts for a chaotic free-for-all, assigning gates seemingly at random.

Day-trippers who rely on ‘shuttle’ flights to destinations like Boston and Washington, DC, face the worst of it. Shuttle flights are the most likely to be used on day-trips –exactly the kind where travelers are likely to drive and park at the airport. But where should they park? As I write this, a day trip to Boston departs from “C” and returns to “A.” Should shuttle passengers park at their departure terminal to get to the gate quickly, park at the returning terminal and take the shuttle/monorail combo to their gate (assuming it’s actually running), or park at the P4 economy lot on the monorail and resign themselves to being equally inconvenienced both coming and going? None of these options feel like a win.

A Symphony of Inconvenience

This isn’t the first time Newark Airport and United have made travel unnecessarily difficult. From removing moving walkways to closing entrances and clubs, they’ve consistently prioritized cost-cutting / revenue raising over customer experience. Now, by neglecting a logical gate assignment system, they’re once again proving how little they value their passengers.

Terminal A may look beautiful, but thanks to United and Newark Airport’s lack of foresight, it’s far from the seamless experience it was meant to be. Travelers, consider yourself warned.

This article was written by David Danto and contains solely his own, personal opinions.

All image and links provided above as reference under prevailing fair use statutes.

Copyright 2024 David Danto

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