No problem there, and made our way into the arrivals lounge. Lounge - sorry I must have used the word kindly. It was a huge hall where we were ordered to stand in long lines until ordered which desk to present our immigration papers and passports. Slick, quick but not over friendly.
The second stage was the search, or lack of it - still, quite painless, although the people that were stopped were directed to a desk marked agriculture and food - couldn't understand the logic there, I honestly thought we were just holiday makers!!
Finally made it into the public area, where we had to dump our luggage trolley, and proceed to make the descent down an escalator with the cases and hand luggage to the carpark area. Not easy if you had children or elderly. Surely a better marked system for lifts could be signposted?
On the way back to the UK, we were told in light of the events of 11th September, we had to make it to the airport 3 to 31/2 hours early. Point taken, but on arrival we checked in, the flight was full, and no-one looked in our cases, checked inside our hand luggage, and we embarked with a rather large leather travelbag which we were allowed to put into the overhead lockers without question!!
Newark facilities weren't the best I have seen, the duty free that we found was so tiny that we were bumping bottoms looking on lower shelves. The staff in the shop could have been fed up but not a smile and they certainly wish us to "Have a nice Day".
Credit where credit is due though, once you had bought your duty free, you left it with flight number and name, and it was brought to your departure terminal and handed to you as you boarded. A good idea with all the time we had to spend in the airport.
A few small shops, and a bar and a couple of cafes.All looking much the same - not NY style at all.
I am aware that work is going on in the airport, so perhaps next time I visit - hopefully next year my views will be much more positive.
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I have used Newark many times now, both before and after 911. Not sure when you flew back after the tragic events of that day, but security now is vastly improved and I for one felt a lot safer than before. Jon White
angelwds 26.10.2001 13:12
You're right, it's not the best is it! When we were there they were undergoing some refurbishment and there was no duty free shop - just a makeshift desk (more like paste table!) in the departure lounge where you had to order from a catalogue!
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Advantages: Pleasant security people, well served from all over USA and UK Disadvantages: Expensive food, Rude staff, Tiny toilets, Badly thought-out smoking area.
Advantages: Pleasant security people, well served from all over USA and UK Disadvantages: Expensive food, Rude staff, Tiny toilets, Badly thought-out smoking area.
Oct 9th, 2001
very helpful by (85%):
helpful by (15%):
