Though I live closer to JFK International Airport business has brought me to Long Island Macarthur Airport on a couple of occasions. I have flown Southwest out of there. Yesterday I was there again. It happened that it was the first day the terminal was open. It looks great and is very traveler helpful.

THE LAYOUT

This is not a huge airport. The terminal area, I would guess is maybe a couple of hundred yards wide. In looking at an overhead view of the new terminal you could get a picture of the front end of a plane with the cockpit area to the front and wings coming off it left and right at slight angles. This cockpit area would be described below as the Atrium while the right wing is Check-in and the left wing is Baggage pick-up.

Check-in

On the right, the south end of the terminal, is the check-in area. This is a wide open airy feeling place that is newly carpeted in blue and looks great. The A/C system was working well too on this very humid day. Spread out along the wall are the check-in areas of the carriers that service LIMA. I noticed US Air, Southwest, American and its Eagle partner, Delta and Continental.

Having been there in the middle of the day it was not at all crowded. I have to say that even at busier rush hours the old terminal never got too busy either and the layout of the new one seems designed to make everything even smoother operating. I like the feel of this terminal much better than the old one. I asked someone what was happening to the old one. He didn't know.

This wing of the terminal also has the only restrooms outside the gated areas. There is one mens room, one ladies room and a Companion Care rest room. That was good to see. The men's room was clean, well stocked, roomy and most of the plumbing was automated. Mine wasn't.

Atrium Area

This is the hub of the airport where most everyone walks through to the gates. You go through security here and they seem to be very thorough. This is a very bright and airy space on a summers day. It is a tall glassed-in area that also houses a couple of airport-convenience stores. Just For Kids has some t'shirts, hats and stuffed animals along with other items that a child would like while traveling or as a gift item to take to one. Next door is Long Island News. This is another souvenir and convenience item store with books, magazines, some toiletry and other travel needs. Plenty of New York items like the Statue of Liberty, Twin Towers, and NYPD items were for sale. Ha, I needed to write some notes for this review and paid $2.99 for an "I Love NY" pen. A vending machine area in a sort of closet area made snacks available to non-ticket holders. Food vendors are in the gate area. You must have a ticket and go through security to get to them. This is not good for anyone who happens to be at the airport early to pick up a passenger. The truth is, if one needed hot food, there is a diner just across the street on rt 454 from this small airport.

A small vending machine has some flowers to bring to loved ones. Around the corner is a desk with some complimentary use phones for booking rooms. A list of about twenty motels and hotels were available to call via this free service. This is a nice convenience. Some of the nearby hotels offered shuttle service. An unmanned Long Island Visitors information desk had Long Island destination brochures available. It would have been good to have a real person there especially on opening day. Perhaps they are there at peek times of the morning and evening.

The middle of the atrium area near the west side entrances had a model and a full sized sailboat that were on loan from the Long Island Maritime Museum Not too far from there is a board posting fees for taxi and limo services. A taxi ride to JFK is $90. NYC is $120 tolls. Hey I can fly to Florida at those rates! A shuttle to the Ronkonkoma train station that can take you to NYC or further out on the island coasts $5.00. That's a deal because a taxi would charge $17. A number of different companies are listed with phone numbers. Hampton Jitney, Greyhound and the local Suffolk timetable is there.

There is visible security at the airport both inside and out but nothing that is intimidating. The security guys I talked to were attentive and helpful. Telephones are all along the western wall of the terminal and an ATM is also available. There are no Internet facilities in the terminal.

Baggage Claim

This is the north wing of the terminal. Six brand new baggage conveyors are there with plenty of room around them. At the far end northern end of this wing are three rental car desks. Avis, Hertz, and Budget are represented. The rental cars are located outside within walking distance.

Transportation

If being dropped off there is a section just in front of the check-in area but cars cannot be left there. They can drop off and then must take right off.

I gave some prices earlier on taxi rides. The vehicles are outside the baggage area as is the shuttle to the Long Island Rail Road.

If driving a car there are a few different parking areas. The nearest lot to the terminal, just across a small road, is the Hourly Lot that charges $1.25 per 30 minutes for the first four hours and then $2.50 per hour for the next four hours. If you decide to keep it in that lot over 8 hours you get a whopping $50. charge. A Daily Lot, just a bit further off, is $2.50 an hour with a top daily rate of $9.00. There is also a resident lot. I know nothing about it.

To save money on longer parking stays the Economy Lot, that is about a half mile away from the terminal, charges $1.25 per hour or a max $7.50 for the day. The sign says free shuttle service to the terminal. Though I didn't see the vehicle it supposedly makes its run every five to ten minutes.

SUMMING IT UP

Long Island Macarthur airport is a convenient facility to those who live in the middle and east end of long island. some of the carriers also offer some good rates. Travel out of this airport has increased every year. This new terminal should help keep the positive travel experiences I have always had out of this airport consistently good.

JFK International Airport NYC
Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport
Denver International Airport
Long Island Macarthur Airport

JetBlue Air
JetBlue On-Line Service
American Airlines
Delta Airlines

How to Beat Jet Lag

Long Island So much so diverse.

Cradle of Aviation Museum


Recommended: Yes