Airport Terminal

Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Airport Terminal shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Airport Terminal offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Airport Terminal at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Airport Terminal? Wrong! If the Airport Terminal is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Airport Terminal then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Airport Terminal? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Airport Terminal and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Airport Terminal wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Airport Terminal then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Airport Terminal site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Airport Terminal, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Airport Terminal, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from airplanes.

, Banjul, The Gambia

Passengers taking a flight will typically take an automobile, taxicab, bus, or train to the airport and then enter the terminal. Within the terminal, passengers purchase tickets, transfer their luggage, and go through security. The buildings that provide access to the airplanes (via Gate (airport)) are typically called concourses. However, the terms "terminal" and "concourse" are sometimes used interchangeably, depending on the configuration of the airport.

Smaller airports have one terminal while larger airports have several terminals and/or concourses. At small airports, the single terminal building typically serves all of the functions of a terminal and a concourse.

Some larger airports have one terminal that is connected to multiple concourses via walkways, skybridges, or underground tunnels (such as Denver International Airport). Some larger airports have more than one terminal, each with one or more concourses (such as New York's La Guardia Airport). Still other larger airports have multiple terminals each of which incorporate the functions of a concourse (such as Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport).

Most airport terminals are built in a plain style. However, some, such as Baghdad International Airport, are monumental in stature, while others are considered architectural masterpieces, such as Terminal 1 at Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris or John_F._Kennedy_International_Airport#Terminal 5 (closed) at New York's JFK Airport. A few are designed to reflect the culture of a particular area, an example being the terminal at Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico, which is designed in the Pueblo Revival style popularized by architect John Gaw Meem.

Airport terminal designs Early airport terminals opened directly onto the tarmac: passengers would walk or take a bus to their aircraft. This design is still common among smaller airports, and even many larger airports have "bus gates" to accommodate aircraft beyond the main terminal.

A pier design uses a long, narrow building with aircraft parked on both sides. One end connects to a ticketing and baggage claim area. Piers offer high aircraft capacity and simplicity of design, but often result in a long distance from the check-in counter to the gate (up to half a mile in the case of Kansai International Airport). Most large international airports have piers, including Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, Frankfurt International Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Suvarnabhumi_Airport and Miami International Airport.A satellite terminal is a building detached from other airport buildings, so that aircraft can park around its entire circumference. The first airport to use a satellite terminal was London Gatwick Airport. It used an underground pedestrian tunnel to connect the satellite to the main terminal. This was also the first setup at Los Angeles International Airport, but it has since been converted to a pier layout. The first airport to use an automatic people mover to connect the main terminal with a satellite was Tampa International Airport, which is the standard today. Paris's Charles de Gaulle International Airport (Terminal 1) and London Gatwick Airport (South Terminal) both have circular satellite terminals. Orlando International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport have multipier satellite terminals. Denver International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have linear satellite terminals connected by central underground passages. Kuala Lumpur International Airport has a cross-shaped satellite terminal which is being used for international flights.Some airports use a semicircular terminal, with aircraft parked on one side and cars on the other. This design results in long walks for connecting passengers, but greatly reduces travel times between check-in and the aircraft. Airports designed around this model include Charles de Gaulle International Airport (terminal 2),Mumbai Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Sapporo's New Chitose Airport.

One rarer terminal design is the mobile lounge, where passengers are transported from the gate to their aircraft in a large vehicle which docks directly to the terminal and the aircraft. Washington Dulles International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel International Airport have both used this design.

Hybrid layouts also exist. San Francisco International Airport uses a hybrid pier-semicircular layout (Terminal 3) and a pier layout for the rest.

In Bangkok Thailand, there is world's biggest single terminal (563,000 m²). Located in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Opened in 28 September 2006.Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing, People's Republic of China consisting of Terminal 3 will become the largest single terminal with an area of approx. (900,000 m²) of total floor area when it opens in 2008. It will handle a capacity of 100 million passengers the terminal alone easily without adding the other two existing terminals.

Ground transportation Many small and mid-size airports typically have a single two or three-lane one-way loop road which is used by local private vehicles and buses to drop off and pick-up passengers.

The typical international airport may have two grade-separated one-way loop roads, one for departures and one for arrivals. It may have a direct rail connection by regional rail, light rail, or Rapid transit to the downtown or central business district of the closest major city. The largest airports may have direct connections to the closest freeway. Finally, there are usually many car rental agencies and taxi companies operating in and around the airport terminals.

Zones Pre-Security

Check-in counters
retail stores and restaurants

Post Security

Duty Free stores
retail stores and restaurants
Airport lounges
Airport customs
Baggage claim