Where do these expectations for the airport come?  I understand the consumer mentality we have here, but it seems exacerbated here in Cleveland.  The airport receives so much enmity - it isn't the best airport, I'll grant.  But there are many worse, and I won't understand anyone who complains about Cleveland baggage claim... it is much much faster than any other airport our size, particularly since there is so much less connecting traffic.  At Charlotte, I waited nearly one hour for bags - I suspect during the heyday of Continental's operation in CLE (or any other airport that has so much more connecting traffic than O/D), that must have been what it was like, since connecting bags surely must be prioritized over O/D bags.

 

Try landing after 9 pm at Hopkins.  I swear United keeps one ground crew on duty, so if multiple flights land at one time, I've waited up to an hour for bags. 

Where do these expectations for the airport come?  I understand the consumer mentality we have here, but it seems exacerbated here in Cleveland.  The airport receives so much enmity - it isn't the best airport, I'll grant.  But there are many worse, and I won't understand anyone who complains about Cleveland baggage claim... it is much much faster than any other airport our size, particularly since there is so much less connecting traffic.  At Charlotte, I waited nearly one hour for bags - I suspect during the heyday of Continental's operation in CLE (or any other airport that has so much more connecting traffic than O/D), that must have been what it was like, since connecting bags surely must be prioritized over O/D bags.

 

Try landing after 9 pm at Hopkins.  I swear United keeps one ground crew on duty, so if multiple flights land at one time, I've waited up to an hour for bags.

 

It's no better on Delta.  Usually at least 30 minutes.

 

In happier news, Delta is now using all 5 of their gates (B2, 4, 6, 3, 5), and Southwest has taken over the previously vacant B7.

...but the half dozen vacant United gates remain vacant in C. I know American is moving to them but will it be before RNC? If not that place will look at bit depressing for visitors - many if whom will pass by then on way to United banjo gates.

I've been in and out a bunch in the past few weeks.  The place is indeed taking shape in my opinion.  Would be nice to see some additional routes added in the near future.  As for the convention, aren't they adding a bunch of flights that week?  i suspect all gates will be in use

...but the half dozen vacant United gates remain vacant in C. I know American is moving to them but will it be before RNC? If not that place will look at bit depressing for visitors - many if whom will pass by then on way to United banjo gates.

 

I'm not even sure what's going on there - all of the jet bridges are gone!

The airport owns the gates; the airlines own the jetbridges.  United is unbolting and reclaiming its property.  American is supposed to move from Concourse A to C gates in "the fall" and will install their own bridges when they do. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, happens to C8 which is unclaimed by any specific airline. Even more interesting will be what Frontier and Spirit decide to do with all the new space available to them in A.

The airport owns the gates; the airlines own the jetbridges.  United is unbolting and reclaiming its property.  American is supposed to move from Concourse A to C gates in "the fall" and will install their own bridges when they do. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, happens to C8 which is unclaimed by any specific airline. Even more interesting will be what Frontier and Spirit decide to do with all the new space available to them in A.

 

Ah, that's kind of weird that the airlines own the jetbridges - they're not exactly portable!

A friend just posted this on Facebook...

 

Restaurants closing with customers in line. Meanwhile TVs in the terminal aren't showing the Cavs game 7 of the Finals. A gate attendant says the City sets the TV channels and they can't get the Cavs game.  Fits right in with this operation getting slammed by FAA for snow removal.  Not a well run place.

A friend just posted this on Facebook...

 

Restaurants closing with customers in line. Meanwhile TVs in the terminal aren't showing the Cavs game 7 of the Finals. A gate attendant says the City sets the TV channels and they can't get the Cavs game.  Fits right in with this operation getting slammed by FAA for snow removal.  Not a well run place.

 

*Facepalm*

A friend just posted this on Facebook...

 

Restaurants closing with customers in line. Meanwhile TVs in the terminal aren't showing the Cavs game 7 of the Finals. A gate attendant says the City sets the TV channels and they can't get the Cavs game.  Fits right in with this operation getting slammed by FAA for snow removal.  Not a well run place.

 

Wow that may even top RTA's bleepup.

A friend just posted this on Facebook...

 

Restaurants closing with customers in line. Meanwhile TVs in the terminal aren't showing the Cavs game 7 of the Finals. A gate attendant says the City sets the TV channels and they can't get the Cavs game.  Fits right in with this operation getting slammed by FAA for snow removal.  Not a well run place.

 

Wow that may even top RTA's bleepup.

 

ac·count·a·bil·i·ty

əˌkoun(t)əˈbilədē/

noun

the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility.

"their lack of accountability has corroded public respect"

synonyms: responsibility, liability, answerability

Cleveland Hopkins Airport unveils new ticketing lobby, $36 million in upgrades (Video)

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/06/cleveland_hopkins_airport_unve.html

The FAA has recommended consolidating the Akron/Canton and Mansfield TRACONs at the CLE Tower TRACON. A TRACON is a Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility, which manages regional airspace, it's not the landing and take-off controllers.  The few (maybe 50?)relatively high-paying jobs will be a nice gain for CLE.

 

Expect outrage from the negatively affected politicians, but it will probably happen. The cost pluses and minuses are pretty much a wash, but it will aid the FAA's personnel problems. It's hard for them to train and hire at the smaller operations.

 

Try landing after 9 pm at Hopkins.  I swear United keeps one ground crew on duty, so if multiple flights land at one time, I've waited up to an hour for bags.

 

It's no better on Delta.  Usually at least 30 minutes.

 

In happier news, Delta is now using all 5 of their gates (B2, 4, 6, 3, 5), and Southwest has taken over the previously vacant B7.

 

Landed at about 5:40 from MSP today, had my bag by 5:55... maybe they are stepping up their game.

 

In other news, I saw this across from gate B1 - does anyone know what this is?  Just touching up, perhaps?

 

 

 

Try landing after 9 pm at Hopkins.  I swear United keeps one ground crew on duty, so if multiple flights land at one time, I've waited up to an hour for bags.

 

It's no better on Delta.  Usually at least 30 minutes.

 

In happier news, Delta is now using all 5 of their gates (B2, 4, 6, 3, 5), and Southwest has taken over the previously vacant B7.

 

Landed at about 5:40 from MSP today, had my bag by 5:55... maybe they are stepping up their game.

 

In other news, I saw this across from gate B1 - does anyone know what this is?  Just touching up, perhaps?

 

No, we waited 35 minutes for our bags on a flight from Atlanta a couple weeks ago.  A guy pushing a lady in a wheelchair that was waiting for her bags said they do only have 1 crew on duty late at night.  I understand that there aren't that many flights, but people were starting to get really pissy, so it's not exactly helping the airport image.  I expect it at this point, so I'm annoyed, but not surprised.  Additionally, I have Sky Priority on Delta, and the guy also said since they only have 1 crew at night, they don't honor any kind of baggage priority - they just try to handle all the bags as fast as they can.  Another sign of a rookie airport.....

Though it may seem like CLE doesn't have a lot of flights arriving (that need baggage moved) late at night, I've often arrived fairly late in the evening and have noticed how many flights, in a relative sense, are still on the arrivals board. A quick check of the CLE status board tonight shows some 32 flights arriving tonight after 9 PM. I wish it were 132... but it's not like the airport is totally dead at that time - so they should be staffing a bit heavier.

No, we waited 35 minutes for our bags on a flight from Atlanta a couple weeks ago.  A guy pushing a lady in a wheelchair that was waiting for her bags said they do only have 1 crew on duty late at night.  I understand that there aren't that many flights, but people were starting to get really pissy, so it's not exactly helping the airport image.  I expect it at this point, so I'm annoyed, but not surprised.  Additionally, I have Sky Priority on Delta, and the guy also said since they only have 1 crew at night, they don't honor any kind of baggage priority - they just try to handle all the bags as fast as they can.  Another sign of a rookie airport.....

 

At most airports (including Hopkins AFAIK) each airline does their own ground handling including delivering bags to the claim area (or selects a vendor at agreed-upon staffing levels.) So rather than being a sign of a rookie airport it's likely a sign of bare-bones staffing by the carrier (or the carrier's decision to contract for minimal staffing from a ground handling vendor.)

No, we waited 35 minutes for our bags on a flight from Atlanta a couple weeks ago.  A guy pushing a lady in a wheelchair that was waiting for her bags said they do only have 1 crew on duty late at night.  I understand that there aren't that many flights, but people were starting to get really pissy, so it's not exactly helping the airport image.  I expect it at this point, so I'm annoyed, but not surprised.  Additionally, I have Sky Priority on Delta, and the guy also said since they only have 1 crew at night, they don't honor any kind of baggage priority - they just try to handle all the bags as fast as they can.  Another sign of a rookie airport.....

 

At most airports (including Hopkins AFAIK) each airline does their own ground handling including delivering bags to the claim area (or selects a vendor at agreed-upon staffing levels.) So rather than being a sign of a rookie airport it's likely a sign of bare-bones staffing by the carrier (or the carrier's decision to contract for minimal staffing from a ground handling vendor.)

 

I'm not sure... The wheelchair guy made it sound like there was literally only one baggage crew on duty for the whole airport.  And given that the Atlanta flight was the only Delta arrival at that point in time, I'm inclined to believe that.

No, we waited 35 minutes for our bags on a flight from Atlanta a couple weeks ago.  A guy pushing a lady in a wheelchair that was waiting for her bags said they do only have 1 crew on duty late at night.  I understand that there aren't that many flights, but people were starting to get really pissy, so it's not exactly helping the airport image.  I expect it at this point, so I'm annoyed, but not surprised.  Additionally, I have Sky Priority on Delta, and the guy also said since they only have 1 crew at night, they don't honor any kind of baggage priority - they just try to handle all the bags as fast as they can.  Another sign of a rookie airport.....

 

At most airports (including Hopkins AFAIK) each airline does their own ground handling including delivering bags to the claim area (or selects a vendor at agreed-upon staffing levels.) So rather than being a sign of a rookie airport it's likely a sign of bare-bones staffing by the carrier (or the carrier's decision to contract for minimal staffing from a ground handling vendor.)

 

I'm not sure... The wheelchair guy made it sound like there was literally only one baggage crew on duty for the whole airport.  And given that the Atlanta flight was the only Delta arrival at that point in time, I'm inclined to believe that.

 

Seriously? You actually believe what those wheelchair guys tell you?! I can tell you with 100% certainty that an airline employs (or contracts) baggage handlers. It has nothing to do with Hopkins. There is no such thing as "a baggage crew on duty for the whole airport".

No, we waited 35 minutes for our bags on a flight from Atlanta a couple weeks ago.  A guy pushing a lady in a wheelchair that was waiting for her bags said they do only have 1 crew on duty late at night.  I understand that there aren't that many flights, but people were starting to get really pissy, so it's not exactly helping the airport image.  I expect it at this point, so I'm annoyed, but not surprised.  Additionally, I have Sky Priority on Delta, and the guy also said since they only have 1 crew at night, they don't honor any kind of baggage priority - they just try to handle all the bags as fast as they can.  Another sign of a rookie airport.....

 

At most airports (including Hopkins AFAIK) each airline does their own ground handling including delivering bags to the claim area (or selects a vendor at agreed-upon staffing levels.) So rather than being a sign of a rookie airport it's likely a sign of bare-bones staffing by the carrier (or the carrier's decision to contract for minimal staffing from a ground handling vendor.)

 

I'm not sure... The wheelchair guy made it sound like there was literally only one baggage crew on duty for the whole airport.  And given that the Atlanta flight was the only Delta arrival at that point in time, I'm inclined to believe that.

 

Seriously? You actually believe what those wheelchair guys tell you?! I can tell you with 100% certainty that an airline employs (or contracts) baggage handlers. It has nothing to do with Hopkins. There is no such thing as "a baggage crew on duty for the whole airport".

 

Dude, chill.  I have no idea how Hopkins is a actually staffed - I was just going off of a worker's comments and the fact that baggage takes a stupidly long time there now.  At many other airports, Delta has signs promising bags in 20 minutes or less....  The fact that Hopkins has no such sign is probably saying something....

So, problems exist at Hopkins, and it is not run as well as it can be, I think everyone who experiences the airport will agree

 

Details might be mixed up, but overall, the city needs to manage the facility better, or get out of the business all together

The city manages the airport, but has nothing to do with baggage handling. Each airline either has their own baggage handlers (who are called ramp service) or they contract with an independent ground services company that handles the airlines who only have a handful of flights at a given airport. Or one airline may hire another to handle their ground services. Check the uniforms of the crews to see who they are working for.

 

I put myself through undergrad school working as a ramp man (many years ago).

In all the flights I have been on since 2013, I have only had to wait more than 15 minutes for my bags in Cleveland twice; once on Delta and once on American.  The baggage handling at Hopkins is the same as it is just about everywhere else; it's a tossup depending on who is there.  The only airport I have to consistently wait at regardless of carrier is DFW (I attribute that to its size).  Even on a full 737-900 from San Francisco, the bags were there pretty quickly. 

The city manages the airport, but has nothing to do with baggage handling. Each airline either has their own baggage handlers (who are called ramp service) or they contract with an independent ground services company that handles the airlines who only have a handful of flights at a given airport. Or one airline may hire another to handle their ground services. Check the uniforms of the crews to see who they are working for.

 

I put myself through undergrad school working as a ramp man (many years ago).

 

So it is possible, in theory, that after 8 pm for instance, that one vendor crew is handling all the arrivals for Delta and United?   

 

 

The city manages the airport, but has nothing to do with baggage handling. Each airline either has their own baggage handlers (who are called ramp service) or they contract with an independent ground services company that handles the airlines who only have a handful of flights at a given airport. Or one airline may hire another to handle their ground services. Check the uniforms of the crews to see who they are working for.

 

I put myself through undergrad school working as a ramp man (many years ago).

 

So it is possible, in theory, that after 8 pm for instance, that one vendor crew is handling all the arrivals for Delta and United?   

 

 

 

It's possible but not likely. The crews can be handled by the same vendor but the employees are split amongst airlines. This division has to do with specific training requirements of each individual carrier.

 

United employees handle United flights at Hopkins. Not sure about Delta.

At many other airports, Delta has signs promising bags in 20 minutes or less....  The fact that Hopkins has no such sign is probably saying something....

 

Delta has a nationwide 20 minute baggage delivery guarantee for all Delta/Delta connection flights. (Can't post links but if you search for "Delta baggage guarantee" it should be the top result.) I suppose it's possible that the local station manager knows there is a problem (so the guarantee isn't advertised) but at 2,500 SkyPesos a pop it's probably worth filing the claims.

At many other airports, Delta has signs promising bags in 20 minutes or less....  The fact that Hopkins has no such sign is probably saying something....

 

Delta has a nationwide 20 minute baggage delivery guarantee for all Delta/Delta connection flights. (Can't post links but if you search for "Delta baggage guarantee" it should be the top result.) I suppose it's possible that the local station manager knows there is a problem (so the guarantee isn't advertised) but at 2,500 SkyPesos a pop it's probably worth filing the claims.

 

Thanks for the heads up on that!  Looks like it's too late for all my recent flights since you have to do it within 3 days, but I will keep that in my back pocket for next time!  I could've gotten so many free miles by now!

Thanks for the heads up on that!  Looks like it's too late for all my recent flights since you have to do it within 3 days, but I will keep that in my back pocket for next time!  I could've gotten so many free miles by now!

 

Sure thing. Hopefully you can gain some miles... maybe enough claims will attract the attention of someone. I worked in a baggage control role at another airport for a different carrier. While we didn't specifically have a baggage delivery guarantee we did have an internal 20 minute metric, and any late bags were logged and popped up on a report. I wouldn't say that anyone was fired due to late bags but trends were monitored and staffing was adjusted accordingly.

Apparently, Philadelphia airport workers plan to strike during the DNC.  Definitely a larger and better airport to handle a big convention, but as long as Cleveland's airport can function all right, it'll be better than the chaos at PHL.

 

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/airport-workers-vote-strike-philadelphia-democratic-national-convention/story?id=40544272

 

Flew in and out of CLE this week on a short business trip. Very smooth with no hold ups anywhere. Took the rapid to Tower City when I got back last night and was pleased to see a decent number of riders (20+) getting on at the airport. Only a couple of CLE workers, the rest travelers. The last couple of times I've taken it I've been the only passenger at the station.

I went through CLE this week too. It was very busy coming and going but smooth traveling and nice to see all of the renovations. The ticketing lobby looks quite nice

 

 

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I guess everyone knows by now that American Airlines is moving its CLE gates from Concourse A to the low numbered gates in Concourse C (C2 maybe, C3,5,7,9,and 11 for sure). This is real and going to happen in the fall.

 

Now there is another rumor that is even more interesting: that Delta will move from Concourse B to the ex-AA gates on Concourse A. The interesting part of the rumor is that Southwest will then take over all of  Concourse B, which would be ten or eleven gates, depending on whether B1 is put back into use. Southwest is a frugal company and would not make this move unless they plan to actually use those gates, which could mean restoration of service to some cities UA discontinued.

I guess everyone knows by now that American Airlines is moving its CLE gates from Concourse A to the low numbered gates in Concourse C (C2 maybe, C3,5,7,9,and 11 for sure). This is real and going to happen in the fall.

 

Now there is another rumor that is even more interesting: that Delta will move from Concourse B to the ex-AA gates on Concourse A. The interesting part of the rumor is that Southwest will then take over all of  Concourse B, which would be ten or eleven gates, depending on whether B1 is put back into use. Southwest is a frugal company and would not make this move unless they plan to actually use those gates, which could mean restoration of service to some cities UA discontinued.

 

How many gates does AA currently occupy in A?  I almost exclusively fly Delta so am never over there.

How many gates does AA currently occupy in A?  I almost exclusively fly Delta so am never over there.

 

Six.

Any announcements on schedule changes?  I fly frequently between Cleveland and Dallas, and searches on Spirit Airlines show this service ending on November 10.  I wonder if this means American Airlines will be raising their prices on non-stops to Dallas, since they will no longer be competing on this route.  Although if Southwest does expand their flight offerings from Cleveland as has been postulated here, perhaps there may be a non-stop to Dallas Love Field coming soon.  That would be nice... I definitely prefer that airport to DFW when it is possible.

How many gates does AA currently occupy in A?  I almost exclusively fly Delta so am never over there.

 

Six.

 

Okay, so that's entirely feasible from a gate count standpoint.  Delta technically uses 5 in B, but they sometimes double-park aircraft and swing the jet bridges to "B6" and "B6A", for example.

I was at CLE yesterday and was surprised at how busy it was for a Saturday evening. But the traffic was Clevelanders returning from wherever, based on the many Cleveland sports apparel they were wearing. My sister (who works next to the Q and she was told by the Secret Service not to work this past week!) was returning from Scandinavia. I even ran into my dentist who was returning with his family from Switzerland! My co-pay at work!!

Any announcements on schedule changes?  I fly frequently between Cleveland and Dallas, and searches on Spirit Airlines show this service ending on November 10.  I wonder if this means American Airlines will be raising their prices on non-stops to Dallas, since they will no longer be competing on this route.  Although if Southwest does expand their flight offerings from Cleveland as has been postulated here, perhaps there may be a non-stop to Dallas Love Field coming soon.  That would be nice... I definitely prefer that airport to DFW when it is possible.

 

Cleveland to both Dallas Love and Houston Hobby by Southwest are prime possibilities.

Fiscal Year 2017 City Pair contracts were released by the GSA recently.  Cleveland has more city pair contracts than they used to, which I found interesting.  All in all, it looks like American Airlines has the most now, and they had a fairly decent net gain of contracts.  United and Delta stayed pretty much the same, and Southwest had a significant net loss of contracts out of Cleveland (Southwest's booking module doesn't cooperate very well with the government booking tool(s), so I wasn't too weepy over that one).  A far cry from the days when United had the lion's share of those contracts.  After the merger, at least.  Before the merger, it was pretty spread out; Continental didn't pursue those contracts very much, if at all.

 

I'm sure government contracts don't account for a huge amount of O/D traffic in Cleveland, nor is it a metric for regional air travel health, but I do find the information interesting!

Allegiant will announce today new service at CLE to AUS, FLL, PGD (Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda), JAX, MYR, MSY, AZA (Phoenix/Mesa), SAV, SFB (Orlando/Sanford), and PIE (Tampa/St. Pete). Destinations will likely be 2-3 times per week, not daily.

Allegiant will announce today new service at CLE to AUS, FLL, PGD (Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda), JAX, MYR, MSY, AZA (Phoenix/Mesa), SAV, SFB (Orlando/Sanford), and PIE (Tampa/St. Pete). Destinations will likely be 2-3 times per week, not daily.

Awesome, thanks for the heads up! Looks to start in February.

Allegiant to move flights from Akron to Cleveland

 

 

http://www.vindy.com/news/2016/sep/21/allegiant-move-flights-akron-cleveland/

Allegiant to move flights from Akron to Cleveland

 

 

http://www.vindy.com/news/2016/sep/21/allegiant-move-flights-akron-cleveland/

 

This is a blow for CAK.  However, since it is not daily service, it won't be a huge blow - CAK can recover.

 

I wonder how many yearly passengers this will add to CLE.  I'm certain their numbers now probably exceed the numbers from before the hub closure, and now it is mostly O/D traffic.  My hope is that the MSY route is fairly successful and convinces another airline to consider daily service.  There are business interests that utilize that route (and Allegiant doesn't really cater to the business traveler).

 

Either way, a nice plus for Hopkins.

^if true, a big blow to CAK, as Allegiant is probably their largest carrier. Their previous largest carrier, Air Tran, left CAK for CLE in late 2014 after merging with Southwest.  Then again, CAK spent years stealing passengers from Hopkins, helping to undermine the CO/UA hub, so....

Allegiant moving services from Akron-Canton Airport to Cleveland Hopkins

 

The airline is also adding  four new destinations — Austin, Jacksonville, New Orleans and Phoenix — to its list of six existing destinations.

 

Flights to those new destinations will begin next year. The airline says the decision doubles the number of weekly routes out of Northeast Ohio region.

 

 

http://fox8.com/2016/09/21/officials-making-major-air-service-announcement-at-cleveland-hopkins/

I have not seen yet which gates or how many but would it seem logical they will go to A(?) in place of AA moving to C (which could not happen sooner....)? Hate the empty C gates whole walking to "banjo" for United slights (where I type this right now).

 

CAK served a low-fare purpose when UAL/CO had a hub in CLE and no room for low cost airlines... Without the hub, and with low cost routes there, CAK should maintain its limited hub routes for local travelers, but hopefully will stop stealing pax from CLE in any meaningful way. Stronger CLE is best for area.

LOVE the new destinations!

I just happened to remember--I landed at CLE at 7:00 Saturday evening and the entire west end of the ticketing concourse was already closed for business.  Not a soul to be seen at the United end...truly sad.

^if true, a big blow to CAK, as Allegiant is probably their largest carrier. Their previous largest carrier, Air Tran, left CAK for CLE in late 2014 after merging with Southwest.  Then again, CAK spent years stealing passengers from Hopkins, helping to undermine the CO/UA hub, so....

 

SW is still at CAK, just flying to Orlando and Atlanta now. They did this at a lot of airports across the country.

When I lived in Akron, CAK was easier to use and cheaper because i lived in the area. Hopkins was too expensive. There's a million or so people that live closer to CAK and should have some air service. Both airports, even now, can co-exist.

I live in Chagrin Falls - easily "Cleveland" and am 35 mins from CLE but only about 55 mins from CAK. CAK and CLE are still fairly close to millions in the region. For the leisure traveler, traveling once yearly, the drive shouldn't matte much. For the Canton business traveler, well, ....

 

But when it saves my company big $ - or when it saves my family vacation $ - CAK is no sweat to reach. Miss the Southwest to LGA/BOS though.