Cell phone lots open at US airports

Tight security and cellular phones have changed the way Americans pick people up at the airport, reports USA Today in an eye-opening article.

It seems motorists, to avoid the hassle and expense of parking, "prowl the access roads looking for an out-of-the-way place to pull over and wait for a call from deplaning friends and relatives." driving traffic police crazy. So airports are starting to open "cell phone lots".

Here's where you can pull over and chat-while-you-wait:

-- Baltimore-Washington International Airport opened a 55-space "cell phone lot" where drivers can idle while they wait to be called to the terminal, which is a few minutes away by car.

-- San Diego International Airport opened a similar cell phone waiting lot Thursday.It can accomodate up to 50 drivers who can stay for up to an hour for free.

-- Birmingham International Airport in Alabama opened its first free lot for cell-phone equipped drivers on May 10.

-- Palm Beach International Airport in Florida added a 40-space cell-phone lot in December.

-- Chicago O'Hare International Airport added its "kiss and fly" lot almost a decade ago. Motorists there can wait for passengers at remote lots attached to the terminal by train.

emily | 4:06 PM | Cell Phones while driving/flying/sailing |
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