Bush Intercontinental has opened a special parking lot for people awaiting passenger arrivals:
During this busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period, which officially starts today, people can wait for passengers in the newly opened cell phone parking lot about one mile east of the terminals near Will Clayton and Colonel Fischer.
After receiving a phone call, drivers can make their way to the terminals to pick up passengers waiting outside.
“It works much better than circling (the terminal),” said Jessica Berger, who went to Bush on Tuesday to pick up her father, Elliott Berger, of Illinois.
The free lot is important because airport officials will be enforcing stricter rules on curb-side loading and unloading of passengers and baggage at terminals. Officials are hoping the permanent lot will prevent congestion caused when drivers repeatedly circle the terminals waiting for passengers to come outside.
When I first came to Houston, I was surprised at the number of cars allowed to park outside the terminals at Bush Intercontinental, waiting for…whatever. Post-9/11, my experience at other airports has been that you either keep moving or a police officer will promptly come over and tell you to get moving, but Bush Intercontinental seemed to have a more relaxed attitude. Sounds like this is a step in the direction of changing that relaxed attitude.
