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McGhee Tyson Airport Knoxville
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25 reviews for McGhee Tyson Airport Knoxville
25 reviews in English
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Review from Misha R.
Portland, OR
1/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
It may be a small airport, but it's impossible to get lost in here. You can see from one end of the terminal to the other, and to my knowledge it has only 12 gates. Getting through security has always been quick and easy in my experience. There are gift shops, one inside and one outside the security checkpoint.
Dining options are beyond security, and consist of a Ruby Tuesdays (good for those who like to pay astronomical prices for liquor), a Starbucks, and a couple of little counters that serve pastries, biscuits, salads, and assorted fast foods. You should probably try to eat before you get here... which is easy considering the dozens of restaurants lined up on the Airport Motor Mile outside the airport itself. -
Review from Olga O.
Oak Ridge, TN
1/27/2012
The information they provided by phone about discount for long term parking was different from the real. So I was charged 3 times bigger price then I was told by phone. Supervisor on the parking lot was absolutely useless. He could not solve the problem, answering questions like a robot, not a man, manipulated by standard phrases. I am very unhappy with the service.
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Review from Paula D.
Dallas, GA
12/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Agree, nice little airport
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Review from Elizabeth C.
McAllen, TX
12/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Nice little airport. The mountain stream is a nice touch!
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Review from Lynne D.
6/28/2011
Since Allegiant Air doesn't fly out of Nashville, I drove to Knoxville to catch a flight to Orlando....
Thank God the airport is a small one because I forgot Knoxville is an hour later than Nashville and I nearly missed my flight.
I parked my car in the long term lot and ran to the gate.
Because the airport is small, I didn't have far to run..
The airport is clean, well organized, staff is friendly and the parking is great. I got a parking spot in the long term, in the covered lot... I lost my parking ticket and car keys.
The Parking authority shaved 2 days off my parking... Yayyy!
and the locksmith was there in just under an hour.
I was very pleased with the way everyone treated me... the efficiency of how well run the airport is and that everything is kept fairly clean.
Used the bathrooms and never had an issue of a dirty bathroom or no paper towels to dry my hands with.
I would recommend this airport and the long term parking!
If you park on weekends, they don't take a picture of your car until a weekday..... thus the shaving off of the days. :) -
Review from Ben B.
Tucson, AZ
10/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Clean, easy to navigate, perfect "small town" feel to the place. Staff is friendly and there are some great last minute gifts in the little shop near the gates.
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Review from David K.
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the nicer small airports I've been in. With only 12 gates, it is a breeze to fly through security here. Parking is cheap, rental cars are next to the terminal, and the terminal is bright and airy. Dining options are mediocre, with the main option being Ruby Tuesdays (wouldn't Applebees be more appropriate as Knoxville has the highest Applebees to resident ratio in America). If I had a reason ever to go back to Knoxville, at least I know the airport will be a pleasant experience.
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Review from Jim M.
Honolulu, HI
2/18/2011 9 Check-ins Here
I have been in and out of the Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS) Airport a lot over the last 30 years. TYS has came a long way during that time. The old, dreary terminals are gone and have been replaced by open, brightly lit spaces. It is not a terminal like SFO or IAD, but it is a great terminal for a smaller town like Knoxville.
There is never any significant traffic getting out Alcoa Highway to the Airport (though if you have to pass through KnoxVegas, allow some time to get to Alcoa Highway as even KnoxVegas has some traffic on the freeway at rush hour. If you are in West Knoxville, get there via the Pellissippi Parkway instead of coming in to town to cross the river.
The longest I have ever waited in the security line is about 20 minutes. The airport seems to be the busiest in the morning.
Rental car pick up is a quick walk from baggage claim. There is also a small Hilton that is a 2 minute from Baggage Claim.
In the secure area of the terminal, don't expect much in the way of food. There is a a Ruby Tuesday and a Quiznos. -
Review from Cowboy B.
Madisonville, TN
1/3/2011 30 Check-ins Here
I can't find anything to complain about with this airport so I have to rate it five stars. I love that you can almost park in front of the entrance. No shuttle needed here. The security line, even if it's long, moves pretty fast. You don't really need to show up more than an hour early here. Surprisingly, there are several airlines to choose from and soon it looks like Southwest may have flights here via AirTran (pending merger approval).
On top of that, the new light food court is nice. Cinnabon, Starbacks and more. Spend a little time admiring the art display and pass the time in rocking chairs. If you have to be in an airport, this is a good one. -
Review from Cole M.
Austin, TX
1/23/2011
I've been to most of the airports in the Eastern US along with some in the Southwest. This is by far the best around, they are a smaller airport but perhaps the cleanest will the best layout you'll ever go to. The layout is very open and pretty straightforward, you won't have to worry about catching railways or racing to make it to your terminal either, it's all easy to get to even on foot.
The view from the waiting areas is incredible and the rocking chairs are a nice touch. The gift shop is excellent and great for locally themed knickknacks too, a must upon your departure from the area. The parking is cheap here and the spots are so open you won't get that cramped feeling from most garages. Great layout, very comfortable terminals with great views and wonderful customer service make this the best airport I've ever been to. -
Review from Gary N.
Cleveland, TN
7/29/2011 9 Check-ins Here
One of the best small airports. From the waterfall up to TSA or old Smokie. Good southern charm
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Review from Emily W.
5/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Very clean, easy to navigate airport with lots of "flare."
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Review from Justin H.
Melrose, MA
3/17/2009
Little known fun fact about TYS is that when they were building the new terminal a few years ago, they had planned to put in the boulders for the stream (via crane) before the roof was put on. However somebody screwed up and they put the roof on first. They had to spend extra to bring in the boulders from the side.
Yes, the place is small when you compare it to the major airports around this country. There are like 12 gates in the place, but it has everything you need in a regional airport. It is regional, so most planes coming in and out of there are smaller. There is a full service Ruby Tuesday's that has both sit down and takeout service. They also have a full bar, something that couldn't be done anywhere else in Blount County until recent years. They have a gift shop where you can get all your Tennessee paraphanelia before heading off to wherever.
Most major carriers service the area, so you can always find a flight when you want. My only gripe is that they don't have a direct flight to Boston where I live now. I hate layovers. I guess that's more of an airline issue and don't get me started on them buddy. I'm not your buddy, guy.
Picking somebody up? They have a cellphone lot around the corner and the garage has free parking for the first half hour. They also have the major rental car companies located in the baggage claim area.
Stuck overnight here? Walk over to the Airport Hilton via a short breezeway from baggage claim. The service there is excellent and the rooms are really nice.
The service at the airport can be slow at times, but no worse than anywhere else I've been. The fact is that air travel is a slow process these days. Just show up early like they say and you'll be ok.Listed in: Ahh...the ol Hometown
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Review from Janelle W.
Detroit, MI
4/26/2008
Appearances can be deceiving. Small airport, 12 gates, relatively few people in the security line. Hold on, sonny, this is the South. We do things slow here. One TSA representative checks boarding passes and IDs at a snail's pace before allowing people to move on to the x-ray machines. This piece of the check-in puzzle takes at least three times longer than it would at most other airports for the same length of line. Needless to say, that "arrive 2 hours prior to departure" suggestion that no one really pays attention to... well, 2 hours will be just enough time to make your flight when the lines move slower than molasses.
But if you come in to this experience with patience and a little time to spare, TYS is a very nice airport. It's very modern and clean and has a very relaxing atmosphere. There's a huge picture window lined with rocking chairs, where you can gaze upon the mountains surrounding Knoxville. Relax yourself silly, because you'll likely be flying out on an old prop plane or puddle jumper that will scare the living daylights out of you. -
Review from Rhea P.
6/26/2010 2 photos
It's a cute airport. Who can dislike an airport with rocking chairs in the restroom? It's tiny, which makes check in a breeze, it's airy and clean.
The rental cars are right below the main floor that you can easily access with a short escalator trip.
Now, there is not much in the line of shopping or eating, however a Ruby Tuesday works for me.
Overalll, a small, clean happy place to drop by during your travels.Listed in: Airports
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Review from Heather O.
Melrose, MA
8/19/2009
The Northwest employee who checks you in will also be the one who checks your id, checks your bags, loads the bags onto the plane, announces your flight, boards the plane, and takes your ticket at the gate.
I'm not kidding. One employee called in "sick" (read: hungover) the day after Xmas and this guy was it.
Now I would have given the airport only one star if he was also the guy who flew the plane and served me my beverage on board. Thankfully the pilot and flight attendant showed up for work that day.Listed in: VACATION
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Review from Christina B.
Westmoreland, NH
7/27/2007
TYS is a very small airport, smaller than John Wayne (SNA) in California which I flew out of. Flights are very limited, and tend to be only the smaller sardine-can planes.
Expect lots of delays and confusion. Folks are nice, but nobody knows what's going on, where the landing planes are going, or how you'll finally reach your plane or when.
We asked for wheelchair service and were ignored. Finally I swung myself down two flights of stairs (using a cane, a railing, and a lot of upper-arm strength) and up another one to get to the plane on the tarmac since our gate was given to a Chicago flight and they were loading the two planes at the same time out of the same gate and praying everyone was in their correct line. Awesome job, y'all.
Easy check-in, easy security, easy baggage claim. -
Review from Zeke A.
Nashville, TN
10/31/2009 2 Check-ins Here
I've flown in/out of Tyson a couple of times now and have had good experiences.
It's a tiny airport, but on one occasion the security check point was really backed up due to only one xray machine going. So still get their a little early just in case!
The airline personnel seem average like at most airports. Poor people get burnt out so quickly...
The facility itself is clean, modern, and inviting. Big beautiful windows make the airport bright and there's even artwork around and rocking chairs to lounge around in to soak in the grind of what's going on in and outside the airport.
Starbucks is always lacking something - no splenda or maybe no stir sticks...so it must be popular. Funny story - a guy in line asked to have his latte made with heavy whipping cream...no joke. I love the South. -
Review from Tracy G.
Los Angeles, CA
11/15/2007 3 photos
I was so glad to be here. It means that I was at least done with the plane travel for the day. (I still had an approximately 2 hours car trip home - hey it was cheaper to fly here than directly to the Tri-City Airport.) First Impressions were good. Clean, lots of space. There is actually a full service Ruby Tuesday with salad bar inside the secure area. What I loved was the water fountains that were right outside the secure area. Very peaceful. Mom said that a couple of weeks ago, they were not running due to the drought. Will have pictures when I fly back to LA --- camera was packed away in the luggage.
Update 11/29/07: Flew back yesterday, and I had the best airport experience ever. Someone helped with my bags - he used one of the luggage dollies found in hotels. He took care of them through out the whole process. Security was a breeze. Gets another star for yesterday's experience! (Doesn't get the 5th star because of the distance from the parents' house.) -
Review from Ellen S.
Oak Ridge, TN
8/23/2009 11 Check-ins Here
If you travel in and out of East Tennessee, McGhee Tyson is the only airport to use -- well, because it's our only airport.
There aren't a lot of places to fly to direct from TYS, but there are several airlines flying regional jets to various regional hubs, so we can reach the world from TYS.
It's a very easy airport to get in and out of. When running late (not recommended!), I can arrive about 45 minutes before my flight with my preprinted boarding pass in hand and no checked luggage, and I have no worries about getting on my flight. Not only that, but it's not much more than 35-minute drive from Oak Ridge at almost any time of day.
There's finally (as of mid-2009) a small food court to supplement the Ruby Tuesday's restaurant, and in November 2009 they added free Wi-Fi. Because of that free Wi-Fi, I'm upgrading my rating of my local airport (from 3 stars to 4), even though I still think that the airport parking is seriously overpriced for the size of the airport.Listed in: Limbolands: Airports
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Review from Zinzan R.
Boise, ID
2/7/2010
The airport is tiny. Last I was there, the airport had 16 gates. No need to worry about terminals and trains, folks, when you're down home in East Tennessee. It's clean, orderly and somewhat sparse in a resort-y kind of way. When you get out of the airport, there is no downtown, not many hotels or gas pumps -- just green hills. Probably comes as a bit of a shock to many people.
It's very easy to get in and out of the airport. It is spacious and if your flight is delayed, you can saunter along its walkways which are way too wide for an airport this size.
If your flight is delayed, you could drive 5 minutes and have more choice of restaurants, or just enjoy the views. The only restaurant in the airport, as I recall it, is Ruby Tuesday if you want to eat "proper" food.
Gotta love tiny airports. I remember in summer of 2001 (before 9/11 of course), I dropped someone off 17 minutes before departure and they made it, luggage check, security and all, leaving at the scheduled time! -
Review from Shannon B.
Jefferson City, TN
3/29/2009
Easiest airport to get in and out of! Not too big, not too small. The biggest drawback about it is the prices of flights ot knoxville. The best part is the price of Allegient Air. Great to jump on a plane and go to Florida and back. I can get my kids up here and back quick and inexpensively.
Great atmosphere. Friendly staff to help you. All the car rental places. Small store, but who needs one?
Overall, very impressive. -
Review from Craig S.
Knoxville, TN
2/21/2011 58 Check-ins Here
Small airport. Very fast security and NO body scanners. Free Wifi and a TGI Fridays. Nice to travel from........
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Review from Steve B.
12/9/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Great tiny little airport if you have the reason to fly into Knoxville. Rental car pick up and drop off is a short walk from the front door to the one terminal with 12 or so gates. You can go from car dropoff to the gate in 20 minutes flat, assuming that there aren't a few flights at the same time. It's a nice little airport, feels modern, and on the road to and from Knoxville there's some fast food and a gas station or two; note that there isn't one right next to the airport.
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Review from Matt H.
Knoxville, TN
11/29/2009
It's clean, the staff are helpful... and I'm writing this review using their Free Wi-Fi service :) . Of all the airports I've been to, TYS is the cleanest, friendliest, and most functional airport I've been to. It's small, but I think that might be a good thing in this case.
