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Salt Lake City International Airport
Rating Details »
79 reviews for Salt Lake City International Airport
I have to upgrade SLC to 3.5---because I found a terminal with free wifi: Terminal E. Terminal E is the one which is a bit set off from the rest of the airport and generally serves the smaller-type airplanes (what I'm sentenced too, since I live in the "country").
If you do make it down to the dungeon of Terminal E, be sure to drop by Finigans. I was able to grab a pint of Evolution Ale on draft while wasting the minutes away.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/12/2008
Have been here many times, I mean it is a hub. Why do they choose hubs in areas where the weather… Read more »
This review is solely for Terminal E of the airport. Terminal E really, really sucks. It is basically made to serve small regional jets so none of the gates have jetways to get you to your aircraft. Instead, you first go through what they call "gates" and then you are directed to a "door". Confused?
Okay, picture this. Terminal E is basically a central terminal in the shape of an L. Each wing has multiple gates. Each gate is assigned to a flight number (sometimes multiple flight numbers). Okay, so far that's fairly normal. Well, at the gate your ticket is taken and the attendant tells you which door to go to. You enter the gate and you immediately realise you're actually in a long corridor with multiple doors. Well, guess what? Every gate in the terminal actually leads to this corridor which is why at every gate they tell you which door to head to. You walk to your assigned door which is usually not directly in front of your gate. What asinine architect/designer made this type of terminal?
Beside this silly design, the terminal also has nothing to attract anyone. The selection of food is paltry, and the wifi connection is very slow and poor.
This terminal of this so-called international airport feels more like a boarding area for a general aviation airport.
I had a lay over here at SLC on my flight home on Delta Airlines. This a large air port where Im sure has many connecting flights. My review is for the A terminal. Its a total Cluster F** here because there's about 6 gates at the end of this terminal and its extremley crowded. People are getting in line to board and people are getting off the plane and there just isnt enough space to accomdate so many people at one time.
Try to avoid this terminal if you can!
I'm basing my review soley on layovers, and not security wait times/parking, etc. We were flying back to South Dakota and back to San Diego, and had to catch connecting flights through SLC.
This airport is clean and has awesome mountain views, which is something I immediately noticed. Our flights were on time both times, so no complaints there.
They do offer free wifi, but the connection sucks! I wouldn't hesitate to catch connections through this airport again.
Every time I end up here, it simply means I am having an awful, AWFUL day. No offense to the peeps, staff.... but this is not a nice airport to be in, and if you actually check yelp for airports before figuring out where to connect.... DO NOT CONNECT HERE.
Ugh.
Hey all of you SLC Airport haters...calm the f*ck down!
You want a sh*tty airport? Come to NYC's La Guardia.
When I had a one hour layover here, I felt as if I had died and gone to airport heaven. Of course my idea of airport heaven includes many traveling Mormon polygamists, a plethora of moving walkways, a few Krispy Kreme stands and a bar named Squatters.
By the way SLC was just voted best airport in the United States, so stop your belly aching!
I have an unreasonable and unreasoning hatred of this airport....I suppose its like some people just decide they must hate Timon of Athens or Breughel or Palladian Architecture.
The one really good thing about harboring unreasonable and unreasoning feelings about one thing like this airport is that it makes me empathetic to the process that informs the unreasoning stupidity and insanity of republicans with regard to just about everything...first you go a little nuts about the ring around your tub and then suddenly you transform into a nativist know nothing I got mine flat earth crackpot!
Oh...did I mention this Airport is in Utah?
This joint is crawling with first time flyers, veritable armies of kids, welcome home banners and clots of eager well scrubbed people welcoming a loved one home form a mission or from a war. The whole thing creeps me out. I would almost rather walk to SLC. I avoid it. One Star
I've never driven to, nor left this airport in a car. My review of the airport is strictly as a stopover destination.
Simplicity seems to be the motto here and I LOVE IT!
When my plane from Reno to Palm Desert goes through Salt Lake, I'm ecstatic. Last time I used this route, It was the fastest of all the alternatives, those being Los Angeles, Phoenix (sorry ABu!) and Las Vegas.
Over the course of the three times I've had to change planes in Salt Lake, it's been during the winter, yet my planes came and went perfectly on time. That's a big plus. Los Angeles planes almost always seem to get fouled up one way or another.
There's never been the least problem making a fast connection here, perhaps because security in Salt Lake is more efficient, and less crazy than in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Employees are always friendly, bathrooms are clean and accessible. The one neg is that good coffee has not been readily available. Guess that's how they spank you for flying through Utah.
Relatively easy airport to navigate as I was in and out. That is because this place is small for an international airport.
That also means less food and shopping options. That is perfectly fine with me because who wants to pay those airport prices?
Security lines moved fairly quickly.
Delta terminal I was in had some crowding problems, free Wi-Fi was buggy and when it was working, had very slow speeds. The California pizza kitchen smelled good though.
2.5 Stars
Hey SLC International Airport....thanks for the free Wifi!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/27/2008
Had a three hour layover at the SLC International Airport and my flight got in a little after 9pm.… Read more »
3 stars for the free Wi-Fi.
1 star for terminals.
2 stars for the food...interesting places seem to be CPK express, Wolfgang Puck express, and a few pubs.
Not one of my favorite airports.
One of the better airports for layovers - two brewpubs plus other good food options, bars aren't too crowded because there's a large non-drinking population here.
Downsides are the numerous kids in the airport overall, in lines, and on the planes going to and from SLC.
3.5 Stars, but I rounded up. :)
Overall, I thought this airport was pretty decent. But then again, I was only laying over here, so I didn't need to deal with Security, or Checking-in my flight, etc...
That being said....
They have Wi-Fi that you can access with payment (which we did).
They have a few places to eat, not the greatest places, but hey, it's an airport.
They have your average "Hudson News" type places, where you can get magazines, books, meds, touristy stuff etc... Which we stopped at, since we both needed cold medicine, tissues, and of course, I got some Salt Water Taffy! :)
They still have Smoking Rooms, which I found quite interesting. Didn't smoke myself, but thought it was nice that the option was available...
All in all, we enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery and our layover went by quicker than expected.
Thanks SL,UT! :)
nice, convenient airport
My review is solely based on the airport design; that said who ever designed this airport is retarded. I apologize in advance to the sensitive peeps.
When you exit out of the terminal, you will see (3) lanes before the parking structure. A medium separates each lane, and once a driver picks a lane, s/he is stuck. The lane closest is to you will be the taxi/car services lane. The middle lane is for drop offs, and the furthest lane is for pick ups. Now it's great that the airport's parking structure offers 30 minutes free parking and that you can stay in the pick up lane without being harassed by a police offer, but it's just not convenient. If you're picking up guests, they will have to freeze outside. They could wait inside, but if they're not from Utah, they will be clueless on where to go...
The entrance to the short-term parking lot is confusing...I ended in the car rental area my 1st try...and learned my lesson on the 2nd. The airport roundabout sucks ass. There's no short cut. For example if you're at the LAX, there's a short cut to Terminal 5 & 6 and vice versa. If you missed your entrance, you have to go all the way around until you are back at the airport's entrance; 3-4 minute drive?
Can they design a better airport and include a Crown Burger or an Apollo?
P.S. Beau R thinks that the "SLC airport was temporarily made bigger for the Olympics and they just decided to keep it that way"-- that makes sense.
Mixed bag on this one.
There are a number of good shops/restaurants here and it isn't a bad place to shop/eat if you have a smaller layover.
However, flights are often delayed here. Further, the airport is fairly outdated. Additionally, for a place that is SNOWY, freezing or rainy, the fact that one often has to WALK OUTSIDE to get to a plane is ridiculous.
+ No line for a cab on a Friday afternoon
+ No line for the Southwest kiosks on a Monday afternoon
+ No line for security on a Monday afternoon
+ Only ten minutes from downtown, both ways
+ Windows show a nice mountain panorama, delighting a first-time visitor
+ Taxi area has a pre-pay credit card machine--great idea
+ There is a playground for kids!
- Dirtiest airport I've ever seen--dirty floors and windows, litter everywhere
- Posted public transit information is limited, vague, and unhelpful
I've been in and out of SLC Airport a bunch of times and never had so much as a moments delay. Pretty impressive.
It is a bit dated but hey, as long as I'm in and out safely and on time, OK by me.
Most of the flights I've had here were small commuter jets coming over from Denver. Generally a quick and uneventful flight.
The airport is very convenient to the downtown SLC area, not like Denver where the airport is actually in Kansas. Little know fact.
Weird native american knick knack shops for the win!
I never want to step foot in here again, but that has nothing to do with the airport, it's more because of Delta in general.
Beautiful views for somebody who's never been to Utah before.
Four stars for one of the most boring airports in America? why you say:
-you hardly need any time leeway ever here... The only hold up is usually on the way in after you stop at Hertz (whole nother review) or if it's a busy park city ski weekend
-on every arrival, you can pretend you are a superstar because there will be about 20 families with balloons waiting for you as you enter baggage claim
-this place is up and coming. I'm here about eight times a year and it's getting better and better...more places to eat jumping up each time
-on time flight arrivals and departures 95% of the time
-I totally heart the gift store after the security checkpoint. I have broke my checkbook in there quite a few times on unique jewelery, scarves and purses. (must check it out if you haven't before)
The Bad:
-longggggggggggggggggggg azzzzz walks for the southwest check-in and gate terminals
-weird places like the smoking room and daddy daycare
While this airport wasn't the 9th circle of hell that is PHL, it left a lot to be desired.
Our check in was ridiculous. There were dozens of kiosks for people to print tickets, but only two employees checking bags. So that was a total clusterfuck.
Security had me put my sweatshirt directly on the belt to be x-rayed, by the time I got it back it was slimy.
The food selection at this airport leaves something to be desired. Although I kind of wanted to go to Dick Clark's American Bandstand Grill just to see how terrible it is.
But the thing that really threw me off were the number of children. Particularly, the number of asshole children. I guess when you live in a culture where everyone has, like, half a dozen kids, other parents understand that you can't really control them. I, on the other hand, am less than sympathetic and I don't like germy brats touching myself or my belongings.
One thing they were on top of was getting flights out in bad weather. We took off only 5 minutes late despite the fact that it had basically been snowing for two days straight. Our plane was de-iced relatively quickly and we made our connection in Minneapolis.
Looking for loads of Cinnabon this is your spot.
The Delta E terminal (small commuter flights) is ridiculous as there are usually 20 flights leaving at one time and the flight announcements are non stop. On top of that you don't just walk to your gate, you walk to your gate, walk down three football fields, then figure out if you need to go left or right and hunt down your gate. All the while you are freezing in some half ass covered walkway
It is bad enough to be stuck at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), but to get stuck in an international airport with no duty free shop - thats not an easy task. Now, that was a joke, I hate duty free shops anyway, Sephora is much cheaper. But anyway.
Ok, I came in from San Francisco to gate D2 and was leaving to Paris from gate D6. Now tell me where is security, passport control, etc? Not a good thing, considering people just love standing in mile-long lines without their coats and shoes on, having all their jewelry, belts, watches, and even metal-wire retainers (and I am speaking from experience here) removed and put into small plastic containers (previously used by about a gazillion other people).
And what about food? California Pizza Kitchen, something Mexican, and Dick Clarks Grill (yes, the producer of So You Think You Can Dance). This place can satisfy anyones tastebuds...
Overall, very small and very cozy airport. Comfortable seats at the gate waiting areas. And did I mention that you get 20% off Native American Jewelry at the gift shop (and I am saying the gift shop because there is only one gift shop).
Security always moves relatively quickly in SLC and, for whatever reason, whenever TSA has a new pilot project to test, SLC gets it. (That can be good or bad, depending upon your perspective.)
Service to/from the long-term parking lot has degraded recently, in my opinion. The buses now seem to run less-frequently and are fuller. Also, they re-worked the long-term parking lot so that now no portion thereof is within walking distance of the terminals.
Super easy airport- this trip was a breeze! I like how convienient it is to return your car and walk right across the street to check in. Sky caps were on top of things.
We had no problems with delays- but also left before the weather went bad. I can't remember the name, but we got fatty burritos in our terminal- also had starbucks and convenient charging stations.
Thank you Salt Lake! We survived....
While making arrangements for our trip to Minneapolis, I didn't notice that we would have a four hour layover in Salt Lake City to make our connection flight to SFO.
S and I got to know this airport very well with the time we spent here. Delta has their own terminal that is loud, cramped and has limited seating. The restrooms are conveniently located, but if there's a howling child in there, everyone will hear the howling. The food court in Terminal E is not very appealing - very limited food selections. The better choice, if you're stranded in this airport, is to go to Terminal C where you can park yourself at Squatter's Pub, and make the hours go by faster by drinking a few of their tasty beers (see my review on them.)
If you really want to get away from the airport, there are signs for "free tours" to the Mormon Tabernacle and to see the sights of Salt Lake City.
Overall, an average airport - it doesn't have the same mall-like feel like the airports in Austin or Seattle.
Despite SLC International's desperate need of an update from its dated 80s look, this place is fine as far as airports go. The layout is organized and easy to understand, and it's not particularly large, which is a bonus.
There aren't a lot of food choices, but if you don't have much time to spare here, you should be fine. I'd recommend the Quizno's at Concourse E for a quick and decent meal.
I doubt I'll fly through here ever again because I don't like to fly Delta...and this is one of Delta's hubs. Give me Alaska any day - they fly direct almost everywhere...meaning I won't have to waste my time with another layover in SLC.
2.5 stars
If you fly Delta, or are looking for cheap flights, you inevitably end up here for at least thirty minutes... there are plenty of potties where lines are all the way out the door and to another terminal.... but I will agree with Mike W.. there are not a lot of places to eat :-(. I was able to find a bagel with cream cheese which was okay.....
Could be better could be a lot worse....
Salt Lake City International Airport "bites." Sorry, that's the most appropriate description I can muster at the present time. One of the worst airports that I have ever arrived or departed in, and believe me, I have been to a few ...
Where do I begin MY tale of woe?
Ugly chairs? Threadbare appearance? Wi-fi that you have to pay for? Cramped waiting areas? Poor choice of food? Inefficient layout? Screaming children that occupy every inch of quiet space? Inane shuttle bus parking lot scheme? Gestapo-like TSA screeners ("you must remove those locks from your luggage!"). Cue the screaming, now.
Every time I fly out of this abysmal port my flight seems to leave from the furthest possible terminal in the place. And then, it's only a sham gate, a phony entrance that leads to yet another mini-terminal that reminds me of a long, uninsulated garage, an unadorned hell-corridor where you have to walk another 1/4 mile to get to your "regional jet."
Who designed this place? M.C. Escher? Waiting here in the winter, you'll freeze off any appendages that aren't tightly wrapped or wired to your body.
When I'm on an inbound flight to SLC, I always love it when the pilot comes on the horn and announces that "Folks, we are ten minutes early!" Hot diggity-dog! After that, the standard protocol is to WAIT ten minutes on the tarmac until one or two other planes clear our path or they ready the terminal for passengers to disembark.
And then, there's the luggage issue: So far, Delta has managed to destroy all three of my bags at SLC, starting with rips and tears in the fabric and ending with the wheels completely knocked off. I just bought a new duffle bag WITHOUT wheels and am so looking forward to hauling it to the plane down that long, dismal corridor in the Delta slums ...
Ladies and gentlemen, thanks for visiting SLC International Airport, and be sure to have yourself a pleasant flight. "Buh-Bye!"
Pukey, pukey airport. Terminal 2 is the pits - Terminal 1 is slightly better.
It's like they never anticipated the fact that a major airline having a hub here meant they'd need space for people to get around. Food service staff, if they have all their teeth, are pretty nice people.
TSA personnel have their pretty new blue uniforms, too. So glad our tax dollars re-outfitted the Thousand Standing Arround.
I have to agree with Joshua M. about this airport being so cramped and small. Not much choice of eats, and airport food is expensive, at best. And no free wifi's a total fail. But, seeing that I got a good deal on my "pricelined" airfare, i'm not complaining too horribly, just that it's not one of my first choices of airport, given the choice.
Worst airport ever...utterly efficient...nice and helpful friendly airport employees. Snore.
Would recommend as a destination for connecting flight.
I looked for the fabled Mormon familes and possibly some "Big Love" drama...but nada.
Maybe next time. See you soon.
Pretty outdated airport. I did like that they have little play centers here and there for little kids. But the toys were thrashed.
Airport staff at the security check were pretty retarded.
Wasn't here long at all and have no complaints like other yelpers-BUT 5 stars for having TWO Cinnabon stands....sucked is I had NO time to stop at them. Take a HINT DTW...seriously-how can you NOT have a Cinnabon?!?!? If Detroit does have a CInnabon I sure as hell don't know about it...
This place just plain sucks. Small, cramped, no place decent to eat. I hope I don't ever have to layover here again.
I like SLC and I'd be happy to layover here again.
The airport is clean and has plenty of conveniently located bathrooms. Also, eating healthy in some airports is not an option, and I found that SLC has a few of these options.
Also, I loved the view. The concourse area is very open and the enormous windows allow for an incredible view. I'd give SLC five stars if it weren't for the distance factor. If you're connecting and you're late, you may have some trouble catching your flight. I mean, terminal to terminal is always a bitch, but the concourses here have to be some of the longest around.
I really do not dig this airport. I don't know whether it is the odd C shape of the airport or the fact that I always seem to be in the Delta slum area. I often have long layovers here and I hate the fact that I have to take what seems like a 25 minute round-trip to another end of the airport for my favorite food joint. The newstands only carry USA Today , NY Times, the Wall Street Journal and local newspapers. I would like a better selection. But my biggest complaint is the lack of free WiFi. I am not going to pay for a service that I get for free at other airports.
An okay airport that needs to fix up the Delta slum area.
This airport is alright. With most of it so spread out, there is not a lot of open space. Mostly narrow hallways for people to get from point A to point B. It really feels cramped and rushed compared to some other airports. As a result, you will find random seating really out in the middle of nowhere, too far from food or boarding gates to be really useful.
For people who are bored, there is a hotspot here from Boingo but it isn't free (boo).
One nice thing, if you have little kids they have a small play area that is 3/4 enclosed. Might help for short layovers.
Dated & old school.
Not enough shops, or appealing restaurants. A pub, deli & burrito joint are not my idea of dining.
Seating at the terminal is too tightly packed.
The walk from the jetway to baggage or a cab takes FOREVER.
What's up with the HUGE golf carts zipping through the airport?!
