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Cell-Phone Waiting Lot
updated: Jun 01, 2012, 11:57 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

Does anyone know if the new airport is planning a cell-phone waiting parking lot? The airport police are relentless. There's got to be a better plan.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 284402	2012-06-01 12:04 PM
What is a cell-phone waiting parking lot? A definition of this term would be helpful.
HOLAZOLA	2012-06-01 12:16 PM
Agreed that they are a bit zealous. Don't hold your breath waiting for free parking of any sort at the airport. I would suggest waiting in your car at one of the observation areas, either at the east end of long term parking @ the WWII memorial, or at the south (ocean) end of the airport by the freeway offramp (daytime only there). Another alternate is the large parking lot on South Fairview. You are only 2-3 minutes away from there.
COMMENT 284409	2012-06-01 12:16 PM
a place where you can park, free, in your car, while awaiting a cell call from your arriving person. my guess is probably not, but goleta beach is nearby and part of that lot (all?) is free.
COMMENT 284412	2012-06-01 12:33 PM
Goleta Beach has thus far worked for me!
COMMENT 284415P	2012-06-01 12:43 PM
I agree the airport is a complete hassle for people to pick up travelers without be rousted out by the cops. I understand the need for the TSA security, but it's a complete hassle.
COMMENT 284419	2012-06-01 12:51 PM
415-You understand the need for TSA? They are groping our children under the guise of keeping us safe for god's sake. DEFUND THE TSA!
COMMENT 284420	2012-06-01 12:52 PM
The bus line makes connecting to SBA very easy. Don't overlook this service.
COMMENT 284421	2012-06-01 12:54 PM
No airport in the country has a dedicated parking lot for cell phone waiting. Many have stopping-allowed areas of roadway designated where you can stop with your car, but NO ONE has a free lot for this use alone. This is 100% NOT NEEDED in Santa Barbara, as you can already pull over along Fairview, park at Goleta Beach, the E-Bar, the road in front of the E-Bar, etc, etc, etc.
COMMENT 284431	2012-06-01 01:11 PM
284421: Sacramento International does!
COMMENT 284432	2012-06-01 01:15 PM
Isn't there a parking spot just next to the parking lot entrance where you can park and look at airplanes land and take-off, and presumably answer your cell phone? I believe that there is another spot between the airport entrance and Goleta beach where you can do the same thing. Does it need a cell-phone waiting sign?
COMMENT 284435P	2012-06-01 01:19 PM
284421 New Orleans does it also has signs Cell Phone Lot
COMMENT 284447P	2012-06-01 01:48 PM
419 - Better not fly then! Too Paranoid? Use AMTRAK or the Greyhound then. Oh, pro tip here: If your kids go to the restroom on the train, better escort them 'cause you never know who might be lurking in there. As far as the bus potty, it's too tight for two, so no worries.
COMMENT 284466	2012-06-01 02:30 PM
Lax and SFO both have cell phone waiting areas. Sba is too small to need it. Besides, there are multiple areas around the airport to sit and wait or a call.
COMMENT 284468	2012-06-01 02:39 PM
Philly has a cell phone lot.
COMMENT 284469	2012-06-01 02:44 PM
284421: So does Lambert St. Louis International. When was the last time you flew?
COMMENT 284486	2012-06-01 03:09 PM
I see cell-phone waiting lots at airports all over the country.
EDHATBARBARA	2012-06-01 03:11 PM
I've been to quite a number of airports across the country that have cell phone call/waiting areas now. It makes perfect sense. I've had folks waiting there for me and it works very well. It prevents much of the waiting at the curb and blocking traffic flow situations that otherwise exist. No airport is too small for such a thing, even if it only holds three or four cars at a time. It's very forward thinking, actually.
COMMENT 284524P	2012-06-01 04:38 PM
DIA - Denver International Airport, has a large cell phone park 'n wait lot. They don't want drivers circling the terminal pickup/drop-off roads.
COMMENT 284531	2012-06-01 04:55 PM
I circle forever, then get annoyed & park at the beach. Seems to work for me. I see the necessity in areas where the airport is larger or doesn't have any place nearby (within a minute or two) to sit for a little to wait, but for around here, Goleta Beach, or one of the parking lots on Fairview just around the corner I think works just fine. But, man, those airport security people are awful!
COMMENT 284532	2012-06-01 04:58 PM
Thats why its called suckramento
REXOFSB	2012-06-01 06:41 PM
What makes things even worse is that Karen Ramsdell, the alleged director of the SB Airport, is aware of the problem, yet doesn't even have the courtesy to reply to correspondence sent to her regarding the total rudeness of the security people who roust cars from the white zone in front of the terminal. This behavior is completely unacceptable. But I guess the more $$$ that is paid to people like airport directors, the more they distance themselves from the people who pay their salaries. I could carve a better airport director out of a banana.
COMMENT 284553P	2012-06-01 06:52 PM
You nailed it, Rexofsb. I've emailed her a few very politely crafted suggestions, and have never received a reply. Zip. What a waste of my time and a total non-representative for OUR airport. The SB Airport Board needs to know this! Any EdHatter know an airport board member they can direct to this thread?
COMMENT 284562	2012-06-01 07:17 PM
I highly doubt Al-Qaida would bomb SB Airport so why do we even need the TAS here?
SHOREBIRD	2012-06-01 09:50 PM
562 You only have to go through security once when traveling by air no matter how many connections you make on the same airline. Would you like armed travelers boarding airplanes at Santa Barbara without security checks and then have them make unchallenged connections at other airports? BTW Boston Logan International has a well advertised cell phone waiting area.
COMMENT 284577P	2012-06-01 10:31 PM
Rex, how is she worthless? Please in your vast knowledge what airport in the US allows you to go park directly in front of terminal where you will not be asked to move along after 5 minutes or so. There is the field observation area a few hundred yards away where one can pull in and wait for a call and then be in front of terminal in less than a minute. FYI the reason you can't wait there is its loading and unloading only in front of the terminal. This may be a shock to you but there is a good chance the flight you are waiting on is not the only flight that may be arriving / departing from the airport. There is limited space out front and even though you think you deserve to wait there for as long as it takes, there are other people who use the airport.
COMMENT 284599	2012-06-02 07:46 AM
Shorebird you are dead wrong. If you fly into LA then to SB you have to go through the line again because there is no secure way to get to the commuter flights - you have to walk outside.
COMMENT 284601	2012-06-02 07:49 AM
Cell phone waiting parking lot? What on earth did people do before cell phones? And now that we have 'em we're entitled to not have to wait anymore? Or to wait in places where no waiting has ever been allowed? And are pissed off at the folks charged with enforcing those regs? This is a very interesting thread. Not only have we become more entitled ("I want something - now") but we're also experts at telling others how to mind their business (that ensures I get what I want when I want it). How depressing.
REXOFSB	2012-06-02 07:52 AM
@577P: Regardless of whether quick parking in the white zone is allowed, one would think that Ms. Ramsdell, the alleged director of the airport, would at least have the courtesy to reply to e-mails (plural) when the matter is brought to her attention. I am not the only person to be blown off in this manner by the good "director" Ramsdell, which is why I even bring it up. Going to the airport used to be kinda fun. Now it's an exercise in frustration. Too bad we don't have an airport chief who will talk to the community. Point of fact, I never said she was "worthless." I think "inept" and "noncaring" are better descriptors.
MESARATS	2012-06-02 08:14 AM
RE. 599 LAX and to leave the terminal for the commuter to SB. I fly to and from SBA and LAX 20-30 times a year and the only time I have had to leave the terminal is if I have booked on different airlines or some international flights. Even years ago when the commuter terminal was completely separate there was a tram to and fro. I kind of liked it back then, pre 9/11 because there were so many more flights is was easy to catch a earlier flight or catch another if you missed your original. Those were the days.
COMMENT 284615	2012-06-02 08:38 AM
You really think the airport director with all goes on at the airport, the expansion etc...has time to answer every email that comes thru....especially when the content is another whiny what about me and my wants.... Good lord, I'm only surprised you don't get a two word answer, second word being off. Parking in prohibited areas especially in front of airports is a no-no everywhere. It's laughable to think the airport director owes you a personal explanation.
COMMENT 284617P	2012-06-02 08:48 AM
I agree with 615.
REXOFSB	2012-06-02 08:51 AM
@615: YES, I think an airport director has an absolute obligation to answer an e-mail sent by a concerned taxpaying SB resident concerning a very real problem. I realize that the airport is undergoing major changes, but I'm sure the alleged director Ramsdell has a moment or two to answer her mail. Even a two-word answer is better than none. But I guess to some people, this is asking too much.
COMMENT 284623	2012-06-02 09:07 AM
The WWII memorial at the end of the runway is the lot you seek. It has been there for years, and even better you can watch every plane land. Probably the best cell phone lot ever, but no sign stating that.
COMMENT 284771	2012-06-02 06:21 PM
@284421 Even if what you claim were true, how could you possibly have known it? Proving a universal empirical negative isn't feasible. OTOH, it's easy to know that your claim isn't true ... just google the phrase the OP used. That would have been the civil thing to do.
COMMENT 284776P	2012-06-02 06:33 PM
have 'em take a cab for gosh sakes, if it twists your knickers up so much to wait.
COMMENT 284917P	2012-06-03 01:53 PM
I'm getting in a bit late on this one but if the Airport Director is too busy to respond to citizen complaints or comments perhaps she should forward these to one of her staff for a response. The airport has numerous people on their payroll which after all we fund.
COMMENT 284925	2012-06-03 02:21 PM
Why do we need a cell-phone waiting lot when there are two lots on both sides of the road leading up to the airport that are free. Just park there, use your phone, call your family/friends and when they are ready, pick them up. Boom, cell phone lot.
COMMENT 285039	2012-06-04 07:45 AM
I've got a solution that is sure to please no one. Let's institute at the curbs of SBA a monotonos woman's voice on a recording "the white zone is for loading and unloading only. Unauthorized vehicles will be towed." Repeat every 15 seconds. This recording will drive you mad before the TSA fellow comes over to tell you to move.
COMMENT 288399	2012-06-15 07:55 PM
wait at home! when people are ready, leave the house! wow
SHOREBIRD	2012-06-15 08:03 PM
599. I just flew to LAX last Saturday. United. Didn't have to go outside or through any lines. Just walked inside to my next gate. Second time this year, same conditions. Perhaps the conditions you suffered were on another airlines.

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