The New York Observer

Inside the Worst Airport in the World, JFK’s Terminal 3

LAST

By Matt Chaban 1/25/12 5:00pm

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Last week, Frommer’s picked the 10 worst airports in the world. The Observer grabbed our bags and booked it for the worst, JFK’s Terminal 3. In this week’s paper, we take a look at why New York has not one but three of the worst terminals on the planet, one each at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark.

For those who have never had the joy of flying into or out of Terminal 3—an experience that will not last long, since the place is set to be demolished in 2014—The Observer has just the ticket you weren’t looking for.

mchaban [at] observer.com | @MC_NYC
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

Delta's Terminal 3, arguably an architectural gem from the Jet Age, is set to be demolished in two years. On the outside, thinks do not look so bad.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

Inside is a different story. Frommers recently rated this the worst airport in the world.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

Checking in is no fun, especially at the congested AirTrain entrance, where there is only one security gate.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

The soaring flying saucer roof is a sight to behold.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

Yet note the effluent-catching "diapers" hanging down everywhere like moldy jungle vines.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

Dining by the diapers.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

There are more diapers here than in a maternity ward.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

The terminal still has a few nice touches, like the flying-saucer light fixtures, though the light they cast is far from perfect
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

Then there are things like this walkway to nowhere.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

Which is the real terminal? Delta promises a brighter future with banners and posters plastered everywhere of the new Terminal 4 it has planned.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

More renderings, inside one of the gates.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

The Neverending Concourse, built in 1971 to accommodate new, bigger jetliners. It winds round and round and round with no way through but to turn back.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

The concourse, known as the Worldport when it opened, used to be confusing. It has only grown moreso thanks to the TSA. At least the new floor, installed by Delta in 2006, recalls the flying saucer.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

A TSA smurf hard at work.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

Go Gints!
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

One of the few modern amenities: iPads at certain restaurants.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

The ceilings may be low and the roof leaks, but at least they keep things clean.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

Now boarding... thank God.
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Touring the Terrible Terminal 3

Satre was right. They won't even let the pigeons out.

February 15, 2013 at 12:13 am

And those white sheets hanging from the ceiling? Those are there to collect water from the roof leaks ALL OVER THE BUILDING. In fact there's white pipes that then lead from the sheeting down to the floor so the water can drain out. It's sad because they attempt to camouflage it.