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While well known to many a seasoned air traveler, these sometimes-indecipherable acronyms can be a curiosity for many; I speak of course, of the plethora of international airport codes. These unique three letter significators, each assigned to a different air field, while serving an obvious purpose- it is much easier for pilots, controllers, travel agents, frequent flyers, computers and baggage handlers to say and write the corresponding three letter code, rather than the official name of a particular airport- have an interesting history.

When the Wright brothers first took to the air in the early twentieth century, there was no need for a system of international airport codes. Aircraft were simply launched from any available, conveniently located tract of land with a stretch of land long and flat enough, and wind conditions suitable for, reaching the speed required for takeoff. As time went by, aircraft improved, both in their design, and their availability for use by the general public. As luck would have it, a system was already in place that was suitable for the handful of airports in operation in the early stages of commercial flight. The National Weather Service had a two-letter identification system that it had used for years to tabulate data on weather events and patterns in many major cities. Early airports simply copied this system, which served their needs until the explosion of airline service in America that occurred in the 1930’s. An unprecedented number of new airports began to spring up across the country, many of them in areas not monitored by the National Weather Service, and therefore not assigned one of their two letter city codes.

After much deliberation, a consortium of members of different airports found a solution, they instituted a policy of assigning a three letter code to signify each airfield, thus giving them a seemingly endless number of possible letter combinations. And international airport codes were born. All previously existing airports that had the old two letter code, were instructed to simply add an x to the end of the previous code, thus, the Los Angeles code (LA) became LAX, Phoenix (PH) became PHX, and so on.

Many of the international airport codes used today are simply the first three letters of the city in which the airport is located e.g. Singapore (SIN), and Sydney, Australia (SYD). In other instances, airports that serve multiple cities are signified by the first letters of the cities they serve, as is the case with Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), and Minneapolis/St. Paul  (MSP). In airports located in cities with three names, the codes are simply the first letter of each of the three names, like Salt Lake City (SLC), and Port Au Prince (PAP).

As these international airport codes are well known in the industry, and serve to identify specific locations used in air travel, they are seldom ever changed. One exception to this rule, is John F. Kennedy international airport (JFK), which was at one time known by a different code which corresponded to the name of the airfield where it is located, Idlewild airport (IDL). The airfield was renamed, along with a new corresponding set of call letters, in memory of the assassinated former president.

International airport codes are a necessity of modern commercial aviation, saving air traffic controllers, and other personnel, such as ticket agents and baggage handlers valuable time, as well as dispelling any confusion which may arise in coordinating flight routes to and from the thousands of airports which serve both commercial industries, and passengers. Although often confusing to many air travelers, they serve a necessary function in global commerce, and commuting.

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Going to the airport can be extremely overwhelming, especially if you have never been on a plane before. Most airports are huge and have signs everywhere pointing you where to go. When you first drive to the airport, it is extremely important to follow the signs to your correct destination. Usually when you go to the airport you are either go to be going to airport departures or airport arrivals. If you are going to pick someone up then you will follow the signs for airport arrivals. If you are going on a plane yourself, then you will follow the signs for airport departures.

Once you follow the signs for airport departures, you will need to find an appropriate place to park. There are usually numerous parking options at the airport depending on how much money you want to pay and how protected you want your vehicle to be. The parking lots will be vast and there will be cars and parking spots which will surround you on all sides. Because of this, it is very important to take note of exactly where you parked your car so you will know where to find it. Once you have parked your car, you will either want to walk or take a shuttle to airport departures. If you take a shuttle, you will tell the driver which airline you are departing from. Once you do this, they will take you to the correct spot for your airport departures.

It is extremely important to get to the airport a few hours early before any airport departures because the airport can become extremely busy and crazy. It is not uncommon to walk into the airport and instantly be swarmed with people of all ethnicities and backgrounds. Lines will be so long that they wind and curve throughout and exasperated business men and harried parents are all smashed together. Most everyone is stressed out and children will be screaming and crying while men and women in suit impatiently glance at their watches every two minutes. Obviously, airport departures are stressful especially if you are rushed for time. Therefore, for all airport departures you should allot yourself an extra hour and a half in case you encounter long lines, traffic, or problems with your ticket or luggage.

The lines you must wait in before airport departures consist of checking your luggage and getting your ticket and then security. Usually, checking luggage and getting your plane ticket will be the shorter of your lines before airport departures. There are actually machines that you can go to now to check yourself in if you do not have any luggage to check which speeds up the process. The most stressful part about airport departures is usually security. Not only is the line usually longer, you also have to take off shoes, belts, hats, hoodies, and part with all of your luggage. You also have to put all of your liquids into plastic bags and make sure none of your liquids exceed 8 oz. All of these things are necessary while you also have to have your ticket and identification out to present.

After you make it through security, you have done all the hard parts about airport departures. Now, all you have to do is find your gate and sit and wait for your plane to arrive.

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International airports can be extremely overwhelming the first time you set foot in one. If you have never travelled to a different country before and are doing so for the first time, then the first taste you are going to get of a new country is the airport. There are so many things to see and new experiences that you will gain, just from the international airport that it is a lot to take in all at once. It is important to keep in mind when stepping into international airports that this is just the first part of your journey and the rest of the trip will continue to be overwhelming, insane, but also hopefully enjoyable and a learning experience.

One of the first things you will notice about international airports is the people. It is very interesting to see all of the people at these airports because you will come across people from all over the world all in one place. International airports have so many international flights, that people from countries everywhere go through these airports. You will immediately notice the variety of languages, styles, and behaviors from all the different cultures which are each unique and distinguishable from each other. Because of all these different languages, there is always so much confusion everywhere. Most people will either use English or the native tongue for where the airport is located in order to ask questions, but not everyone will know English or the spoken language. Thus, there are often people at international airports who have trouble communicating and have some confusion about where to go or where something is located.

Another thing you will immediately notice about international airports is how huge they are. Since these airports cater to countries all over the world, it is necessary for them to be massive. Each airport is like its own little city and a lot of the international airports have plenty of shopping options, restaurants, and overnight necessities people will need who have to sleep at the airport over night. For example, there are often showers and baby nursing room for families and individuals who have very long layovers. These long layovers are not uncommon since international airports cater to so many countries and sometimes flights to specific places have huge amounts of time in between each flight instead of daily trips.

One of the most exciting parts of international airports is the restaurants and shopping options because you will get a little taste of the culture even at the airport. If you are just flying through the country and have a layover, you will get a small dose of the country just because of the international airports themselves.  So, even if you do not get to step outside, you will still get to taste the food, meet some of the people, and do a little shopping for that specific country.

Even though you might find international airports a little overwhelming and slightly intimidating, you will gain a lot of culture and insight just from your layover at the airport. Although you will probably find yourself exhausted after your long trip to another country, if you have a layover at an international airport try to make the most of your experience. While at the international airport try some of the food, meet some of the people, and try to get a little taste of a different culture.

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When my ex girlfriend and I dated, we did the long distance thing. To any of you that are thinking about it, I definitely do not recommend it. Living across the country from each other was extremely difficult because you had to have your entire relationship over the phone. It is also difficult to trust them when they go out because you don’t know their friends well, where they are going, or what they are doing. Along with all of this, you have to travel back and forth all the time. During the two years that we were dating, I often felt like I was living at the airport.

I lived in Missouri and she lived in California, and we saw each other about twice a month. So, either I was going there or she was coming here, but I was at the traveling through the airport at least once a month. That might not sound like a lot, but when you go from traveling and being at the airport once a year to doing the whole airport thing once a month it sure seems like a lot.

It is not that I hate the airport or anything like that. I mean, traveling is not my favorite thing to do, but I always wanted to see my girlfriend, so I was very thankful that the airport and airplanes exist. If they didn’t I would have never gotten to see her and we probably would not have lasted nearly as long as we did. By the end of our relationship I had traveled so much I felt like I was an airport connoisseur. I often could not get a direct flight, so I became familiar with airports all over the western states in America because of layovers.

After getting used to the whole traveling process, checking in and going through security at the airport becomes second nature. You stop stressing out about the little things, unless you are running really late or something like that. Nope, instead it becomes like second nature, just like driving a car. It is just something you have to do to get to your destination.

Oftentimes, I would have to wait for a while at the airport, and when I did I got to people watch. People watching at the airport is so much entertaining than people watching other places. I think there are two main reasons for this.  The first one is that there are so many different kinds of people going through the airport, so you are not seeing the same type of person over and over again. After all, traveling is something almost everyone has to do. The second reason I think people watching at the airport is fun is because the people you see are from all over the place. Even if I do bring a book to read or a movie to watch during my wait, I usually end up getting distracted by all the people around me. You see families and business men and college kids and I especially love it when someone is late for their flight and is running frantically through the airport.

Obviously, my girlfriend and I did not work out, so I am not traveling to see her anymore. Even though traveling is not at the top of my list of fun activities, I do miss some of the experiences I had at the airport.

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