The Smith terminal is dreadful. Simply dreadful. The parking garage is in what appears to be a permanent state of disrepair. Seriously, it looks like some footage that we see of conditions in 3rd world countries.

A piece of advice - if you end up flying out of Smith, make sure that you park on level 3 or 4 – close to the skybridge. I say this less out of laziness and more out of convenience. There are none of the nice little slips of paper in the McNamara garage that help you find your conveniently color coded parking slot. Plus, you’ll have to navigate less of the garage gauntlet of ubiquitous potholes and orange barrels.

It was raining mercilessly when I pulled into Smith on Friday, April 22, 2006. Lightning flashed all over the place, the rain was coming down in sheets, and visions of being stuck at DTW took over. As I pulled into the “Big Blue Deck” I was shocked at how bad it had become. (Quick tip: PLEASE do yourself a favor, and park in the $10 area rather than the $7. It’ll save you some of the hike through the decaying ruins that are the farthest reaches of the Smith Terminal Blue Deck.)

Anyway - I pulled into the parking garage, and there are more orange barrels in the garage area than there usually are on Michigan freeways. It would look abandoned if it wasn’t for all the cars jammed into the concrete hulk. So not only were there a ton of the orange barrels, but water was POURING down through cracks in the deck above me - now there are 5 levels to the garage at that point, and I was taking my own advice and parking on Level 3… so that means that the leaks are leaking all the way through… yep, you counted it… two levels. And I mean coming down in literal sheets of water.

This is plainly and simply a travesty. I know… I know… there are plans to renovate, but it’s been just ridiculous for a long time now. If I was a visitor to Detroit and that was my first impression of our city? Definitely would leave a bad taste in my mouth. I talk to other people from other cities, and they almost universally say that they think we’re doing a good job of renaissance in the city, they like the new terminal, but “what’s up with the Smith ghetto???”

Another quick tip - Make sure you bring your own reading material, a bottle of water and a bag of snacks. Otherwise you’re out of luck. Nothing is open. I mean nothing. Everything in the Smith terminal concourse closes at 8:30pm. EVERYTHING. Well, at the adjacent Quizno’s and Rivals’ Bar the last call is at 9:00pm. If you have a late flight or have a delayed flight… good luck. You’ll be waiting in a ghost town. And not some nice Hollywood set ghost town, I mean a ghost town. People are nice enough - when you can find them. Did you ever read the Stephen King short Langoliers? Well… read it then head over to the Smith Terminal after dark if you dare… It’s creepy. It’s like all the life that may or may not be there during the day just rolls up. Surreal.

If you can stand the Smith Terminal, and if you are traveling anywhere that’s convenient access from Phoenix or Las Vegas, I’d recommend that you travel America West Airlines. I’m a constant critic of customer service, so I’m happy to report that as an organization, they still have their priorities straight – both in coach and in first class/business class. From the second that you interact with the newly merged US Airways and America West Airlines, it’s clear that someone’s still paying attention to that key in any service industry--- customer service.

From the time you walk up to the counter (they DO have electronic check in) they greet you with a smile. I’m used to airlines not even speaking to you when you DO need their help. Well, this airline gets an “A” for customer service. I found their employees to be friendly, witty, professional, and exuding just enough familiarity to make you feel at home. The flight attendants and pilots greet you with a smile, joke with you, and generally make you feel like they’re glad to serve you.

One last Travel Tip for today: When flying America West/US Airways Airline (or any other), always ask the gate agent if there is first class available. If you do this at check in, you have the option of upgrading from $50-$150 per segment. Not a bad deal if you have work to do (MUCH more space for your laptop and other essentials), are hungry (much better food and beverage service than in coach), or just need some extra sleep. However, if you don’t want to spend the extra money, this is an airline that will still give you an upgrade once in a while without paying for it. Just be considerate in your inquiry, and they may surprise you!

In a world of tighter travel budgets, uncertainty in the market and just plain lack of customer service, America West/US Airways stands out head and shoulders above the pack. Oh and when they treat you well? Treat them well right back. Tell them you appreciate the good service.

A mechanical issue made me miss my connector in Vegas. No worries though. If there’s a mechanical difficulty, realize that according to the Bureau of Transportation statistics at least 77% of flights are on time. I’d much rather they use planes that are fit to fly, and live with the statistical delay on the rest. Hey - the gate agent can’t make the plane fly, so leave it to the pilots and mechanics and chill out. You’re only contributing to a heart attack or ulcer by complaining.

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