Denver International Airport — Attraction in Denver

I flew in and out of Denver International Airport (DIA) on 21 and 26 Aug 2024, respectively, and since this location was my final destination, I didn't get to see much of the airport during my arrival. Nonetheless, when I arrived, it was a little mind-numbing while attempting to find our baggage claim carousel because it was announced as one number (I don't recall the number...maybe 6?), but when my daughter and I were walking in baggage claim, that number didn't exist; it was under construction. I thought I was going crazy at first or just tired because I didn't understand how I could've missed the number. We walked back and forth between 5 and 7 many times wondering if we were getting "Punk'd" or something because that carousel did not exist. Needless to say, after 3 rounds of back and forth walking, I finally stopped at a service desk in the baggage claim area and asked the question. Not to my surprise, they changed the carousel number to an operating carousel, which happened to be right next to us while I was talking to the service agent.

The interesting thing about DIA for me was that the last time I came here was back in Nov 1997 and although I didn't remember much about this airport during that visit, I do recall this airport being one of the nicest ones I've experienced back then. Granted, back then, I didn't travel as much so I didn't have many airports to compare this to. I distinctly remember seeing snow on the mountains when I first visited DIA, which was a refreshing sight considering I wasn't used to seeing that growing up. Plus, it was a great transition for me since I was heading to Anchorage, Alaska. Fast forward to my recent visit (Aug 2024), I would say that overall, I like DIA. Is this my favorite airport of all time or even within my top 5 airports in this world? No. But this airport does provide a significant amount of stores and restaurants to travelers and even employees. Not to mention, the architecture, décor, comfort level, and most of all, the views are phenomenal.

I wasn't a fan of the tram not having adequate air conditioning especially if you're having to travel all the way to C gates from the ticket/check-in counter...or, vice versa (from C gates to baggage claim). Also, trying to locate the Southwest Airlines ticket counter was kind of a nightmare. Normally I navigate pretty well in an airport and can find everything within a reasonable time; however, for that airlines, it was sort of a mystery and it took me asking someone to finally discover where it was located. Also, I don't know if I just missed it (high possibility since I am getting older), but I don't recall seeing a Southwest sign outside to determine which part of the terminal to enter. These are the departure doors you see as you enter from one of the "islands" outside (I was walking in from the rental car island).

Similar to other big city/busy airports in this country, you have to get familiarized with the layout to understand its flow. Some make sense, yet some make you scratch your head while wondering, "Who in the world designed this layout...or better yet, who approved of it?" I think with better signage, DIA could be one of those premier airport destinations that many people would love to travel to. That along with lesser delayed flights could be monumental for travelers out of Denver and its...

I, the Devil, have been living in Colorado ever since the gold rush (California felt a little too on-the-nose), in a decrepit Victorian house just off Colfax, between Illegal Pete’s and Voodoo doughnuts. You know the one.

But I had dallied here long enough and figured it was about time I finished my job here so I went to DIA get a flight back to the Holy Land.

Since the prophets foretold my coming — Heralded by my demon mount — I assumed that the signs from the earth and the sky would be irrefutable, that when the appointed hour arrived, all would know I was eastward bound; and my slouching toward Bethlehem unstoppable.

The airline agent infuriatingly did not accept this in lieu of a ticket.

My ancient book of souls, the arcane text by which I will bring the stars crashing back to earth and usher in a new age of darkness and pain, bound with the skin of a hundred desert sages, was confiscated by TSA because it contained over three ounces of liquid

I explained that this liquid was irreplaceable — the tears of a thousand kings weeping over a thousand fallen kingdoms — but they insisted that I should have had it in a travel container. I poured it out in the nearest receptacle.

I was very upset.

The subway was pleasant enough, the dark chamber under the earth reminding me of that dank, eldritch place where I was birthed, until an extraordinarily distracted man dropped his coffee onto my lap. I devoured his soul posthaste but my Brooks Brothers suit was still ruined.

Mister Oso served a delicious breakfast. So delicious that I didn’t check the nutrition information until it was too late. my Fitness Pal showed red and in one meal my macros were destroyed.

I filled their steam trays with deadly vipers.

Other grievances: The gate agent didn’t let me check my sword of endless suffering even after they asked to check carry-ons because it was a full flight. I explained that I wanted to help other passengers but she proceeded to say, “what even is that? How did you get through security with a sword? Oh God, I see! I see! I see pain and fire! Aughhhh,” as her eyes burned in her sockets and she collapsed to the floor, in a state worse than death.

Bag was not checked. Customer service 1/5

Other grievances:

The demons below the baggage claim have not been contacted in a very long time and in their isolation, evolved a kind of sneering anarchism where they answer to no one and live off small angry dogs and scraps from the McDonalds in Terminal C. They debase a once proud race.

I had to “remove my shoes”. I was not wearing shoes. My feet are covered in the blood of a thousand enemies, but TSA insisted all footwear must be scanned. I honestly found this rather bigoted and insensitive but I digress.

Five stars. This place is a true pit...

I’ve realized I am extremely spoiled at my local airport (Tampa Airport) in terms of efficiency. I had not one but two extremely stressful and upsetting experiences at Denver airport. Flying in wasn’t a problem. But flying out and then connecting back through here was such a pain!!! So flying out, from the moment I made it to the airport, it was a mess! It seems the airport shuttles can only drop passengers off in arrivals, so then you have to lug your bags up one floor. The signage could be a lot bigger and easier to read so you don’t have to stop (the map looks like a small “you are here” sign at a mall), the pre-check security area is in a completely different area from the regular security and this place is like a maze. There was a decent size line in the pre-check area which kind of negates the usefulness of having pre-check in the first place. And I got “randomly selected” here twice to go through the bigger scan machine. 😒 Not so random… And here’s the kicker, my flight ended up being delayed 6 hours!!! In fairness, Alaska was also to blame for that ridiculousness (the incoming flight ended up being delayed due to bad weather at Denver airport and then the crew that was supposed to fly us out went over their hours and the airline had to scramble to find new crew members)… 😒 Then connecting back through here just a few days later my first flight ended up being delayed 2 hours due to bad weather at Denver airport and despite making great time and getting there earlier than expected we ended up having to circle around for 35+ mins until the tower would clear us to land. 😒 But I got extremely LUCKY 🙏🏼 that my connecting flight was delayed 3.5 hours (though obviously my fellow passengers weren’t very happy about it) which gave me time to go get my bag at baggage claim, check it with the new airline, go back through security, take the shuttle back to the terminal and run to my gate which was a long distance away. My bag didn’t make the flight though, so had to pick it up the next day at my local airport. Overall, the amount of energy expended on anxiety and stress was exhausting. I truly do not ever want to have to pass through here again. This would have been a 1-star rating but all the staff at this airport is so helpful and nice and they’re all doing the best with what they have so I had to give them credit for that. But I think the setup at this airport does not work and they’re stretched too thin with the volume of traffic they get + the constant crappy weather in the area. After telling family members about my experience several of them told me about negative travel experiences they’ve had here (extreme delays, flight cancelations and having to stay overnight…) So it’s definitely...