Exploring Goleta

I think Silvia needs to do more traveling, not just a drive or walk-by, before giving the new SB Airport , any hint of a positive review. Her walk-by and not comparing the old simple easy access "L-shaped" efficient building to this new "Big Box" so called "Green" building is mis-guided at best. BTW, the taxi drivers are calling this new big taco bell looking structure a "Mexican Prison". Silvia, to her credit, correctly notes the long hikes now required for airport access and the token red tiles we are forced to endure these days. What kind of fools would design to make it harder for people to access and reach the baggage area? We may be a overall physically fit crowd here in SB/GOLETA, however, I truly feel sorry for the Seniors and Handicapped travelers. Passenger movement, both inside and outside this building is poorly designed to say the least. The new glass jet ways are not used by the smaller planes, and what was a 30 second walk down the plane steps, and straight to the baggage, is a much longer, 5-6 times longer trek to be precise. Best to say this is now an LAX style design that all but destroyed the SB Airport Experience as we seasoned travelers knew it. Now returning travelers hike along the tarmac, then up a jig saw aluminum platform, to the jet way, up the long ramp to the 2nd story (yes, the baggage is at ground level), then walking nearly full length of the big box on the 2nd story, down an escalator back to ground floor (sorry handicapped you were not considered in this design), across the path of departing passengers, and around a corner to reach the baggage area. I sincerely miss the old SB airport design now that the new smart green building has shown its true colors. The top Airport official should be fired for allowing this taco bell crap and corn maze style access to be built in our precious SB /Goleta. Why show case a "green" building, at the gateway to many travelers into our cities, with such miserable design features here in the birthplace of the environment movement? Finally, go try to have lunch as you drop off or wait to pick up delayed loved ones at the new airport, you will find only ticketed passengers can access the restaurant. Happy traveling, and don't forget your hiking boots and patience since the quick efficient SB Airport experience is officially gone, get there early like LAX.

From an access and usability standpoint the new airport is a DISASTER!

I fly regularly and the only good thing about the new airport is bathrooms, food and magazines located after security.
Everything else seems a big step backwards.

The baggage check-in for United is smaller than at the old airport. Still only 2 United boarding pass machines and every bit as crowded as before. There appears to be a very long and not used counter. I suspect the SB airport probably charges a big fee for more counter space.

You have walk upstairs to security, then down stairs from the jet ways (they worked for the first couple of weeks but for some reason no more ..) and then up stairs again to the plane. At the old airport there was just one set of steps up to the plane.
Baggage claim takes 15-20 minutes to get your bags, instead of the 5-10 minutes with the old airport and every bit as manual as before.

As for the architecture of the new building, every person I know has had the same thoughts looking at that new tower and it is not something I can write here.

It does seem like some pricey architect was trying to make a statement, but he sure missed the mark.

I'm still fixated on my last visit in January, where there were two deeper problems; the "SECURITY GUARD" actually offered and took my family's picture instead of attending to Security! I guess I'm impressed he didn't ask me to hold his sidearm for him while he shot our group. And then someone left a door ajar to the secured/plane area; the local alarm rang for over 10 minutes, and no one ever came to check it out.

Now, if THOSE issues can get fixed, and they decide to NOT build that horrid-huge-glass-wing-monstrosity-monument, it'll only be 'really dorked-up', compared to the great old terminal we all loved.

@ itsacrockof, and other, if you see a security risk or a violation, as discussed in 'itsacrockof', response? Contact TSA and report this violation of our airport security: http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/civilri...
https://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/tsacontact/D...
Email: TSA- ContactCenter@dhs.gov
Phone: Call 1-866-289-9673
I hope this helps the next time you or any other reader discovers a security risk, infraction or violation either with an employee, visitor or the facility itself.
As for the construction of the SB Airport? Too bad, the damage is done and only by written complaints can access problems can be addressed.

FYI, I attended some of the design review meetings and did comment but I can tell you Karen R, the airport director especially, and others, including the design company, were hell bent on making this happen in my opinion. After twenty years of pushing this she and others finally sold to SB officials as a green building at a lower "bargan" price. Never mind any other good design concerns or handicap concerns they were hell bent on a platinum leeds rated building to sell to fools at the SB city council. I hope Das W, who travels often thru the airport, now knows the disaster the rush to build a green building created. There really was no stopping this disaster! I hope we can stop the glass wing display they are now planning. Karen R should be fired ASAP so the damage repairs can begin!

dou4now, written complaints to airport officials will get nowhere, but a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act will get noticed if you complain.
Of course most of the nontourist sidewalks in SB violate the ADA. You see a lot on a skateboard, people in wheelchairs can't ollie across huge fissures and up curbs.

Let me tell you my story of trying to negotiate my way through Goleta's version of the Bermuda Triangle.

Last week I went to pick up my sister, who had dropped off her rental car at the Goleta airport. After going into the parking lot that I assumed would lead up to the area where she was waiting for me, I realized I was in the wrong area, so, even though I had not even parked my car and had been in there less than five minutes, as I tried to get out the security guard demanded two dollars but the problem was I had no cash and I'd just gotten paid (electronic payments which take about 24 hours to post) and he flatly told I would not be allowed to leave unless I paid up.

My sister--whose not in the best of shape physically, who I could only locate by flashing my lights her (it was about midnight) hiked over walking under crime-scene tape and over at least one wall) finally made it to the car where she had the precious $2 cash that the airport so desperately needs.

She ended up taking down the guards' name, (by now it was a different guard) and the supervisors' information as well. Next day she calls and speaks to the supervisor who was genuinely horrified at what happened. My sister also explained that as an unarmed single woman she was quite scared to be outside and alone because their inflexible rules could not accommodate the "spirit of the law" vs. "letter of the law" concept. Anyway, the supervisor said she would address the issue. That's what I know.