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Austin Airport Passenger Reviews and Austin Airport Traveller Reports
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AUSTIN AIRPORT customer review : 11 December 2009 by John Walker
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Customer Rating : 2/5 |  |
I had several trips each quarter to AUS, giving me a chance to figure out how to use the
airport. First, give yourself lots of time to get from your starting point to the airport by
car, as the roads in and around Austin are terrible - badly designed and poorly maintained
with tremendous volumes of traffic. Second, give yourself more time if you are on the first
flights of the day, as the check-in and TSA security cannot handle the large volumes first
thing in the day. Third, prepare to have some sort of strange interaction with the TSA as
they exercise their improbable variant of "logic". Fourth, eat before you go to the airport,
as the options inside the "secure" area are plentiful but of poor quality. Otherwise, once
you are inside the "sterile" area, the airport is well-designed, and I see others have
mentioned the good massage spot near gate 13. The bathrooms are excellent. Unfortunately,
you frequently need something like a stiff drink and a massage to release the tension
associated with the bad roads, long lines, and ridiculous TSA.
AUSTIN AIRPORT customer review : 8 June 2009 : by E Mabley
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Customer Rating : 5/5 |  |
Austin Bergstrom Int'l is one of the best American regional airports. Southwest and American
dominate here, it can be costly to fly to/from the US west and east coasts, and international
service is non existent, but the airport is among the most well-designed and efficient. The
terminal is spacious, overcrowding is seldom an issue and there are plenty of dining and
shopping options. This airport should be used as a model for all new medium-size airports
being planned.
AUSTIN AIRPORT customer review : 21 May 2009 : by John Philipps
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Customer Rating : 2/5 | |
One key to a good trip through AUS is to minimize your time within the sterile area, as the
activities are very limited. The restaurants within security are relatively expensive and
serve very poor food, especially those that purport to be airport versions of the local fare.
No Starbucks. If you can, avoid evening departures, as this is when the live musicians play
in the center area, causing an already noisy airport ambience to become even worse. If you
can, avoid early morning flights, as the TSA security theater is made worse by inadequate
entrances, resulting in lines that stretch the length of the terminal. For those with checked
in luggage, the lengthy wait times upon arrival can be problematic; however, the airport
restrooms are some of the best in the US. AUS has both a good heel bar and an excellent
massage kiosk. The roads to the airport are very, very poor, and the signs are confusing at
best, just like the rest of the city, so plan lots of extra time to get to the airport on the
terrible Austin roads. The car rental facility is on site, although "customer service" can be
a problem.
AUSTIN AIRPORT customer review : 30 November 2008 : by J Levitsky
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Customer Rating : 2/5 | |
The roads around the airport are poorly designed and constructed, so it is not easy to find the
airport or the rental car facility. This is also true of the rest of the Austin region, so this is
not unusual for the city, where correct signage is at a premium. No Starbucks, but lots of other
local restaurants, although their menus are limited. Lots of light and high ceilings, but not an
airport to spend lots of time at unless you like the massage spot.
Austin Airport by Bruce Roberson
8 April 2008 Customer Rating : 
Austin has free internet service Downtown but not at their airport. There is Not a Starbucks but
they have a local substitute of a high blend coffee shop. I feel sorry for families traveling
because there is not any kind of restaurant food that children will recognize. It would be nice too
if there were more electrical outlets for laptops and phone chargers. It is kept very clean and the
easy access to rental cars is a very big plus! Amy's Icecream is worth the calories.
Austin Airport by R Jones
4 October 2007 Customer Rating :
AUS is decidedly different from a lot of airports in that it tries to be, well, Austin. There's a
live music stage in the center of the terminal and local businesses dominate the shopping scene. Much
of that, as other posters noted, is annoying, as you can't get a cheap snack and lines can be long.
Shops are definitely "Austin" but needlessly expensive. The music is, well, hit and miss. I prefer
quiet to some of that stuff! For the Starbuck's fans, there's one in the terminal now. There are
"Austin-inspired" murals above check-in. Great to have local artists but the art is rather
pedestrian, showing scenes of poor Hispanics. I think there's probably more to Austin than that.
Getting in and out is easy, although I have had long luggage waits. The roads and signage to the
airport are OK but getting better. Seems like they built this airport without figuring out how to get
to/from the place. No freeways to the place, but supposedly they're working on it. Parking is not
cheap, but not expensive either by some standards. The cheapest is $7/day. Better to take the bus,
if you can, if going away a long time. Car rental is usually easy. Taxi is easy. Blue Van may be a
long wait and long drive as they drop off others. Early am flights (6:30am and earlier) are insane.
Long, long lines at security as all airlines seem to have flights at this time. Arriving earlier is
not an option as the airline check-in counters and security don't open until around 5:30am.
Austin Airport by G Kohl
18 September 2007 Customer Rating : 
Austin airport is fine as long as you do not have to wait very long for your flight. Two good parts
of the airport are the well-lit, spacious feel to the building and the little masseuse station near
gate 13. Otherwise, the dining opportunities are very weak. If you want a Starbucks, for instance,
forget it. If you want pale imitations of local restaurant chains, you are in luck. Even more
useless is an entire store, a large store, devoted to a local college football team souvenirs.
The roads to the airport are terrible. Poorly-designed traffic flow is compounded by missing or
misleading signage, so visitors in rental cars, give yourself plenty of time to find the airport and
return your car. Customer service at the airport is not very good, although not as bad as LAX or PHL,
obviously.
Austin Airport by L Nathan
13 February 2007 Customer Rating : n/a
The airport is very nice, but the bus service leaves a lot to be
desired. I missed my return date because my wake up call didn't come on
time at my hotel. I had paid for a round trip on the bus when I arrived
at Austin, but the bus company would not honor my return, prepaid trip
from the hotel to the airport. I was surprised by their attitude and
rigidity. I made it to the airport the next day courtesy of a couple
bellmen from my hotel and their van. So, my impression of the airport
was distorted by that experience.
Austin Airport by C Carrington
8 July 2006
ABIA has been a moderately frequent stop on my travels for the past nine
years, and it is entirely in keeping with Austin in that it is weird.
The total lack of the expected restaurants is not overcome by the rather
grim local offerings, and the oddball live music is sometimes
interesting and other times annoying. The terminal is spacious and
well-lighted, but the connections appear limited to hub airports and San
Jose. The Admiral's Club and President's Club are both pleasant, and a
small chair massage place near gate 13 is also nice, but all three are
frequently not open for business. The traffic flow for cars and rentals
is very well-thought out, but the roads in any direction from the
airport are abominable. Weird.
Austin Airport by Christian Farias
29 August 2005
I went to university in Austin, and have fond memories of the old Mueller Airport.
Nothing special, but had a good vibe. Also, cuz it had a rather short runway, will never forget the
pilots having to stomp on the brakes, which always made for good fun for this aviation enthusiast
(especially when AA used to fly their DC10's into the airport) The new Austin-Bergstrom is outstanding in
every way! In the US, it really is the only airport that captures the local flavor - in food,
music, design elements, etc. It is also extremely spacious and user friendly. Why can't they
replicate similar local esign elements in other US cities?! This airport really stands out in the US.
Austin Airport by David Guenthner
26 March 2005
The only municipal project the City of Austin has gotten right in 15 years. The terminal is
spacious, open, and intuitive. The security checkpoints are manageable. The baggage claim is
usually efficient. But what makes this airport special is the local flair. The standard airport
fare -- McDonald's, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut -- have been replaced with local vendors such as
Schlotzky's, Matt's El Rancho, the Salt Lick, and Amy's Ice Cream. The music over the sound system
is from Austin musicians, and there is a performance stage in the center of the terminal. There is
a gallery featuring the works of Austin artists. It is probably the only place where you can get a
sense of the city just from being in its airport.
Austin Airport by R Walton
21 March 2005
Austin's Bergstrom Int'l may not be one of the biggest airports in the U.S. (25 gates total) but the
entire project was treated with world class taste. It is a simple yet beautiful airport with all
the amenities one could want.
Austin Airport by Andrew Levy
7 January 2005
Great new terminal is a big improvement over the old AUS airport. Very spacious and attractive.
Moving in and out of the terminal is a snap. Above-average food service is available inside the
terminal. I much prefer to make a connection in Austin than in HOU, IAH, or DFW. This is now one of
the best airports in the country.
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