or you get there incredibly early and just sit at the now cordoned off gate bored out of your mind
I am chronically early for flights. I often find myself sitting there for an hour prior and I love it! There aren't many times I get to be by myself, listen to music and do the kind of people watching that airports provide. Airports are wonderful places. People are at heightened levels of both joy and misery. Long planned trips to see loved ones, flying home for a funeral, their dream vacation in Paris etc. You can see it on their faces. I've written some of my best stuff while in airports. I also love airport bars. Airport bartenders know that they'll never see you again. There's no pretense, its awesome. Food and drinks come fast. I love airports. I love listening to some good music and going through the crazy tunnel at McNamara in Detroit, or sitting in the rocking chairs in Charlotte or putting a $20 bill in a slot machine in Vegas (only money I'll gamble while there). Airports are great.
| I also love airport bars.| I love the idea of them, yet every time I'm actually in an airport and could go to one, the thought of consuming alcohol then getting on a plane turns me off for some reason. The two don't quite go together. I love the idea of drinking in an airport bar when you don't have to fly, but sadly, you can't do that anymore since they are beyond security checkpoints.
Airports and consuming alcohol just seems like such a natural thing to me. I don't "get drunk" when flying, but I do like to have a beer or a drink prior if I have time. As for the checkpoints and greeting and seeing off people, I agree 100% with that. The RDU airport is nice because you can park your car for up to an hour for free and though you can't be "at the gate", you can be at the other side of the checkpoint waiting, which is close to as good. Close.