A hotel shuttle driver who frequents the Salt Lake Airport said the recent cancellations are causing quite a bit of chaos for both drivers and passengers in some pickup areas.
David Aston shared recently when he pulls up in his shuttle, it becomes a free-for-all with people trying to board, desperate to get to their hotels.
“Unfortunately, some people get into a panic and they ignore the families with babies or elderly and they just climb on even when we’re loading up luggage — they’ll ignore them and get them on the shuttle,” Aston said.
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He said he believes the cause is related to these passengers being stranded and not knowing where to go in the new airport, starting specifically on the baggage claim level.
“They’re stranded and they don’t know what to do,” Aston said. “They’ve been given a piece of paper telling them they’re going to a hotel.”
He said he feels that not only are the airline-issued hotel vouchers confusing to follow, but getting to the shuttle area is too.
Passengers KUTV spoke with at the airport admitted they had to slow down to make sure they were following the signs correctly.
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Travelers getting picked up by friends and family or getting a rental vehicle need to cross the sky bridge; those needing to catch public transport, rideshare, resort or hotel shuttles, need to proceed down the escalator or elevator.
Aston said he feels a little bit more direction in this area beyond the signs and information desk would make a big difference for passengers.
The Salt Lake Airport said they’ve hired a consultant to thoroughly review signage throughout the airport, which will take place after the first of the new year.