San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is prohibiting loud gate announcements as part of its new “Quiet Airport” program. Finally a prohibition I can sign onto…
SFO Quiet Airport Program
SFO is already one of my favorite airports in the world. I love the ease of connectivity between the airport and San Francisco via BART. I love the artwork and aviation-related museum pieces on display (the airport also has a dedicated aviation museum). And I love the beautiful outdoor terrace. There’s also plenty of natural light and nice eating options. And the airport is about to get even better.
One of the things I love about airports in Nordic countries is that you can hear a pin drop. Sure, I love the wooden floors too, but the beautiful sound of silence is to be savored. No music. Few, if any, announcements. No annoying updates from Carolyn Hopkins (as much as I love her).
That absence of sound is now present at SFO. Gate announcements are now made only the gate and at a volume 40% lower than in the past.
🔇 As travelers return to #SFO, changes in the airport experience will be immediately visible, such as mandatory 😷, physical distancing markers, clear protective barriers and hand sanitizer stations. SFO terminals are also going quiet. #TravelWell
More: https://t.co/d9ooLVMX3Y pic.twitter.com/MDdPHwBGZE
— San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ✈️ (@flySFO) September 14, 2020
Look, we live in an era of smartphones and smartwatches which alert us when our flight begins to board. At the very least, airport monitor indicate when boarding has commenced and if you’re paying any sort of attention, you’ll know that if boarding starts at 10:00AM you should head to your gate around that time.
I greatly welcome the reduction in noise at SFO!
CONCLUSION
While I may not be a fan of the ban on plastic water bottles, I appreciate that SFO is taking steps (even now) to eliminate noise pollution. I think all U.S. airports would be better off doing the same.
How do you feel about gate announcements?
(H/T: View from the Wing // image: SFO)
I agree, sound as an environmental and design consideration are often over-looked. I’m not sure if they have a specific policy, but Singapore Changi also feels quieter and more tranquil than other major airports. Japanese public transport infrastructure also seems to take greater care in designing the sounds of alarms, warning bells and notification signals to create for a more relaxed environment. I recall reading that the Tokyo Subway designs unique chimes for each station as an auditory aid for easier recognition.
https://youtu.be/qR0BsUN8PLs
Check out James May, Our man in Japan series.
Excellent first step… Now if we could just have the etiquette of the Nordic airports where people don’t sit yelling into their phones, having conversations on speaker, or blaring music, movies, and video games without headsets. 🙂 I guess these days I should just be happy if people wear a mask.
Yes! Agreed.
I am a flight attendant (no I’m not, I retired last month) and unnecessary was always my pet peeve! In so many US airports it is impossible to find a quiet space. My complaints landed on deaf ears; especially at Hartsfield.
unnecessary noise.
Amen to that!!!
This is FANTASTIC. I hope that other airports will follow.
Especially dump all those Draconian TSA threats. Listening to constant sound harassment in simply mind numbing. I have hearing loss and communications are difficult enough. Ind PLEASE no more holiday music!
Also get rid of Communist Network News at all the gates.
Your right about the tsa, some are really loud and downright rude, they remind me of a carnival barker trying to get you to play a game you’re not interested in lol.
Just ask them to switch the TVs over to the Fascist News Channel. They’ll be happy to do it, I’m sure.
Homeless people riding the airtrain, 90% of restaurants now closed due to “sanitary reasons” (while dozens line up at vending machines for food)… are we visiting the same airport?
You like SFO?
I mean, their fog seems to account for about 3/4 of all my aviation related incidents (let’s see, multiple delays, the suit for my wedding also got lost at sfo, multiple baggage haywire). And this is before we talk about how the terminals barely have any coffee after security. BART to SF downtown is reasonably simple, but Caltrain to South Bay is a mess for no good reasons. Oh, and they don’t sell paper tickets anymore because that little piece of paper is ruining the forests.
Sjc is a much more civilized experience, in my experience. Wish more airlines go there.
It is also being reported from anonymous sources that homeless encampments, human feces, and taxpayer funded HIV/Hepatitis C filled syringes will be sprinkled around the airport as well in order for visitors to get the true ambiance SF has to offer!
NOW IF THEY COULD FINALLY JUST CONNECT ALL OF THE TERMINALS THAT WOULD BE GREAT..BUT NO THEY KEEP TEARING UP THE TERMINALS AND THEY ARE STILL NOT CONNECTED…..AND IT IS ALMOST 2021… GET WITH THE PROGRAM!