What is a cell phone lot in an airport?

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   Pamela Kinnaird Wposted 12 years ago

   I saw the sign today at the airport while I was trying to find the correct parking lot to park in. The answer is probably simple but I don't know what it is.  I hope I'm putting this in the correct category for posting.

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      Angela Blairposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      What an interesting and exceptional question -- and must admit I don't have a clue. The first thing that comes to mind is that there's so many cell phones out there now, smart phones included, that perhaps they have to have their own place to park? Of course, that makes one wonder if they can park themselves separate and apart from their owners? Oh, well, guess I've shown enough of my ignorance -- I'll just wait and see, with obviously great interest, what the real answer is. Great question!

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         Pamela Kinnaird Wposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Angela, you're so cute.  Your answer is even more convoluted than my original thoughts on it were. You always get me to laugh. Have a great day.

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2. 69

   lrohnerposted 12 years ago

   It's a place where you can park while you're waiting to pick up people at an airport who are flying in. They call it a "cell phone lot" because after people land and pick up their bags, they call you on your cell phone and you shoot over to the terminal to get them. It's supposed to stop that huge mess of tangled, parked cars you usually see outside of airport baggage claim areas. Is this a question for CC?

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      Pamela Kinnaird Wposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Irohner, thanks for the insight.  You must be right -- you and bankscottage.

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   briars2rosesposted 12 years ago

   Do you suppose it's like a smokers lounge?   A place for people to go and use their cell phones so maybe they do not interfere with reception elsewhere..  like you know how you have to shut them off in hospitals because they can mess up the equipment

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      Pamela Kinnaird Wposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      briars2roses, thanks for replying. That's along the lines I was thinking --  transmission and reception purposes.

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   bankscottageposted 12 years ago

   I believe it started after 9/11.  People used to just park in front of the airport waiting to pick others up.  It clogged the front up and was felt to be a risk for terrorism.  It didn't seem fair to make these people pay to park while waiting for the flier.  Like Irohner said, it is a place to park and wait for fliers to land and then get their bags.  A cell phone call and the person waiting in the cell phone lot can come and pick the flier up outside baggage claim.  A quick pick up and less congestion in front of the airport. 
   
   I believe you have to stay in your car in the cell phone lot.  You can't use it as free long term parking.
   
   Can you park in the cell phone lot if you don't have a cell phone?  I guess so.  You just won't get the call that the person you are waiting for has arrived.  But, in Phoenix, the cell phone lot actually has a large electronic board tracking the plane arrivals (just like inside the airport).  So I guess you could park without a cell phone.   Just watch the board and when the plane you want arrives, just head to arrivals.  Hopefully the person you are picking up knows you plan.

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      Pamela Kinnaird Wposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      bankscottage, thanks for the reply.  You and irohner have cleared up the mystery.  And it was the Phoenix airport I was getting lost in this morning when I saw the sign. Mahalo.

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