Arguably the worst place in any US airport is Washington National’s Gate 35X. I’ve said that the previous administration could have closed the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and just moved terrorism suspects to this gate.

35X is a waiting area before you head down an escalator to one of several bus gates.

The plan is to replace gate 35X with a new $400 million commuter terminal that’s part of a billion dollar renovation which includes moving out the security perimeter of the airport, bringing all of the current concourses and retail inside security.

The video claims that the new replacement for gate 35X builds on “Washington National’s tradition of spacious and passenger-friendly ambiances…”

I’d make two points. First, here’s official confirmation of my position that the correct name for the airport is ‘Washington National’ and not ‘Reagan Airport’ or ‘Reagan National’.

And second that the people who market these things don’t actually have any idea what it’s like as a passenger (largely because for airports passengers are the product, not the customer). Here’s the ‘spacious and passenger-friendly ambiance’ of Washington National:

There’s not enough room at the gates. There’s not enough seating. And what space there used to be has been taken by expanded retail. The new commuter terminal means more retail still, of course.

For all of our seatmate’s sake, let’s just hope they don’t open a second Ben’s Chili Bowl at the airport.