The Eastern Iowa Airport – CID

I never have high expectations of regional airports since they are generally functioning on such small budgets but holy wow, this one is really nice! They’re currently going through a multi million dollar renovation too so it’s better every time I’m there.
The best part? You can easily get through security in half an hour, and that’s being generous. The security staff are actually pleasant and the atmosphere is darn spectacular. Really, all the floor to ceiling windows make this such a relaxing airport to wait for you plane in.
But, the internet is spotty and there aren’t many options for food or drink.

Airport on the whole is fine, but the old woman skycap should probably think about her attempts at snark… I ignore condescending pretentious not quite under your breath comments; many people that have come off of a 2 hour delayed flight do not. But, don’t worry, though I love Unilocal,I love emailing supervisors more.

Flew out of Eastern Iowa Airport recently because it was a half hr closer than Minneapolis/​St Paul airport. Eastern Iowa Airport is easy to get to and a nice place, but does not run as smooth as larger airports.

Small little airport in eastern Iowa. Cute! Cute! Cute! I would normally rate this place with 4 stars, because it doesn’t have much of the modern amenities as larger airports would (modern water fountains, coffee shop, retail tourist give shop) but Hey! The pros outweighed the cons on this place. Here we go
1– gate area comfortable and Clean
2– TSA painless to get through and workers are polite and courteous (rare amongst TSA workers in the front line)
3– Car rental stations conveniently located by the baggage claim and exit to the location of the cars (Thisnis good for 30 degree weather)
4– check in counters logistically perfect to the direction of TSAI and the gates.
5-​vending machines are avalalble instead of the coffee shop or restaurant, you will not go hungry for sure.
6– facilities are clean
Moral to this story– easy, practical, functional airport to get in and out of Iowa city or Cedar Rapids

I love how small this airport is! I recently moved from a large city with a large airport and am still getting used to the fact that I don’t need to get there 2 hours ahead of time.
Pros: Ample close parking, doesn’t take long to get to the terminal, short lines for check-​in, short to no lines in security (though they are thorough!), there’s only 1 terminal so you don’t have to walk miles or take trains/​buses to get to your gate.
The only «con» is that it doesn’t have a Starbucks, but since I don’t have to get to the airport as early as a larger one, I have plenty of time to get one on the way.

Not a bad airport but Not very disability friendly I did not have a good experience with my mother who is Disabled. She had an easier time at SFO with her disability needs. I would recommend not flying out of this airport if you are disabled. She flew in with no real problems but flying out was a bad experience with ppl who didn’t seem like they cared about disabled ppl.

Why not a 5 star rating?
You drive up on no traffic from the highway and then no traffic on their road.
Ticketing is fast, since it is the Eastern Iowa airport.
TSA is quick, they look bored actually. Nothing to worry about in the EIA.
The Gates are all pretty much there, not a huge place.
There is one reasonable price restaurant too.
For the lack of life hassle here, this place gets 5 stars. Sure it looks a little 80s but hey, it flys to big cities with some good prices. You go little airport!

Small airport, easy to get in and out without a problem. Baggage handling to get my bags took longer than expected.

Nice airport but wow is it small! That’s not a bad thing at all. Every time I travel out of this airport I am dropped off, thru security, and waiting in the terminal in 15 min! That does not happen at any other airport I have been to.
I love the pick up parking lane in the front. You just get off the plane grab your bags and out to the car waiting 20 ft away! It’s great to see a few more shops and restaurants opening up here, although I wish they stayed open a little later than they are, seem to close at 5? It is something that has been needed for quite some time.
It is a little more expensive to fly in and out from here but hey its small and it is very convenient to anyone traveling to or from eastern Iowa.

It is funny that I have been to «airports» smaller than this! Alas, having lived in Iowa and with family still in Iowa, this is the airport that I usually have to fly into (unless I am driving). It is easy to find, park, check-​in, and get through security. I don’t know that I like the set up of the check-​in area compared to what it was before, but I guess it has to do with security and having to lug your checked bags over to the x-​ray machine. The food options… of even just the option to have food has improved! And the staff at the airport are all very friendly and super helpful. The downside is that flying into this airport can be very expensive because it is small. But still, for a small airport it is quite nice!

This is one seriously small airport! It took 15 mins to get from rental car to my gate. There was a bar by my gate that had a good selection from a local micro brew. Not bad.
The farm where Field of Dreams was filmed is 45 minutes away! Pretty damned cool!

I’ve seen a lot of airports in my day, and let me just say that traveling through this little airport in the middle of Iowa is NO hardship.
Fast security lines, clean terminal (yes, that’s a «singular» terminal, how adorable, right??), adequate places to purchase snacks and/​or refill bottled water, friendly people working there, and, BEST OF ALL, free wireless internet. Yup, no hassles, no gimmicks, just free «connect and you’re on the Internet» wifi.
So yeah, it may not be fancy, and it may not have a museum-​quality display of whatever those big name-​brand airports may have (I think I’ve seen displays of the Wright brothers, Waterford crystal, and modern glassblowing in the past), BUT this airport gets it done with freebie wifi thrown into the mix.

4 stars for the fact that you can go from parking lot to gate in about 20 minutes at most. It’s a small airport, so there aren’t many food or gift options, but that doesn’t bother me.
My main negative is the security here. I’ve been to 15+ airports, and CR is by far the strictest. I have a friend, a soldier who was going for his second tour if duty, have his PS3 stolen by security here. That’s just sad…

Fastest time ever through security! I love this airport.

Small & efficient airport. Flights get canceled during heavy fog. Had to drive in from Chicago due to cancellation on 12÷30÷10 to 12÷31÷10.

Easy in and out with sufficient staff at security.
It is difficult to find fault with the place. It is also difficult to find any characteristics which make it stand out. The rental car lot is convenient. The floors are clean. There is adequate staff.

Actually not a bad place. The airport is relatively small, but it’s easy to get in and out of, parking is $ 5 per day in the long term parking and you can show up for your flight 45 minutes ahead of time (assuming you carry on) and you’ve got 40 minutes to wait after getting through security.
They’ve got a number of flights to good places each day and a direct flight to Mesa, AZ if you’re looking to visit my grandparents along with the rest of the retired world.
For those that don’t like it, try rolling up less than an hour before your flight at LAX, ORD or ATL. Not a lot of gourment food in the terminal, but the clientele are generally not looking for anything other than a bagle and something to drink.
This airport is like a slightly smaller version of RDU in North Carolina. It makes you glad you live near an airport where you can go a number of destinations and it’s easy to get around at.

I. LOVE. THIS. AIRPORT!!!
That’s right, this little tiny airport in the middle of a field is my number two favorite airport in the United States (DTW number one, ATL dead last no matter how long the list ha ha).
I am what they call a road warrior and this little airport has captivated my heart.
It is VERY small, so small in fact, that you can hang out outside of security, and when they make an announcement that its time to board THEN you can go through security and still have time to sit and relax at your gate lol.
I like CID because it is quick. Getting there is quick because it is off the highway. Getting gas for your rental car is quick because it is down the road. Check in for your bags is quick because there is no line (and major props to the Delta staff for remembering me every week!). Security is quick because there is no line. Getting your bag off the belt is quick because usually no other flights have come in.
And on a side note, everyone is SO NICE! From security (who told me I looked like Justine from the Cosby Show ha ha) to the Delta staff, to the rental car agents (who also remember me and ask how my travels are going every week), everyone is just so nice. I love the Midwest :-)

the airport id should be changed from CID to POS. so i had to make a 9 hour drive across 4 states to make it home because of cancelled flights into this airport. the airline cited «weather» so they can get away from refunds, vouchers, putting you up in a hotel, etc. i was in line with a cargo pilot who takes off and lands all the time here, and found that it was because there were renovations on the main landing strip. because of the repairs, planes have been using the taxi lane to land. well, with a small bit of fog, they can’t use the shorter taxi lane to land and cancelled all flights. my next available flight was 3 days and 2 nights later, on standby. i don’t know what the rest of the people did (some flew back to where they were from), but i rented a car on my expense ($ 211 + fuel) and drove from Detriot to Iowa.
they want to be a regional player but really this should be the Ely Airstrip. and don’t get me started on how the same staff members operates the initial check in, and then abandon their post to run over to the gate to check you in. Lastly, the front façade looks like cheap 80s strip mall. i’m never flying in or out of this place again.

It’s so cute!!!
Very uncomplicated and functional. You fly in. You fly out. If you have to wait, you sit. The security line, if there is one, is super cute. It’s like a play play airport because it’s so small.
I got ticked off when security wanted me to go to the restroom to empty my liquids and re enter the line instead of just dumping it right there. But I suppose they get bored and have to have something to do. I just canned the water bottle. Not worth it.
The rental car space is the same space as baggage claim. I can see my luggage roll in while checking into a rental car. And when you return the rental car you tell them what the mileage is. You park in the parking lot and walk into the airport. No one is there to check your car in when you arrive. And there’s even a little coffee shop that hopefully is open when you need it, and a little bar and restaurant.
It’s so cute!!!