Airport Check-in: United spoils preferred Chicago fliers

— -- CHICAGO

Go to the front of the line

SANTA ANA, CALIF.

What's in a name, Pilgrim?

Local tourism officials are proposing a name change for John Wayne Airport, which provides the only commercial air service in Orange County. They'd prefer Orange County/John Wayne Airport.

Gary Sherwin of Orange County Tourism Council says the current name is "very confusing" for travelers because it doesn't refer to a destination.

"We don't want to take his name off the airport, but we do want clarity," Sherwin says.

Tourism officials are meeting with members of the Wayne family this week and hope to get approval from the county board of supervisors this year, Sherwin says.

The airport was originally named Orange County Airport, but local political leaders renamed it when the actor, a longtime county resident, died in 1979.

Orange County has been enjoying a national spotlight brought on by TV shows such as The OC, Laguna Beach and The Real Housewives of Orange County. The shows feature the county's beaches, surfing culture and balmy weather.

SAN JOSE, CALIF.

New and improved

Mineta San Jose International late last month began tearing down the north end of Terminal C to clear the site for construction of the new Terminal B.

It's part of the airport's $1.3 billion program to replace and upgrade terminals, roads and parking by 2010. "We will be building up, tearing down, upgrading and replacing most of our terminal facilities" in the coming months, the airport said on its website.

The demolition work, to be completed in the next several weeks, will be done late at night to minimize disruption of flight services, spokesman Dave Vossbrink says. Terminal B is expected to be open in mid-2010, and will replace Terminal C, the airport's only building for many years following its opening in 1965. Terminal C serves a majority of airlines at the airport, including Continental, Delta, United and JetBlue.