OAJ - Albert J Ellis Airport

DO NOT FLY OUT OF THIS AIRPORT!!! The staff there are terribly rude. I hadn't flown in over 25 years, and I couldn't believe how informative the personnel were. The guy in security was a complete JERK, he really could have told me that my carry on (which contained a lot of liquids, ie. perfume, hair gel, hair spray, lotion, etc) could have been approved with all of my stuff if I "checked" it instead of carried it on. I lost out on ALOT of money, thanks to him. And it was quite apparent that he was thoroughly disgusted at the fact that I had these items with me. I explained to him that I was unaware...but im sure they hear that all the time. Can't they suggest to the customers that they can turn around and pay the $25 to check a bag, INSTEAD of losing out on pricy personal items????? He wasn't trying to help me out AT ALL!, NOT A CARE IN THE WORLD!! I was in NC visiting my son who just returned home from a 7 month deployment, and I couldn't believe how rude and disrespectful this guy was. I will never recommend this airport to anyone!

Knowing this is a small airport, I didn't expect the red carpet treatment. It is an easy in and out type of airport. I like that. People were friendly to me. I especially am writing this to commend one employee, Martha. My flight had to be redone, nothing due to the airport, but Delta. She made it a point to speak with me several times in the two days I had to go there. She remembered my name. They probably have limited personnel because aside from conversing with guests, she waved the plane in, filled the tank, loaded the bags. She was very friendly and non-stressed. Possibly they could redo the interior a little and add things, but the staff were friendly both days. One day I had to spend 4 hrs there and I felt comfortable. Yes, the gift shop and cafeteria closed and reopened for whatever reason, but I'm sure it is due to insufficient personnel, not incompetent personnel. I like small airports, less stress.

I have been hearing so many commercials on the radio about this airport. They are not true!! I would rather drive to Raleigh or Wilmington to fly out than here. My mom had chosen to fly out of here and was a huge mistake. All complaints listed: they say no parking in loading lane -well everyone did - I paid for the lot, no people around to clearly help you -no visable person-hey I work here besides behind the counter. Entertainment two video game machines and a subpar over priced restaurant. When she returned there was no one around except people who were waiting for luggage. I had no idea where to go to get her where she would enter in from or who the heck was gonna help me. Luckily I found a person behind the rent a car booth to tell me, it was a ghost town. Where's the security! How about a screen that says incoming flights or outgoing flights.
Time to catch up with the rest of the world and UPDATE your airport!!

RUDE PEOPLE--DO NOT USE

My husband deployed through US Airways at OAJ. We arrived 2 hours early so that we could say goodbye. Last time he deployed, it was out of Raleigh and they gave me a "gate pass" to go through the TSA inspections and say goodbye at the gate. First of all, there was a huge line (well 30 people for this size airport is "huge"), and the 3 airline reps were hanging out in the pack joking around (yes we could see and hear them). They finally decided to come and do their job. Then my husband got this fat wench who was rude to us from the start. Telling us to "hurry up", "you should've had your flights confirmed", "you're running late". Anyway, after she found his flight information, she weighed his bag. He was at 61lbs and the max weight was 50lbs for 1 bag. He said he could put some stuff in his carry-on bag and she refused to let him open his bag! Then she proceeded to charge him $90.00 for his one bag! MIND YOU--He's going on a 1-YEAR-DEPLOYMENT. We explained that to her, but she said "just because you're military doesn't make you free from charges and fees all the civilians get." We were pissed because due to the deployment, we had to purchase more military items than our usual budget, but we paid it anyway. I asked for a gate pass so I could walk him up and say goodbye, she told me that they do not do gate passes (which is BS because they let my friend say goodbye to her husband and pick him up at the gate). Before we left the counter, she informed us to "Hurry up" because the flight was boarding already...we checked the tickets and itinerary, and the flight wasn't scheduled to lift off for another hour. My husband asked one of the male TSA agents, and they said that it was taking off early....we didn't even get to say goodbye because they were pushing him out of the lobby and into the TSA checkpoint...not even a kiss or hug.....he called me from inside--the plane WAS NOT EVEN THERE! It arrives 20 minutes AFTER estimated take-off time. We will never fly in/out of here. When his R&R comes, I would rather drive 4 hours to Raleigh to get him.