Airport guides

RDM: 5 Things We Love About Oregon’s Redmond Municipal Airport

Oregon’s Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM), located in the heart of Central Oregon, is the state’s 3rd largest airport and is served by 5 airlines: American Airlines, Alaska Air, Avelo Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines.

Travelers can fly non-stop from here to Burbank, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Seattle. 

Stuck at the Airport stopped by for a visit and spotted (more than) 5 Things to Love About Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM).

1: Compassionate Therapy Dogs

Compassionate Canines Certified Therapy Dog Teams are often on duty in the ticketing, baggage, and gate areas of the terminal.

2. Art at RDM

For a small airport, RDM has a lot of art.

Look for temporary art installations and lots of permanent art pieces, including the hard-to-miss section of a Western Juniper tree by the TSA checkpoint. Common in the high desert of Central Oregon, this juniper tree is thought to be more than 500 years old.

Learn more about the art at Redmond Municipal Airport here.

3. Sasquatch

Central Oregon is prime Bigfoot (or Sasquatch)-hunting country. And the Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) is probably the only place you are assured of spotting the elusive creature.

When RDM’s Sasquatch sculpture first moved in, he was carrying a pink suitcase. These days he’s helping the airport get ready for its terminal expansion project.

4. RDM’s “FLYBRARY”

Take a book, leave a book

RDM has two locations for its “Flybrary” – one post-security and one in the bag claim area – where passengers are encouraged to leave a book that they’ve finished and take a new one left by another traveler or supplied by the airport.

5. Play areas for kids

Like a lot of airports, Redmond Municipal Airport has play areas for kids. A nice bonus here is that in addition to the post-security play area, RDM has a good-sized play area in the bag claim area. We spotted these kids having a great time in the toy helicopter.

Bonus: Sasquatch and Yeti Poo

We’re not sure why, but locally-themed souvenir ‘poo’ (usually chocolate-covered nut) is a big seller in airport gift shops.

At Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) Sasquatch and Yeti Poo – here it’s cotton candy – is one of the top sellers.

New Zealand’s Christchurch Airport lights up

In New Zealand, the appearance of a group of stars named Ngā mata o te ariki Tāwhirimātea (Matariki) in the winter night sky marks the traditional beginning of the Māori new year.

This year those stars are set to appear on July 14 and New Zealand’s Christchurch International Airport (CHC) is marking the beginning of the Māori new year by lighting up the terminal and the Airways New Zealand tower.

More cool amenities at Christchurch Airport

In addition to some great art inside and around the terminal, which travelers can discover on this handy art trail map, Christchurch Airport has outdoor ping pong tables on its plaza and themed jet bridges.

The Stuck at the Airport team hasn’t seen these themed jet bridges in person – yet – but we love the idea.

According to the airport, each themed jet bridge features floor to ceiling imagery of a special southern landscape, accompanied by the scene’s distinctive sounds and scents. Scents!!!

The themes are updated every so often with new sights, sounds and smells. But current themes include the Mackenzie Night Sky, West Coast, Kaikoura, Abel Tasman, Fiordland, a Canterbury sheep farm, Mackenzie country, Christchurch Adventure Park and a Marlborough vineyard.

Some of the other amenities we’re looking forward to exploring at Christchurch Airport include the coloring wall and the complimentary Mini Explorer Activity Books.

We’re also intrigued by ‘Spitfire Square,‘ which is a short walk from the airport terminal and home to a fitness center, a hair salon and a pharmacy.

Another airport adds a gate pass program

A growing number of airports make it easy for the non-traveling public to get visitor passes to the secure side of the passenger terminal.

That makes it possible to meet arriving friends and family at the gate or to spend more time with someone before they board a flight.

It also means that you don’t need to be flying somewhere to check out a new terminal, tap your toes to the live music at the airport, see some great art, do a little shopping, or spend time watching planes take off and land.

Each airport has its own name for the service and its own rules regarding how many non-ticketed visitors are allowed to be issued a pass each day they are offered. And at each airport that offers the service, passengers must still go through the security checkpoint.

The list of airports offering this great airport amenity includes:

Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA): SEA Visitor Pass Program

The MSY Guest Pass Program at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY),

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW),

Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in Lansing, MI: the LAN Visitor Pass,

the OC Air Pass at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, CA,

and the ONT+ Visitor Pass Program at California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT).

New to the list: Washington’s Tri-Cities Airport

Now more – and smaller – airports are joining the list.

The latest is the Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) in Pasco, WA.

For now, only 10 visitors are able to get a PSC Pass each day. And each visitor may request just one visit per month. But, as with the other airport gate pass programs, it allows non-travelers to surprise an arriving passenger at the gate or send someone off at the gate with a last-minute hug.

Did we miss an airport with a gate pass program? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.

IND: 5 (More) Things We Love About Indianapolis International Airport

Stuck at The Airport’s “5 Things We Love About…” series revisited Indianapolis International Airport (IND) recently and found 5 more things to love.

This Madame Walker Mural

This mural by Tasha Beckwith honors Indianapolis hair-care entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker, who is credited as being the first female self-made millionaire in America.

These Lounge-Like Chairs

These powered privacy chairs are usually seen in airline lounges. At IND you’ll find them in a gate hold area.

This Free Pop-a-Shot Basketball Game

At IND’s pre-security Civic Plaza, the Indiana Pacers Courtside Club celebrates the local Indiana Pacers basketball team. Adjacent to the restaurant is a free pop-a-shot basketball game.

This Bookstore

Airport concessionaire Hudson does a nice job with its Ink-branded shop selling books, magazines, and gifts in IND.

These Cute and Corny Souvenirs

Souvenir shopping is one our favorite things to do at airports. IND shops don’t disappoint.

Int

5 Things We Love About London Gatwick Airport

Our ‘5 Things We Love About’ series highlighting features and amenities at airports around the world continues with London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW).

We have airport mascot Gary Gatwick to help highlight some of the amenities.

1. CONVENIENCE

Most travelers only think of Heathrow Airport when they think of booking flights to London.

But getting to central London from Gatwick Airport is really quite easy. And fast.

Gatwick is about 30 miles south of central London and the non-stop Gatwick Express rail service makes the trip to London’s Victoria Station in just 30 minutes. And Victoria Station is very centrally located.

On the train, travelers will find free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and places to store suitcases.

There’s even a “Delay Repay” offer if you’re arrival is delayed by at least 15 minutes.    

 Thameslink trains also make the journey easy from Gatwick Airport to London Bridge and other destinations.

2. HOTEL OPTIONS AT GATWICK AIRPORT

For quick naps or a freshen-ups once you land, the YotelAir London Gatwick Airport, located landside in the South Terminal, offers super-compact ‘cabins’ for stays as short as four hours.

Gatwick Airport also offers travelers the choice of staying overnight at the Sofitel London Gatwick or the Hilton London Gatwick, both owned by the Arora Group. We found rates at both hotels lower than at the corresponding properties at Heathrow.

3. FIRST AIRPORT GIN DISTILLERY

The world’s first airport distillery is at Gatwick Airport.

You’ll find it tucked in the corner of the Nicholas Culpeper Pub & Dining venue, which is located pre-security in Gatwick’s North Terminal.

The distillery produces small batch, bespoke London Gatwick Airport Gin that is used in many of the specialty cocktails at the restaurant.

If the distiller is on site, you might get even get invited in for a tour and a taste.  

4. GOURMET DINING AT GATWICK

Juniper & Co, located post-security in the North Terminal, offera a menu featuring high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.

There’s a kid’s menu; a curated bar menu that includes a map showing how far away some the specialty gins, wines, beers, and juices are made; a breakfast menu; and an all-day menu with dishes using a wide range of locally-sourced ingredients.

Super fresh meals are made with salmon from H. Forman & Son (48 miles from Gatwick), Wells Farm bacon, sausages, and eggs (farmed 26 miles away), artisan bread freshly baked by Flour Station (60 miles from Gatwick), and a great cheese plate made with a great assortment of local cheeses.

5. AIRPORT MASCOT GARY GATWICK

For entertainment and engagement, Gatwick Airport has a mascot named Gary Gatwick.

A small version of the teddy bear mascot can be spotted out and about in the city, the region, and around the world. But in the airport, a full-size Gary Gatwick will often be found in the terminal and at special airport events.