Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)  is celebrating the abolition something called the Ticket Tax today by serving up a giant Dutch cream cake, Dutch music, and coupons good for an 11.25% discount in the SeeBuyFly shops throughout the airport.

“Hostesses” will be handing out cake and party hats (!!) and travelers who pose for pictures wearing their party hats can download a free photo of themselves tomorrow, July 2.

Tags: Amsterdam Airport, airport shopping
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Whether or not you actually buy anything, souvenir shopping is good way to spend some time when you’re stuck at the airport.

For this week’s Souvenir Sunday we have an item that was not only invented in Los Angeles, but actually seems to be useful and airport-security friendly.

(Photo courtesy Katherine Alvarado at LAX)

They’re called Spongeables and are fun-shaped sponges infused with cleansers and skin care ingredients.  At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) they’re for sale in Terminal 4 at the Destinations LA store, which also has LA-made peanut brittle for sale.

Have you found a great souvenir while you were Stuck at the Airport?

If it’s under $10 and “of” that place then please take a picture and send it along. We may feature it on a future Souvenir Sunday.

Tags: Los Angeles International Airport, Souvenir Sunday, Souvenirs, airport shopping
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Here’s a great use of an in-city airport:

Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL), a general aviation airport on Cleveland’s downtown waterfront, will be hosting a farmer’s market with more than a dozen local vendors.

Each Thursday from 11:30 am until 2:30 pm, from now through October, vendors selling fruits and vegetables, locally-made ice-cream, baked goods, cheese, honey, jams, jellies and more will set up on the sidewalk in front of the terminal.

Organizers also promise cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, and free parking.

Have you seen something new at your airport?  Let us know!

Tags: airport shopping
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Happy Souvenir Sunday!

Every Sunday Stuck at the Airport unpacks the carry-on and re-packs for a fresh new adventure. It’s also when we look over the souvenirs we’ve accumulated through the week.

This week, we have this cute little Air Force One that photographer and world traveler Daniel Incandela found for sale at the Indianapolis International Airport.

At a Tweetup (a real-world gathering of folks who follow each other on Twitter) hosted by Alaska Airlines in Seattle, I came away with this great souvenir: a Best-Lock construction toy of an Alaska Airlines airplane.

I’m not sure what my favorite part of this souvenir is. The cute little airplane (that sells on-line for less than $5), the little pilot inside, or the fact that the package has a message about the dangers of plastic bags printed in 36 different languages!

And, because sometimes the best souvenirs are the stories our friends bring home from their trips, I’m including this link to Bob Rini’s Nine Pound Hammer  blog entry about his stop in Siena, “the arch rival of Florence.”

While there he learned the history of Siena through the story of how the 17 contrade (neighborhoods) compete against each other in a wild-sounding bareback horse race, the Palio,  that dates back to 1283.  Those neighborhoods each have their own flags and costumes; a tradition we now think every city should adopt.

(Courtesy Bob Rini; Nine Pound Hammer)

Have you found a great souvenir while stuck at the airport?

If it is: under $10; not a generic item (i.e. shot glass or mug); and “of” that airport, city or region, then please send a photo and a note about why you chose that souvenir.  It may just show up on a future Souvenir Sunday.

Tags: Alaska Airlines, Indianapolis International Airport, Souvenir Sunday, Souvenirs, airport shopping
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For a long time, the folks at Iowa’s Sioux Gateway Airport weren’t so happy about their airport code, which is SUX.

The town tried trading the code for something better. But then someone figured out that, given the sorry state of air travel these days, being called SUX doesn’t really have to suck; especially if the airport could make money from it.

So for a few years now travelers passing through Sioux Gateway Airport have been able to buy all sorts of souvenirs emblazoned with the airport’s slogan: FLY SUX.

The list of FLY SUX items includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, bumper stickers, hats, beanies, and luggage tags. There’s even a teddy bear wearing a tiny FLY SUX tee.

But because this is Souvenir Sunday and there are rules – nothing over $10; no shot glasses- my souvenir pick for today is the $2.50 FLY SUX balsa glider.

Want one, but not traveling to Sioux City, Iowa anytime soon? The Sioux Gateway Airport has a link to on-line FLY SUX souvenir shopping.

Tags: Sioux Gateway Airport, airport shopping
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Here’s a promotion that I hope catches on elsewhere:

Through the rest of 2009, travelers passing through Rome, Milan or Brussels airports can now download audiobooks for free.

The promotion is courtesy of the Oneworld airline alliance (American Airlines, British Airways and others) and the Oneworld Travel Library.

The library has about 40 titles and includes fiction, business, culture and travel in English, Dutch, French, and Italian. Right now the choices include Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons, Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father, Deepak Chopra’s Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, and other current titles.

To access the library, you’ll need a laptop, smartphone, PDA or some other wireless-enabled device and access to the Wi- Fi network in one of the library-airports.  Once you download a book, you’ll have 14 days to read it.

For more information, and to reserve your books, visit the Oneworld library.

Tags: American Airlines, Free stuff, Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci -Fiumicino Airprot, airport shopping
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Happy Souvenir Sunday!

Whenever I have a few hours to spend at an airport I poke around for souvenirs to bring home for my friends, my family and, especially, for me.

My rules:

Nothing over $10.

No generic shot glasses.

Something “of that city.”

Recently, I spent some time at the Montréal – Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and was pleased to see big clear signs pointing travelers to the locations of power outlets and work tables.

I charged up my travel gadgets and then stocked up on these tasty souvenir candies.

It was a long travel day.  I got hungry.  So, some of these souvenirs ending up doubling as dinner.

Next time – I’ll buy more!

Have you found any great airport souvenirs?  If so, take a photo, send it along (the photo, not – necessarily – the souvenir) and we may feature it in a future episode of  Souvenir Sunday!

Tags: Montreal International Airport, Souvenir Sunday, airport power oultets, airport shopping
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As part of the transformation of concessions at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), travelers can once again pick up souvenirs and gifts from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum Store.

There’s used to be a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum Store at the airport, but this is a new, larger and hopefully  improved shop out on Concourse B.

What will you find? Clothing, Hall of Fame memorabilia, pins, magnets, patches, and other items, including a Rock n’ Roll trivia card game.  The store also has seven plasma screens that will be showing rock videos and clips of  “famous rock moments.”

Hopefully they’ll be selling these  cute wallets, which I found on the museum Web site.

Tags: Cleveland Hopkins Int'l Airport, Uncategorized, airport shopping
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There are plenty of cool, under $10 souvenirs to be found in the shops at Detroit  Metropolitan Airport (DTW).

But if you’re after something truly unusual, check out the airport’s on-line auction.

Sadly, you missed your chance to pick up this chainsaw, which came with a lovely carry case.  Unlike the 1992 Chevrolet GMT -400 ambulance currently up for auction, the 18″ Troy Bilt Model 42cc was not surplus property, but an abandoned item that ended up in the Lost & Found.

Up for adoption now: a 1990 Ford Econoline van, a variety of other vehicles, and an intriguing assortment of airline ticket printers and readers.

Not interested in any of this stuff? Keep checking back. The airport authority plans to expand its offerings to include computers and office equipment, fine and costume jewelry, watches, construction equipment and other specialty airport equipment.

Tags: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, airport shopping
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On Souvenir Sunday we take a look at some cool, inexpensive souvenirs that can be found at airports.

This week, I want to draw your attention to the award-winning products from the Attractive souvenirs of Japan Contest which, I am told,  are sold at Narita International Airport, Kansai International Airport, Haneda Airport, Central Japan International Airport as well as other locations.

There are several categories in this contest, including Japanese Foods, Japanese Craftsmen, and Ecology.  But the category that caught my eye was the Cool Japan Category.

For 2009, the gold prize in the Cool Japan Category went to the iPouch:

The silver prize went to small handmade sushi and sweets made out of silk crepe.

Look for these items next time you’re in a Japanese airport.

And please bring home of that silk crepe sushi for me!

Found a great souvenir on sale at an airport?  If it’s under $10 – and not a shot glass – take a picture and send it along so we can feature it in a future edition of Souvenir Sunday!

Tags: Souvenirs, airport shopping
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