Lambert-St.Louis International Airport has joined the growing list of airports that have opened “rest areas” for pets and service animals.

STL’s two gated pet parks are each 400 square feet, with park benches, trash cans, plastic clean-up mitts and fire hydrants.  The Main Terminal park has synthetic turf and is on the upper level, just outside exit MT-6. The East Terminal pet park has natural grass and some tree shade and is located outside baggage claim on the lower level

STL also has some new perks for people: two new pre-security dining venues.

Brioche Dorée Café serves salads, sandwiches, pastries, and other casual menu items. Missouri Vineyards, serves wines from local boutique vineyards (who knew?) and beyond.  In addition to a menu that includes fruit & cheese plates and other small bites, Missouri Vineyards will have regular Thursday wine tasting events.

Tags: Airport amenities, Airport bars, Airport music, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Pet relief areas at airports, Pet travel
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Next time you find yourself with a little extra time to spare at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, don’t just sit there – take a walk on the airport’s new walking path.

Officially “opened” today, the walking path is less than a half mile long and follows a marked area that’s inside the airport terminal, but not within any secured areas. A brochure that outlines the route is available at the Audubon Information Booth.

As I mentioned here earlier, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Lambert-St. Louis International Airport also have walking paths inside the terminals. And, as I wrote in an “At the Airport” column for USAToday.com a while back, there are also a fair number of airports that have walking paths right outside the terminals.

So if you find yourself stuck at any of these airports, you can at least keep moving.

Tags: Airport amenities, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Louis Armstron New Orleans International Airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
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The bad economy is forcing some airports to delay facility upgrade projects and to cancel others altogether. But Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) is just trying to finish a major upgrade to the East Terminal.

Right now they’re rushing to replace 9, 000 square yards of original terminal carpeting in time for the Thanksgiving rush. Look for it between Gates E-2 and E-33, in the passenger waiting areas for Southwest Airlines, USA 3000, Air Choice One and charter flights.

The new carpet is not only ADA-compliant, it’s got a custom design that “mimics the patchwork of crops and fields passengers might see if they were looking down from a plane at 35,000 feet.”

Can you see that???

Tags: Airport amenities, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
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Here’s a photo of the “art rocker” unveiled today at Lambert- St. Louis International Airport (STL).

The seat of “Saint Louis Rocks,” by artist Rich Brooks, features piano keys; the back sports a guitar. Piano foot pedals are incorporated into the piece, which also sports an image of the St. Louis

The chair is on display in the airport’s Main Terminal Ticketing Hall just above the C/D security checkpoint at the “Music Spot.”

60 other ‘regular’ blue rockers were added to the airport’s collection of 70 blue rockers today as well.

Rock on!

(Photos courtesy: Lambert-St. Louis Int’l Airport)

Tags: Airport amenities, Airport art, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
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Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) is having a party today (Friday, August 5th) to celebrate the one-year anniversary of its performance stage and the popularity of the blue rocking chairs that are scattered throughout the airport.

(Photo courtesy STL)

From 9 a.m. to noon, there’ll be live music at three different spots in the airport:

Pianist Ron Krausch at the “Music Spot” (Ticketing Hall);

Guitarist Stuart Johnson at the Main Terminal’s “Meeting Place” in Baggage Claim;

Guitarist Gregg Hayne at the East Terminal Baggage Claim.

Along with 60 new blue rocking chairs, Lambert will unveil one special rocker ( a chair, not a performer) that artist Rich Brooks has transformed into a fun and quirky tribute to music.

Tags: Airport art, Airport music, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
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Every dog has its day. For Pino, that day is Friday.

Pino, the oldest of the 500 working dogs in the TSA’s National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program, will be retiring on Friday after 10 years and 11 months of service to the airport K-9 team at Lambert-St.Louis International Airport (STL).

During her career, the 13 year-old Belgian Malinois worked numerous high profile events at the airport and when on loan to other agencies. She helped with protection details for two U.S. presidents, the 1999 St. Louis visit of Pope John Paul II, and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

What are Pino’s plans for retirement? She’s going to hang around the home of her police partner, Sgt. Steve Swafford, following a final Friday morning shift at Lambert.

Pino with her partner, Sgt. Steve Swafford.

(Photos courtesy Lambert-St.Louis International Airport)

Tags: Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
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Following the lead of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport has joined forces with their local chapter of the American Heart Association and set up marked walking paths for passengers inside the terminal

There are two one-mile walking paths, both post-security.

The Main Walking Path starts just beyond the C/D security checkpoint in the Main Terminal. The East Walking Path begins just past the security checkpoint in the East Terminal.

If you find yourself getting tired on your airport hike, don’t fret. The airport has also recently installed rocking chairs for weary passengers.

Tags: Airport amenities, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport, Uncategorized
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