If you’re stuck at the airport in Baltimore, Houston or Phoenix between now and December 16th and need to plug in your laptop or some portable gadget, look for a seat in one of the “Lobby Zones” set up by the folks at Marriott Courtyard Hotels.

The airport Lobby Zones are meant to give travelers a taste of what the chain’s new lobby decor offers, but you don’t have to have a hotel reservation to pull up a chair, hang out and recharge your gear.

Find them at BWI on Concourse A, at Phoenix Sky Harbor in Terminal 4 and in Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Terminal E.

Categories: Airports, Power Outlets
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Here’s a quick round-up of some fresh amenities airports are offering.

On Wednesday, May 18^th, 2011, Oakland International Airport will put into service eight ChargePoint networked charging stations for “new generation” electric vehicle (EV) such as the Chevrolet Volt, the Nissan LEAF, Tesla Roadsters and others.

Los Angeles International Airport now has a cadre of bomb-sniffing canines on duty who are trained not just to sniff out explosives, but to pick up the scent of explosives in the air and track down the person who may be carrying the explosive material -even if that person is on the move.

And some time next year there will be a new food hall on Delta’s Concourse G at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport filled with new food and beverage outlets that are branches of, or partnerships with, local favorites.

The $2 billion concourse upgrade will include a Media Bar that OTG Management is billing as the first virtual newsstand. Passengers will be able to rent an iPad and download publications, movies, music, apps and other items before boarding a plane. (Those with their own iPads will be able to download material as well.) If you do rent an iPad, you’ll be provided with a postpaid envelope so you can mail the iPad back when you’re done.

The OTG Media Bar is going launch at MSP airport, but plans are already in place expand the program to other locations.

Categories: Air Travel, Airports, Animals, Food, Openings, Power Outlets, Technology
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I knew they were there somewhere. But they weren’t by my gate in the Delta Air Lines terminal at JFK.

And there weren’t any signs.

So it was a good thing I set off in search of an outlet to charge my laptop before a long flight.

Because there, just a few minutes walk from where I’d been sitting, was the iPad “village” everyone had been talking about a few months back.

Tables for one. Tables for two. Communal work tables. All equipped with multiple outlets and with iPads that let travelers order snacks and meals from the restaurants nearby.

So very civil.

So, please, Terminal 3 operators, put up some signs.

Categories: Air Travel, Power Outlets, Restaurants
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Here’s an interesting and promising idea for travelers with thirsty gadgets:

Arconas – a company whose chairs and “seating configurations” are already in more than 130 airports around the world – is teaming up with Powermat – the folks who make wireless charging mats – to offer wireless charging stations at airports.

I’m going to assume charging via Powermat will be complimentary – as it is to use to the USB and standard power outlets already attached to much of this type of airport seating.

And if that’s the case – hooray!! Another reason to be happy when you find yourself stuck at the airport.

Categories: Airports, Power Outlets, Wi-Fi
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As part of its Liberty Weekend festivities, the Orlando International Airport (MCO) will present a free concert by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert will take place at 8 pm, on Saturday June 26, 2010 in the atrium of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, which doubles as the public lobby area for gates 60 to 129.  All attendees will get three hours of complimentary airport parking.

Saturday June 26^th and Sunday June 27th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, unticketed visitors are invited into Silicon Valley’s Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) for a sneak peek at the new high-tech Terminal B.  The new building includes seating areas with built-in power ports and public art that includes German multi-media artist’s Bjoern Schuelke’s Space Observer, an interactive, two-story tall robot-like structure with three legs and propeller-equipped arms.

(Watch a Space Observer movie.)

Registered visitors will be able to walk through the terminal, see the art, buy a souvenir and enter drawings for prizes that will include airline tickets and travel packages.

If you plan on visiting the terminal, you’ll need to register in advance on the SJC website by Wednesday, June 23^rd and pick the day and time you want to stop by.

In the meantime, here’s a link to a great photo slide show of the San Jose Airport through the years from The Mercury News.

Categories: Air Travel, Airports, Architecture, Art, Design, Entertainment, Exhibits, Power Outlets, Seating
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