therapy dogs

Airports & Airlines Having Holiday Fun

It IS beginning to look a lot like Christmas in airports and in the air. Here are some of the fun holiday items we spotted today.

Alaska Airlines’ Holiday Perks

Alaska Airlines has a new special-edition aircraft in the skies decorated with snowflakes, the words “Merrier Together,” and those festive red Starbucks holiday cups.

Through December 12, passengers on 50 of this aircraft’s flights will receive reusable holiday cups and some bonus treats. The airline will also be offsetting the carbon impacts of these flights.

On National Ugly Sweater Day – December 17 – the airline will be offering early boarding to any passengers wearing an ugly sweater.

Holidays take flight at Alaska Airlines

And throughout December, passengers wearing ugly sweaters may purchase a day pass to any of the airline’s eight lounges around the country for $25, which is 50% off the regular price. The lounges are located in Anchorage (ANC), New York (JFK), Portland (PDX), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), and Seattle (SEA).

An Elf is Roaming Reno-Tahoe International Airport

Festive Selfie Spot at ATL

And Check out the SFO Wag Brigade

Travel Tidbits from Chicago, Sweden, & TSA

The holidays are around the corner and we’re looking forward to seeing how airports around the country – and the world – will celebrate the season.

TSA’s Canine Calendar for 2022 is available for download.

Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway Airports are ready for the season.

Sweden Tourism takes on Ikea

Do you have any Ikea products in your house? It’s likely you do. And it’s also likely you didn’t know that the funny names they give chairs, sofas, toilet brushes and other items come from real places in Sweden.

The tourism department is fed up with that.

Airports deal with fire, a water main break, and the return of the dogs

It was quite a Monday for some airports around the country. The day started out like this at Denver International Airport

Wag Brigade back at SFO

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) announced that the SFO Wag Brigade, a team of certified stress-relief animals, is back on duty in the terminals after a 20-month absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The San Francisco SPCA certifies all participating animals through their Animal Assisted Therapy (ATT) Program. And, prior to returning to SFO, all Wag Brigade animals were recertified. We hope that means LiLou the airport therapy pig that used to visit SFO about once a month will return soon too.

Fire at DFW, No Water at CLT Airport

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) had to deal with a water main break nearby today.

And at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), there was a fire in one of the parking garages.

Let’s hope things go smoother on Tuesday.

FWA: 5 Things We Love About Fort Wayne Int’l Airport

5 Things We Love About Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA)

We’re back with another episode in our “5 Things We Love About…” series highlighting features and amenities at airports about the country and the world.

Today we land at Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) in Indiana.

1. Free cookies at FWA

Without a doubt, Fort Wayne International Airport has one of the best airport amenities we’ve encountered: free cookies for all arriving passengers.

On our first visit to FWA, a seatmate told us that we’d get a cookie on arrival. We thought they were making a joke. But it turned out they were not kidding at all.

The cookies are baked at Ellison Bakery, just across the street from the airport. And FWA has been handing out these delightful welcome snacks for more than 20 years.

The cookies are clearly a hit: in June 2020 the airport handed out its “3 Millionth Cookie” and debuted a new style of cookie. Now, instead of one cookie, every arriving passenger at Fort Wayne International Airport is welcomed with a package that’s filled with several miniature cookies. The flavors include Birthday Cake and Chocolate Chip and several other varieties are rotated in.

2. Local brands at FWA

FWA puts an emphasis on local brands in the airport. Chapman’s Brewing Company out of Angola, Indiana serves a touch of Northeast Indiana with locally brewed beer on tap. And Conjure Coffee brings a sampling of Fort Wayne’s local coffee scene to FWA.

3. Customer service at FWA

We told you about the cookies that the Hospitality Hosts hand out to passengers at FWA. In any airport, that would check the box for customer service.

But FWA doesn’t stop there. The airport’s Customer Service Agents (CSAs) also provide complimentary curbside luggage service, wheelchair assistance, a parking lot shuttle, and other services.

4. Hospitality PAWS

Hospitality PAWS is FWA’s certified therapy dog program.

All the pups are highly trained and certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and show up with their trainers at select times during the week.

5. More to come at FWA

Project Gateway is FWA’s expansion and improvement project. On the agenda: the Parking Lot Rehabilitation Project, East and West Terminal Apron Improvement Project, and the FWA West Terminal Building Expansion. That last piece will add additional gates, a new Mother’s Room, an upgraded Children’s Play Area, and expanded ticketing area, a modernized exterior façade, and more.   

Did we miss your favorite feature of Fort Wayne International Airport? Let us know in the comments section below. And feel free to nominate the next airport to be featured in the “5 Things We Love About…” series.

Burners heading for Reno-Tahoe International Airport

Burning Man Festival - stilts - images from Reno Airport Exhibit


Burning Man 2019 takes place August 25 – September 2 in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

About 20,000 of the more than 70,000 event attendees make their way to the region via Reno- Tahoe International Airport (RNO).

And the airport is ready.

On Monday, a Burning Man art exhibition and therapy dogs dressed in costumes will welcome arriving burners.

Local volunteers and airport docents (perhaps in costumes as well) will be on site to help with information about and directions to the Playa.

And airport shops will be stocked with Burning Man essentials such as water, snacks, camping equipment and apparel.

The airport is also prepping for when the Burners leave.

Everything that comes back from the festival site will be covered with dust from the Playa that can ruin the baggage systems. So airlines are ready with rolls of large plastic bags to cover suitcases and anything else Burners will need to check in and take home.