Like Santa, the Stuck at the Airport amenities team keeps an annual list. Ours makes note of the airports that offer travelers great new amenities and events throughout the year.
Here’s what made our list this year.
(Our list of Best Airport Amenities of 2023 first appeared on The Points Guy site this year in a slightly different version).
1. A whole new airport terminal for Kansas City, Missouri

In February, Kansas City International Airport (MCI) opened its long-awaited and much-needed new 40-gate terminal. The $1.5 billion facility dazzles with a massive check-in hall, glass jet bridges, great art, and a wide array of locally branded shops and restaurants, including a barbecue restaurant with the only wood-burning BBQ pit in an airport.
2. Love in the airport

The Clark County Clerk’s Office in Las Vegas once again brought its pop-up marriage license kiosk back to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), for Valentine’s Day. That meant couples could skip a visit to the license bureau downtown and go directly to their wedding ceremony.
The pop-up marriage license bureau is back at LAS this week to accommodate all the lovebirds heading to Las Vegas to get married on December 31.
New Year’s Eve is already a popular day to get married in Sin City, but this year the date – which can be written as 1-2-3-1-2-3 – is considered especially lucky.
3. April Fools’ Day airport pranks

Many airports go all on on April Fools’ Day. And this year was no exception.
Denver International Airport (DEN) promised the DEN Red Eye, the world’s first airport Ferris wheel. And Minneapolis International Airport (MSP) introduced an only-in-Minnesota amenity: the Lutefisk Fresh vending machine.
4. Airport childcare

In July, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) became the first airport to open a childcare center on-site, in a surplus part of the terminal once used by US Airways.
The center won’t take care of your kids while you pop into an airport bar for a pre-flight cocktail, but PIT’s onsite childcare center is a welcome amenity for airport employees. Several other airports offer subsidized childcare for the kids of employees in nearby facilities. And some airports, including Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), are actively working on studies and facilities that expand childcare options for employees.
5. More Visitor Pass Programs

Orlando International Airport (MCO) joined the list of airports that offer an airside visitor pass.
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) joined the visitor pass party in October with the introduction of its Wingmate Guest Pass Program, which comes with a bonus of dining and shopping deals from PHL merchants.
6. Flush with pride: BWI has America’s Best Restroom

In September Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) claimed the throne in the 2023 America’s Best Restroom contest.
7 All LAX terminals are now connected post-security. Finally.

This year one of the more irritating roadblocks to smooth connections at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) fell away when a post-security walkway opened between Terminal 3 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).
It is now possible to access all of the LAX terminals once you pass through security at one terminal.
8. Fort Wayne International Airport loves its customers. And feeds them.

Year-round, Hospitality Hosts at Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) welcome passengers with a (wrapped) cookie from a nearby bakery. But this year, during Customer Appreciation Week in October, the airport treated passengers to free, fun food each day.
In addition to a popcorn bar, a caramel apple bar, a hot dog bar, and a walking taco bar with all manner of toppings, the airport presented passengers with a coffee and hot chocolate bar.
9. Baggage gargoyles return to Denver International Airport

In 1995, an art piece titled “Notre Denver,” by Terry Allen made up of two bronze gargoyles sitting inside suitcases was installed in the east and west bag claim areas at Denver International Airport (DEN). They are tasked with making sure DEN baggage arrives safely. However, the decorative duo spent about five years in storage due to airport construction.
In October the gargoyles returned to their perches, just in time to protect passengers’ holiday luggage. Unfortunately, there appears to be no plan to bring back DEN’s chatty gargoyle, which made an appearance in 2019.
10. Free books at Miami International Airport

A handful of airports around the country, including Oregon’s Eugene Airport, have free short story dispensers on site. Others, such as Philadelphia International Airport, have kiosks or book nooks where passengers may swap a paperback for another or download free digital books.
Miami International (MIA) is the newest airport to hop on the book exchange program.
In mid-December, MIA debuted its colorful Books with an Altitude Library in the airport’s South Terminal, between gates H5 and H7. The Miami-Dade Public Library system seeded the library with a donation of 1000 books and passengers are now refreshing the selection with their exchanged books.
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