Hundreds of airports around the world use Twitter as one of their tools to share news and updates with the public.
The social media site is in flux (to say the least) at the moment. But for now, it’s still a great way to find out at a glance what some of our favorite airports are up to.
And, as part of its 60th anniversary year, Dulles International Airport (IAD), reminded us of the mobile lounges that were used to transport passengers between the terminals and their planes.
Introducing our newest, fun gadget in the terminal 👓💦
Tomorrow starting at 10 to 11 am, we’ll give free cleanings to the first 5 passengers who say “hey” to our friends at @opticwash.
— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (@AUStinAirport) November 7, 2022
Take a calming pause with our latest exhibition, “PRESENT” by Ian Patrick O’Connor. Using large-format film photography, the artist creates images using the urban environment, color, & space, to evoke an overall sense of well-being. #ArtsatMIA 📰: https://t.co/GKEr50GHk4pic.twitter.com/SBVldQUy5M
Holly Jolly Jetway is back! 🎅 ✈️ Don’t miss your chance to see Santa’s special stop at IND on Saturday, November 26. Gather the whole family for an afternoon of games, crafts, and festive fun. Registration opens on November 11. #HollyJollyJetway#SantasINDTownpic.twitter.com/CmGAM0lvhh
— Indianapolis International Airport (IND) (@INDairport) November 7, 2022
Last weekend, hundreds of pilots and aviation enthusiasts converged on Tampa Executive Airport (VDF) for the 2022 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Regional Fly-in. The annual two-day event brought in 170 aircraft! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/sssE5L8nJA
#ICYMI Coke and the Detroit Red Wings teamed up to bring smiles to the faces of DTW customers and staff. Two former Red Wings players, Drew Miller and Jason Woolley, talked to fans and even signed notebooks and hockey pucks. Thank you @Coke & @DetroitRedWings! pic.twitter.com/zYPc3dqeMT
— Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (@PHXSkyHarbor) November 7, 2022
The first of its kind! We introduced the Mobile Lounge to the world when we opened in 1962. Back then, they were used to transport passengers between the Main Terminal and their aircraft which were parked out on a jet ramp. #Dulles60pic.twitter.com/UpIPPGLWYq
Orlando International Airport (MCO) will officially open its new 15-gate, $2.8 billion Terminal 3 later this month. The first flights are set to take off beginning on September 20.
The Stuck at the Airport new terminal team will make its way to MCO soon. But in the meantime, here are some photos and information about what’s in store.
Airlines flying out of the new Terminal 3 at Orlando Int’l Airport
Confirmed airlines that will operate out of the new terminal include Aer Lingus, Azul, British Airways, Caribbean, Emirates, Gol, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lufthansa, and Norse.
What’s inside the new Terminal 3 at Orlando Int’l Airport
The Terminal features a skylight-capped Boulevard that connects ticketing, security, concessions, gates, and baggage claim.
Public art in the new Terminal C and Orlando International Airport will include a variety of giant digital canvases by Gentilhomme Studio.
Windows on Orlando, above, is a triptych of 32-feet-tall displays spanning 110 feet. Content includes a rocket launch sequence filmed in the NASA Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center and an afternoon ride under open skies with cowhands rounding up cattle.
The Moment Vaultis an interactive 360-degree digital experience located in the Palm Court section of the terminal. The installation uses digital technology that allows travelers to interact with 23 different scenes that range from schools of bioluminescent fish to a trip to the surface of Mars.
The Portal, still to be completed in the arrivals hall, will be three stories high, with 32 custom curved screens suspended in a helical frame. 26 scenes will tell the story of the transformation of Central Florida from natural springs and ranchlands to the dawn of Disney and the launch into space exploration.
Shops and dining at the new Terminal 3 at Orlando Int’l Airport
Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld will be represented among the dozen retail locations. And among the two dozen food and beverage outlets will be Shake Shack and Orange County Brewers.
Stay tuned for more photos and details about what the new Terminal 3 at Orlando International Airport (MCO) has in store.
The list of the top 10 finalists for the 2022 America’s Best Restroom contest is out.
And this year restrooms at two airports are in the running to be crowned as the best throne in the country.
Newark Liberty Int’l Airport (EWR)
The Terminal B all-gender restroom at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is one of the airport restrooms nominated as an excellent example of how businesses develop and maintain innovative restroom facilities.
EWR’s new loo is in a 1970’s-era terminal departure lounge. The loo’s creative, gender-neutral design offers “potty parity” and means that more users can be accommodated than with a traditional restroom design.
The restroom includes areas for traveling companions to wait and for passengers to reorganize their belongings. Local imagery on the glass and tile establishes a sense of place. And sound and scent help create a calming environment.
These loos welcome travelers to a uniquely Florida experience with large graphics. A natural, deep blue stone with undulating veining is intended to be reminiscent of waves crashing along the shore.
“Once inside, large format tiles skin the floors and seamlessly fold up the walls, bolstering the well-lit environment and furthering a ‘freshly cleaned’ aesthetic,” the restroom nomination explains. “A wood-look wall tile adds warmth and softness for a balanced, resort-like feel.”
The vanities in these restrooms also offer TPA’s signature “cockpit” concept, which gives each guest their own sensor-activating sink and soap, personal paper towel dispensers, and a nearby trash receptacle.
The other nominated public bathrooms on this Best Restroom list include the self-cleaning restrooms at North Hollywood Recreation Center; prohibition-themed restrooms in Stone Mountain, GA; and a Japanese pub in Orlando, FL modeled after the green restroom seen in “The Aviator” film.
Here’s the image from the movie:
Here’s a snap from Orlando’s Tori Tori pub.
The public is invited to vote for their favorite finalist through August 31 here.
The new, state-of-the-art, eight-gate concourse will be used soley by Southwest Airlines. Amenities include charging stations in every seat, an Animal Relief Area, a Family Restroom and a Nursing Room. Hearing loop connectivity allows those with hearing devices to connect to the PA system.
For now, passengers will find kiosks offering food, beverage, and retail items. Shops, restaurants, and a Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club are set to open in the coming months.
Local favorites Pedal Haus Brewery and Berry Divine – Acai Bowls will be in the new concourse as well as regional concepts Bobby’s Burgers, Eegee’s and others.
Retail shops will include national brands as well as local products from Changing Hands Bookstores, Made Art Boutique, and Melrose Pharmacy.
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The new concourse also showcases the arts and includes a terrific-looking terrazzo floor depicting aerial views of the Phoenix landscape. 28 terrazzo wall pieces are shaped like airplane windows.
The work is called “Phoenix Lights, Phoenix Rising” and is designed by artist Susan Logoreci.
The swanky, new, state-of-the-art, International Arrivals Facility (IAF) officially began welcoming and processing all international arrivals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on Tuesday.
We stopped by to take some snaps, witness the official first-day operations, and collect some of fans SEA was giving out bearing the names and skylines of international cities served.
What’s the big deal about SEA’s new arrivals facility?
Well, the old one was dark, cramped, out-of-date, and overall just a sad way to say “Welcome to Seattle and the United States.”
The new one has a stunning 85-foot-high aerial walkway and a giant (450,000-square-foot) grand hall for baggage claim and customs processing.
We’d watched as the facility was built. But now that it’s fully operational, we’re glad that StuckatTheAirport.com’s headquarters is in Seattle so we get to use it.
Here are some more snaps from our visit on the cut-over day.
The aerial walkway is the star of the show. Passengers get great views out to the mountains and off to the city. Plus, there’s the treat of seeing planes go by below from the longest structure over an active taxiway.
Accessing the walkway is a thrill too on a ride up one of the longest sets of escalators in the country. Too long? There’s an elevator option as well.
Passengers may travel along the aerial walkway by foot or hitch a ride on the moving sidewalk. With such great views, we recommend a slow amble.
And then there’s the bag claim and arrivals hall. Which is now a million times more welcoming than what greeted passengers before.
You may notice the heartwarming news and social media posts about airports working hard to reunite left behind stuffed animals with their rightful owners.
Teddy and 5-year-old Ezekiel have been REUNITED! Thank you @SouthwestAir and the 4 million people across the globe who followed along on Teddy's journey. We're so glad he's home! pic.twitter.com/UWv9cI7m8G
Or, the story that likely started the heartwarming “airports goes-all-out-to-reunite stuffed animal with child” trend. Back in 2015, Tampa International Airport took a stuffed tiger named Hobbes on an airport adventure before sending Hobbes home.
— Tampa International Airport ✈️ (@FlyTPA) June 15, 2015
We love these stories.
So, when making our way through Norway’s Bergen Airport (BGO) last week at about 5 am we did a double-take when were spotted a stuffed rat taped to a lane post.
It was very early in the morning. But we did notice that Bergen Airport is spotless. So it didn’t seem likely that the stuffed rat was there as a social comment. Nor did it seem like an official guidepost to point travelers to their gates.
So all we could conclude was that this stuffed rat had been left behind by a small child. And that it may soon show up on Bergen Airport’s social media feed in search of its owner.
We’ll check back to see.
Other amenities spotted at Bergen Airport
Besides the stuffed rat, there are some other sights at Bergen Airport that made us smile.
The sign for the bathroom employs the hard-to-miss universal symbols for “gotta go, now.”
And the kids’ play area in the main terminal area has this fun hopscotch board with an airplane, of course, in the top box.
Have you spotted a cool amenity (or a stuffed rat) and an airport? Send us a photo and we’ll try to include it in a future post on Stuck at the Airport.
But starting today, up to 1000 free video therapy sessions will be available to guests staying at participating Kimpton Hotels. The program is a partnership between Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and mental health company Talkspace.
The unusual hotel perk will make licensed counselors available to hotel guests, some of whom may be among the many people who have been seeking counseling but haven’t been able to get an appointment.
According to a recent study, nine out of 10 therapists say the number of clients seeking care is on the rise, and most are experiencing a significant surge in calls for appointments. Therapists are also reporting longer waiting lists, and difficulty meeting patient demand. So this may be a good way to get to the front of the line.
To claim your session: contact talkspace@kimptonhotels.com with proof of stay. Sessions are on a first-come, first-served basis.
In addition to making those 1000 hours of video counseling available, Kimpton is providing a $100 promotional code to any guest that wants to sign up for a Talkspace plan. (Offer available through December of 2022).
Even better, Kimpton is giving a year-long complimentary Talkspace subscription to all eligible employees – from front-line employees to managers.
Orlando International Airport’s new South Terminal C
The new thee-level South Terminal C will encompass over 2.5 million square feet, add 15 gates capable of accommodating up to 20 aircraft, and serve 10-12 million annual passengers. Special attention was made to incorporating water, live plants and trees, and plenty of light.
MCO shared photos of what will be the next generation of what they describe as a seamless, low-touch environment with great concessions, immersive media displays, and a definite sense of arrival.
The design team at StuckatTheAirport.com will be getting more information about the specific amenities coming to this new terminal. But in the meantime, here are some photos that MCO shared with us.
“The combination of sophisticated design and innovation truly puts people first in a world-class facility that will deliver ‘The Orlando Experience’ and more the minute they set foot inside,” said Carolyn Fennell, Senior Director of Public Affairs and Community Relations of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Orlando International Airport, the main gateway to Florida and one of the country’s most popular leisure destinations are preparing for the future of travel with this impressive construction endeavor.”
Portland International Airport (PDX) warmed the hearts of airport carpet fans everywhere with its Valentine’s Day announcement promising the return of the iconic PDX carpet to a few spots in the new main terminal.
The teal, purple and pink design, which is said to represent the pattern of the airport’s north and south runways, had been in the airport since 1988. And many travelers had come to love it. Or at least to associate it with leaving and coming home.
And when social media became a thing, people started taking photos of their feet on the carpet and sharing the photos around.
After 30 years underfoot, though, the carpet needed replacement. And to the dismay of all the fans of the old PDX carpet, in 2015 PDX officials took out 13 acres of the old carpet and replaced it with this new carpet pattern.
People still miss and love the old carpet design, which can be found on socks, t-shirts, and other merchandise. And, for now, in one spot inside the Tender Loving Empire shop in Concourse E, near Gate E5.
So as a gift to the fans of the old PDX Carpet, when the new main terminal opens in 2024 several areas in the pre-security area will sport newly woven carpet with the old, iconic design.
You can read the story we wrote about the carpet comeback for The Points Guy site. But we want to also celebrate and remember cool carpets at other airports around the country. Most should still be underfoot. But keep in mind that many have been doing renovations and updates during the pandemic and may have new patterns now.
If we missed your airport, or if your airport has a new pattern, please let us know and we’ll add/update.
Ocean-inspired carpeting at Orlando International Airport – MCO
Guitar impressions at Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Airplanes in the carpeting at Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l Airport (now blue)
Aerial view of the Sacramento Delta in the carpet at Sacramento International Airport (SMF).
We hope to find movie theaters, art galleries, salons, and someplace to do laundry.
Fentress Architects asked architecture students from around the world what they thought about the airport of the future for its annual Fentress Global Challenge (FGC), This year’s competition challenged students to envision airport mobility in the year 2100.
Students could choose between locating their terminals at an existing airfield, such as at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), or at a yet undeveloped site.
“Various modes of transport were explored including pods for intra-airport transport. Mag-lev cars, drones, hyperloops, hydrofoils, and air-rails were among the methods of inter-airport transport proposed,” Fentress reports. “Additionally, several different types of aircraft were studied including anti-gravity, vertical take-off, rockets, and spaceships.”
Entries were evaluated on five criteria, including technology and sustainability. Some submissions envisioned airports that would be able to create their own biofuel from algae and symbiotic bacteria. Others created floating structures that sought to restore coral reefs and ocean ecosystems.
Here are images from the ten shortlisted entries. A jury of renowned airport architects, directors, planners, and scholars will announce a winner on December 1, 2021, and there will be cash prizes for First, Second, and Third Place. Two People’s Choice Awards will be given, so you can cast your vote here.
The project is the first new airport to be built from the ground up in the post-pandemic world. And it would be a big deal even if we weren’t coming out of a travel-stopping pandemic.
With the new facility, Pittsburgh International Airport is promising many new “airport of the future” features and amenities. Highlights include 90,000 square feet of outdoor terraces, a rainwater harvesting program, and emerging touchless technology.
Even better, the new terminal will be super-green and powered by the airport’s own microgrid, which is fueled by 10,000 solar panels and five natural gas generators.
Does this sound like an airport you can’t wait to visit? The terminal won’t be completed until 2025. But in the meantime, here are some of the renderings of the new building that have been shared around so far.
