Airports

Visit this airport, & others, without a plane ticket

Airports,

This month Nashville International Airport (BNA) joins the list of airports with a guest pass program.

The BNA Passport guest pass program allows a non-ticketed guest to go through the TSA security checkpoint like a ticketed passenger into the secure side of the airport.

No more than 75 visitor passes a day are being issued. But those who do get them can greet an arriving passenger at the gate, hang with a friend or family member until they need to board their plane or take the opportunity to explore the art, shops, and dining at the airport without lugging around a carry-on bag or worrying about catching a flight.

The Stuck at the Airport team has already applied for a pass and will be touring the airport on Friday. So stay tuned for our report.

In the meantime, here is a list of other airports with guest pass programs. Each program has its own rules, but for BNA’s guest pass program and those below, you’ll need to fill out an online form and give some personal information, usually name, birthdate and gender.

If the TSA clears you, you’ll get instructions for getting through the checkpoint without a ticket to fly.

Airports with Guest Pass Programs

Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA): SEA Visitor Pass Program

The MSY Guest Pass Program at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY),

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW): DTW Destination Pass

Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in Lansing, MI: the LAN Visitor Pass,

Flint Bishop Airport (FNT) in Flint, Michigan: FNT Visitor Pass program

OC Air Pass at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, CA,

ONT+ Visitor Pass Program at California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT)

Palm Springs International Airport (PSP): PSP Stay and Play Pass

Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) in Pasco, WA offers the PSC Pass

Philadelphia International Aiport offers the PHL Wingmate Pass

Tulsa International Airport (TUL): TUL Visitor Pass Program

Orlando International Airport (MCO): Experience MCO Visitor Pass

Did we miss any? Let us know.

Should there be a National Museum of Pop Culture? + a PDX airport trial run

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Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), home to exhibits and experiences celebrating rock and roll music, science fiction and other expressions of popular culture, wants to The National Museum of Pop Culture.

And this week a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to get the process in motion. The bill will have to pass through congressional committees before it can be voted on by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and then the President would have to sign the bill into law. But we’re confident that will happen.

While that process is going on, we encourage you to visit the museum when you’re in town to see exhibits that include Massive: The Power of Pop Culture, Hidden Worlds: The Films of Laika, Hendrix: Wild Blue Angel, Fantasy World of Myth and Magic – and much more.

Help test out the new main terminal at PDX Airport


Portland International Airport (PDX) will open its new main terminal sometime in August. But first, they need to test it out.

As part of that process, the airport is seeking volunteers for a PDX Dress Rehearsal on Saturday, August 3. Volunteers will serve as pretend travelers and test out the check-in and security systems and share feedback.

As a bonus, the airport is giving volunteers a $50 gift card.

Sound like fun? Register here by July 15.

More airport libraries, please

Airports, ,

Little Free Libraries and Take a Book/Leave a Book racks can be found at more and more airports.

And the Stuck at The Airport literature department is all for it.

We especially like this one: a Children’s Lending Library at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) that is the brainchild of an actual child.

The library at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is filled with novels by Dutch writers in 40 languages, as well as photography books and music by Dutch musicians and composers. 

New York’s Albany International Airport (ALB) has The Writers Institute Room – a glass-enclosed lounge where you can sit and read or pick up a free book to take with you on your travels.

But wouldn’t it be great if there was an airport that had a full-fledged library branch on-site? Like this one that was once at Nashville International Airport (BNA).

ATL is the world’s busiest airport. Again.

Airports,

On Monday, Airports Council International (ACI) World unveiled the preliminary list of the top 10 busiest airports worldwide for 2023 and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) once again tops the list.

ATL welcomed 104.7 million passengers in 2023, an 11.7% increase over the 2022.

Dallas Forth Worth International Airport (DFW), which has for years taken the second-busiest-airport spot, dropped to third busiest, edged out out Dubai International Airport (DXB).

While 5 airports in the top 10 rankings for total passenger traffic are in the United States, the shuffle at the top showcases “significant shifts driven by the resurgence of international air travel,” said ACI.

Tokyo Haneda (HND) is in the top 10 rankings at number 5 for 2023, which is a giant leap from its ranking of number 16 in 2022.

ACI estimated that the global total passenger forecast for 2023 will be close to 8.5 billion, reflecting a healthy recovery of 93.8% from pre-pandemic levels.

The airport rankings are based on data gathered from over 2,600 airports across more than 180 countries and territories globally.

Here are the rest of the Top 10 Busiest Airport rankings:

Is it OK for both SFO & OAK airports to have ‘San Francisco in their names?

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The Port of Oakland, which operates Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK), wants to add “San Francisco” to its official name to raise awareness about its location on the San Francisco Bay.

If the plan goes forward, the new name will be San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport instead of Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK).

The airport code OAK and the airport’s visual branding will stay the same.

“Market research and interviews with airline partners have shown that routes have not performed as well as they should have due to the lack of geographic awareness, making air carriers reluctant to sustain and add new routes in Oakland,” said Port of Oakland Interim Director of Aviation Craig Simon.

Here’s a short video explaining OAK’s name modification plan. Port Commissioners will vote on the plan at their April 11, 2024, Port Board meeting. If they approve it, OAK staff will start moving forward with the formal renaming.

SFO: “Not so fast, OAK”

As you may imagine, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) isn’t happy with another airport adding ‘San Francisco’ to its name.

“SFO has operated since 1927 and has used the name ‘San Francisco Airport’ or ‘San Francisco International Airport’ for most of its history, making it immediately recognizable to customers,” SFO director Ivar C. Satero said in a release. “Given this history, we anticipate the new name being considered by the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport will cause confusion for the public, either through a misunderstanding of its physical location or its perceived relationship to SFO. This concern is only compounded considering SFO’s status as a major international gateway.”

What do you think? Should SFO and OAK both have “San Francisco in their names?