Fun Stuff

Aces for airports on National Card Playing Day

(Courtesy of the Phoenix Airport Museum)

December 28 was National Card Playing Day, so the Stuck at the Airport games department asked the teams from the Phoenix Airport Museum at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to share pictures of some of their favorite airline playing cards from the more than 300 decks in their Aviation History Collection. Here’s what they sent.

PHX wasn’t the only airport shuffling the decks on National Playing Card Day. Orlando International Airport (MCO) gave away some of their MCO-branded card decks to some lucky travelers.

We also did an online search through the airline playing cards in the collection of the SFO Museum at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and found some cool decks.

Airports Celebrate National Trivia Day

We gathered up some of the factoids airports, the FAA, NASA, and others shared for National Trivia Day, January 4.

Test your knowledge. Learn some factoids. And let us know what we missed.

Free ice skating is back at DEN Airport

Now here’s a great, free airport amenity:

The Denver International Airport (DEN) ice skating rink is back for its fifth season.

The rink took a two-year pandemic pause. But it’s back. And from ow through January 1, 2023 passengers and airport visitors – even visitors from other planets – are invited to ice-skate for free on the outdoor plaza between the DEN terminal and the Westin Hotel.

The DEN ice-skating rink is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting.

The skate shop offers free ice skate ā€œrentalsā€ in multiple sizes and is located inside the Westin hotel on the west side near Tivoli Restaurant and Brewery.

Refreshments and holiday treats are available for purchase in the skate shop and, for those who just want to hang out, there’s outdoor lounge seating.

The ice rink is located pre-security and is just steps fromĀ RTDā€™sĀ A-LineĀ commuter railĀ station at DEN, or a short walk from the airport parking garages.

Let’s make this Airport Amenity of the Week!

ATL to Wakanda + MKE Coat Check + PDX Carpet

Need to fly to Wakanda?

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the sequel to the super successful “Black Panther” movie, landed in movie theaters over the weekend.

And Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) got into the spirit by announcing the return of direct international flights to Wakanda.

“This nonstop service on Flight CHBZ will depart from the Manyard H. Jackston International Terminal from Gate F8 at 7:30 p.m,” the airport said in a statement,” adding that concessions were going to be serving “Wakandan-inspired dishes pre-flight.”

That flight number, CHBZ, was unusual. But it was a nod to the late Chadwick Bosman, the actor who played film protagonist King T’Challa.

This isn’t the first time ATL got into the Wakanda spirit. Back in 2018, when Black Panther debuted, the airport announced that Flight 1234 would be heading to Wakanda as well.

Coat Check Service Returns to MKE Airport

Courtesy MKE Airport

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) has brought back one of the season’s best amenities: coat check service.

The service is available inside MKE’s Summerfest Marketplace, which is located presecurity in the Airportā€™s concession mall.

Passengers heading to destinations where the weather promises to be warm can check coats, gloves, and other cold weather gear and travel lighter. When they return, their coats will be warm and waiting for them.

The service is available seven days a week, and is open through the last flight of each day from now until April 1.

This is the fourth year the service is being offered and the cost remains a reasonable $2 per day, with a maximum of $10 per trip.

PDX Carpet Gets Sporty

Courtesy Portland Trailblazers

The iconic carpet pattern that once graced the terminal floors of Portland International Airport (PDX) lives on. And on.

The latest tribute to the flooring design comes from none other than city’s professional baskeball team, the Portland Trailblazers.

They team’s new City Edition Uniform bears a teal sash that is an homage to the PDX Carpet pattern that represented the view of the North and South runways as seen overhead by air traffic controllers. The carpet gained cult status in the 1990s and was replaced in 2015. (But it’s coming back...)