Holidays

Airports named for U.S. presidents

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For Presidents’ Day, here’s a roundup of U.S. aiports named for presidents

1. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

2. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

3. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

4. Gerald Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, Michigan

5. Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) – Springfield, Illinois

6. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Aiport (LIT) – Little Rock, Arkansas

7. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) – Wichita, Kansas

8. Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK) – Dickinson, North Dakota

Airport amenity of the week: strolling cannoli

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Valentine’s Day strolling cannoli at Tweed New Haven Airport

We’ve been gathering up and sharing all the sweet treats airports are offering for Valentine’s Day.

But we are declaring the Valentine’s Day strolling cannoli event at Connecticut’s Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) as the Airport Amenity of the Week.

Hosted by the folks at Petonitos Pastry and Cupcake Shoppe in East Haven, CT, this is surely a big hit for travelers flying on Valentine’s Day.

Download Valentines from DFW + more Valentine’s Day treats from airports

Holidays

Flying to see your sweetheart?

Here at Stuck at the Airport, we’ve been highlighting Valentine’s Day-themed activities at various airports all week.

We love the cute and corny, downloadable, travel-themed set of 15 Valentines that Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has put together with lines such as, “My heart takes off every time you are around,” “Runway with me tonight,” and “I’m plane crazy about you.”

The “from” line on each DFW valentines says “DFW,” but in a pinch, you can personalize the cards with your own name or the classic “a secret admirer.”

We’ve put together a round-up of even more good-for-your-heart Valentine’s Day events being hosted by airports around the country for our friends over at the The Points Guy site.

The list includes in-terminal appearances at Dallas Love Field (DAL), by airport mascots, Lovey and Lovette (above), free carnations (while they last) for travelers at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) on Friday, February 13, and a Valentine’s Day-themed mural created by the Charleston, South Carolina-based duo Girls Who Paint Murals in the Central Hall at Charleston International Airport (CHS).

Travel tidbits from airports near you

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The Stuck at the Airport team is in Vancouver, B.C. this week eating oysters, visiting museums and galleries and going shopping for valentine gifts.

We’re keeping an eye on the airport beat, though, and sharing (below) some fun tidbits from airports in Pittsburgh, Houston and Denver.

Pittsburgh’s new airport terminal gets a new play area for kids

(Photo courtesy PIT Airport)

Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) has a shiny new Kids Play Area located near the Core of the airside terminal.

The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh helped design the new space, which replaces the smaller Kidsport, which first opened in 1984.

This new play area invites climbing and spinning and has a custom “runway” rug, scenic wallpaper with aviation themes and an interactive art installation with the moon and stars.

There’s also a nursing lounge, a restroom, picnic tables and plenty of places where adults can charge devices.

Good work PIT!

Houston Airports ready for Valentine’s Day

Traveling through Houston this week?

We love that the both Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) have Valentine’s Day photo spots all ready to go.

Happy Birthday, DEN Mustang

The 32-foot-tall cast-fiberglass Mustang scultpure by Luis Jiménez at Denver International Airport (DEN) is always impressive, and can be a bit scary.

But we’re happy to join in and wish the artwork a happy 18th birthday.

(Mustang photos by Luis A. Jimenez, Jr.)

Delta Air Lines will mail love letters penned on certain flights

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We told you how Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) and Southwest Airlines are teaming up to provide and mail Valentine’s Day postcards for free.

That offer ends on Wednesday and is an option only at OAK.

Now, inspired by Friday’s general release of the new Wuthering Heights film, Delta Air Lines is encouraging travelers to take a moment to tell someone how much they are loved.

In writing.

On all Delta flights from Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on Friday, Feburary 13, Delta will be handing out packets containing ‘romanticized’ stationary and a pre-stamped international envelope.

Passengers can use that stationary to handwrite a letter to someone they love.

Finding a mailbox in an airport isn’t easy these days. So on these flights passengers may hand their completed letters to a flight attendant before landing and Delta will make sure the letter gets in the mail.

Buying flowers for Valentine’s Day? They likely made a stop at Miami International Airport

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, the cargo arriving at Miami International Airport (MIA) veers heavily to flowers, as 91% of the flowers entering the U.S. do so through MIA.

Here’s a short video MIA shared about what happens to the flowers between the time they land and when they become Valentine’s Day bouquets.

Pick up your marriage license at the Las Vegas airport

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Here’s a great airport amenity for lovebirds planning on getting married in Las Vegas during February – Wedding Month – especially on or around Valentine’s Day, which lands on a Saturday this year.

To make life easier for couples flying to Las Vegas from around the world to get hitched, the Clark County Clerk’s office in Las Vegas is once again hosting a pop-up Marriage License Bureau at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).

The temporary marriage license bureau will operate from Feb 4 through Presidents Day, Monday, February 16 in the Terminal 1 baggage claim at LAS, across from Carousel 15.

The pop-up will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Payments can be made by credit card or debit card, but not with cash.

Couples that pick up their marriage license or vow renewal certificates at the airport can skip the otherwise required trip to the Clark County Marriage License Bureau in Downtown Las Vegas and go to their hotel to prep for their wedding or directly to the wedding venue of their choice.

The process can be go even smoother if you fill out your application ahead of time, online.

Valentine’s Day is the most popular date for weddings in Las Vegas. But there are other ‘magic dates’ with unique numercial sequences in Februrary 2026 that will be popuar as well, including 2/6/26 and 2/26/26.

Many couples will also make a point to get married on Friday the 13th – 2/13/26.

Let us know if you’re heading that way.

Happy Holidays and Safe Travels

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Holiday elf

A few years back, the Stuck at The Airport holiday crew had the rare treat of returning as an embedded elf on one of the annual Fantasy Flights to the North Pole leaving from Spokane International Airport.

Alaska Airlines has been parterning with an incredibly devoted local organization, Northwest North Pole Adventures, since 2008 to make this annual charter trip to Santa’s workshop possible for several dozen kids from shelters and transitional housing.

Here’s a link to the report from my 2021 report on that flight.

Each year, other airlines partner with local organizations to make North Pole flights possible as well.

For example, this month United Airlines partnered with local employees and community groupts to host Fantasy Flights for kids and their families from 12 airports.

Here’s their handy infographic for Santa to review.

And American Airlines once again joined the Gary Sinise Foundation to host the 20th annual Snowball Express.

The event gives families who have lost a loved one during military service and families of fallen first responders an an all-expenses paid week-long visit to Walt Disney World Resort.

This year, more than a thousand American Airlines employees volunteered at more than 90 airports and on 17 charter aircraft to make this year’s Snowball Express a success.

We’ve still got the outfit, so joining one or more of these flights next year as an embedded elf is already on the 2026 to-do list.

Share ORD memories for a $500 prize + Get rewards at RNO + Track Santa

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You could win $500 for sharing an O’Hare Airport memory

In October, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) celebrated its 70th anniversary of hosting commercial air service.

The airport has, of course, changed and grown a lot over the years. And now it’s looking forward to a major terminal expansion, dubbed ORDNext. On the agenda: two state-of-the-art satellite concourses, a new international terminal and an airport-wide underground tunnel for connections, among other projects.

But before it blasts off into the future, Chicago’s Department of Aviation is hosting an “O’Hare Moments” Campaign and Sweepstakes.

Through February 2, 2026, ORD is asking the public to share photos and special memories they have from their travels through O’Hare during the past 70 years.

We’re thinking: special milestones, family reunions, chance meetings, farewells, eventful layovers, love stories, etc.

At the end of the campaign, one entry will be chosen at random to receive a $500 gift card.

Enter the O’Hare Moments sweepstakes here. And feel free to share your story with us here too.

Reno-Tahoe Int’l Airport’s Curbside Kindness Campaign

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is revving up its Curbside Kindness team for the holidays.

Team members will be surprising drivers dropping off passengers with small tokens of appreciation, including gift cards and other surprises.

The campaign not only spreads some extra holiday cheer but also encourages travelers to catch a ride to the airport and free up space in the parking garage and surface lot during peak travel days. 

Another kindness: NORAD Tracks Santa

Kids of all ages can follow Santa’s journey around the globe starting on Christmas Eve, thanks to the folks at NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a US-Canadian joint effort.

NORAD’s main job is to monitor and defend North American airspace 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. But on December 24, the agency has a special added mission to track Santa Claus as he and his reindeers fly around the world to deliver presents to children.

Anyone can follow along on the Santa Cam.

This is the 70th year NORAD is filling this role. Kids can call to ask live operators about Santa’s location (1-877-HI-NORAD/1-877-446-6723) or call via the Norad Tracks Santa website.

Airports deck the halls for the holidays

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Here’s a quick tour of some of the festive decorations and holiday events at airports this year. And some tips on when Santa might be at your airport.

At Portland International Airport (PDX), there will be free cider and crafts for kids on Saturday, December 20 all day long at the Loyal Legion beer hall up on pre-security mezzanine.

Then, on Saturday, Dec. 27, at noon, there will a free PDX screening of Oregon’s favorite film, “The Goonies,” with Miss Hannah’s popcorn samples and kid-friendly crafts.

Visitors can get a 2-hour parking voucher with a $20+ purchase at participating pre-security businesses. And keep in mind, Oregon has no sales tax…

Festive happenings at other airports