Holidays

3 airports where you can go ice-skating this winter

Holidays, , , , ,

What’s better than an airport with an ice-skating rink?

Three airports with ice-skating rinks, of course!

Denver International Airport (DEN) is bringing back its free outdoor skating rink for the fourth season.

Starting November 22, DEN’s ice-skating rink will be in the pre-security area on the DEN Plaza, which is between the airport terminal and the Westin hotel.

Time on the ice is free. And, recognizing that not everyone has their own ice skates, or travels with them, there is free skate rental as well.

DEN’s skating rink hours will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily from November 22 through January 20, 2020. As a bonus, on Friday afternoons there will be hot chocolate, hot cider and a variety of extra winter activities, including live entertainment.

Skating at the TWA Hotel at JFK

This year there will an ice-skating rink created at the TWA Hotel across from JetBlue Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) as well.

The custom 56-by-44-foot Runway Rink will be created near the hotel’s 1958 Lockheed Constellation Connie airplane-turned-cocktail lounge and operate seven days a week starting November 30 and running through February 2020.

While skating shows are planned, time on the ice at the TWA Hotel’s Runway Rink won’t be free. Admission will be $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 12. Skate rentals will $10 ($8 for kids under 12).

Hours:

  • Monday through Thursday from 4 PM to 9 PM
  • Friday from 4 PM to 10 PM
  • Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 10 PM

The TWA Hotel will also be selling retro knit hats and scarves as well as beers, Sno-Caps candy and other snacks.

Skate in a Winter Wonderland

If you’re traveling to or through Germany’s Munich Airport (MUC) this holiday season, you’ll find an ice-skating rink already up and running.

For the 21st year, the large roofed open space between Terminals 1 and 2 and Munich Airport is transformed into a winter wonderland, with a winter market, more than 45 Christmas trees, live music, activities for kids and adults, a pine forest and a free ice-skating rink. Skates can be rented for a small fee and there’s a bonus rink for curling set up next to the skating rink as well.

Hours: 11 am to 9 pm. Daily.

Got plans for July 4th?

Holidays, Uncategorized, , , , ,

Still wondering how and where to celebrate July 4th this year?

Finding a fireworks display won’t be very hard. Towns small and large set those off.

South Dakota – fireworks over Homestake Mine

But here at StuckatTheAirport.com, we have a few offbeat celebrations to suggest.

The tiny town of George, WA, promises a “Family-friendly, Old-Fashioned Independence Day in a Great Little American Town.”

Festivities include a parade, a fun run, music, food, kids activities, pie eating and cherry pit spit contests and evening fireworks.

But our favorite part of the day features free slices from the World’s Largest Cherry Pie, which is 8-feet by 8-feet and made each year by The Georgettes, a local community group.

And in Baltimore, we love the July 4th pet parade hosted by the American Visionary Art Museum.

Pets – and their people – can participate in the parade for free. There are trophies awarded in categories such as Best Costume, Most Patriotic, Most Visionary Pet, Owner & Pet Lookalikes and Least Likely to Succeed as a Pet.

After the parade, there’s a Pet Talent [or Not] Show.

How are you celebrating July 4th this year?

How did airports & airlines celebrate April Fools’ Day?

Holidays, , , ,

Did you get pranked on April Fools’ Day? Or did you just have some fun?

These airports, airlines and travel companies did.

(Let me know if you spotted something fun that I missed.)

MIA Airport is working on its own beach!

London’s Heathrow Airport renames terminals

London Heathrow Airport shared a press release announcing that, in anticipation of the arrival of a new royal baby, it was going to be renaming its four terminals.

“…Terminal 2, previously known as the Queen’s Terminal will be christened with its new name following the baby’s arrival,” the release said, and “In preparation for the most significant re-branding exercise in the airport’s history, road signs will be changed, taxi drivers briefings are being arranged and satellite navigation systems will be updated.”

Terminal 5 will be renamed the ‘Prince George Terminal; Terminal 4 will be dubbed the ‘Princess Charlotte Terminal; and Terminal 3 will have its name changed to the ‘Prince Louis Terminal’, the airport announced.

Best of all, “Runway slots at the capacity constrained airport will be allocated in order of succession to the throne.”

WestJet and the Flyre Festival

Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet, which has a history of great April Fools’ campaigns, did it again with its take on the debacle that was the Fyre Festival.

WestJet’s FlyreFestival promises models, more models and a swimming pig.

WestJet’s ultra-low-cost carrier, Swoop, offered this “Recline-for-a-dime” product.

For those who missed it, here is WestJet’s April Fools’ Day winner – Kargo Kids – from a few years back:

Emirates Airport Transfer – by drones

Emirates offered this teaser for 2020:

Virgin Voyages- arrive by air

Virgin Voyages announced a cool way for cruisers – uh, sailors – to arrive on board for their RockStar Suites.

“Inspired by The Runway, the red running track that sits atop of the ship like a halo, on Scarlet Lady, Virgin Voyages will soon give its Sailors the runway they deserve on its second ship. All Sailors staying in RockStar Suites will now arrive and depart via private jet transfer,” a press release announced.

Did you spot some other fun April Fools’ items from airports, airline or travel-related companies? Let us know your favorites and we’ll add them here.

For inspiration, here is our April Fools’ Day round-up from last year.

Santa’s flight plan

Holidays, ,

British Airways has shared a preview of the flight plan the Jeppesen charting company has prepared for Santa for the evening of December 24th. 

    For those who aren’t well versed in reading flight plan charts,
    BA says that the chart shows the approach for landing Santa’s sleigh back at the North Pole, having completed deliveries around the world.

    “The chart shows that on approach, the sleigh will descend to 2,500ft on a track of true North between SANTA and CLAUS. The sleigh will further descend on the final stages of its approach from COMNG to TOWNN, but in the event that the weather conditions are not good enough to land then Santa will climb back to an altitude of 2,500ft before turning right at MSLTO. That will lead to KSSNG where he will hold until the weather improves.”

    Here’s some more detailed information about the plan: 

    “With Rudolph’s nose lighting system, the sleigh has a ‘decision height’ of just 250ft which will help Santa manage any bad weather, resulting in a safe landing. Safety is obviously a priority for Santa and his team, so the plan warns that reindeer and elves will be on the runway and that reindeer games could slow down ground operations. Other aircraft are advised to look out for the blinding red nose.”

    “We’ll be cheering on Santa and his reindeer on December 24 as he flies around the world,” said Simon Brooks, British Airways’ senior vice president sales, North America, ” He has priority over the skies that night so customers traveling should look for the sleigh and wave to Santa.”

    My favorite parts of the flight plan are the ‘Hot Cider Deice Pad” and “Letters to Santa Drop Zone,” and that little elf, but the whole darn thing is charming.