Holidays

Airports ready for Valentine’s Day. Are you?

Are you ready for Valentine’s Day? Many airports are. And you should too.

The Clark County Clerk’s Offices is already set up at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas offering marriage licenses and vow renewal certificates to arriving passengers at a pop-up marriage licence bureau in the Terminal 1 bag claim. It will be there through February 25.

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is getting ready to hand out 1,200 red, pink and white carnations to guests and employees at the information counters in all terminals on Friday, February 14.

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) in Florida will be handing out little packets of Valentine-red gummy bears to travelers.

Smooches from Pooches is returning to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) for Valentine’s Day this year, courtesy of the Canine Crew Therapy Dog Program from 10 a.m. to noon.

At California’s Long Beach Airport (LGB), a poet will be on duty again this year writing love poems on demand between 10 AM and 2 PM.

And between 10 AM and Noon on Valentine’s Day, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) will be hosting a free photo booth, craft projects for kids near the Children’s Play Area, SEA Pup Gracie, Jett the SEA Otter and valentines at the Central Terminal post-security.

SEA also has a great love story about “Gordy,” the SEA sloth that was discovered on Valetine’s Day back in 1961.

We know other airports are also planning to mark Valentine’s Day in special ways and we will add what we can as it arrives. If we’ve miss your airport, please let us know.

Airports celebrate the Lunar New Year

Airports around the country and the world are celebrating the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake.

Here’s a sampling.

Pop-up marriage license bureau at the Las Vegas airport

Las Vegas is well known for being the “Wedding Capital of the World,”, especially around Valentine’s Day, when there’s a notable rise in the number of couples flying in for wedding ceremonies and vow renewals.

Before the ceremonies can take place, though, couples need a marriage license. And that usually means a trip to downtown Las Vegas to the Clark County Clerk’s Office, which is open from 8 a.m. to midnight, 365 days a year.

To make things easier for fly-in lovebirds, each February the Clark County Clerk sets up a pop-up Marriage License Bureau at Las Vegas’s Harry Reid International Airport.

This year the pop-up marriage license bureau will once again be set up in the Terminal 1 baggage claim and will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., every day including weekends, from February 11 through February 25.

The temporary office will issue marriage licenses as well as vow renewal certificates and will only accept credit card or debit payments. Couples may request a special, limited-edition-themed certificate featuring the Las Vegas skyline and classic Valentine conversation hearts.

This year, travelers can also view the 2024 Wedding Dress Design of the Year, which is on display immediately adjacent to Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum on the second floor of Terminal 1 above baggage claim. The dress is the winning design from the Wedding Capital of the World’s inaugural contest featuring designs from talented seamstresses across the Las Vegas Valley.  

Safe travels to all. Especially Santa

Was fun to see all the airports, airlines and the fine folks at NORAD tracking and welcoming Santa on Christmas Eve.

Holiday cheer at airports near You

Airports around the country are extremely crowded this time of year. And, if you look, around, you’ll find that they’re also full of cheer and helpful services for last-minute shoppers.

San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) celebrated its 75th anniversary with a bounty of baby chicks in the terminal to commemorate the Airport’s inaugural commercial flight in February 1949, which arrived carrying two pilots, seven human passengers and 2,550 baby chickens.

Now – just in time for holiday gift shopping – the line of products SJC made to promote that anniversary are for sale in the airport’s four Hudson retail outlets.

Look for baby chick-themed luggage tags, socks, keychains and an “Ernie” plush toy.

And don’t forget that airport shops everywhere are great places to look for last-minute holiday gifts.

Free Gift Wrapping

If you’re traveling with holiday gifts, TSA may ask you to unwrap some of them if the screening machines can’t get a look inside.

That’s why TSA suggests you not wrap your gifts until you get through the security checkpoint or until you’re at your destination.

Look for the gift wrapping stations at many airports around the country. The service is usually free, with donations accepted for local charities.

Elf on an airport shelf. And by the geothermal pipes.

Several airports around the country are having fun times with their version of the elf on a shelf.

Lots of live music

It may be canned holiday music playing in the airport. But this time of year, it’s often live.

Relax with Airport Art Exhibits

If you’re at the airport early, don’t just sit at the gate. Airports have some great art and history exhibits.

And Holiday Decor