Music

British Airways gets a makeover from Late, Late Show’s James Corden

The Late, Late Show spent a week in London and we get some fun video souvenirs.

British Airways let show host James Corden and his crew give one of its jets a makeover.

In addition to decorating the cockpit and different cabin areas with props to evoke New York City and Mexico, Corden introduces a ‘new’ in-flight tool crew members might use to calm down frantic pasengers: tranquilizer darts. “If you don’t do it, Delta will,” he says.

 

And if you haven’t seen it yet, watch this instantly classic Car Karaoke video with Paul McCartney. Try not to cry, but definitely sing along.

Travel Tidbits for air travelers

 Brazilian restaurant for Miami International Airport

A popular chain restaurant from Brazil – Viena – has opened on the top (seventh) floor of the pre-security MIA Hotel at Miami International Airport.

The restaurant, which replaces the “Top of the Port” restaurant that was in that spot for many years, has a menu featuring Brazilian and European dishes, including salt cod fritters (Bolinho de Bacalau), Pão de Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) and the Caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail.

In addition to great views, this new restaurant has free Wi-Fi, happy hour, large-screen TVS and electronic charging stations.

Foodie Week at Philadelphia International Airport

 March 12-18 is Foodie Week at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) with seven restaurants in Concourse B offering special entrees at a discount – $12 – throughout the week

  • Baba Bar: Harissa Chicken Sandwich
  • Boule Café: French Onion Grilled Cheese
  • Cibo Bistro and Wine Bar: Shrimp Calabrese
  • Germantown Biergarten: Cheddar Brat Platter
  • Love Grille: Cheesesteak Hoagie
  • Mezzogiorno: Short Rib and Tomato Pizza
  • Noobar: Spicy Chicken Fried Rice

United Airlines passengers can buy a place in line

United Airlines now allows standard economy passengers to purchase Priority Boarding, allowing them to board in group 2.

The cost is $9 per segment and, according to United, the number of passes sold will be “closely controlled based on flight, date, time of day and day-of-week restrictions.”

For those who already have TSA Precheck and really want to move up in the boarding process, this is a less expensive add-on than Premier Access, which offers priority boarding benefits along with other benefit such as access to premier check-in lines and security lanes. Prices for this add-on start at $15 per segment.

Keep in mind: the new Priority Pass option, like Premier Access, is non-refundable and is not available to you if you’ve purchased a Basic Economy ticket.

SXSW bring extra music to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport  

The SXSW mash-up of conferences and festivals is underway in Austin and the airport in the Live Music Capital of the World is doing its part to make sure everyone gets their fill of music.

In addition to the usual 21 live music events it offers each week, Austin Bergstrom International Airport is adding six extra performances during peak SXSW travel days – March 12, 13 and 19.

Of the extra performances, bands will play at the airport’s Asleep at the Wheel State at Ray Benson’s Roadhouse near Gate 10, while extra solo acts will perform at Annie’s and Waterloo. See the full schedule here.

Post Office plus at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports

The Parisian postal service – La Poste – has opened enhanced post offices at both Paris-Orly and Paris-Charles de Gaulle airports, In addition to 24-hour postal machines, these post offices will have gift shops, terminals where customers can make photo postcards, rentable work spaces, and other services, including a key drop.

Your face is your boarding pass

Passengers flying with British Airways from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to London Gatwick can now opt to use their face as their boarding pass, thanks to SITA’s biometric boarding technology, which scans a person’s face and matches it up with the data U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has on that passenger in their files.

The process is already being used with certain JetBlue flights at Boston Logan International Airport and British Airways flights at Los Angeles International Airport.

Going biometric isn’t a requirement to board the flights testing the new technology, but last year’s SITA’s passenger IT survey showed that 57% of passengers would use biometrics instead of a boarding pass. SITA reports that real world rates are even higher than that: nearly 100% of passengers are opting to use the biometric boarding during the trials.

Fresno Yosemite Int’l Airport rolls out art, entertainment

Just in time for holiday travel, California’s Fresno Yostemite International Airport (which already features a unique indoor forest experience) is upping the art and entertainment experiences for passengers.

The airport has introduced its first-ever Holiday Music Program, which this season will greet arriving and departing passengers with live performances on a seven foot Steinway grand piano.

If you're flying through Fresno Yosemite International Airport during December, enjoy the airport's first-ever holiday music program with performance by pianists from our local music community! #FestiveFresno

Posted by Fresno Yosemite International Airport on Sunday, December 3, 2017

 

Five pianists will perform for travelers during peak flight times, with extra performances planned for the airport’s late-night departures to Guadalajara, Mexico. The performances will also be live-streamed on the video wall in the airport’s central lobby.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport also rolled out a new Art at the Airport program, with the inaugurual exhibit, “This is Central California” showcasing a wide variety of work by Fresno and the Central Valley’s artists.

Look for the multiple exhibits on the first and second floors near boarding gates, where permanent art galleries are located.

 

Rocky Mountain High: Denver Int’l Airport celebrates Colorado Music

A new exhibit at Denver International Airport celebrates Colorado Music – and about 25 of the artists from the state who have made an impact in the music world.

The exhibit include objects related to music legend John Denver, of course, but also Glenn Miller, Joe Walsh, Judy Collins, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and Chris Daniels.

The Colorado Music Hall of Fame and the John Denver Estate are among the sponsors of the exhibit, which features instruments, records, sheet music, handwritten lyrics, photography, costumes and more.

And check out this album from … The Astronauts – a Colorado-based band from the 1960s.

Look for the exhibit in Denver International Airports’ Ansbacher Hall, in Jeppesen Terminal, approaching A Bridge Security until October.

 

Kid Band Week at Austin Bergstrom Int’l Airport

Austin calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World and that claim extends to Austin Bergstrom International Airport, where there are more than 20 live music shows a week.

This week is Kid Band Week (July 17 – 21, 2017; Monday – Friday) featuring local musicians and bands ranging in age from 10 to 18 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.at the Asleep at the Wheel Stage, located near Gate 10.

Here’s the line-up: