Observation Decks

The new Overlook at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

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Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) has a new 600,000-square-foot Airport Overlook, or observation area.

We can’t wait to visit and check out the wide array of cool amenities and take advantage of the great views of the airfield, the skyline and the terminal.

This is the airport’s fifth official Overlook since 1937. The last one was closed to make way for a new taxiway and runway. And this one is a keeper.

Here’s a list of what visitors can do and see at the new Overlook at Charlotte Douglas International Airport:

The main attraction is an unobstructed view of takeoffs and landings on the airfield. But the Overlook also hosts exhibits about aviation history in the Carolinas and descriptions of planes and equipment visitors might see. Not sure what’s what? There are also explanations of how things work, such as what makes it possible for a 747 to fly and how runways are built and named.

Playgrounds, Aircraft Display and a Memorial

The Overlook has space for food trucks and includes two aviation-themed playgrounds with plane-shaped climbing structures, an air-traffic control tower with a slide, a mini fuel truck, a baggage cart and a runway. Additional amenities include covered picnic tables, plenty of parking and shaded areas, a pet relief area, bike racks and restrooms with baby changing tables.

But wait, there’s more.

The CLT Airport Overlook is home to a retired U.S. military fighter jet: an F4 Phantom II that flew during the Vietnam War and the Cold War. A memorial for the 37 people who died when USAir Flight 1016 crashed near the airport on July 2, 1994, is here too.

The new Airport Overlook at Charlotte Douglas International Airport is on airport property at 5130 Airport Overlook Drive. It is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Admission is free.

Here are some images CLT shared of the previous locations.

TSA’s Cutest Canine + Airport Open Spaces

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Dina wins TSA’s 2023 Cutest Canine Contest

The votes are in. And Dina, a three-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) explosives detection canine at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), is the winner of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) 2023 Cutest Canine Contest.

The contestants came from a field of 92 dogs nominated by TSA handlers from airports across the country. TSA employees weighed in and narrowed the field to four finalists. The public then voted on social media (X, Instagram and Facebook) for the cutest TSA canine of them all.

You’ll next see Dina on the front cover of TSA’s 2024 canine calendar, which will be released later this year.

Where to find fresh air at an airport

The Stuck at the Airport team is pleased to share some thoughts about the past and present of outdoor observation decks at airports for this Wall Street Journal article (subscription may be required to access).

Once a feature of almost every airport, outdoor spaces – especially free to access open spaces – are hard to find at airport terminals nationwide.

But you can find them. And, we’re happy to report, some new ones are on the horizon.

We love the outdoor decks (one pre-security, one post-security) at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the patios at Denver International Airport (DEN), the ‘wooftop’ at JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at JFK International Airport (JFK), and the outdoor gardens at Honolulu International Airport (HNL).

And we’re looking forward to the outdoor spaces that will part of the new terminal being built for Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT).

(SFO Airport post-security outdoor deck)

(Denver International Airport outdoor patio)

(Gardens at HNL, Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport)

Do you know of outdoor decks and public spaces at other airports? Share your favorites in the comments section below.

Another airport gets an outdoor patio

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At one time, outdoor observation decks and patios were common at airports and many modern-day travelers and avgeeks have pleasant memories of going to the airport just to see planes land and take off.

Unfortunately, many airport observation decks were closed due to modern-day concerns about security.

But some airports, including San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Denver International Airport (DEN), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK/T5 – JetBlue), and some others still have them.

Others are adding outdoor patios as a new and very welcome amenity.

Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), on California’s central coast, is the newest airport to add outdoor space for passengers to relax before their flight.

MRY’s Outdoor Courtyard is located post-security, at Gate 1, and offers comfortable seating and great views of the runway, Monterey Bay, and the surrounding area.

There is also an outdoor pet relief area for travelers with furry companions.

Here are some snaps of the outdoor space and the view.

Nonstop routes at MRY include Burbank, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Check out the view!

And, while Monterey Regional Airport is small, another great amenity is Chef Tim Wood’s latest venture, Woody’s at the Airport.

Located pre-security, on the upper level of the airport, the restaurant also overlooks the runway and the bay. (And they validate parking).

Do you have a favorite outdoor patio or observation deck at an airport? Let us know about it in the comments and we’ll update the list.

(Photos above courtesy Monterey Airport and SeeMonterey.com)

Denver Airport now has an outdoor deck

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Denver International Airport (DEN) now has its first outdoor deck, thanks to the airport’s $1.5 billion Gate Expansion Program.

The deck is located on Concourse B, at the far western end of the concourse.

In addition to outdoor seating, the deck has fire pits, a pet relief area, and beautiful mountain views. Concessions will soon be available on the deck as well.

Along with the outdoor deck, DEN unveiled four new gates on Concourse B that are being used by United Airlines. These new gates are the first of 39 new gates and new passenger amenities that will roll out across three concourses.

The first new set of gates has six hold rooms, new restrooms, a nursing room, new seating, and a pet relief area.

“The new gates on B-West provide a glimpse into the future of DEN’s concourses,” said DEN CEO Kim Day. “It won’t be too long before the expansion work is completed on each concourse and we complete upgrades throughout each concourse, enhancing the experience for all passengers to enjoy.”

SFO Airport has a new outdoor observation deck

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Airport observation decks are a treat – and a rarity – these days.

So it’s a big deal when an airport opens a brand new one.

Better yet, an outdoor observation deck that anyone – even someone without a ticket – can visit.

But that’s what San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has done.

On February 14 – Valentine’s Day – SFO opened a new $6.3 million outdoor observation deck called the SkyTerrace.

Located pre-security in Terminal 2, the 1,460-square-foot SkyTerrace is open to the general public and, as a bonus, offers 180-degree views of the busiest section of SFO, where all four runways intersect.

Visitors will find wooden chairs and benches at the SkyTerrace, drought-tolerant landscaping, bird-safe glass panels to provide wind protection and great views.

Food and beverages are permitted on the SkyTerrace, and later this year a café will open nearby. So this sounds like a great place to hang out with friends or family before a flight.

SFO’s new SkyTerrace will be open seven days a week from 7:00 am – 10:00 pm. And while no ticket is required to access this new observation deck, visitors must still undergo a security check as they enter the space.

As a nice bonus, the SFO Museum has installed an exhibit at the SkyTerrace titled The 1954 San Francisco International Airport Terminal, which explores the history and architecture of the building that was on the spot now occupied by the SkyTerrace.

Courtesy SFO Museum

Designed in the International Style, the seven-story building was dedicated on August 27, 1954 and had panoramic views of the airfield and San Francisco Bay from multiple spectators’ terraces.  The exhibition features objects and imagery from the first decade the building operated.

SFO’s other observation deck

And don’t forget that SFO airport has another snazzy observation deck.

That one also offers 180-degree views of the airfield and is post-security at the end of the International Terminal, Boarding Area G. It also has wooden chairs, tables, and chaise lounges, ten-foot bird-safe glass panels, drought-tolerant landscaping and three bronze sculptures. Hours: 7:00 am to 11:30 pm every day.