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Airport statues: Rocky at PHL + Franco at PIT

Sports, Uncategorized, , , ,

Yo, Adrian. And everyone else.

Next time you find yourself at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), be sure to stop by Terminal A -West to snap a selflie with the Rocky Balboa statue that is now a permanent fixture.

The 10-foot-tall bronze scultpure is one of three original Rocky casts created in 1980 for the Rocky III film by A. Thomas Schomberg in collaboration with Sylvester Stallone.

To mark the installation, PHL held a Rocky look-alike contest.

Contest registrants were encouraged to access the terminal using a PHL Wingmate Pass and were reminded that “raw eggs are subject to the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule for liquids and raw meat must be completely frozen and packaged.”

PIT Airport’s Immaculate Reception statue – relocated & fixed

Pretty much everyone in Pittsburgh is delighted with the new $1.7 billion landside terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), which features plenty of space, lots of light, oodles of art and a new (probably temporary) spot for the selfie-friendly statue depicting the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Franco Harris making the famous Immaculate Reception.

But fans quickly pointed out that some of the details in the background collage were a bit off.

No worries, airport officials say, they’ll fix that.

San Diego Int’l Airport expands visitor pass program

Uncategorized, Visitor pass,

San Diego International Airport (SAN), which recently opened a brand new Terminal 1, is expanding its visitor pass program allowing non-ticketed guests to visit the terminals.

Until now, visitors could only apply for a SAN Pass to enter Terminal 2, but now the program has been expanded to cover both Terminals 1 and 2.

“If you’ve ever wanted to see off family or friends at their gate or enjoy the outstanding dining and retail options in Terminal 1 and 2 without flying, this program offers that opportunity,” said Kimberly Becker, President and CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

How the SAN Pass works

To apply for a SAN PASS, visitors provide their full legal name, date of birth, and gender (as listed on a TSA-approved photo ID). If approved, visitors will receive their SAN Pass via email as a PDF attachment and go through general screening with their pass and a TSA-approved REAL ID.

Which other airports offer a visitor pass?

Cleveland Hopkins Interational Airport (CLE) offer the Hopkins Hangout Pass

The Wingmate Pass at Philadelphia International Airport.

Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA): SEA Visitor Pass Program.

The MSY Guest Pass Program at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

DTW Destinaton Pass at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)

BNA Passport at Nashville International Airport (BNA)

Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in Lansing, MI: the LAN Visitor Pass.

OC AirPass at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, CA,

ONT+ Visitor Pass Program at California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT)

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) recently rolled out its MCI Guest Pass Program

Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) has a Stay and Play Visitor Pass

Tampa International Airport brought back its TPA All Access pass in October 2025.

Updated airline policies for change/fee waivers due to flight reduction mandate

Airlines, Uncategorized, ,

And end to the government shutdown may be closer to reality.

But the Federal Aviation Administration has not yet lifted mandated flight reductions at the busiest airports around the country that in place to try reduce stress on the air traffic control system.

As a result, massive flight cancelations and delays are still a major issue.

As the day begins, Flightaware.com is reporting more than 1,100 flight cancellations for today (Tuesday) and about 600 delays.

But that is likely to increase over the course of the day, especially with weather issues in some parts of the country.

Updated airline refund/change fee waiver policies

Airlines are updating their travel advisories and travel alerts on a rolling basis to reflect the flights they have canceled in response to flight reduction mandates.

Refunds are available if you choose not to fly. Be sure to read the details about rebooking, as there are restrictions about when your flight was booked, and when you choose to fly.

And of course, keep checking back, as the policies are being updated each day.

Alaska Airlines: policies apply for flights scheduled through November 17. If you’re not requesting a refund, you can rebook to fly by November 24.

American Airlines is offering refunds and waiving changes fees for travel to/through or from more than 20 airports for flighs sheduled through November 15. The change fee waiver applies to rebooked flights through November 17.

Delta Air Lines: If you were scheduled to travel by 15, 2025, the change fee waiver applies to rebooked flights that occur by November 17.

See the updated cancel and fee waiver policy for Frontier Airlines here.

JetBlue‘s updated policies on refunds and flight reduction fee waivers are listed here.

Southwest Airlines updated policies are listed here.

The Spirit Airlines policy is posted here.

United Airlines policy is posted here.


Shutdown may be ending, but air travel still a mess

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There seems to be progress in getting to an end of the government shutdown. But even if a deal is made today, air travel will be a mess for a quite a while.

As the work week gets uderway, Flightaware is showing close to 1500 flight cancellations and more than 800 delays for Monday.

Airline still have cancellation offers and and are waiving charges for changing travel plans, but there are fewer options for travelers. And more frustrations.

While some travelers can cancel their flights, there are people who really need to get from here to there.

And the change waiver policies have restrictions that are putting many travelers in a bind.

United Airlines, for instance is offering refunds on booked tickets adn waiving change fees for travelers booked to fly between now and November 13 to/from Cleveland, Denver, New York (EWR), Washington, DC (IAD), Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.

But new flights must occur within 6 days of original booking. If not, fare differences will be charged.

Other airlines have a short rebook window as well.

The problem travelers are facing is that as airlines cancel more flights nationwide to comply with FAA mandates to reduce an increasing percentage of flights at high traffic airports, there are fewer alternative flight options for passengers that avoid new fees.

Charming new playspace at Albany Int’l Airport

Kids, Uncategorized, ,

Airports across the country are dealing wiht the fallout of having federal workers being forced to show up and work without pay and, now, the chaos and confusion cause by the FAA-mandated reduction in flights.

But there are still fresh airport amenities to celebrate.

Like this charming new spot on Concourse B at Albany International Airport (ALB) called the Adirondack Imaginarium Family Play Space.

Develeoped with the Wild Center at Tupper Lake and featuring the creative work of artists Gracelee Lawrence and David Fadden, the play space is a cheery, regionally-themed spot for families to hang out.