Airport amenity of the week

Cool airport amenity: pickleball courts

Sports, ,

It’s been quite a year for California’s s Long Beach Airport (LGB).

The airport marked its centennial year with special events, a new mural, a historic video series, a collectible series of vintage-style posters and branded giveaways.

But they’re not done yet.

The airport recently debuted a new trademarked slogan – america’s coolest airport –, interred a centennial time capsule and introduced pop-up pickleball courts for the holiday season.

The pickleball courts are offered in partnership with the City of Long Beach’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine and are located just north of the Historic Terminal.

According to LGB officials, the two temporary pickleball courts will be activated periodically throughout the holidays.

We’re putting the Long Beach Airport pickleball courts in the running for Airport Amenit of the Week.

Airport Amenity of the Week

Baggage,

Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN) gets high marks and many awards for its amenities, including everything from art and elaborate gardens to free movies and the world’s largest indoor waterfall.

Changi is also known for its customer service.

A few days ago, “due to inclement weather and lightning warnings,” the airport sent out a message on social media to inform passengers of possible delays “in the presentation of baggage as we prioritize the safety of our ground handling staff.”

While passengers waited for their bags to arrive, the airport rolled out carts with complimentary refreshments.

We’ve seen some US airlines send refreshments to the gate area when a flight is very delayed. But this is the first time we’ve seen complimentary refreshments sent to the bag claim area. And while it won’t make the bags arrive faster, it’s a nice gesture.

And so we’re declaring this the Airport Amenity of the Week in hopes that US airlines might take note.

Airport Amenity of the Week: My First Flight Buttons

Kids, , , , ,

Whether you’re a kid or an adult, your first flight on an airplane is a big deal.

Virginia’s Norfolk International Airport (ORF) gets that. And, clearly, the folks who work at the airport remember that scared, giddy feeling of taking that first flight.

Like many other airports, ORF is on target to break passenger records this year. And like many other airports, ORF has a bundle of capital projects underway to modernize and expand its facilities.

The airport is also working on upping the customer experience. They’ve built a new children’s play area and have complimentary coloring books and crayons available at the airport Information Booth for anyone who asks.

Also free for the asking, My First Flight buttons.

“The idea is akin to what some theme parks make available for first-time visitors,” said ORF airport spokesperson Chris Jones. “We found a button-making kit online and then designed and created the buttons in-house. Hopefully, kids will hold onto them as keepsakes to remember their first flight into or out of ORF.”

The My First Flight buttons are rolling out this week and are available at the airport information booth. Volunteer Ambassadors are also carrying them to hand out.

Keep in mind: First Flights can take place at any age.

So don’t be shy about asking for a My First Flight button at ORF if you fit the bill. You don’t have to wear it, but it’s a great souvenir.

And it’s our Airport Amenity of the Week.

Airport Amenity of the Week

Shopping, ,

Here at Stuck at The Airport, we’re always on the look-out for new, useful and cool airport amenities.

And this week’s Airport Amenity of the Week can be found at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

In a reflection of the times, the LAS airport now hosts a pair of PPE vending machines that dispense some of today’s most-wanted travel supplies, including gloves and hand sanitizer.

 LAS is the first to install these machines, which are located in T1 ticketing and near the T3 TSA checkpoint.

What’s in the machine? Hand sanitizer ($4.25-$6.50). 10-pack of alcohol wipes ($5.25) Tissues ($3.50) Reusable cloth mask ($14.50) 3-pack disposable masks ($7.50) KN95 mask ($8.25) 4-pack disposable gloves ($4.50).

The Las Vegas airport has many other airport amenities we love, including slot machines, an aviation museum, a baggage claim liquor store and some great art.

LAS is also home to vending machines that sell everything from Sprinkles cupcakes and Lego kits to souvenirs made by local artists, collected by the folks at SouveNEAR.

Can’t miss: giant cheese & maple syrup at Burlington Int’l Airport

Airports, Food, , , ,

 

It’s only Monday, but we already have a contender for “Airport amenity of the week.”

Travelers passing through Burlington International Airport in Vermont will certainly notice the 7-foot-tall jug of Dakin Farm maple syrup and the 7-foot-long block of cheese from the Cabot Creamery.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Blq0rQ3ns6h/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The giant, selfie-friendly food items not only promote Vermont-made products, they’re linked to a special on-line offer that includes a discount on a quart of real maple syrup and a free box of buttermilk pancake mix.

Many a Vermont visitor has likely ended up discarding or handing over just-bought bottles and jugs of maple syrup at the BTV security checkpoint, so the mail-order syrup offer is a good way to make sure souvenirs of Vermont make it home.

We’re putting this temporary airport amenity into the pot for Airport Amenity of the Week. But it is only Monday, so if you spot something cool at an airport this week, please add a note in the comment section and we’ll consider your nomination as well.