Airport shopping

Automated airport kiosks offer useful items

Shopping, , ,

Honest Company kiosk

Automated kiosks at airports selling everything from high-end cosmetics to Kindles, phone chargers and other electronics are no longer a rare sight. And, unlike airport stores which close their gates at night, these vending machines are open 24 hours.

I’m pleased to see that the offerings in these machines are getting broader.
3FlOZ has kiosks stocked with TSA-compliant travel-sized essentials in a dozen airports. And kiosks from the Honest Company, stocked with everything from diapers to bug spray and other “Oops, I forgot” items, are beginning to appear in airports as well.

honest commpany sign

Here’s a rundown of what you’ll find inside these kiosks:

Four curated collections including a “travel kit” complete with on-the-go essentials from toothpaste to lotion; a “founder’s favorite” featuring traveler must-have products from hand sanitizer spray to lip balm; “diapers and wipes” kit and a “baby care” kit. Additionally, the kiosks feature over 26 personal and baby items for purchase from Honest’s product suite ranging from baby swim trunks to Shave Oil to Immunity Defense tablets to Conditioning Mist.

So far, the kiosks are in Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Concourse C + D), John F. Kennedy International Airport (Terminal 5 + 7), DFW Airport (Terminal B, C, D), Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Airport (Terminal 1) and in Houston’s George Bush International Airport in the Terminal D/E connector.
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Pucker up for Heathrow’s lipstick festival

Shopping, ,

The Statue of Liperty: As part of its new month-long festival of lipstick Heathrow has today unveiled a two-storey replica of the Statue of Liberty in Terminal 5 made using classic red lipstick - the most popular lipstick shade currently being worn by New Yorkers and Big Apple bound passengers. T

A lot of lipstick is sold at Heathrow Airport shops and that’s reason enough to have a Lipstick Festival and reason enough to commission the creation of the 20-foot-tall “Statue of Liperty” that will be on view at Terminal 5 for the next month. The statue, created by a team of make-up artist and sculptors, sits on a base that resembles a giant lipstick case and is made from classic red lipstick, which is the most popular lipstick shade being worn by New Yorkers and New York-bound passengers, according Heathrow’s airport’s annual report on lipstick shades being worn in cities around the world.

Heathrow LIPSTICK LITTLE

As part of lipstick celebration, the airport also commissioned British micro-artist Hedley Wiggan to create Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and other landmarks from regular-size lipsticks, using what the lipstick report identified as the year’s most popular colors for each city:

· New York – Bright Red shade

· London – Caramel Nude shade

· Paris – Dusky Rose shade

· Shanghai – Sheer Coral shade

· Dubai – Rose Pink shade

If all this talk of lipstick has you wanting a fresh look – or a nice gift for a friend – check out Heathrow’s Facebook page or follow the airport on Twitter (@HeathrowAirport). They’re giving away a lipstick a day for the next two weeks. All entries will also be eligible for a ‘get the look’ beauty pack.

Souvenir Sunday at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Shopping, Souvenir Sunday, Souvenirs, , , ,

iah hello kitt longhorns_edited

It’s Souvenir Sunday – the day Stuck at the Airport takes a look at the fun, inexpensive and locally-themed treasures you can find when you’re stuck at the airport.

This week’s treat comes from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), where we spotted this Hello Kitty doll wearing a cute little Texas Longhorns t-shirt.

The only thing cuter was this t-shirt designed for real dolls:

IAH BABY COWGIRL

Not flying? You can still shop at PIT’s AIRMALL

Shopping, , ,

PIT AIRMALL CUPCAKES

Remember the days when the amenities at most airports consisted of generic news and gift stands offering magazines and snacks, such as hotdogs rotating under a heat lamp, at outrageous prices?

Those days are gone – for a long list of reasons – but thanks in no small part to the AIRMALL at Pittsburgh International Airport, which introduced the concept of an eclectic mix of shops right in the terminal and the promise of regular mall pricing – way back in 1992.

PIT’s AIRMALL recently got a $10 million overhaul and the central core of the terminal now has 25 restaurants and bars, 35 specialty retail shops – including luxury brands such as Armani and Hugo Boss – and 10 news and gift stores.

Here’s a full list

The shops and restaurants are all post-security and usually you have be flying somewhere to gain access. But on Saturday, December 6, PIT airport is inviting everyone to come by and to shop and eat and hang out from noon until 6 p.m. – whether they’re flying or not.

There will be discounts and special offers, free parking, entertainment and, of course, Santa.

What’s the catch? If you plan on going, you’ll need to register ahead of time so you can get through security.

Click here to learn more and to register

How to save time, money & sanity at the airport

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Rocking chairs at Houston Hobby Airport

To make the most of airport dwell time during the busy holiday travel season, be sure to take advantage of some of these time and money-saving services and amenities.  The list is from a round-up I put together for CNBC Road Warrior.

Free shoe shines

It seems like an old-fashioned service, but many airports still have shoe shine stands staffed by friendly men and women who, for very reasonable fees, can transform scuffed travel shoes or boots into impressive footwear while you relax, read the paper, return a phone call or chat.

At Los Angeles International Airport shoe shines are free (so tip generously) in most every terminal. The Shoe Hospital at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport not only shines shoes, but fixes broken heels, sells shoelaces, fixes zippers, repairs bags, purses and suitcases and, for those who indulge a bit too much while traveling, punches extra holes in belts that they will also shine.

Layover spa days

A little pampering goes a long way when it comes to improving your travel outlook and appearance. Barbershops, spas and salons at an ever-increasing number of airports offer services that range from haircuts, shampoos and shaves to facials, pedicures, manicures and massages at prices generally on par with what you pay for these services in town.

Some services are discounted during a happy hour offering during the first hour of business (usually between 6 and 7 a.m.) at the Massage Bar, which has branches at seven airports. “Upwards of 65 percent of our clients are business people who are always traveling,” said Massage Bar CEO Chris Woods, “and the clientele make-up is almost 50/50 men and women.”

XpresSpa, with branches in about 50 airports worldwide, has a free membership program that gives discounts and special offers and $5 in rewards points for each $100 you spend. And between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Terminal Getaway Spa, with branches at Chicago O’Hare, Charlotte Douglas and Orlando International Airport, will be giving away treatments via Twitter.

Leverage the lounges

An uptick in business travel means airlines and independent operators are adding lounge locations and upgrading décor and amenities at existing lounges in many cities. If you don’t already get access with your frequent flier status, business class ticket, credit card or travel buddy, consider the $50 one-time entry fee a sanity-saving investment if only for the drinks, snacks, comfortable seating and workspace it can get you.

“But beware,” says TravelSkills founder Chris McGinnis. “Many lounges won’t allow walk-ins when they are overcrowded, so you can’t always count on getting in to the one you want to.” The solution? “You can often walk across the hall or to another concourse and try buying entry into another one,” he said.

Doggin’ it

Teams of trained therapy dogs regularly visit many airports and there’s no cost to spend a few stress-reducing minutes lapping up some love from these pups when you see them.

Passengers who need to board their own pets while traveling can save time by using pet hotels located on or near airport properties. Now Boarding at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, for example, boards cats, dogs and a variety of “little critters” and offers parking, airport shuttle rides, multi-pet discounts and frequent visitor benefits. The 24-hour service makes early morning drop-offs and late night pick-ups possible, which can reduce the number of boarding nights you’ll need to pay for.

Stop and smell the roses

Instead of parking yourself at a gate, head to a free airport observation deck to chill out and take a look around. The BWI Observation Gallery in Baltimore is located pre-security and, in addition to great airfield views, has aviation exhibits, children’s play equipment, charging stations and a cocktail lounge. At LAX, the Observation Deck on top of the Theme Building in the middle of the Central Area is open each Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering airport and Los Angeles views for free.

There’s an indoor, aeroponic garden at Chicago O’Hare Airport where herbs and vegetables used in many airport restaurant dishes are grown and, the recently renovated Dallas Love Field airport, the pre-security outdoor Moss Lee Love Garden is home to live plants and grasses and artwork that includes 12-foot-tall cast-bronze trees.

Shopping for deals

Shopping can be great therapy and shopping for gifts during a layover can save time and money.

Many airports have a “street pricing” policy that prohibits shops (and restaurants) in the terminals from adding surcharges to the prices. You can avoid sales tax on all purchases when shopping at Oregon’s Portland International Airport and avoid sales on clothing (and shoes) when shopping at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Pittsburgh International Airport’s AirMall.

And don’t be shy about using coupons. MSP airport regularly updates a long list of downloadable discount coupons good at airport shops and restaurants, and while no expiration dates are listed on the coupons available from San Antonio International Airport, airport spokeswoman Nora Castro says they are updated quarterly to reflect the latest vendor deals.

During the holidays, many airport shops provide free gift wrapping and shipping and gift-with-purchase offers as well.

Souvenir Sunday at Sydney Airport

Souvenir Sunday, Souvenirs, ,

It’s Souvenir Sunday – the day we take a look at some of the fun, inexpensive and locally-themed souvenirs you can pick up when you’re stuck at the airport.

Because who really needs a(nother) Gucci bag, a 5 pound bag of chocolate or a heavy glass bottle of duty-free scotch that will likely fall and break before you get it through customs and home to your house?

Sydney Boxing pens

I found this week’s treats at Sydney Airport, where I spent several hours before boarding a Qantas Airways A380 for its inaugural flight from Sydney to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The flight marked the first time the world’s largest airplane flew on the world’s longest route.

Sydney airport assorted

Sydney Airport platypus

Souvenir Sunday at the unopened BER Airport

Airports, Souvenir Sunday, Souvenirs, ,

For an ever-lengthening list of reasons, including what seems to be varying levels of corruption, wild ineptitude and just run of the mill construction issues, the Berlin Brandenburg Airport, which was originally set to open in 2012, is still unfinished.

BER STAIRS

When will it open? No one seems to know. And, now that multiple opening dates have been missed, no one seems willing to even give it a guess.

And while no one can fly to or from BER Airport, bus tour of the grounds are offered, in German only, several times a week.

I went along for one of these rides and will be working up a longer report shortly. But, because this is Souvenir Sunday here at StuckatTheAirport.com, I wanted to share some of the souvenirs I bought at the information station at the base of the viewing tower on airport grounds.

While there was a display case that showed a variety of BER-themed items, including caps,t-shirts, an inflatable ball, a lanyard, a tote bag and a tiny lunch box, the gals at the front desk seems surprised – almost shocked – when I said I wanted to buy a half dozen items.

Purchases seemed to be so rare that they couldn’t figure out how to run my credit card through the machine and, had it not been for the 27 Euros in cash my translator loaned me, I wouldn’t have been able to take home what I’m sure are already quite collectible souvenirs.

BER SOUVENIRS

The little bear is cute. The tiny lunch box? Adorable. But I think my favorite BER souvenir is the tote bag with the image of the airplane made up of food, drink and activities BER passengers will have to wait a long time to enjoy.

Spin the wheel, win prizes at PIT Airport

Fun Stuff, , ,

Thursday, April 17, is Customer Appreciation Day at Pittsburgh International Airport and that means prizes, free cookies, live music and discounts deals in the stores.

PIT WHEEL

German band Mädel Jäger will provide the live music and from 11 am to 3 pm, airport visitors will have a chance to spin a wheel for one of the prizes donated by shops and restaurants throughout the airport.

To add an extra dollop of appreciation, the airport will be asking for donations (of any amount) for each spin of the prize wheel, with the funds going to the Serve-A-Soldier Program, which gives active service personnel a $10 AIRMALL gift card for a meal at the airport before flying out.

More details here.

Airport “Brookstone Guy” saves the day

Shopping, ,

Brookstone guy_edited

I had to cut out most of this photo to keep this guy, who works at a Brookstone kiosk at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, from getting in trouble with his bosses.

Even though he did a really nice thing and saved me more than $30.

I’d forgotten the cable to charge my cell phone and realized that the little gadget I’d been carrying around to serve as an emergency backup didn’t work.

The Hudson newsstand didn’t have a replacement cable, so I headed to the Brookstone kiosk, where I learned that the cable I needed only came in a kit that cost more than $30.

I was about to buy it (and visualizing how irritated I’d be when adding it to the nine other cables sitting on my desk at home) when I mentioned to the clerk that I had this gadget that I hadn’t been able to use.

“Let me see it,” he said, “maybe it does work.”

It did.

He lost the sale, but gained a fan. And when I said “let me take your picture and share this nice story,” he said company policy forbid him from having his name or picture shared in social media.

I only sort of get that policy, but don’t want to get him trouble for doing a nice thing.

So, all I can say here is: thank-you, Brookstone guy! You saved me from having to buy a needless cable.

To celebrate, I spent that $30 getting my nails done an airport spa.

nails