Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Airports not giving up on Twitter just yet

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Hundreds of airports around the world use Twitter as one of their tools to share news and updates with the public.

The social media site is in flux (to say the least) at the moment. But for now, it’s still a great way to find out at a glance what some of our favorite airports are up to.

On Monday, for example, we learned:

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) has installed a cool, new eyeglass-cleaning machine;

Miami International Airport (MIA) has a new art exhibit;

Santa is scheduled to stop in at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) on November 26;

Tampa Executive Airport (VDF) hosted a cool fly-in;

Two former Detroit Red Wings spent time at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) signing hockey pucks and meeting fans;

An oh-so-cute member airport therapy dog posed for harvest-time photos at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX);

And, as part of its 60th anniversary year, Dulles International Airport (IAD), reminded us of the mobile lounges that were used to transport passengers between the terminals and their planes.

Two Things for Travelers

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Hawaiian Airlines hosts a ‘window activation’ in Austin

Hawaiian Airlines operates thrice-weekly flights between Austin and Honolulu and to promote the service the airline is hosting a contest with a grand prize of enough HawaiianMiles to fly First Class roundtrip between Austin and Honolulu. Plus a five-night stay at The Prince Waikiki Hotel.

The contest runs September 30 and October 1. To participate, entrants must visit Austin outdoor shopping center The Domain, peer into a series of virtual airplane windows that will give the illusion of landing in Honolulu, and then complete a scavenger hunt to find other airplane windows.

One grand prize winner of The Window Seat activation will win the equivalent miles for two First Class roundtrip tickets and a stay at The Prince Waikiki Hotel. Other prizes include fresh flower lei, Hawaiian Airlines travel swag, and 120,000 HawaiianMiles. And everyone giving the scavenger hunt a try will be offered complimentary shave ice. See contest details here.

Make an Origami Maple Leaf

Courtesy National Archives

Getting ready for some leaf peeping? Get in the mood with this 39-step maple leaf origami project from the pages of Origami Odyssey, by Peter Engel.

At The Airport: News from AUS, ROC, MDW, and more

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Banksy Art on View at Austin-Bergstrom Int’l Airport

Airport or art gallery? We have to say both.

Five prints and a sculpture by the artist Bansky are on display in a gallery between Gates 11 and 9 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). If you’re headed that way, be sure to spend some time checking some of the other great temporary and permanent art exhibits in the terminals.

Airports Mark Veterans Day

Airports around the country are honoring our nation’s veterans this week. Here are a few examples.

Tune in to these airport podcasts

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Courtesy Library of Congress

Airport podcasts

If you like airports and podcasts, then you should probably be listening to airport podcasts.

We’re not sure we have them all, but we’re starting to put a list together. Let us know what we’re missing,

Here’s what we have so far.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is hosting a new podcast called the Austin Approach. They kicked it off just in time to dig into some unusual weather issues, such as snow.

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) hosts Carolina Traveler. Season one episodes highlight attractions and activities in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties, as well as GSP’s economic impact on the Upstate.

At Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), airport CEO Chellie Cameron has been sharing news about the airport in Chellie’s Podcasts.

The podcast from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is called The Fly Angle. Episodes so far have covered how the airport attracts new air service, shopping at the airport, aircraft noise, and where to find great craft beer at the airport.

Stuck at the Airport: SEA shares music. AUS presents podcasts.

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Music Wall at SEA Airport

In a ‘normal’ year, we’d be going to airports all the time. And in many of those airports, there would be local musicians playing for us while we wait for our flights.

The pandemic means that in most airports, live music isn’t happening. And it also means the musicians who would have been playing at airports have lost those gigs. And the income from those gigs.

Pre-pandemic, for example, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was programming live music 7 days a week in multiple places in the terminal. In 2020 and 2021, the schedule was being expanded, with more stages and more music.

While we wait for that programming to come back, SEA is doing what it can for the musicians. And for passengers who miss the music.

The airport has just installed a new 12X7-foot, high-resolution digital LED music wall on Concourse C that is showing a two-hour program highlighting more than 30 musicians who played at the airport before the pandemic.

Enjoy it here or in the airport. And tip the musicians if you can.

Podcasts from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Fans of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) will want to start downloading and listening to the airport’s podcast series, The Austin Approach, which gives listeners “a look into all things AUS.”

Episodes will drop twice a month and feature interviews with airport staff, news and updates from around the airport, and insider stories about airport life.  The episodes are on the AUS website and available to stream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and PodBean.