It’s called the “Karmadillo” – for obvious reasons – and is being referred to as the “most Texas ride ever.”
Agree?
SEA Airport’s N Concourse celebrates a concession milestone
When it officially opened at the end of 2021, the remodeled and expanded N Concourse at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) boasted 8 new and 12 remodeled gates, fresh new art and a long list of cool new shops and restaurants.
Due to the pandemic, it’s taken a while for all the contracted tenants to open their spaces.
Now they have. And this week SEA took the time to celebreate with lion dancers, ribbon cuttings and a visit from Jett the SEA Otter, the airport’s new mascot.
If you’re headed to SEA sometime soon, here are eight of the most recent openings:
Sky Gamerz is a gaming lounge serving up retro Atra-era video games that can be played for free, along with a full food and drink menu .
Tender Loving Empire was born in Portland and is a welcome Seattle gift shop addition that supports hundreds of artists, makers, musicians, and small businesses.
CHALO Seattleoffers fun travel gear with really great graphics.
Show Pony is a locally-owned boutique featuring clothing, jewelry, accessories, and gifts from independent small designers, many local to the Pacific Northwest.
Other new venues include a branch of P.F. Chang’s, Lil Woody’s Burgers & Shakes, Embarque Whiskey Grill and Village Pub .
And check out what’s on deck for the Great Hall at Denver Internaitonal Airport
Exhibition celebrating public art at Miami Int’l Airport
From now until July 2025, Miami International Airport (MIA) is celebrating local public art with a photography exhibition in the Gate D31 Gallery.
Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places: Celebrating 50 Years features 23 images of large-scale, integrated art commissions located countywide, from MIA to PortMiami, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and several private-public partnerships on county land.
CLT’s Festival of Light features trees decorated in various themes including, “Tis the Season to Travel,” “Christmas Around the World,” “White Christmas,” “Queens Court,” “A Few of Our Favorite Things,” “Construction Fit for a Queen” and “Bon Voyage.”
The tree display is coordinated by HMS Host, CLT’s food and beverage concessionaire and each tree has a QR code that passengers and employees can use to donate to a charitable organization, including Second Harvest, Big Brothers Big Sisters, American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish and Autism Speaks.
A second QR code lets everyone vote on their favorite tree through Dec. 28. The winning team will receive a trophy.
As the Houston Rockets basketball team’s official airline partner, Taiwan’s Eva Air has created a Rockets-themed experience for passengers flying on the airline out of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
Houston travelers will see Rockets-branded signage and be able to download or print out Rockets-themed boarding passes and luggage tags.
The carrier currently flies between Houston and Taipei daily.
A lot is happening at airports around the country this week. Here’s a round-up of some of what we’ve spotted so far.
First – see if you can catch this deal:
Low-cost Icelandic airline PLAY is offering flights from the U.S. to Iceland for $99 and to London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Paris for $109 from October 24 through 31. Book it here.
This deal is valid for flights booked from November 2024 through January 2025.
Trick-or-Treat at the airport? That could be fun.
In some cities, they do safe trick-or-treating events at the mall. But in Canton, Ohio, kids will head to the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) on Halloween.
Enjoy FREE admission to a safe trick-or-treating alternative at Akron-Canton Airport! Our Not-So-Scary Trick or Treat event will be held on October 31st from 6-8pm inside the terminal (pre-security).
The Stuck at the Airport shopping team loves creative airport vending machines. Here’s a new one at OAK airport that dispenses greeting cards.
Next time you're traveling to see loved ones and forget to grab a greeting card, OAK's got your back! Check out our new @minted machine in the T1-T2 connector and support an independent artist with your purchase. Other items are available as well! #iflyoak#FlyTheEastBayWaypic.twitter.com/YLiMdhB8Wq
— San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (@IFlyOAKland) October 23, 2024
SLC Airport still celebrating Phase 3 opening
We can’t wait to visit Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to see the new art at amenities that opened as part of the Phase 3 redevelopment.
We're on top of the world! We're over the moon (and stars)! We're certainly blue (but not sad)! We're feeling DINO-mite!
Opening day for #TheNewSLC Phase 3 had us feeling all of these things and more. Enjoy these photos from Phase 3 featuring:
We’re not sure how we missed the announcement of this cool exhibit at Denver International Airport (DEN). But if you’re passing through DEN this month, be sure to take a moment to visit the Colorado Clay exhibit near the A-Bridge checkpoint.
Catch the Colorado Clay exhibit at DEN before it ends in mid-October. The exhibit is an exploration of the rich history and popularity of clay in Colorado. It's located near the A-Bridge checkpoint in Ansbacher Hall. https://t.co/BGAWPh6eyu#DENartpic.twitter.com/oZCUIqfnQ1
Houston Airports owns one of the country’s largest public art collections. Now it has an Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program.
During a three-month-long residency, visual artist and educator Jaymes Earl will work with textiles at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Visual Artist and educator Mathieu JN Baptiste will paint at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).
Houston Airports will provide each artist with an easel, a workstation, and a monthly stipend to cover their art supplies. And the traveling public will get to see artists at work. Both artists will be working in prominent spots in the airport and, to maximize interaction with travelers, they’ll be doing much of their work in the evenings and during weekends.
“As air travel returns to pre-pandemic levels and with these artists in the airports during the holidays, our travelers will have an extraordinary experience to enjoy art and culture without ever having to leave the airport,” said Alton DuLaney, Curator of Public Art for Houston Airports.
Alton DuLaney, Director and Curator of the Public Art Program for the Houston Airport System, was kind enough to meet me for a tour of some of his favorites. You can see the full list, with photos, in our story for The Points Guy site.
But I’ve pulled out a couple of my favorites here.
The Houston Airport, which operates both IAH and Hobby Airport (HOU) owns more than 350 works of art, one of the largest public art collections in Texas. Art curator DuLaney is a proponent of displaying as much of the collection as possible. So if you take a walk in any direction at the airport you will spot art. Some of it you’ll love. Some of it you may not care for. But all of it adds to the experience of being at the airport.
Countree Music (the ‘tree’ image above), is one of the first works purchased for the airport back in 1991. It is in Terminal A and was created by singer-songwriter Terry Allen. He also created the terrazzo floor surrounding the tree that depicts a map showing Houston as the center of the world. Pick a spot to stand on that floor near the tree and listen: there’s an original soundtrack of 16 songs recorded by Allen with the help of various musicians, including David Byrne from the Talking Heads.
Fiesta Dancers by Latino artist Luis Jimenez shown alongside High Flying by Larry Schuekler
The Terminal A Connector Gallery is both filled with art and is a great spot to avoid the noise and hustle of the airport. Here, away from the gates and the overhead announcements, you’ll find 20 vitrines filled with new and existing artwork from the collection- sometimes in the same display case.
For example, Fiesta Dancers by Luis Jimenez is paired with High Flying by Larry Schuekler. “Both sculptures explore the joy of dance from two different cultural perspectives,” says DuLaney.
Stay safe, stay sane, and pay attention to the gifts you put in your carry-on bags.
TSA officers may ask you to unwrap a package if they need to get a look at what’s inside. That can be slow you down, of course, but it could also spoil a holiday surprise if the gift you’ve carefully wrapped is for one of your traveling companions.
One suggestion – offered in the TSA Travel Talk below – is to pack presents in gift bags so that checkpoint staff can look at the contents without ruining a great wrapping job.
But Alton DuLaney, who happens to be both a world-famous gift wrap artist andHouston Airports’ public art curator, isn’t a fan of gift bags.
“I feel like gift bags are a little lazy when you’ve gone to all the trouble to find the perfect gift for someone,” he told us in a pre-holiday interview. He offered a few more creative, TSA-friendly, wrapping alternatives.
One idea is to use a box with a lid and wrap the bottom of the box and the lid of the box separately.
“That way you can open the box to show TSA what’s inside. And when you get to where you going just tie on a ribbon and you’re ready to give the gift,” said DuLaney.
Another option is to put gifts in decorated tins or containers that can be easily opened and reclosed at the security checkpoint.
“You can also wrap gifts in clear colored or printed cellophane. And that way TSA can still see what’s inside as well.”
On Monday, December 20 from 9 am to 3 pm, both Hobby Airport (HOU) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston will be hosting free gift-wrapping stations. DuLaney will be at Hobby Airport but says he’s carefully trained the teams that will be staffing the tables at both airports.
Many other airports around the country will be offering free gift wrap stations during this busy travel week as well. Some will be collecting donations for local charities, so tip generously and take the opportunity to do some last-minute shopping at your airport. Those stores could really use your business this year.
Don't worry about wrapping your gifts 🎁 before you go through TSA, you can bring them and let the World's Most Famous Gift Wrap Artist 🎁 wrap them for you!
FREE GIFT WRAPPING! When? This Monday, December 20, from 9AM to 3PM 🎁
The airport is located about 23 miles north of downtown Houston and is served by more than two dozen airlines offering flights to about 185 non-destinations.
Keep in mind that some of the amenities we list may be temporarily unavailable due to health concerns. We’re confident they’ll be back.
If we miss one of the things you love about George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), be sure to leave a note in the comments section below.
5 Things We Love About George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
1. The art at IAH Airport
The Houston Airport System owns one of the largest collections of public art in Texas and a good amount of that art is on display at IAH Airport.
Travel Light – by The Art Guys Moonwalking Cow – Silvestri
https://player.vimeo.com/video/188034019
2. Live music at IAH Airport
The Harmony in the Air performing arts program at IAH presents live concerts in Terminal A, Northside Atrium, and in Terminal D, near gate D8.
Concerts are scheduled Monday through Friday and include classical, jazz, pop, and International music. See the IAH website for schedule and concert times.
3. The IAH Yoga studio
IAH has a yoga studio for passengers in Terminal A, near Gate A3.
4. Shopping at IAH
We’ve picked up some great souvenirs in the shops at IAH
5. The Inter-Terminal Train at IAH
All five terminals at IAH are connected by an above-ground automated people-mover (the Skyway) and the underground Subway, which dates to 1981 and runs on a circuit that makes a curving and somewhat amusing round-trip every 18 minutes.
As of September 2020, the subway was undergoing some major repairs, so the video below may be the closest you’ll get to this unusual ride for a while.
The Inter-Terminal Train at IAH has a great backstory.
In the late-1970s a Disney executive who traveled through IAH on a regular basis became irritated with the unreliable tram system then operating between terminals. Not long after, a Disney-made people mover opened at IAH.
That’s why Mickey Mouse was on hand for the subway’s opening day.
Did we miss one your favorite features or amenities at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)? Be sure to leave a note in the comment section below.
Looking ahead: Will we ever be able to travel again? And, if so, what will that be like?
Will we ever be able to travel again? And, if so, what will that be like?
No one knows for sure, but an interesting group of travel experts is going to talk about it on October 7-8 during the online Travel 2021 Summit.
I am on the agenda talking about what airlines and airports are doing to make travelers feel safe now and what air travel may be like in the future.
At IAH, you’ll find Little Libraries in Terminal A, near Gate A3 and in Terminal D, near Gate D9. In HOU, find the Little Libraries near Gates 44, 4 and 23.
PHL’s book exchange box and the seating area in Terminal A are made of reclaimed wooden pallets. The books are “take one, leave one” and come from passengers and from airlines that donate books left onboard airplanes.
Do you have a favorite airport bookstore or book exchange? Share you tips in the comments section below.
This week pretty much everyone is celebrating
and commemorating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 launch and
the first manned mission to land on the Moon.
And today, July 17 -the same day Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin Buzz Aldrin made their first TV transmission from Earth to space – United Airlines is hosting a special celebration flight from Newark Liberty International (EWR) airport to Houston’s Georg Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
Why fly to Houston now?
Houston is also known as “Space City” because it is home to NASA’s Mission Control Center at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
StuckatTheAirport.com is going along on Flight 355. We’re promised space-themed entertainment, inflight gifts (yay!) and “special onboard guests who have first-hand experience in space.”
We think that means astronauts will on board…
Once we land in Houston, we’ll join Space
Center Houston’s Apollo Anniversary Celebration and get to tour the Apollo
Mission Control Center, among other activities.
We’ll also try to taste some of the special cocktails and menu items being served this month at two OTG restaurants at IAH that were inspired by meals the astronauts ate during the Apollo 11 mission.
The astronauts were served “meals” that look like this:
But the special “Eat Like an Astronaut” dishes on the menu at Ember Tavern and Tanglewood Grille in United Airlines’ Terminal C and E at IAH look far more appetizing:
Stay tuned here and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for Apollo 11 celebration pictures along the way.
