Airports around the country continue to go all out to entertain passengers this holiday season.
Reindeers will return to the light rail station at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on December 18 and 19.
And the SEA Visitor Pass program piloted last year will now be a permanent airport amenity. The program allows non-ticketed guests the opportunity to enter the secure side of the airport to enjoy shopping, dining, and other amenities.
The gate pass program also means non-ticketed flyers have extra time to spend with friends and family before their flight and to be there at the gate when a flight lands.
More details will be rolled out on Monday, December 16, when the program officially resumes.
We’re happy to see that gate pass programs are now officially a trend at airports.
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) have gate pass programs at well.
Santa Paws, Teddy Bears and more
Elsewhere, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has some treats in store for holiday week travelers.
LAX has booked nine musical acts and groups, including the popular TSA Choir, to perform at various terminals and the LAX-it pick-up lot throughout December.
On Friday, Dec. 20, LAX employees will host an arts and crafts activity for kids at the Tom Bradley International Terminal Children’s Playground from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Special guests will include “Santa PAWS” from the LAX Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUP) Program therapy dogs.
And on December 25, Los Angeles Airport Police officers, spouses and family members will be in various locations at LAX handing out teddy bears, candy canes and tree ornaments to children.
Holiday decoration or what?
And here’s a holiday ‘decoration’ we spotted early Friday morning this week at the Geneva Airport in Switzerland.
Not sure if this character just had a really bad night or what…
So today we bring you this update from London’s Heathrow Airport.
To help parents with kids asking lots of questions about how Santa does what he does, Heathrow has installed “magical” periscopes in Terminals 2 and 5.
The periscopes allow children (and adults) to check in on what Santa is up to as he and his team get ready for the big night.
Heathrow says the periscopes offer a 360-degree view of elves in action at Santa’s the satellite workshop, which is conveniently located right under Heathrow (!).
Scenes include Santa’s Toy Factory, the Department of Wrapping and the Mail Room.
Heathrow Airport is going all out this holiday season to make travelers feel welcome.
The day before Thanksgiving, passengers from a handful of flights arriving at Heathrow from various U.S. cities got a surprise at the baggage claim.
Before checked bags showed up, baskets of fresh-baked pumpkin pie came down the line.
Airports and airlines are certainly getting into the holiday spirit.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) has a giant walk-through ornament and a mailbox where anyone who has been nice this year can mail their letter to Santa. There’s also indoor snow.
How can you not smile looking at these photos! Make sure to stop by our GIANT walk-through ornament this holiday season. It's located in the middle of Terminal 1's main mall area. pic.twitter.com/d78ttcxw6L
If you happen to be passing through Terminal 1 this holiday season, stop by our giant 20 ft tree on Concourse C! There's a special North Pole only mailbox next to it, too, if you still need to send Santa your wish list. pic.twitter.com/v1h7lRZJgH
Flurries are in the forecast for Terminal 1's airport mall from now through the end of the holiday season. We love seeing our travelers' reactions to our indoor blizzard! #snow#winter#minnesnowtapic.twitter.com/286jnZkNwF
And, looking ahead a bit, if you’re flying on Alaska Airlines on December 20 and own a holiday sweater, this is your chance to wear it.
Courtesy Alaska Airlines
December 20 is National Ugly Sweater Day and, for the third year in a row, Alaska Airlines will be offering flyers wearing any kind of holiday sweater (because “ugly sweater” is in the eye of the beholder) priority boarding on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights.
And, ugly sweater-fan or not, keep an eye out for the Alaska Airlines “Snowplane” with a fun, winter livery.
See something festive in an airport? Or have something planned?
The rink opens will be open through January 20 and is in the pre-security area on the DEN Plaza between the airport terminal and the Westin hotel. Skate rentals will also be free.
Hours:
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through January 20, 2020. As a bonus, on Friday
afternoons there will be hot chocolate, hot cider and a variety of winter
activities, including live entertainment.
More
airport ice-skating
The TWA Hotel, across the road from the
JetBlue terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport will also be setting
up an ice-skating rink.
This rink opens November 30 adjacent to the hotel’s 1958 Lockheed Constellation Connie airplane-turned-cocktail lounge and will stay open through February.
Free skating shows are planned, but if you want to get out on the ice admission will be $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 12. Skate rentals will be $10; $8 for kids under 12. Hours: Monday to Thursday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Even more airport ice-skating
If you find yourself at Germany’s Munich International Airport this
holiday season, you’ll find free ice-skating (and a curling rink) too.
For the 21st year, the large roofed open space between Terminals 1 and 2 at Munich Airport has been transformed into a winter wonderland, with a winter market, more than 45 Christmas trees, live music, activities for kids and adults, a pine forest and a free ice-skating rink. Skates can be rented for a small fee.
Germany’s Dusseldorf Airport has ice-skating too.
“Airport on Ice“ offers passengers and visitors free ice-skating from November 30 until January 5. Skate rental is also free. Hours: Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays: 11 am to 7 pm.
Free short stories
The list of airports where hurried passengers can pick up a free short story is growing.
The dispensers, by French Company Short Edition, are slim kiosks that invite curious readers to push a button to request a short story that will take an estimated one minute, 3-minutes or 5-minutes to read. Stories print out on eco-friendly paper and there’s an option to request kid-friendly stories.
Colorado has a robust craft brewing scene and there are
plenty of places to order a local or regionally brewed beer at Denver
International Airport (DEN).
The airport even has a Beer Passport you can use to score a
free pint.
Here’s how it works:
Pick up a beer passport at an airport information booth or at
one of the four participating airport brewpubs, which include: the Tivoli
Brewery (pre-security inside Tom’s Urban); Breckenridge Brewery (Concourse A,
by Gate A71); New Belgium Brewery (Concourse B, by Gate B30); Great Divide
Brewing Co. (Concourse C; by Gate C32).
Order a beer at each of the four brewpubs and be sure to get
your passport stamped when you order.
Once you have all four stamps, swap the passport for a free pint at any of the participating breweries.
No need to drink all four beers in one airport visit: the free Beer Passport program runs through April 1, 2020.
At Nashville International Airport (BNA) your beer crawl can score you a free beer koozie.
Introducing the BNA Beer Crawl Here's how it works: 1. Visit all three beer kiosks at BNA 2. Take a photo of the finished card with a punch from each location 3. Post the photo on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag BNA. 4. We’ll mail you a free BNA koozie! pic.twitter.com/9QR7umbO1U
More than 70 airports around the country now have
programs that invite certified therapy animals and their owners into the
terminals to hang out with and help de-stress travelers.
Dogs make up the bulk of the animal team members but
there are a few exceptions, including Stiches, an 11-year-old, 13-pound
mixed-breed cat that recently joined the Animal Ambassador program at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
(MSP).
Boston Logan International (BOS) is serious about its
commitment to reduce congestion and encourage passengers not to drive to the
airport.
Their latest incentive is as creative as it is unusual and fun.
Passengers who take a ferry operated by the Massachusetts
Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) or commercial water taxi service to the
Logan Airport Boat dock are given an orange “Ticket
to Skip” pass when they board the free Logan Airport shuttle from the dock
to the terminals. Passengers can then
give that orange pass to a security checkpoint officer to get preferred lane
access and move ahead of the line.
The MBTA ferry and the water taxis run year-round and serve
the Boston waterfront as well as the nearby Hingham and Hull communities.
More airports add gate pass programs
At first it sounds counter-intuitive: why
would someone who is not flying want to go through the security checkpoint
hassles just to hang out inside an airport?
Especially during the holidays.
But it can be a real bonus if you want to have
a send-off meal or drink with a friend or family member, accompany them to
their gate or be there to greet them when they step off their flight.
Through the holiday season (until January 5,
2020) Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is
testing the DTW Destination Pass program. The program invites non-flying guests
to apply for day passes to visit the airport. Passes are issued for both DTW terminals,
Tuesday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Two other airports, Pittsburg International Airport (PIT) and Tampa International airport (TPA) have permanent gate pass programs in place.
The number of passes issued each day is limited at each airport, but on December 7, Pittsburgh International is inviting the community to come by for a Holiday Open House, which will include dining and shopping specials, live music and other entertainment and, of course, visits with Santa.
And officials at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) promise that a 7-day a week gate pass program will be rolled out “in the coming weeks” for the brand new MSY terminal.
Whether you’re winging your way to a sweetheart or on your way to a boring business meeting on Valentine’s Day, airports and airlines have some treats on tap to sweeten the journey.
Marriage licenses at the Las
Vegas Airport
To
accommodate all the lovebirds who want to get married in Las Vegas
around Valentine’s Day, the Clark
County clerk’s office will once again set up a temporary office
February 13-16 in the baggage claim area of Terminal 1 at McCarran
International Airport.
Couples who fill out a marriage license pre-application online receive
a reference number to present (with $77 and proper identification) at the
airport pop-up clerk’s office after their flight. From their it’s an easy trip into town for a
marriage ceremony presided over by Elvis or some other “only in Vegas”
officiator.
Kissing Booths,
free chocolates and live music
At Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) in North Carolina, pups from the Paws for Passengers team of therapy pets will staff a “Smooches from Pooches” kissing booth in the terminal and out at by the gates. Travelers can get stop by to get pictures taken with one of the
therapy dogs and pick up Valentine’s-themed (people) treats and other
giveaways.
Traveling through CAK is easier than making a last minute Valentine's Day dinner reservation! 💕 Make sure to grab a sweet treat after ya pass through TSA tomorrow. #CAKisEasierThanpic.twitter.com/guockw66Vp
Austin-Bergstrom International
Airport passengers are invited to play
Valentine’s Day Plinko and the “Snag A Valentine” game in various spots in the
terminal on Valentine’s Day to win cookies and candy prizes. Random passengers
seated in gate areas will also be surprised with gifts of heart-shaped box of
chocolates or oversized Hershey Kisses.
As part of its 1000
Acts of Kindness Campaign, on Valentine’s Day airport food service
company HMSHost will set up its “Share Your Love” message board at George Bush
Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
Travelers may pick up “Act of Kindness” cards with directions for performing
“kindness missions” such as giving a rose to an airport employee or buying a
coffee or meal for another traveler. HMSHost will provide the item needed (i.e.
a rose or a gift voucher) for each traveler to carry out the assigned task. In
addition, passengers who add cards to the message board will receive a premium
dark chocolate bar and Valentine’s Day card, plus a 15 percent discount offer
at participating HMSHost dining locations.
Songs of love and free cards
Passengers
at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in California will receive sweet treats
throughout Valentine’s Day and be serenaded by master violinist Patrick
Contreras.
At Chicago’s
O’Hare International Airport, Sarah’s Candies will be sampling Godiva Chocolates between
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Valentine’s Day and, at Chicago Midway Airport there will
be live entertainment (a Tiny Suitcase Concert), plus free Valentine’s Day cards
(“Love From Chicago”) distributed to passengers during the midday.
From February 12 to 14, London Heathrow Airport will be
celebrating Valentine’s Day with live music, a roving caricaturist to sketch
travelers and Valentine’s Day card-making stations in all terminals.
Travelers doing last-minute Valentine’s Day shopping will find complimentary
treats and special deals on jewelry, gourmet chocolates and other gifts in airport
shops in Baltimore, Phoenix, Chicago and elsewhere.
At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,
for example, several
shops will be offering Valentine’s Day samples of “Unreal” Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupsand Tammie
Coe Cakes (in Terminal 4 near Gate A25) will be gifting customers
heart-shaped versions of its Famous Sugar Cookies with every purchase.
If you’re traveling through BNA tomorrow, don’t forget your chapstick! 😘
The BNA Kissing Booth will be set up at the A/B Foodcourt at 11 a.m. tomorrow with (Hersey) kisses and lots of other goodies. ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/iofm9fiyVS
At Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, staff will be handing out Valentine cards individually signed by airport employees, sweet Valentine treats and a souvenir magnet.
Blind dates on can be awkward, but blind date books are always a good idea–especially on #ValentinesDay! If you are traveling through O'Hare on Feb.14, swing by local #Chicago favorite @barbarasbooks in T3 (Gate H4) to purchase a wrapped book–maybe you'll fall in love! pic.twitter.com/8DwKTPFfsd
In the air: free drinks, free
chocolates and, maybe, a free flight
As is its tradition, Southwest Airlines, whose stock
ticker code is LUV, will serves customers 21 years of age and over one free
premium drink (beer, wine, cocktail) during Valentine’s Day flights.
Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) plans to
give out 150,000 complimentary chocolates to passengers on Valentine’s Day. First
and Business Class travelers on America, Europe and India routes will receive “Orangette”
chocolate from chocolatier Pierre Hermé Paris, while domestic and international passengers
traveling in all classes will receive chocolates from Japan’s Meiji THE Chocolate.
And, if you or your traveling companion is named Valentine, WOW air wants to give
you a free flight to Iceland from Boston (BOS), Baltimore (BWI), Newark (EWR)
or Detroit (DTW).
The offer is good on roundtrip bookings for two passengers through February 14 for travel February 10 to 19, 2019. Passengers who mail Wow air post-flight proof of being named Valentine will be eligible for reimbursement of the outbound portion of their flight. Read the terms and conditions carefully before breaking out the champagne.
Virgin Atlantic clearly has something up its sleeve for Valentine’s Day –
Roses are red Virgin Atlantic is too Come back here tomorrow We have something for you pic.twitter.com/P2V3HAspV8
Emirates has stocked its first and business-class lounges with decadent Valentine’s Day treats for travelers and is offering a companion fare sale through February 17 for travel from Februrary 21 through April 14, 2019 from 12 US gateways.
And for those who would rather take their sweetheart on a train instead of the plane, look for a special sweetheart deal from Amtrak to post on Valentine’s Day.
