Here’s a hopeful sign that airports are getting their groove back.
On Monday, National Compliment Day, the Kindness Takes Flight team at Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) brought back its Free Compliments Campaign.
From a kiosk in the main terminal and via “compliment balloons” spread throughout the airport, passengers and airport visitors received free compliments such as “That color is perfect for you,” “I bet you sweat glitter,” and “You are glowing,”
The plan was to continue the nice-fest “until the complement of compliments is exhausted,” said airport spokeswoman Annie Turner.
You can read more about the plans for the day and the bonus benefits of giving and receiving compliments in the story our compliments correspondent wrote the Points Guy.
But this isn’t the only holiday RNO does right. On National Chocolate Cake Day, volunteers often hand out complimentary chocolate cupcakes. On National Popcorn Day (a high holy day at StuckatTheAirport.com), travelers get free popcorn. And on National Dog Day, traveling pups often receive milk bones.
RNO also has fun on May the Fourth
(Part 1) May The Fourth (and your mask) be with you today. Many airlines require masks or facecoverings for passengers flying right now. Check with your airlines before arriving at RNO. pic.twitter.com/gBIaTedbPr
(This is a slightly different version of a story we prepared for NBC News)
Over this holiday, the Transportation Security Administration is expecting to screen a near pre-pandemic number of passengers.
Many travelers will be visiting an airport for the first time in almost two years but will be pleased to find a wide range of free services and amenities at the ready to help ease the journey.
Security Checkpoint Reservations
Travelers who haven’t paid for expedited security lane access with a TSA PreCheck or CLEAR membership may still be able to skip the long lines. A handful of airports now host free programs that allow travelers to reserve a time slot for going through the security checkpoint during the busiest hours. Look for the SEA Spot Saver Program, the LAX Fast Lane, DFW’s Fast Pass Pilot Program, Newark Liberty International’s Virtual Lane, and Orlando International Airport’s Reservation Lane, operated by CLEAR.
Gate Passes
A handful of airports offer free gate passes to non-ticketed visitors who want to meet an arriving passenger, see someone off at the gate, or spend baggage-free time dining, shopping, or plane spotting in the terminal. Pass seekers apply online ahead of their visit and, if approved by TSA, go through standard security screening. Airports currently offering gate passes include Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), Bishop International (FNT) in Flint, MI, and California’s John Wayne Airport. The gate pass programs at Pittsburgh International and Tampa International airports are still on hold due to the pandemic.
Holiday Entertainment
Many airports have brought back free live concerts, performances, and other forms of entertainment just in time for the holiday season. For example, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) has a bright red mailbox set up to collect letters to Santa and promises a personalized response to anyone who includes their address.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) has a robust holiday performance series underway, and the 25-foot-tall water feature in Terminal B at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is rotating in a holiday-themed show with its signature program
Movies and Games
At Dallas Forth International Airport (DFW) there’s a new, free interactive gaming experience at gate D-18 featuring a 40-foot-long media wall with a touchless tracking sensor.
The free 22-seat Hollywood Theatre Microcinema at Portland International Airport (PDX) has reopened, showing short films by Pacific Northwest filmmakers. (The films can also be viewed online). The free Video Arts gallery in the International Terminal at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has reopened as well, showing four new films a month every 20 minutes or less in the gallery and online. Free short films are also screened at the See 18 Film Screen Room (by Gate C18) at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
Free books and short stories
Reading is a great way to pass the time when traveling and a handful of airports offer passengers free reading material.
In Houston, there are two free Little Libraries at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and three inside Hobby Airport (HOU). Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has a book exchange corner in Terminal A West and a machine that dispenses short stories between Terminals D and E. Oakland International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, and Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) in Madison, WI, have short story dispensers too. And at San Jose International Airport (SJC), anyone can access the Pop-Up Library to download and access eBooks from the San Jose Public Library for free.
Free Airport Museums
In addition to permanent and changing art and history exhibits, airports in San Francisco, Miami, Phoenix, Albany, NY, and many other cities have free on-site museums and professional museum programs. For example, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas is home to the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum, with its main exhibit up above baggage claim, and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) recently reopened the Mitchell Gallery of Flight, a free aviation museum open 24/7 in the pre-security area.
More free airport amenities
Look around and you’ll find plenty of other free things to do at airports this season.
Free yoga rooms are available at airports in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, and Miami. American Heart Association kiosks offering free training in lifesaving, hands-only CPR are operating again at many airports. And cute as a button teams of therapy dogs are out in force in dozens of airports this season offering stress-busting visits and accepting free pats and hugs.
In Finland, though, anyone can have Helsinkin Airport named for them. At least for a few moments.
Finavia Corporation, which manages Finland’s airport network has created a way for anyone to have their name put on the front of the Helsinki Airport terminal buildl long enough to snap a selfie or two.
Your entry will be reviewed to make sure it’s not off-color or inappropriate. And then, depending on how many requests are in ahead of you, your name will appear over the Helsinki Airport sign on the front of the terminal.
We tested it out and filled out the form early morning Finland time from Seattle. Then we watched on the website as our name popped up on the airport sign within seconds.
Unfortunately, of course, we couldn’t get a selfie with our sign because were weren’t standing out in front of the airport in person. But we’re determined to get there so we can get that snap.
In the meatime, we’re declaring this Airport Amenity of the Week. Agree?
Holidays at Airports and in the Air
We’re gathering up news of holiday events and amenities being rolled out by airports and airlines.
Here are a few to round out the week.
We're in the giving spirit this holiday season! 🎁 With #NationalSockDay this weekend, our elves have secretly hidden pairs of 𝘿𝙁𝙒 𝙍𝙪𝙣𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙨 around the terminals. 🧦
If you find one of our special gifts, feel free to take it along on your journey! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/GMLAXdD261
🎵 Don we now our fly apparel // FLY-LA-LA-LA-LA LA-LA-LA-LA 🎵 We’re continuing one of our coziest traditions by unveiling our 2021 limited-edition holiday sweater! Keep an eye out on our social channels to see when you might get your hands on one. 👀 pic.twitter.com/hLVnFveLmq
Join the fun and take some pictures at our new selfie station in front of the holiday tree as you enter or exit the airside terminal. pic.twitter.com/zfn3754mSh
— Pittsburgh International Airport (@PITairport) December 2, 2021
On October 20, airports around the country – and the world – gave thanks and shared great photos in honor of International Airport Traffic Controllers Day. See how many towers you recognize. And read till the end so you can see a very cool airport control tower tattoo!
Let us know if we missed your airport and we’ll add it in.
Wishing our friends over at the FAA Tower, a Happy International Air Traffic Controller Day. We would like to thank them for keeping us all safe while flying. #ATCDay#CLTairportpic.twitter.com/LsCyZYkvud
It's International Day of the Air Traffic Controller, and our day-to-day operations would not be possible without the women and men who make air travel one of the safest modes of transport. We thank you for keeping our friendly skies safe, and we salute you! 📸: @spottin_planes pic.twitter.com/Tub1x66u2E
Happy International Day of the Air Traffic Controller! We appreciate controllers’ work to ensure safe flights and successful landings each day. Read about their heroic saves at https://t.co/NY99Di2ut3. #ATCDaypic.twitter.com/na3QSSPvtw
Thank you to our wonderful Air Traffic Controllers for putting up with the best seat in the house, I mean dealing with our pilots, maintenance vehicles, flight schools, and of course winter weather! #AirTrafficControllerDay@navcanadapic.twitter.com/egjYJ9lujK
Best seat in the house, right? When you work at a control tower at DEN, there's no such thing as a bad office view. Happy #InternationalDayoftheAirTrafficController to two dedicated and talented DEN teams: the Air Traffic Controllers and the Ramp Tower Controllers! 👏 pic.twitter.com/OlbZ0ynm9o
Happy #InternationalAirTrafficControllerDay! To our Ground, Tower & Approach controllers, we appreciate everything you do to keep our airspace safe and efficient at all times. ✈️
Happy International Day of the Air Traffic Controller! Thanks to all of our ATC who help keep our skies safe and planes flying 24/7. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/OhDslv1C8H
— San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ✈️😷 (@flySFO) October 20, 2021
And look at this new tattoo!
After many years of contemplating what would be my first aviation tattoo, I had this added to my calf today.
This combines my childhood, birth of my passion for aviation and aviation history. #AvGeek
The above tattoo is of the old air traffic control tower at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Here’s a photo of that, courtesy of Carolyn Russo, from her great photography book Art of the Airport Tower.
St. Patrick’s Day will arrive on March 17, but some airports, attractions, hotels, bridges, castles, and iconic buildings are already shining green for Tourism Ireland’s annual Global Greening event.
The event began 11 years ago in Australia when the iconic opera house was illuminated in green on March 17, 2010. Now the list of participating Global Greening sites is incredibly long and includes returning classics such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls, the ‘Welcome’ sign in Las Vegas, the London Eye, the Sky Tower in Auckland, and the Prince’s Palace of Monaco.
Here are some of airports and other places we found that are already turning on the green lights. If you know of an other airports that will be joining in, let us know and we’ll add them. Take a look, too, at some of the green-lit landmarks in the St. Patrick’s Day video below narrated by Liam Neeson.
☘️Looking forward to joining our partners & colleagues across Shannon Group as we illuminate the airport sign in green this Wednesday evening to mark St Patrick's Day 2021. #GlobalGreeninghttps://t.co/LKJL8D3I1p
