From a first-place win for “America’s Best Restroom” to free miniature golf and ice skating, in 2022 airports around the country did a great job of offering passengers some great new amenities.
We did a full round-up of some of our favorites for The Points Guy site.
But here are some of the highlights of the Best Airport Amenities from 2022.
Award-winning loos
Airports were on a roll in 2022, with two finalists in the running in the contest for America’s Best Restroom.
Newark Liberty International (EWR) was nominated for an innovative all-gender restroom suite. But Tampa International Airport (TPA) cleaned up as the winner, for its new, locally themed loos.
Tampa International Airport also won our hearts for the ‘adoption’ of an impossible-to-miss 21-foot-tall sculpture of a pink flamingo in the terminal. The artwork by Matthew Mazzotta is titled “Home.” But after a community-wide vote, the flamingo was named Phoebe.
The Return of Marriage Licenses & Free Ice-Skating
Some ‘best airport amenities’ from 2022 were actually the welcome return of amenities that were set aside during the pandemic.
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), and several others celebrated Valentine’s Day with free carnations for travelers. And in Las Vegas, the Marriage Capital of the World, the Clark County Clerk’s Office brought back its pop-up marriage license bureau to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).
And Denver International Airport (DEN) brought back free programming to the outdoor public space between the Jeppesen Terminal and the Westin Hotel.
Free miniature golf was offered in the summer and free ice-skating in the winter.
See the rest of our picks for Best Airport Amenities of 2022 here.