JFK Terminal 4

Robot Manicures at JFK Airport

Back around 2001, when Stuck at the Airport was launched, airport manicure stations were an unusual sight.

“Ridiculous,” one reader commented. “Who would do that?” said another.

Now, airport spas with technicians on duty for drop-in manicures and pedicures are quite common.

What’s Next?

Looks like robot manicures are what’s next.

XWELL, which operates airport XpresSpa locations, has teamed up with the Clockwork company to bring an AI-powered manicure ‘robot’ to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 4, near Gate B22.

The Clockwork MiNiCURE robot promises to paint nails in under 10 minutes without human intervention.

Here’s how it works:

You need to file and shape your nails yourself and remove existing polish (nail polish remover is provided). Once seated at the robot manicure machine a touchscreen will guide you through the experience,w ith a live support feature available.

The price? $20.

XpressSpa hopes to add at least five of Clockwork’s AI-powered robots across the company’s portfolio of 31 spa locations this year with the goal of deploying as many as 25 units.

Will you use this?

(Clockwork photos courtesy Karston Tannis / Monmouth Media House).

Travel Tidbits from JFK and LAX

For the next four months, 14 hand-drawn, large-scale illustrations of iconic New York city locations, such as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, can be seen in the corridors of Terminal 4 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The work is hand-drawn by British-based artist Chris Dent and also includes 18 smaller illustrations of NYC staples such as subway trains, taxis, slices of pizza and coffee cups.

National Employee Appreciation Month is being marked at Los Angeles International Airport with a Gold Star recognition program that celebrates employees who provide great service.

To make it easy for travelers to nominate a badged LAX employee, the airport has created a web form.  Nominations can also be made by texting STAR to 52948. Anyone who works for the airport, airlines, concessions, service providers, TSA and Customs are eligible.

To encourage travelers to particpate,  LAX Guest Services staff will be in the terminals next week sharing information – and handing out goodies.

Dig in at JFK and DFW

Today marks the grand opening of The Palm Bar & Grille in the pre-security area of Terminal 4 at JFK International Airport , the airport where an air traffic controller is in hot water over letting his kids on the mike in the control tower.

This is the first airport location of the famed New York steakhouse, and it joins a line-up of dining options in Terminal 4 that also includes the first U.S. location for the Seafood Bar by Caviar House & Prunier and two new post-security, sit-down restaurants Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar and Tigin Irish Pub & Restaurant (scheduled to open May 2010).

And down in Texas, the popular Houston-based Pappas Restaurants has just opened Pappasito’s Cantina in Terminal A (by Gate 28) at DFW International Airport. The Tex-Mex menu includes fajitas, enchiladas, tortillas and, of course, margaritas.