Las Vegas

Happy Valentine’s Day

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Charles Lindbergh-themed Valentine

Happy Valentine’s Day

We hope your day is filled with flights of fancy. And, of course, chocolate and flowers.

Sadly, this is the first Valentine’s Day in 10 years that Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) won’t have its ambassadors out in the terminal giving carnations to traveling lovebirds.

“Our ambassador program is currently suspended but we hope to get them back soon.  There is hope for Mother’s Day,” says airport spokesman Bryan Long.

Jacksonville Airport

And this year concerns about COVID-19 meant there was no marriage license pop-up desk at McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

The culprit? COVID-19.

But many airports did celebrate Valentine’s Day in their own way.

If we missed your airport, let us know and we’ll add them to the list.

Souvenir Sunday: Vegas-branded face-masks from McCarran Int’l Airport (LAS)

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It’s a sure sign of the times when the coolest souvenir you can pick up at the airport is a mask.

Better yet, this one is free and will no doubt become a collectible.

In Nevada, as in many states around the country right now, everyone is required to wear face coverings in public spaces due to concerns about COVID-19.

Even if not officially required, wearing a face-mask over your nose and mouth is proper etiquette right now. Like washing your hands often, it’s also an easy tool to help keep you and others healthy.

As it does with so many things, recently-reopened Las Vegas is having a bit of fun promoting the state’s face-mask requirement.

The tourism bureau sent showgirls to McCarran International Airport (LAS) to alert arriving passengers to the new rule. And to hand out free face masks.

Heading that way? McCarran International (LAS) has a long list of other ways it is working to make sure the airport is safe and clean for travelers and a fun Vegas-themed campaign of its own.

Some things to do while grounded.

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Like these guys, no one is traveling anywhere right now.

But there are still fun things to do.

Neon Museum Las Vegas
Neon Museum Las Vegas – photo Harriet Baskas

The Neon Museum in Las Vegas has a colorful app on its website that will take you on a tour of its Neon Boneyard. (Password: Neon)

And while Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London is closed due to the Covid-19 crisis, the theater is rolling out a long list of free online performances.

The Globe will be dropping the on-demand streaming fees for some past productions, with a new play offered every two weeks. The line-up includes:

‘Hamlet’ (2018) from April 6-19;

‘Romeo & Juliet’ (2009), from April 20-May 3;

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (2013), from May 4-17;

‘The Winter’s Tale’ (2018), from May 18-31;

‘The Two Noble Kinsmen’ (2018), June 1-14 and;

‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ (2019), June 15-28

The free streamed performances will also include productions from the 2021 ‘Globe to Globe‘ series that included Shakespeare plays performed in a variety of languages.

Travel Tidbits

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McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas welcomed its record 50 millionth passenger of 2019 on Thursday.

Allegiant flight #91 from San Antonio, Texas was chosen as the ceremonial flight commemorating this milestone. And to mark the event, LAS airport went out all for the celebration.

Upon arrival at the gate, passengers were treated to a true Las Vegas VIP welcome including a water cannon salute, gift bags and showgirls.

Passengers from the flight were then escorted to the Terminal 1 Baggage Claim. The entertainment there included Viva Las Vegas dancing showgirls, the Raiders organization and the Vegas Golden Knights in-arena crew.

Even better: one lucky passenger won the jackpot when she was chosen as the honorary 50 millionth passenger. In addition to the celebratory activities of the afternoon, she received a bonus Las Vegas themed prize pack.

Thursday morning StuckatTheAirport.com shared holiday travel tips with the Weather Channel hosts.

We talked about the Santa Paws event at Los Angeles International Airport. We alerted travelers to the reindeers and the holiday parades at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. And we shared details about the free ice-skating at Denver International Airport.

Shortly after the show appearance, we received a note from a new fan. He suggested we make Nick Lowe’s song, “Christmas at the airport,” our official song for this time of year.

Thanks, Ray!

Travel Tidbits from an airport near you

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Earlier this week, we told you about a new Prince-themed store that opened recently at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Here are some more new shops to look for at the airports in Sacaremento and Las Vegas.

The folks at SouveNEAR, who place vending machines filled with work made by local artists at airports, are expanding their network.

Created to be “an indie craft fair in a box,” SouveNEAR fills these vending machines with an eclectic collection of art prints and originals, T-shirts and apparel, handmade jewelry, gourmet food items and other travel-sized mementos. Prices range from $5.00-$50.00. 

Right now they’ve got their art-filled machines in multiple locations at Kansas City International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Oakland International Airport and Cincinatti-Northern Kentucky International Airport.

In September you’ll be able to shop for local art from SouveNEAR machines in Sacramento International Airport (SMF) an in Las Vegas at McCarran International Airport (LAS).

Sacramento International Airport also has a new shop called The Well in Terminal A selling locally-sourced gifts in a “hydration-focused” environment.

In addition to selling gifts and gourmet foods from Northern Califorinia, the shop has a self-serve water bar and stocks a variety of reusable drinking bottles.