Instead of the annoying buzzer and flashing light that announces the arrival of bags at some airports, the newly redesigned bag carousels at MSP airport send up the alert with nature sounds and a light show.
We’re making this the first nomination for Airport Amenity of the Week.
Feast your eyes on one of our newly redesigned baggage carousels!
Soothing nature sounds & a rippling light show announce that your bags are on the way. The design also offers more square footage and front-facing space — perfect for social distancing. #TravelConfidentlypic.twitter.com/OX4cP8r5gg
Our second nomination for Airport Amenity of the Week is this high-tech hand-washing station Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) installed to encourage travelers to wash their hands and “scrub away germs in 12 seconds flat!”
🎶You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out…🎶
As part of our #SafeTravels program, an airport first-of-its-kind high-tech hand washing station is being installed near our Landside train platform to scrub away germs in 12 seconds flat! pic.twitter.com/RNbeHoNCO8
Pete Buttigieg, who has been named transportation secretary nominee by President-elect Joe Biden, put a spotlight on O’Hare International Airport (ORD) during his formal introduction on Wednesday.
During the event, Buttigieg noted that he proposed to his husband, Chasten, at O’Hare. “Don’t let anybody tell you that O’Hare isn’t romantic,” he said.
Avgeeks know that.
So does United Airlines, which sent out a tweet identifying the engagement gate.
A colorful new installation that looks like swirls of frosting is now on view near Gate D31 at Miami International Airport (MIA).
“Touch from Above,” by Miami artist Gianna D, is made up of 11 thickly layered, labor-intensive, abstract paintings. Each of these paintings is filled with vibrant swirls of color.
The swirls look like dollops of ‘frosting,’ and the artist says each dollop represents an act of kindness.
The project reached a milestone last week with the installation of the 29-foot-high, 740-pound glass and metal part of the sculpture.
Courtesy MSP Airport
The twisting, aerial wave has more than 23,000 aluminum rings and it is now suspended through an oval opening between the ticketing and baggage claim levels in Terminal 1.
The next step is for the artist Jen Lewin to add 2,600 hand-blown glass bulbs, each with a set of LEDs within.
Courtesy Jen Lewin Studio
The 8000 LEDs will be then be programmed to use live weather data to alter the sculpture’s color palettes to reflect Minnesota’s seasons and weather conditions.
Courtesy Jen Lewin Studio
Below the Aurora, embedded in the floor on the baggage claim level, there will be another part of the sculpture. This will be an interactive cluster of reflective glass platforms representing area lakes.
When people walk, dance, or move on the interactive “lakes,” they will influence the light show in the sculpture above.
MSP sits on land that, back in 1914, was home to Snelling Speedway.
Auto racing gave way to airmail service and Speedway Field. In 1923 the airport was renamed Wold-Chamberlain Field in honor of two local pilots who lost their lives in combat during World War 1.
The airport’s first passenger service was in 1929 and in 1948 the MSP acquired its current name: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Please keep in mind that some of the amenities we feature here may be currently unavailable due to health concerns. We’re confident they’ll be back.
5 Things We Love About Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
1. Award-winning restrooms at MSP
Clean bathrooms are an important airport amenity. Add art and an airport’s bathrooms can become something people talk about and give awards to.
That’s what happened when several sets of MSP restrooms were remodeled to feature stunning artist-made mosaics and the latest in cleaning technology.
In 2016, MSP Airport won first place in an annual contest that crowns America’s best public restroom. That was the first time an airport loo won the award.
2. The arts program at MSP
In 2019, MSP airport presented more than 900 live music and dance performances.
This summer, local authors began online readings from their books and Once the pandemic is over, the plan is to have monthly readings in the art gallery in the Airport Mall in Terminal 1.
3. The Prince store at MSP
The late musician Prince is a beloved Minnesota-born icon.
In addition to a giant 16-foot-by 24-foot mural of Prince by artist Rock Martinez, MSP airport also has a Prince store in Terminal 1 where fans can buy all sorts of Prince-branded merchandise.
The escalator is 55 feet tall, travels about 100 feet per minute and is capable of transporting 9,000 people per hour.
The ride – up or down – takes 1 minute and 15 seconds.
All rental car services, off-airport parking shuttles and all bus services are in the new Silver Ramp.
5. Animal ambassadors at MSP
98 therapy dogs – and a therapy cat named Stitches – serve as animal ambassadors at MSP airport, helping reduce travelers’ stress.
Bonus: The hotel at MSP Airport
MSP Airport has a hotel located between the inbound and outbound roadways at Terminal 1 with direct access to Concourse C via a skyway.
The 291-room, 12-story Intercontinental MSP Airport has two restaurants, a cocktail bar, a TSA checkpoint (currently closed due to COVID), a fitness center, a thermal pool, and a collection of work by local artists.
One thing MSP Airport does not have is an aircraft viewing area with an outdoor pool.
That was a great April Fools Day joke from 2018 that we’re still wishing might come true.
We're excited to announce our new aircraft viewing area with an outdoor pool! Tickets for entry will be available later this year. Check out https://t.co/qYS9EZv0f7 for more information. pic.twitter.com/rKqwuYdiuL
Here at Stuck at the Airport, we are all about cool amenities and shops and restaurants that reflect the local community.
So, we’re curious to check out the newest addition at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport: The Cocktail Room at 18th and Central in Terminal 1 Concourse A.
A collaboration
between HMSHost Tattersall Distilling, The Cocktail Room at 18th and Central shows
off the craft distilling movement in Minnesota and beyond.
The new bar gets its
name from Tattersall Distilling’s location in Northeast Minneapolis, and one of
its most popular drinks.
Tattersall Distilling is a nationally acclaimed Minneapolis-based craft distiller, which makes organic vodka, straight rye whiskey, apple brandy, aquavit, gin and an extensive portfolio of liqueurs, all with an emphasis on using local ingredients and sustainable practices.
In addition to the unique drink options and specialty cocktails on the menu created for the MSP venue, many of the bar bites and plates are made from locally sourced ingredients.
Signature items menu items include smoked salmon, lemon pepper wings, house-made onion dip, and chicken bacon flatbread.
There’s also house popcorn, so we’re totally
there.
A new store called “Prince” is selling merchandise related to the late musician known as Prince in the south end of the mall at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
The concessionaire (Airport Retail Group) says it worked closely with Prince’s estate to make sure all products are the proper shade of purple.
What’s for sale in the Prince store? Apparel, souvenirs, CDs, LPs, and photography books. Also: tickets to Paisley Park, Prince’s private estate in production complex in Chanhassen, southwest of Minneapolis.
MSP’s Prince store also displays Prince memorabilia, plays Prince music and has a large bank of screens showcasing Prince’s music videos.
Snakes at the Airport
Courtesy TSA
TSA reports that this harmless 15-inch ring-necked snake was left behind at the security checkpoint at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday, August 19.
“It’s common for travelers to accidentally leave items at the checkpoint,” said TSA’s New Jersey Federal Security Director Tom Carter. “Typically people leave items such as their keys, sunglasses, ID, hats and gloves, but this is the first time someone has left a snake behind. We have a fairly robust lost and found program that reunites passengers with their lost items, but this passenger doesn’t need to call us about his snake.”
Watch the water at SFO
And the ban on single use plastic water bottles has gone into effect at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). A good solution? Bring your own refillable bottle and use the airport’s free water bottle refill stations.
On average about 9,000 water bottles are purchased at #SFO every single day and we want to do everything we can to reduce that impact. Starting today, SFO is moving away from the sale of single-use plastic water bottles. Learn more at https://t.co/LI0j1jFseW. #ZeroWastepic.twitter.com/xc8hM9FjTd
