Nashville International Airport

Airport parking deals at Nashville Int’l Airport. Will other airports do the same?

Parking

Airports earn a big chunk (and in some cases a majority) of their non-aeronautical income from on-site parking fees, which offer convenience in exchange for rates which are often a few bucks more per day than off-site lots.

In general, there are plenty of parkers to go around. But with folks cutting back on travel – and trying to squeeze more out of their travel budgets – there are more open empty stalls at airport parking lots than ever before.

Maybe that’s why Nashville International Airport (BNA) is offering to accept off-site competitor’s parking coupons until November 15.

According to the airport’s press release:

“Valid coupons from any competing parking service will be honored and applied toward parking fees accrued when customers utilize any of BNA’s parking lots. Off-airport parking companies in the immediate vicinity of BNA are considered competitors…. Competitors’ coupons can be applied toward parking fees accrued in the valet, short-term, long-term and economy parking lots…”

Once the holidays are over, I predict we’ll see more matching offers like this at other airport parking lots. And then, it’s anyone bet when airports will adopt the grocery store idea of offering “double coupons” days. I’m all for it.

Film festival celebrates at Nashville International Airport

Festivals, Music,

The theme of this year’s International Black Film Festival of Nashville is “Southern Style: Feel Likes Home,” and to celebrate, a variety of musicians are performing at Nashville International Airport (BNA) on Friday, October 17th.

Saaneah performs from noon -2 pm on the C-Concourse stage.

On the A/B Tootsie’s stage, look for Denitia Odigie from 11 am – 1 pm.

And Biscuits and Gravy will be on the A/B Tootsie’s stage from 2 pm – 4 pm.

Airport movie rentals go red

Movies

For a while now, the folks at InMotion Entertainment have been renting DVDs and portable DVD players at about 30 airports around the country. Travelers can pick up a player and a movie in one city and drop everything off at their destination. If there’s no InMotion outlet where they’re going, everything can be dropped in the mail.

Now comes word that redbox – an outfit that rents DVDs for $1 a night out of automated red boxes in 9,000 grocery stores, McDonalds, and other locations around the country – is expanding to airports.

The first redbox airport location is at Nashville International Airport (BNA). There’s one kiosk pre-security and another located past security screening.

Bonus: Join the redbox mailing list and you’ll get one free redbox DVD rental.

New eats and treats at Boston Logan & Nashville Int’l airports

Food, Restaurants,

Nantucket Island’s Cisco Brewery has lent its name – and sent its beers, wines and spirits – to the newly opened Cisco Brew Pub at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Look for it in Terminal B (American Airlines). In addition to seafood and pub fare, the menu includes ales and lagers from the brewery, wines from Nantucket Vineyard, and spirits from Triple Eight Distillery.

Down south, Nashville International Airport (BNA) is celebrating the opening of yet another batch of new food and retail outlets. Included in this round are La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, Neely’s Bar-B-Que, the Tennessee Tavern, Boswell’s Music City Harley-Davidson and, yum, a branch of Godiva Chocolatier.

Marty Stuart at Nashville International Airport

Art, Exhibits, Music

Country music icon Marty Stuart is not only a songwriter and musician; it turns out the Mississippi native is also an accomplished photographer. He got his first camera at age 13 while making his bluegrass debut as a rhythm guitarist in Lester Flatt’s band.

Beginning June 2nd, you can see 40 of Stuart’s photographs in the Concourse C corridor at Nashville International Airport (BNA). The photographs tell the story of three major influences on Stuart’s life: country music singers and songwriters, rockabilly music and performers, and the Lakota Tribe of North and South Dakota.

marty-stuart.jpg

mstuartphto.jpg

Photo of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard by Marty Stuart