Orlando International Airport

PHL Airport will soon offer a gate pass program

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In November, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) will join the list of airports that offer post-security access to non-ticketed airport visitors.

With the Wingmate Pass, anyone will be able to accompany a friend or family member to their gate, welcome an arriving passenger as they leave the plane, or visit the airport’s restaurants, bars, shops, art exhibits, pop-up installations, and activities.

The airport also plans to offer dining and shopping deals just for Wingmate guests.  

Wingmate Pass wanna-bees will need to apply for a pass online, at the PHL.org website. Requests can be entered on the day of your planned visit or up to 7 days in advance. And, if the Transportation Security Administration approves your application, you’ll get a digital Wingmate Pass via email to show at the D/E or A-East security checkpoint, along with your government ID.

What other airports offer day passes?

We’re happy to report that PHL’s Wingmate Pass program joins a growing list of other airport gate pass programs.

That list includes:

Visitor Pass program at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA),

Experience MCO Visitor Pass program for the new Terminal C at Orlando International Airport (MCO),

The MSY Guest Pass Program at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY),

The DTW Destination Pass at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW),

Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in Lansing, MI: the LAN Visitor Pass,

the OC Air Pass at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, CA,

the ONT+ Visitor Pass Program at California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT),

and the PSC Pass at Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) in Pasco, WA.

Are we missing any? Let us know.

Travel Tidbits: Found Dog at ATL + Orlando Int’l Airport’s Visitor Pass

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That dog that escaped at ATL airport has been found

If you’ve been following the story of Maia, the dog who escaped from her carrier at Hartsfield-Jackon Atlanta International Airport (ATL) three weeks ago, you’ll be glad to know that the dog has been found.

Maia, a chihuahua mix, has been AWOL at ATL airport since the middle of August. The dog arrived on a Detla Air Lines flight from the Dominican Republic with its owner, Paula Rodriguez, who was making a connection on the way to San Francisco.

Rodriguez, who had a tourist visa, was denied entry into the United States and had to spend the night in an airport detention center. The dog wasn’t allowed in the center with Rodriguez and somehow got loose from its carrier while in Delta Air Lines’ care.

Orlando International Airport now has a Visitor Pass Program

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the latest airport to create a program to allow non-ticketed visitors into the terminal.

The Experience MCO Visitor Pass only gives access to Terminal C – MCO’s newest and fanciest terminal – and only permits 50 non-ticketed visitors per day.

As with visitor pass programs at other airports, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), and others, visitors must fill out an application online and have it reviewed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Orlando Int’l Airport’s new Terminal C

Airport Terminals

Orlando International Airport (MCO) will officially open its new 15-gate, $2.8 billion Terminal 3 later this month. The first flights are set to take off beginning on September 20.

The Stuck at the Airport new terminal team will make its way to MCO soon. But in the meantime, here are some photos and information about what’s in store.

Airlines flying out of the new Terminal 3 at Orlando Int’l Airport

Confirmed airlines that will operate out of the new terminal include Aer Lingus, Azul, British Airways, Caribbean, Emirates, Gol, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lufthansa, and Norse.

What’s inside the new Terminal 3 at Orlando Int’l Airport

The Terminal features a skylight-capped Boulevard that connects ticketing, security, concessions, gates, and baggage claim.

Public art in the new Terminal C and Orlando International Airport will include a variety of giant digital canvases by Gentilhomme Studio.

Windows on Orlando, above, is a triptych of 32-feet-tall displays spanning 110 feet. Content includes a rocket launch sequence filmed in the NASA Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center and an afternoon ride under open skies with cowhands rounding up cattle.

The Moment Vault is an interactive 360-degree digital experience located in the Palm Court section of the terminal. The installation uses digital technology that allows travelers to interact with 23 different scenes that range from schools of bioluminescent fish to a trip to the surface of Mars.

The Portal, still to be completed in the arrivals hall, will be three stories high, with 32 custom curved screens suspended in a helical frame. 26 scenes will tell the story of the transformation of Central Florida from natural springs and ranchlands to the dawn of Disney and the launch into space exploration.

Shops and dining at the new Terminal 3 at Orlando Int’l Airport

 Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld will be represented among the dozen retail locations. And among the two dozen food and beverage outlets will be Shake Shack and Orange County Brewers.

Stay tuned for more photos and details about what the new Terminal 3 at Orlando International Airport (MCO) has in store.

Kimpton’s free therapy + Orlando Int’l Airport’s new terminal

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Newest hotel amenity: free therapy

Lucy charged 5 cents.

But starting today, up to 1000 free video therapy sessions will be available to guests staying at participating Kimpton Hotels. The program is a partnership between Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and mental health company Talkspace.

The unusual hotel perk will make licensed counselors available to hotel guests, some of whom may be among the many people who have been seeking counseling but haven’t been able to get an appointment.

According to a recent study, nine out of 10 therapists say the number of clients seeking care is on the rise, and most are experiencing a significant surge in calls for appointments. Therapists are also reporting longer waiting lists, and difficulty meeting patient demand. So this may be a good way to get to the front of the line.

To claim your session: contact talkspace@kimptonhotels.com with proof of stay. Sessions are on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition to making those 1000 hours of video counseling available, Kimpton is providing a $100 promotional code to any guest that wants to sign up for a Talkspace plan. (Offer available through December of 2022).

Even better, Kimpton is giving a year-long complimentary Talkspace subscription to all eligible employees – from front-line employees to managers.

Orlando International Airport’s new South Terminal C

Orlando International Airport (MCO) will soon open its largest expansion project,

The new thee-level South Terminal C will encompass over 2.5 million square feet, add 15 gates capable of accommodating up to 20 aircraft, and serve 10-12 million annual passengers. Special attention was made to incorporating water, live plants and trees, and plenty of light.

MCO shared photos of what will be the next generation of what they describe as a seamless, low-touch environment with great concessions, immersive media displays, and a definite sense of arrival.

The design team at StuckatTheAirport.com will be getting more information about the specific amenities coming to this new terminal. But in the meantime, here are some photos that MCO shared with us.

“The combination of sophisticated design and innovation truly puts people first in a world-class facility that will deliver ‘The Orlando Experience’ and more the minute they set foot inside,” said Carolyn Fennell, Senior Director of Public Affairs and Community Relations of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Orlando International Airport, the main gateway to Florida and one of the country’s most popular leisure destinations are preparing for the future of travel with this impressive construction endeavor.”

SEA’s Shot Bar & other great airport amenities from 2021

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We love the annual Resolution Wall hosted by Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) around this time each year.

As airport amenities go, it is charming and engaging for travelers. Much like many of the amenities on the list of Best Airport Amenities of 2021 we shared with The Points Guy site this week.

The list of Best Airport Amenities in 2021 includes:

*Wellness Wednesday at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and the free yoga mats they’ve been handing out;

*The growing trend of offering reservation times to do through the airport security checkpoint;

*Robots that deliver food ordered via airport mobile apps;

*The Visitor Toll Pass available at Orlando International Airport (MCO) to help tourists avoid getting gouged by rental car companies;

*And several more.

One other item on our list is the Shot Bar that appeared for several months at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

The Shot Bar was created by Seattle celebrity chef and mixologist Kathy Casey, a frequent traveler whose company operates some food and beverages outlets at SEA airport.

“With the early covid restrictions on seating, no sitting at the bar, 25% occupancy, and tables 6 ft apart, our seating at Rel’Lish Burger Lounge was very limited,” Casey told us. “Options for travelers were very limited to get a quick drink before their flight. Many folks were also nervous about their first flight in a while, so they were looking for a quick drink.”

The to-go counter at Rel’Lish wasn’t busy, “so I thought, why not provide an area that people could have a quick shot and be on their way,” says Casey. “Our tag line was: order shot – shoot shot – fly off.”

The simple idea took off. Social media loved the concept and the tiny red Solo cups. And the Shot Bar even got a mention by Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.

The Shot Bar was open from early March 2021 to June 30th, And during that time Casey says about 8,000 shots were sold – far above expectations. Now there are plans are for the Shot Bar pop-up to reopen sometime this spring or summer.

The Shot Bar at SEA