Philadelphia International Airport

Speedy cars at PHL airport

PHL _REVolution Racing Sport Cars

A new exhibition Philadelphia International Airport will please fans of cars – and speed.

The REVolution of Racing Sports Cars features more than 100 photos celebrating the evolution of international racing sports cars from the early 1900s to 1970.

And anyone who wants to see the actual cars featured in the photos won’t have to go far:  they’re on display at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, located about a mile from the airport.

The museum is considered one of the world’s greatest collections of racing sports cars and houses  many historically significant cars made by Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.

The REVolution of Racing Sports Car exhibition is on view through August 2016 in the corridor that connects Terminal E and F at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).

Race on over…

 

Toy exhibit at Philadelphia International Airport

PHL STAR WARS

A new exhibit at Philadelphia International Airport features Star Trek and Star War toys, Barbie dolls and other items from the collection of Ronald Toby, a Philadelphia resident with more than 800,000 toys, sports items and other treasures in his collection.

phl Barbie

Look for Philadelphia’s Toy Story post-security in Terminal D through April 2016.

Work-out at Philadelphia International Airport

Travelers can admire, but not ride, the ten art-bikes currently displayed on top of baggage carousels at Denver International Airport.

PHL_ Fitness Zone Photo # 1

But at Philadelphia International Airport passengers can work off some of the calories consumed in the food courts by riding stationary exercise bikes scattered throughout the terminals.

“I was actually looking for an electrical outlet,” said 62-year-old Tom Currie, who was biking while on a three hour layover at PHL last Friday afternoon on his way from San Diego to Rome. “But the bikes are right next to the outlets, so I figured this was a good way to get some exercise instead of sitting around.”

PHL _Tom Currie exercising on his three hour layover on way to Rome

As part of its summer-long Just Plane Fun customer appreciation program, PHL recently replaced a few of its popular rocking chairs in the shopping area between concourses with several hands-free exercise bikes.

Eight additional pieces of low-impact exercise equipment were bundled into a fitness zone that pops up at a different location in the airport every two weeks.

“It’s easy to stiffen up on short or long flights, but even light cardio exercise that doesn’t work up a sweat can help travelers stay loose,” said Rich Hebert, a frequent traveler and the CEO of Smooth Fitness. The fitness equipment manufacturer is based in a Philadelphia suburb and donated the equipment for the summer-program to PHL airport.

Working out at PHL was such an immediate hit that there are now 30 exercise bikes in the terminals. Airport officials are also discussing how to allot equipment maintenance and replacement funds to make the temporary program a permanent fixture.

“Traveling to and through airports is stressful for many people and our job is to make that experience less stressful and more enjoyable,” said James Tyrrell, PHL Deputy Director of Aviation. “This exercise equipment helps us meet that goal. And so far, response in social media and elsewhere has been off the hook.”

While spas and other wellness amenities are no longer rare at airports, “what’s new about the ‘Fitness Zones’ at Philadelphia International Airport is that they bring the gym directly to the concourse, encouraging easy access and low-impact exercise for everyone in the vicinity,” said Kevin M. Burke, president and CEO of ACI-NA, which represents most North American airports.

Working on their own or with the American Heart Association, many airports have created walking paths both inside and outside the terminals. In many cities, there are also bike paths to and from the airports. And there are now yoga rooms, usually with loaner mats, at airports in San Francisco, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago and Burlington, Vt.

Toronto Pearson International Airport has a 10,000-square-foot GoodLife Fitness club inside the terminal and on-property hotels at some airports offer reasonably-priced day passes to airline passengers with long layovers who want access to fitness and spa areas. Examples include the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport, The Westin Detroit Airport, the Grand Hyatt DFW and the Fairmont Vancouver Airport.

(My story about working out at Philadelphia International Airport first appeared on NBC News Travel in slightly different form.)

Restaurant Week at Philadelphia Int’l Airport

PHL RestWeek

Restaurant Week – when choice dining spots throughout a city offer two or three course set-price meals – has become a popular event around around the country.

It’s also a ‘thing’ at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), which is hosting its third annual Restaurant Week through Oct. 28, 2013.

On the menu: pre-selected, three-course meals for $20 per person. (Some restrictions apply; see restaurant menus for details.)

Participating restaurants include:

• Cantina Laredo (Terminal E)
• Chickie’s & Pete’s (Terminal A West, Terminals C, D & E)
• Cibo Bistro & Wine Bar (Terminals A West & B)
• Jack Duggan’s Pub & Restaurant (Terminal A East)
• Jet Rock Bar & Grill (Concourses B & D)
• Legal Sea Foods (B/C Connector)
• Local Tavern (Concourse F)
• Re:Vive Bar (Concourse F)
• Sky Asian Bistro (Concourse C)
• Vino Volo (Terminal A West, B/C & D/E Connectors)

Yum!

Restaurant Week – in an airport

Many cities host a Restaurant Week or two during the year when special two or three course menus are offered for a set price at a wide variety of dining venues throughout town. It’s a great opportunity to test out a restaurant that may be out of your price range the rest of the year and a great excuse to go ahead and eat that dessert because, well, it’s included…

The Philadelphia Marketplace at Philadelphia International Airport has embraced the concept and is hosting its 2nd annual Restaurant Week at the airport October 22 – 29th.

During Restaurant Week at PHL, you’ll be able to have a pre-selected, three-course menus for $20 per person at one of these (and perhaps some other) airport restaurants:

· Cantina Laredo (Terminal E)

· Chickie’s and Pete’s (Terminal A West & Terminals C, D & E)

· Cibo Bistro & Wine Bar (Terminals A West & B)

· Jack Duggan’s Bar (Terminal A East)

· Jet Rock Bar & Grill (Terminals B & D)

· Legal Sea Foods (B/C Connector)

· Sky Asian Bistro (Terminal C)

· Vino Volo (Terminal A West and B/C & D/E Connectors)

Some of the menus are listed on the PHL Markeplace website (look under promotions).

When travel gives you lemons, drink free airport lemonade

To help travelers relax, many airports offer some form of summertime entertainment. For example, San Francisco International Airport has a You Are Hear summer concert series, Dulles International Airport hosts a Jazz Series and Vancouver International Airport offers DJs, live entertainment, free samples of treats and sweets, and $10 lunch specials all summer long during its popular, pre-security Take-Off Fridays celebrations.

Philadelphia International Airport’s summer-long Just Plane Fun program has been treating travelers to everything from free makeovers to live music and a chance to chill out and relax in one of the airport’s two Chillin’ Zones, which are outfitted with sofas, tables and plants.

Now Philadelphia International Airport is going a step further and offering complimentary cool beverages, serving 600 to 700 passengers daily.

“We were thinking of what we could do for people before they get to the security checkpoint, because there’s not much retail before security and all our entertainment is post-security,” said airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica.

“It’s been a very warm summer and we know that people waiting in line can’t take a beverage with them through the security line,” said Lupica, “So we decided to offer passengers a refreshing complimentary glass of lemonade or iced tea. They can sip that in line and then dump the cup before going through the checkpoint.”

Lupica says the airport staff is monitoring the checkpoint lines, noting the busiest times in each terminal and dispatching the five rolling carts to areas where lines are longest.

“This isn’t something we’re going to stop doing when summer is over,” said Lupica. “When the weather turns cool, we plan to offer travelers hot chocolate to keep them warm and toasty.”

(My story about Philadelphia International Airport’s complimentary lemonade program first appeared on NBC News Travel.)

(Photo courtesy Philadelphia International Airport)

Chillin’ out at Philadelphia and Seattle International airports

It may not be so bad to get stuck at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) this summer.

The airport has kicked off its summer-long “Just Plane Fun” program, which includes a full-schedule of special events, live entertainment, food and beverage samplings, artist demonstrations and children’s activities.

Coming up next week: instant giveaways, art demonstrations, beauty makeovers, a sushi-making class and more. See the full list on the PHL website.

There are also two locations of the popular “Chillin’ Room” – areas with sofas and tables where travelers can hang out, get work done and wait for their flights.

 

Look for the Chillin’ Room now in Terminal A-East, across from the Information Counter and in the Terminal D/E Connector, between the Life is Good and Mindworks stores, but keep in mind that plans are for the Chillin’ Room to be moved to various locations around the airport throughout the summer.

You’ll also find a spot where you can chill out – quietly – at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The airport has turned an empty gate area – B4 – into an official Quiet Zone where overhead announcements and TV monitors are turned off

Quiet Zone at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

There are signs asking passengers to keep the area as a quiet zone for working, reading and relaxing and soon there may be water features and other amenities added, but for now
“cellphones are not banned,” said SEA spokesperson Perry Cooper, “and we expect a natural self-policing and sense of respect for the area.”

Tidbits for travelers: restaurant week at Philadelphia Airport

Cities have them, so why not airports?

From now through October 29th, seven restaurants at Philadelphia International Airport are offering three-course, prix fixe menus for $25 as part of the airport’s Restaurant Week.

Some restrictions apply (of course…) but here are the participating restaurants.

  • Cantina Laredo (Concourse E)
  • Chickie’s and Pete’s (Terminal A West & Concourses C & E)
  • Cibo Bistro & Wine Bar (Concourses A & B)
  • Jack Duggan’s Bar (Concourse A East)
  • Jet Rock Bar & Grill (Concourses B & D)
  • Legal Sea Foods (B/C Connector)
  • Vino Volo (B/C & D/E Connector)

Cool shoe-making demo at Philadelphia Airport

The “Just Plane Fun” continues at Philadelphia International Airport next week.

On Monday, it’s live Cajun music. On Tuesday, it’s wine-tasting. Beauty make-overs for women and skin consultations for men courtesy of the Body Shop are on the menu for Wednesday, and on Thursday Lenny Wilson – who makes some pretty incredible-looking shoes out of plant materials – will be on hand to demonstrate his art.

For specific times for these events and more information – including details on a raffle to win airline tickets and other prizes – see the PHL website.

 

 

More ‘plane fun’ at Philadelphia Airport

The Philadelphia International Airport is having a summer-long customer appreciation festival.

Throughout the summer, passengers can hang out in the Chillin’ Zone by Gate D-4 –

And each week there’s a fresh line-up of events. Here’s what coming up next.

On Friday, July 29, Swing Shift will be strolling through the airport playing Dixieland, blues and swing from 3:30p pm to 5:30 pm.

On Monday, mascots from McDonald’s and Jamba Juice will be wandering the airport handing out treat coupons from 11 am until 1 pm.

On Tuesday, August 2, its doo-wop music by Memory Lane from 2:30 pm until 4:30 pm, and  on Wednesday, August 3 travelers can stop by the Terminal B/C food court stage between 3 pm and 5 pm for beauty makeovers from The Body Shop.

On Thursday, August 4, the PGA Tour Shop will be hosting a putting competition from 4 pm to 5 pm at the Terminal B/C Food Court Stage and on Friday, August 5 the Paula Jazz Quartet
takes the Terminal B/C Food Court Stage from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.