Pittsburgh International Airport

PIT, SEA and airport vendors offer food, resources to help to unpaid TSA, FAA workers.

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PIT, SEA airports offer food, resource assistance to unpaid TSA workers

The government shutdown continues and, at airports around the country, TSA and FAA workers are facing their first scheduled pay period with no paycheck.

Yet, they’re expected to keep on working.

To help out those employees and to show support, the Allegheny County Airport Authority is providing free lunches today to the more than 200 TSA and FAA employees who work at Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport.

Bagged lunches will be provided by Bruegger’s Bagels and will include a sandwich, chips, cookie and drink on all shifts for TSA agents and FAA air traffic controllers.

“We have not seen an impact on operations or lines here in Pittsburgh due to the shutdown, ” said Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis, “We are so thankful to the federal employees including TSA, FAA, Customs and others for continuing to work without pay at this critical time.”

The Airport Authority plans to continue providing the lunches on Fridays to federal workers until the government is reopen.

Help in Seattle

On the other side of the country, The Port of Seattle has put together a resource fair at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The goal: to help federal safety and security employees who are continuing to work without pay during the current federal government partial shutdown.

The fair will run Friday, January 11 and Monday, January 14 and include representatives from providers of short-term loans, employee assistance programs and others to make it easier for federal employees to learn about the services that are available and quickly get help.

If the government shutdown continues, the resource fair may be repeated.

“The federal workers who serve critical functions at the Port—as air traffic controllers, security checkpoint screeners, safety inspectors and other vital roles—deserve to be paid in a timely fashion for the work they do,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins, “Until our federal government ends this unnecessary and harmful shutdown, we will do everything in our power to help workers in our facilities find the resources they need to pay their bills.”

More help

Nationwide, Hudson Group, which operates shops in many airports, is offering a 20% discount off food, beverages and many store products to all TSA and customs employees starting today and continuing until the shutdown is resolved.

OTG, which operates retail outlets and restaurants in 10 airports, will offer TSA employees a 50 percent discount on food and beverage beginning Saturday, January 12 and continuing through the duration of the government shutdown.

Party at Pittsburgh Int’l Airport

Events,

Would you go to an airport if you don’t have to?  What is there’s a party going on?

On Saturday, Dec 1, for the fifth year in a row, Pittsburgh International Airport is holding a Holiday Open House in the post-security side of the terminal and inviting the non-flying public to join in.

Festivities will include a live performance by LoveBettie, a chance to create your own giftwrap, a visit by the National Aviary’s African penguin, a juggler, an artist doing airbrush tattos and, of course,  a visit from Santa.

Shops and restaurants will be offering special treats and discounts. And everyone gets free validated parking! Plus, there’s no sales tax on most clothing in Pennsylvania.

Beyond the party, this is a great time to see and learn about the art at the airport on a self-guided or guided art tour.

In addition to a shrine to Mister Rogers, who lived in Pittsburgh and produced his Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood program there, PIT’s art collection includes art prints by Pittsburgh-born artist Andy Warhol, a giant mobile by Alexander Calder, a Robot Repairt shop, and a large scale robotic figure named Arch.

Mr Rogers shrine at Pittsburgh Airport

Andy Warhol Wallpaper at PIT

PIT Calder Mobile

 Interested?  The party runs from 10 a. m. to 6 p.m.  To attend, non-ticketed guests must register in advance, arrive by 5 .m. and make to sure bring along a valid government-issued photo ID.

See you there!

Back to school shopping – at the airport

Airports, Shopping, ,

Hammer Made at MSP Airport

Back-to-school sales are starting and now might be a good time to send out the reminder that airports can be great places to take advantage of tax-free shopping.

Minnesota and Pennsylvania don’t charge sales tax on clothing or shoes – so look for shops in the mall-like shopping areas of both Minneapolis-St. Paul International and Pittsburgh International Airports.

Ecco shoes at PIT Airport

And don’t forget the super-charming pre-security shopping street at Portland International Airport.  There no sales tax on anything in Oregon and while at the airport for a meeting last week I rushed through the shops just looking and somehow came away with a whole new wardrobe.

 

 

High tech ways to clean an airport

Airports, , ,

(Courtesy C&W Services)

I’m finishing up my May “At the Airport” column for USA TODAY and wanted to share this preview of one of the entertaining new tools several airports are testing and using: robotic floor scrubbers.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is testing one out. Pittsburgh International Airport has served as a testing ground for an automatic floor scrubber as well.

But at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, an autonomous floor scrubber is already on duty full-time. Here’s a short video that shows the machine at work and employees describing how it works, how it helps get the job done, and how much it entertains passengers.

Stay tuned for more details on other high tech ways airports keep the terminals clean.

Mister Rogers at PIT Airport; Aerial dancers at San Diego Int’l

Art, Events, , , , , ,

This week it is impossible to choose just one Airport Amenity of the Week, so we’ll declare a tie.

Pittsburgh International Airport is having a fun event Friday, March 23, to honor Fred Rogers and the Mister Rogers Neighborhood children’s TV show that was produced in Pittsburgh and first aired 50 years ago.

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in PIT’s Airside Center Core, airport employees wearing red cardigans will be offering travelers refreshments and handing out free buttons and red shoelaces. A big chalkboard will be set up, so passengers can share memories of watching the TV show during its 33-year run.

The cardigans, the shoelaces, and the “You’re Special, Too!” slogan printed on the buttons are homages to Rogers, who would always tell viewers how special they were and who started each program by putting on a zip-up cardigan and changing out of his loafers into sneakers.

PIT’s event is timed to coincide with Friday’s release of a Mister Rogers Forever stamp and the airport’s post office on Concourse D will have those new stamps to sell. More details here.

 

(Courtesy SAN Airport, photo by Alan Hess)

The next round of the performing arts residency program at San Diego International Airport kicks off Wednesday, March 28 with an aerial rope performance post security in Terminal 2. The event will feature acrobatics, trapeze work, music and dance.

The performers are from the Astraeus Aerial Dance Theatre and during a six-month airport residency, dancers and acrobats from the troupe will interact with passengers and create, rehearse and perform new content inspired by what happens at the airport.

So next time you’re at SAN – look up!

Stuck at Pittsburgh Int’l Airport? Paint something.

Airport shops, Art, ,

You’ve likey seen those do-it-yourself paint studios in your neighborhood and wondered why they always seem to be full.

Now, if you’ve got some time to hang out at Pittsburgh  International Airport, you can find out.

In the perfect match-up of opportunity and activity, Paint Monkey, a Pittsburgh do-it-yourself paint studio has opened up a pop-up paint kiosk on Concourse B.

If you’ve got some time to spend, you can sit a while and paint a masterpieces on pre-sketched canvases in a range of sizes designed to fit into carry-on baggage. Or you can have your creation shipped.

If you’ve got less time to spend, Paint Monkey offers spin art (remember that?) and pre-painted artwork featuring iconic Pittsburgh imagery.

Prices start at $10 and images range from cupcakes, robots and unicorns to Pittsburgh skylines and abstract art.

Fresh art & culture at Pittsburgh Int’l Airport

Art, Exhibits, ,

Just in time for holiday travel, Pittsburgh International Airport has installed about a dozen new art and cultural exhibits – and fun stuff for kids – in the terminal.

New displays include:

Three new installations from the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in Kidsport in Concourse C;

 

Rotating items from current and upcoming fine art and fashion exhibitions at The Frick Pittsburgh in Concourse B

 

 

Two installations from Carnegie Mellon University – EarthTime in Concourse D and IntraFace in Concourse C

  • The Innovation Studio at Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh’s Cabinet of Curiosities in Concourse A;
  • Trashbot recycling installations near the Airside food court area and at Starbuck’s in Baggage Claim; and a display about innovation and entrepreneurship from Innovation Works in Concourse C;
  • A wall wrap with socioeconomic and demographic data that represents Pittsburgh from Pittsburgh Today.

 

 

Music, events coming up at IAD, DCA, CLE and PIT airports

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Balloons

 

At least four airports throughout the country have sent StuckatTheAirport.com a heads up on events taking place in the terminals next week and into October.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) will host a series of music and dance performances in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15.

At DCA, events take place on Wednesday afternoons from noon until 2 p.m. in National Hall, opposite Il Viaggo Restaurant.

Sept 20: Argentinian music with T Trifilio Tango

Sept 27: Peruvian dance and music with Papalca

Oct 4: Folk music with Cecilia Esquivel of Canto Sur

Oct 11: Mexican dance with Los Quetzales

These same groups will perform at Dulles airport on Thursdays from noon to 2 pm on the upper level of the Ticketing area.

Sept 21: Argentinian music with T Trifilio Tango

Sept 28: Peruvian dance and music with Papalca

Oct 5: Folk music with Cecilia Esquivel of Canto Sur

Oct 12: Mexican dance with Los Quetzales

 

There’s also a full schedule of events – live music, special guests, food samples and other treats – scheduled at both Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) from September 18 to 22, courtesy of Fraport USA.

Celebrate Cleveland will welcome Cleveland Indians’ mascot Slider, Professor Wylde’s traveling show from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Cleveland’s Singing Angels to the airport.

Malley’s Chocolates and Mitchell’s Ice Cream will also treat travelers to complimentary treats during the week as well.

Pittsburgh International Airport is teaming up with Airmall Pittsburgh for the third annual Discover Pittsburgh week and the 25th anniversary of the airport.

PIT will welcome Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, The National Aviary and the Pittsburgh Zoo in addition to Iceburgh, the Pirate Parrot, and other mascots.

Daily food sampling will take place at the Strip Market and bands will perform in the airport’s Center Core.

Fly like a bird at Pittsburgh Int’l Airport

Free Stuff,

Courtesy Pittsburgh Int’l Airport

Here’s a great – free – way to experience what it’s like to fly like a bird before you fly on a plane.

Through May 25 ( from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.), passengers can try out a full-body virtual reality experience named Birdly that gives the sensation of flying

Birdly is usually an exhibit at Pittsburgh’s National Aviary ( a bird zoo) with Pittsburgh International Airport as the exhibit’s presenting sponsor, but the exhibit is on site at PIT Airport for the launch of Spirit Airlines’ service to Myrtle Beach on May 25.  The airport promises Birdly will come back to both Pittsburgh International and Allegheny County airports several more times this year.

How does it work?

To ‘fly’, Birdly riders lie on the simulator chest down and flap their arms using hinged wings to control the direction and speed of their travel. A fan simulates headwinds and flying speed, motors and actuators tilt and dip the flyer’s body in response and an HTC Vive headset provides visuals and head-tracking, for a flight over a virtual New York City.

If you go to the National Aviary, the Birdly experience costs per flight, but PIT airport is offering them for free.

Music returns to Pittsburgh International Airport

Entertainment, Music, ,

 

Thursday afternoons are now a great to time to be stuck at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Starting today, the airport brings backs its Thursday afternoon Performing Arts Series, which will feature local musicians and “artists of all genres,” for shows in the Baggage Claim and in other areas of the airport terminal.

The series began in 2016 with a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and last year featured about 35 artists – pianists, harpists, guitarists, duos, trios, and soloists.

The performance schedule for 2017 is posted here, but the 2017 line-up looks like this so far:

3/30/2017            1-4 pm  Dan Bubien

4/6/2017              1-4pm   The New Mingle

4/13/2017            2-4pm   JuliAnne Wright

4/20/2017            1-4pm   The Squirrel Hillbillies

4/27/2017            1-4pm   Dan Sty

5/4/2017              1-4pm   Samantha Sears

While  you’re at PIT airport, don’t forget to look for the art , which includes work by Andy Warhol from Pittsburgh’s Andy Warhol Museum, a giant robotic figure (Arch) by Jackie Ferrara, Toby Fraley’s Robot Repair installation, Alexander Calder’s Pittsburgh mobile and more.