Reno-Tahoe International Airport

More airports offering food, other support for federal workers during shutdown

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We shared information a few days ago about how Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and others are joining with community groups to offer food and other support to TSA officers, air traffic controllers and other federal workers who aren’t getting paychecks during the government shutdown but are still expected to show up for work at airports.

Now more airports are joining the list.

Tampa International Airport (TPA) is working with United Way Suncoast and Feeding Tampa Bay to gather resources for the airport’s approximately 1,100 federal employees from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Support includes a food pantry and assistance with childcare, utilities and transportation.

The assistance (called Operation Bald Eagle II) is set to begin next week to align with when those federal employees will start missing money out of their paycheck, the airport told us. Two weeks later, they would miss their first full paycheck should the government shutdown continue.

And Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) announced today that it is partnering with local social service groups, the Children’s Cabinet and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, to assist federal workers working without pay, including TSA, Customs and Border Protection and Federal Aviation Administration staff.

An assigned rep from the Children’s Cabinet will help provide affected federal employees (those with children or not) with resources such as food, diapers and household items. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada is making its pantry program and other food resources available to affected federal workers.

We’ll update this list as more information becomes available.

Reno-Tahoe Int’l Airport ready for Burning Man

Events,

Thousands of the 70,000 to 80,000 people attending the Burning Man 2025 festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert will arrive and depart via Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO).

And, as it has in the past, the airport is ready for the Burning Man visitors.

The airport partners with Air Playa Info to host a welcome table in the airport terminal lobby to assist with travel questions, including transportation via the Burner Express Bus and via Burner Express Air.

RNO Airport’s depARTures Gallery is also presenting a Burning Man-themed exhibition.

“Tiny Titans: The Power of the Maquette” provides a glimpse into the creative process of two Burning Man artists, Mark Rivera and Turburam Sandagdorj (a.k.a. STuro), through models of the concepts that turn into the giant installations that get built out on the Playa.

Travel tidbits from an airport near you

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Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) welcomes Burners

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is getting ready to welcome the Burners that fly in for the Burning Man Festival and head out to the Black Rock Desert.

American Airlines has added a special nonstop flight between RNO and LAX from August 23 to September 3 to accommodate all the Burners.

And RNO airport has kicked off a new exhibit in its depARTures Gallery.

Beyond Blackrock: A Global Burning Man Showcase spotlights five Burning Man events from around the world, including New Zealand’s “Kiwiburn”, Washington D.C.’s “Catharsis on the Mall”, South Africa’s “AfrikaBurn”, Argentina’s “Fuego Austral” and Texas’ “Burning Flipside & Freezerburn”.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) hosting augmented reality game

San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK) is joining with a handful of Bay Area organizations to host an augmented reality game for passengers.

The Bay Area Explorer 5.0 Campaign runs through September 7 and presents players with “Missions” designed to teach players about local history, culture, ecosystems, and safety.

In addition to OAK Airport, participating organizations include U.S Fish and Wildlife – Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the National Park Service – San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Santa Clara County Parks, California State Parks-Seacliff State Beach, Oakland Zoo, BART, Madera County, City of Morgan Hill, Sacramento County Parks, and the City of San Jose. 

Scavenger hunt for prizes at SJC Airport

And San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) is celebrating National Aviation Week with a the return of the QR Scavenger Hunt throughout its terminals from now through September 9.

Prizes include airport parking vouchers, lounge passes and airport swag.

Airport Arrivals: Burning Man +Beyoncé

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Reno-Tahoe International Airport loves the Burners

Burning Man 2023 is underway in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. And about 20,000 of the 80,000 or so attendees make their way to the event through Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO).

The airport is an old hand at welcoming and sending off the festival goers.

So, when the party is over, on September 4, the airport will be ready with plastic bags to wrap dust-encrusted luggage and other checked items to make sure playa dust doesn’t get tracked through the terminal and muck up the baggage systems. There will also be donation sites for camping gear Burners don’t want to take home and the bikes Burners brought or bought to get around the playa.

Photo op: Beyonce’s “BeyHive” at San Jose Mineta Int’l Airport

Beyoncé will be performing at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on August 30 and San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC), which is just five miles from the stadium is ready with a special event for Queen Bey’s ‘BeyHive,’ as her fans are known.

“XO” is one of the singer’s hit song titles, and it is also the name of a new art installation at the airport created by Bay Area artists Laura Kimpton and Jeff Schomberg for the Burning Man Festival, and dedicated at SJC earlier this year.

The structure is comprised of two 12-foot-tall aluminum letters, perforated with bird cutouts symbolizing flight, and is illuminated with color at night. 

To welcome Beyoncé fans flying in for the concert, SJC airport will be hosting an event for fans to get free professional photos taken in front of its “XO” public art sculpture. 

The event will take place on the Airport’s Terminal B curbside beginning at 7:00 PM on August 29th.

The commemorative color photos will be taken on a first-come-first-served basis by a professional photographer and will be available on the spot along with other fun giveaways from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., or while supplies last.  

(XO images courtesy of San Jose Mineta Int’l Airport and City of San Jose)

Reno Airport dishes out the compliments

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Courtesy Reno-Tahoe International Airport

Here’s a hopeful sign that airports are getting their groove back.

On Monday, National Compliment Day, the Kindness Takes Flight team at Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) brought back its Free Compliments Campaign.

From a kiosk in the main terminal and via “compliment balloons” spread throughout the airport, passengers and airport visitors received free compliments such as “That color is perfect for you,” “I bet you sweat glitter,” and “You are glowing,”

The plan was to continue the nice-fest “until the complement of compliments is exhausted,” said airport spokeswoman Annie Turner.

You can read more about the plans for the day and the bonus benefits of giving and receiving compliments in the story our compliments correspondent wrote the Points Guy.

But this isn’t the only holiday RNO does right. On National Chocolate Cake Day, volunteers often hand out complimentary chocolate cupcakes. On National Popcorn Day (a high holy day at StuckatTheAirport.com), travelers get free popcorn. And on National Dog Day, traveling pups often receive milk bones.

RNO also has fun on May the Fourth

Airport news from here and there

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MKE’s Coat Check service, holiday decor, & Santa sightings

Check your winter coat at MKE

One of the smartest, best, and most reasonably-priced seasonal airport amenities has returned for a third winter to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE): coat check service.

Offered in partnership with Paradies Lagardère inside the pre-security Summerfest
Marketplace, the service allows travelers heading to warm clime the option of checking their winter coats for just $2/day or $10 a trip. The service is available 7 days a week and will be offering through at least the beginning of winter.

Santa, elves, and more holiday fun at airports

Like many other travelers, we had to cancel our holiday flights due to COVID-19 concerns. But we’re still keeping an eye on all the fun things airports are rolling out to celebrate the season.

Here are few things we spotted on Wednesday.

And look at these snaps shared by Washington’s IAD & DCA Airports

Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) have done a great job of lighting and decorating the terminals. Thanks so much for sharing the slide show.

Airports & Airlines Having Holiday Fun

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It IS beginning to look a lot like Christmas in airports and in the air. Here are some of the fun holiday items we spotted today.

Alaska Airlines’ Holiday Perks

Alaska Airlines has a new special-edition aircraft in the skies decorated with snowflakes, the words “Merrier Together,” and those festive red Starbucks holiday cups.

Through December 12, passengers on 50 of this aircraft’s flights will receive reusable holiday cups and some bonus treats. The airline will also be offsetting the carbon impacts of these flights.

On National Ugly Sweater Day – December 17 – the airline will be offering early boarding to any passengers wearing an ugly sweater.

Holidays take flight at Alaska Airlines

And throughout December, passengers wearing ugly sweaters may purchase a day pass to any of the airline’s eight lounges around the country for $25, which is 50% off the regular price. The lounges are located in Anchorage (ANC), New York (JFK), Portland (PDX), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), and Seattle (SEA).

An Elf is Roaming Reno-Tahoe International Airport

Festive Selfie Spot at ATL

And Check out the SFO Wag Brigade

Fresh art at LAX, RNO, and SFO Airports

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Here at Stuck at the Airport, we’re big fans of the art and history exhibits passengers can enjoy while waiting for their planes. And we’re delighted to see that – pandemic or not – airport art programs are marching forward.

At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) there’s a new LA Scenes group exhibition in Terminal 1.

And, in conjunction with the National Arts Program, the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority is hosting the 13th annual Employee Art Show.

The colorful exhibition showcases 132 pieces by 88 airport artists drawn from tenants and vendors, staff, family, and
retirees of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority.

This show began in 2007 and includes works ranging from paintings, works on paper, photography, mixed media, sculptures, and crafts.

Look for this show in RNO’s depARTures Galler, located post-security in the C concourse through August 4, 2021

Resolutions at RNO Airport: “Be nicer to TSA” and more

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Sometimes low-tech is the best. Even when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) once again invited travelers to write their New Year’s resolutions on sticky notes and post them on the airport’s New Year’s Resolution Wall.

In the photo above you can see some of the resolutions posted. Resolutions include “More Adventure!!, “Stay Sober,” and “Live in the moment without fear!”

There were more. Airport officials say many notes mentioned COVID-19, masks, and politics. And in among the resolutions, there were notes in which travelers resolved to:

  • Eat more cheese
  • See the Buffalo Bills win the Super Bowl
  • Be nicer to TSA
  • Tip more at bars and restaurants

How are you doing with your resolutions?

Will you stick to your New Year’s Resolutions?

Holidays,

2020 has been so rough that it feels as if we should get a pass on making – and trying to keep – New Year’s resolutions in 2021.

But if you’re going to keep that tradition and are passing through Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) soon, take a moment to add your resolution to the RNO New Year’s Resolution Wall.

https://twitter.com/RenoAirport/status/1343586262087835655?s=20

These sticky note walls have become a popular activity at RNO. In November there were 1300 notes about the things people were thankful for posted to the airport’s Gratitude Wall.