San Antonio International Airport

Stuck at The Airport: free tortillas at SAT

Why NOT free tortillas at the airport?

Texas-based supermarket chain H-E-B sprang into action with a clever campaign in response to a viral TikTok from an airport security line with the caption “all these people and no one knows I have 200 HEB tortillas in my backpack.”

The folks at H-E-B sent a crew to San Antonio International Airport (SAT) last week with a see-through suitcase stuffed with packages of fresh tortillas and other treats for passengers.

The company’s Instagram post on last Friday’s pop-up tortilla give-away event shows a tortilla-filled suitcase being rolled through the airport and going through the TSA x-ray machine.

Then a team from the supermarket chain hands out what was reported to be 5000 tortillas as well as branded blankets to passengers and crewmembers heading off to cities that don’t have H-E-B tortillas.

We will give this the nod as (last week’s) Airport Amenity of the Week.

(courtesy HEB)

Travel tidbits from airports near you

Happy Birthday BWI Airport


Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) celebrated its 75th birthday on June 24 with parties at various airline gates, refreshments, giveaways and a special water salute by the BWI Marshall Airport Fire and Rescue Department for the 75th daily arrival.

Singapore’s Changi Airport is also celebrating a birthday

Singapore’s Changi Airport is celebrating its 60th birthday this year with plenty of fun activities as well.

San Antonio International Airport (still) has cows

Three painted cow sculptures have mooved into San Antonio International Airport and will be auctioned off in August. While the cows are hanging around, SAT is hosting a photo challenge.

Here’s a better look at those painted cow sculptures.

Airport pizza robots + more travel tidbits

Pizza-making robot at John Glenn Int’l Airport

You can get pizza at plenty of airports. But it’s rare to find a robot making your pizza pie.

Donatos Pizza debuted a new ‘autonomous kitchen’ in Ohio’s John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) where a robot is on duty 24-hours a day preparing made-to-order pizzas.

Located pre-security, by Hangar 815 in front of Concourse B, the robotic pizza restaurant has a small footprint and a short menu that includes a 10″ cheese pizza or 10″ pepperoni pizza.

Price: $11.59. No tipping required.

The Donato’s Pizza robot at John Glenn International Airport is cool and new.

But it’s not the only pizza-making machine in an airport.

At Detroit-Metropolitan Airport (DTW) a ZaBot Pizza Robot machine staffed by robots Rosa and Enzo heats up personal pizzas around-the-clock.

Look for this machine in the Coca Cola room by Gate A36.

Elsewhere: cows at San Antonio Int’l Airport + cool art at Long Beach Airport

Flag of military uniforms on display at San Antonio Int’l Airport

As we head into July 4, San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is unveiling a 25-foot by 12-foot American flag woven out of 100 military uniforms.

The uniforms were worn in conflicts dating back to World War I. Most uniforms are donated by employees of USAA, an insurance and banking organization serving military families headquartered in San Antonio. The company is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this month.

The artwork is made by Minnesota Veteran and artist Jeffrey Stenbom. He spent more than 1,000 hours weaving together uniforms from all five branches of service for this latest, and largest, piece in his “Freedom’s Threads” series.

“Those pieces of fabric are interlinked, just like those service members are interlinked to protecting our freedoms and keeping the freedoms that we have,” Stenbom said. “Those uniforms that they wore, they bled in, that they sweated in, they cried in, it’s hard, it’s real hard.”

The flag made of military uniforms will be on display at San Antonio International Airport for around 6 months, through January 2023, and then transferred to USAA headquarters for permanent display.

During its time at the airport, the flag “has the potential to be viewed by millions,” said Stenbom. “It feels only fitting that it be displayed at the airport of Military City USA. My hope is that many travelers are able to view it. Especially active duty military members, veterans, and their families.”

The video in this tweet shows Stenbom working on the piece.

https://twitter.com/johnheid68/status/1542885224517976064?s=20&t=DL6Kb100J-YOOnUOJboy8A

Factoids about the new Freedom’s Thread Art Piece at SAT

  • The finished piece weighs nearly 100 pounds.
  • Pieces of more than 140 different uniforms were woven into this flag.
  • In addition to uniforms donated by USAA employees, Stembon used uniform pieces from his grandfathers and from one of his own uniforms. He bought some uniforms online to help represent a few missing time periods.
  • More than 65,000 feet (over one mile) of parachute cord was used to create the loom he worked on to weave the uniforms together.

“The uniform items veterans own often end up in a box or deep in our closets and are rarely seen,” said Taylor Clark, Assistant Vice President and Executive Sponsor USAA’s 100th Anniversary. “To know that we can contribute to something so meaningful…makes it really special.”

Look for this flag at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) presecurity in the Terminal B Lobby.

San Antonio Int’l Airport is a Fiesta site

The 11- day Fiesta San Antonio celebration is underway. And the party extends to the airport.

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) holds an annual Fiesta Takes Flight Parade in the terminal. This year’s event was on April 2.

Hundreds of airline and airport employees, their families, and even travelers participate in the Fiesta Takes Flight Parade in the middle of the airport’s terminals. The parade features authentic coronation dresses, entertainment, unique parade floats, colorful fiesta attire, and festive colors throughout the airport.

Imagine showing up for your flight and seeing this!

“This is such a fun time to celebrate the history, vibrant culture, and traditions of San Antonio. We have a very creative family at SAT and it’s always exciting to see everyone’s entries on the day of the parade”, said Jesus H. Saenz, Jr., Director of Airports, San Antonio Airport System. “And I’m always filled with pride when travelers enter the terminals and I see their reactions to the decoration and festivities because it is so unique and representative of our beautiful city”.

Trophies are awarded to parade participants for creativity, spirit, originality, colorfulness, theme, and spirit. American Airlines won the first place trophy. Southwest Airlines won second place. And Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Viva Aerobus tied for third.

One of the airport’s fiesta traditions is to distribute colorful medals to tourists. This year’s medal featured The Star of Texas or La Estrella de Texas, an art installation at the entrance to the airport by Mexican artist Sebastian.