A lot of airports go all out during the holidays to entertain travelers with live music, festive decorations, free gift wrapping, costumed therapy animals, visits from Santa and more.
So this week it was especially difficult to choose which airport to feature for the Airport Amenity of the Week.
And Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) teamed up with Hometown Arcade to install free classic arcade games, such as Pac-Man, Galaga, Donkey Kong and more in baggage claim at Terminals A, B, and C and post-security in Terminal C near Shake Shack.
And these free games will be sticking around.
Have you spotted an amenity you think should be featured as Airport Amenity of the Week? Let us know in the comment section below.
Christmas came early for some lucky folks at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) who were invited to visit a giant suitcase vending machine filled with free gifts such as tortilla blankets and concha slippers from H-E-B grocers.
We unpacked some holiday magic with @HEB and surprised airport visitors with a giant suitcase vending machine of free gifts! 🤩🎁 Travelers could choose from fun items like concha slippers and tortilla blankets, so they could bring a “Taste of Texas" to their destination. 🧳✨ pic.twitter.com/XkoFT8d2NY
Not all airports have giant suitcase vending machines filled with free stuff.
But if you’re traveling for the holidays and still need to buy some great gifts, keep in mind that at most airports, the shops open very early and stay open very late.
Many airports have free gift wrapping stations too.
PROCRASTINATORS, LISTEN UP!!! 🗣️ If you've *still* got holiday shopping to do, you can find plenty of great gifts for everyone on your list at TPA. Plus, the Shoppes at Bayshore is open 24/7/365, even on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 🎁
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.
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.
#NEW: Celebrate Singapore’s 60th birthday with an exciting line-up of activities at Changi Airport and Jewel! With a homecoming concert featuring local artistes, stunning horticultural displays and a charity walk – together, we make magic. Find out more: https://t.co/zxFIvQGSHJpic.twitter.com/omY2u6y6AT
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.
CowParade has MOOOved into SAT, so we're hosting a photo challenge to celebrate! 🐄📸 Through the end of August, you can snap a picture with all three painted cow art pieces when you visit the airport. Be sure to tag SAT & use hashtag #CowParade2025 when you post to social! 🐮✨ pic.twitter.com/Sdp4KPrwb1
— San Antonio International Airport (@SATairport) June 24, 2025
Here’s a better look at those painted cow sculptures.
#CowParade2025 has MOOOved into SAT! 🐄🎨 We're excited to have 3 painted cows at our airport before they're auctioned off to benefit @CHRISTUSHealth in September.
MEET THE COWS! 🐮✨ -Stampede, Chris Celusniak -Good MOOd, Allison Gregory -Love Note to the Nations, Ashley Rogers pic.twitter.com/3XyKydjSqY
— San Antonio International Airport (@SATairport) June 10, 2025
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.
There’s a new robot in town… and it makes pizza. 🍕🤖@Donatos just launched its first fully autonomous restaurant right here at CMH! You’ll find it pre-security by Hangar 815 — and yes, you can watch your pizza being made in real time.
— John Glenn Intl Airport (@columbusairport) June 9, 2025
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
#CowParade2025 has MOOOved into SAT! 🐄🎨 We're excited to have 3 painted cows at our airport before they're auctioned off to benefit @CHRISTUSHealth in September.
MEET THE COWS! 🐮✨ -Stampede, Chris Celusniak -Good MOOd, Allison Gregory -Love Note to the Nations, Ashley Rogers pic.twitter.com/3XyKydjSqY
— San Antonio International Airport (@SATairport) June 10, 2025
Have you checked out our video wall? 🎨
Our wrap-around digital wall at baggage claim displays artistic videos including the latest installation: Impressions of Travel.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, it looks pretty. But this month the lights at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) are supporting two important national campaigns: Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness.
SAT is turning its lights pink to acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The airport is partnering with local groups to promote the “Real Men Wear Pink campaign. The campaign raises money for breast cancer research and encourages men and women to get breast exams.
SAT is also participating in the Purple Porch SA Initiative. This campaign raises awareness about domestic violence and the airport’s lights are turning purple to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The lights will alternate between purple and pink until October 31.
As part of the the local campaign, a sculpture made of bras and ties is being commissioned.
Travelers are invited to donate to the sculpture’s creation by dropping bras and ties in bins placed at the information desks in the baggage claim areas of both SAT terminals.
We suggest bringing your donations along with you; not undressing on site.
The sculpture will be unveiled next year and then travel around the city and state to raise awareness of the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women.
The last day to donate bras or ties is October 31.
This robot is billed as “the only ultraviolet (UV) room disinfection technology proven to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19.”
SAT says the LightStrike uses environmentally-friendly pulsed xenon and can disinfect an area in less than 10-15 minutes without warm-up or cool-down time. They plan to use it pretty much everywhere in the airport, including jet bridges, gate areas, ticketing counters, baggage claim, concessions, elevators, and restrooms.
And it looks like the LightStrike robot is here to stay. SAT airport plans to have a contest to give the robot a name.
Keep in mind that some of the amenities we love at the San Antonio International Airport may be temporarily unavailable due to health concerns. We’re confident they’ll be back.
Roy Rogers and Dale Evans stopped by San Antonio International way back when
1. Art and music at San Antonio International Airport
“¡Adelante San Antonio!” by Dos Mestizx, Suzy González and Michael Menchaca
SAT presents live concerts and events and is home to a wide variety of temporary art exhibitions and permanent public art.
2. Kids play area at SAT
This new play area at SAT is located in Terminal A.
3. The Pet Relief Areas at SAT Airport
SAT has three service animal and pet relief areas. The two indoor areas feature red ornamental water hydrants, turf grass with multiple drains, waste bags, benches, and mirrors.
4. The Pups & Planes program at SAT Airport
The Pups & Planes dog therapy program at SAT Airport is part of the airport’s Ambassador Program. Volunteers and their pups visit the terminals on rotating schedules.
5. SAT’s Travel Safety Campaign
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and other airports in Texas have a new campaign to restore consumer confidence in air travel and to inform travelers of new safety protocols and enhanced health procedures.
