Right now face coverings and masks are required in every airport and on most airlines due to continued concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
There are signs, stickers, and announcements everywhere a traveler turns, but still, not everyone is covering up.
Some people don’t want to mask up and it is reassuring to know that some airlines won’t let those folks fly.
Other travelers may have forgotten their masks or are neglecting to put them on in areas of the airport.
So, to help passengers get with the program, “ambassadors” who are serving as mask nannies are being sent out into airport terminals to help.
Yes, it’s come to that.
At San Francisco International Airport (SFO) “TravelWell Ambassadors” are roving the terminals to make sure passengers wear face coverings and maintain proper physical distancing.
SFO's #TravelWell Ambassadors help ensure that everyone wears a face covering and proper physical distancing. Look for them the next time you're at SFO! pic.twitter.com/qSXD0pBS4G
— San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ✈️ (@flySFO) August 5, 2020
At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the mask nannies are called “Travel Safety Ambassadors. They’re on duty in Terminal 1 and in the Tom Bradey International Terminal (TBIT).
Don’t have a mask? No problem. The mask nannies have a supply of them. So there should be no excuses.
Face coverings are required at LAX, and we now have Travel Safely Ambassadors working in Terminal 1 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal to remind guests and provide a free face cover if needed. Thanks for helping everyone #TravelSafelypic.twitter.com/NIHZ1p0CSf
Poetry exhibit at Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Flying by? Make sure to check out: “Words In Flight: A Celebration of Orlando Area Poets” exhibit, themed with flight, travel and transformation poems. 📍 Level 3, near the Checkpoint for Gates 70-129 (by the Starbucks) 🗓️ Through September 30th 👉 https://t.co/FMUaduhyGUpic.twitter.com/6XF5DQixI1
— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) July 14, 2020
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is displaying it first-every poetry exhibition.
The show features poetry by 13 local writers, including Billy Collins, who is the former two-term Poet Laureate of the United States and the current Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Winter Park Institute.
Words in Flight – A Celebration of Orlando Area Poets includes poems inspired by the theme of flight, travel, and transformation paired with photographs from the airport’s archives.
Look for the exhibit through September 30, 2030 in the MCO Main Terminal, near the Checkpoint for Gates 70-129.
At SFO Airport: Eclectic Taste: Victorian Silver Plate
“Produced in large quantities in England and the United States, silver plate was a hallmark of eclectic décor during the Victorian era (1837-1901).
By the late 1800s, many homes featured extensive collections of silver plate. The most elaborate items were found in the dining room and main parlor, where they served a variety of entertainment functions.
Ownership of silver plate became an indicator of social and economic status, and manufacturers created highly specialized and imaginative designs to meet consumer demand.“
Courtesy SFO Museum
Eclectic Taste: Victorian Silver Plate is located post-security in SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 through December 13, 2020.
We are missing the adventures that start at airports. And we’re missing all the great art and history exhibits that airports around the country offer.
For example, if we could go to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) right now we would take our time exploring some of the ongoing and new exhibitions offered by the SFO Museum.
Extra ‘O’ – African Barbershop and Hairdressing Signs (Terminal 2 Departures through November 1, 2020) features colorful hand-painted barbershop signs. The exhibit also displays items relating to hair in traditional African culture, including headrests, hair combs, and helmet masks.
And a just-opened exhibition features photographs from the early days of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Golden Gate Park and SFO is hosting an exhibition of historical photographs by photographer R.J. Waters, who documented life in the park between 1896 and 1902.
The exhibition is on view through November 19, 2020, near Gate F5 in Terminal 3 and is part of the citywide celebration of the 150th anniversary of Golden Gate Park.
5 Things We Love About San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Today Stuck at the Airport kicks off a new feature of short airport profiles celebrating some of the services, amenities and features we love about airports around the world.
We could go on and on (as we often do) about some our favorites, of course.
But to keep things moving along, we are keeping the list for this series to just five things we love about each airport.
Our goal is to add at least one “Five things we love about…” feature each week. But, honestly, we’re just hanging around waiting for the time we can once again step foot into some of these airports, so during the next few weeks we’ll likely be posting a few of these features each week.
If you want to add a note about a feature or amenity you love about an airport that we don’t mention, we encourage you to add it in the comments section below.
Keep in mind: some amenities may be temporarily unavailable due to COVID-19 concerns.
And if you want to sponsor one of the “5 Things We Love About…” entries, get in touch.
5 Things We Love About: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Courtesy SFO Airport
1. Museums at SFO Airport
Back in 1999, the SFO Museum was the first airport museum to be accredited by the Americal Alliance of Museums (AAM).
Today, the SFO Museum presents charming and educational exhibitions in more than twenty galleries through the airport terminals.
Courtesy SFO Museum
But that’s not all. SFO is also home to the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Museum and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, which is home to a permanent collection dedicated to the history of commercial aviation.
2. SFO’s “Kids Spot” play areas
Kids will definitely enjoy many of the museum exhibitions at SFO Airport, but they’ll also enjoy the interactive Kids Spot areas around the airport, located in Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
3. The SkyTerrace outdoor observation deck
Outdoor observation decks at airports are rare amenities these days. SFO has two.
The Outdoor Terrace in International Terminal 5 is located post-security (near Gate G14) and wooden chairs, tables, chaise lounges, drought-tolerant landscaping, bronze sculptures and 180-degree views of the airfield.
The SkyTerrace is an outdoor observation deck located pre-security in Terminal 2 that also offers great views of the airfield.
4. The Wag Brigade therapy animals
Like many airports, San Francisco International has a team of certified therapy animals that mingles with travelers to provide diversion and reduce stress.
SFO’s team is called the Wag Brigade and includes a charming assortment of dogs and a pig named Lilou.
5. Yoga Rooms
SFO created the first airport yoga room back in 2012. Now there are yoga rooms in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. And a handful of other airports, include Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway Airports and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, have yoga rooms as well.
This “Things We Love About Airports” segment is made possible by Reel Women Productions, creator of books, radio documentaries, news and feature articles, and the StuckatTheAirport.com blog.
If you’d like to sponsor an upcoming “Things we love about airports” installment, get in touch.
Very few people are flying right now, but airlines and airports are still in the news.
Masks – on the plane and in the airports
The list of airlines requiring crew members and passengers to wear masks, and the number of airports requiring anyone passing through to cover their mouth and nose keeps growing.
Starting May 4, all customers must wear a face covering while traveling, including in flight, as well as during check-in, boarding and deplaning. Learn more at https://t.co/Yfzwl0sJULpic.twitter.com/kRrZj6K958
Many of these airlines are also requiring that passengers wear masks during check-in, boarding and deplaning. And because an increasing number of airports are and soon will be requiring anyone in their terminals to wear masks, it’s a fair bet that wearing masks in airports is already the ‘new normal.’
Facial coverings must be worn inside the Airport at #SFO. 😷 Wear a facial covering ↔️ Give 6 feet of space between others when possible 🧼 Wash hands frequently 🚫 Essential travel only pic.twitter.com/kWhc0EBbEX
— San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ✈️ (@flySFO) April 29, 2020
— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (@AUStinAirport) April 30, 2020
On May 6, starting at 5 p.m. CST, 23 airports across North America will be hosting the JetStream Music Festival, an online celebration of local music.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, located in the “Live Music Capital of the World” will be the official host airport, but the 23 participating airports will each stream the festival on their respective Facebook Live pages and each will feature a local musician from their city. Viewers will be able to tip the performers during each set.
Participating airports include:
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) – host
Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ)
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)
Evansville Regional Airport (EVV)
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
John Wayne Airport (SNA)
Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Yeager Airport (CRW)
Airports lighting up
Tonight the iconic LAX pylons will be lit gold to celebrate our gold-star employees at Los Angeles World Airports. We thank all of our employees who are working on site and safer at home to keep essential travel and cargo moving. #GoldStandardAirports#Gratitudepic.twitter.com/ZKpXxbhRzz
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Dulles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and many other airports are lighting up their terminals in different colors to show their support for health care workers, first responders, front line workers, hospitality workers and airport and airline employees who are helping people get where they need to go.
No easy job to color this big white place. Super job by our Electricians to help us salute the world's health care professionals! #ManagerMikepic.twitter.com/xE9JEBGSSy
