Flying somewhere over the July 4th holiday? Lucky you! Airports are apt to be busy, but there are some fun amenities and events that may make your trip a bit more fun.
Christmas in July at San Jose Mineta Int’l Airport
We did a double-take, too. But the big baby chick in a sleigh in the baggage claim at San Jose International Airport (SJC) will be there through July 31.
If you've ever yearned for a big baby chick to dash through baggage claim in a sleigh on the 4th of July … Then your dream came true 🛷🐤
July 4th travel is here! Reminders:
–@TSA recommends arriving 3 hours early for international flights, 2 hours early for domestic ✈️ [1/4] pic.twitter.com/QZOySfOYa9
— San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) (@FlySJC) July 2, 2025
Austin-Bergstrom Int’l Airport has a public patio. With a name.
For two years, it was a private lounge. But in April, the outdoor patio near Gate 2 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) reopened to all passengers, offering a great view of airplanes taking off and landing on two runways.
The patio is open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and provides travelers with lounge chairs, picnic tables, fresh air and shade. And, now,the AUS Public Patio also has a name: AUS Sunrise Porch.
☀️ Big news, AUS travelers! The Public Patio finally has a name, say howdy to the AUS Sunrise Porch, where you can catch some sun & relax before takeoff. ✈️
— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (@AustinAirport) July 1, 2025
4th of July fun at FLL Airport. On July 3.
Stars, stripes, and sky-high fun! We’re kicking off the 4th of July celebration early with some inflatable decorations throughout #FLL. We’ll also have arts and crafts and giveaways in Terminal 4, post-security, near Gate G7, tomorrow, July 3, from 9AM to noon. Hope to see you… pic.twitter.com/cwYY39lxvR
— Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int'l Airport (FLL) (@FLLFlyer) July 2, 2025
In 1949, the first commercial flight that landed at San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) carried two pilots, seven passengers … and 2,550 baby chickens.
For the airport’s 75th anniversary – in 2024 – SJC introduced a modern flock of baby chick characters.
And now Ernie + Friends are featured on a new digital platform spotlighting the airport’s services.
Ernie’s Runway allows users to design and dress up their very own SJC Baby Chicks with more than one million different travel-themed outfits, accessories and backdrops, then save and share their creations and enter contests to win prizes.
Give it a try with SJC’s Summer Sweepstakes, where prizes include Ernie plushies, SJC socks and other fund items.
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
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.
On Feb. 1, 1949, San José Municipal Airport opened its runways to commercial air service with an official dedication ceremony.
The first arriving flight carried seven human passengers and 2,550 baby chickens.
The inflatable baby chicken complements other festive decorations including over 1,000 baby chicken window clings and four 7-foot-tall standees installed throughout the terminals.
In addition to the 10-foot inflatable chick, SJC has decorated the terminal with more than 1,000 baby chicken window clings and four 7-foot-tall standing chicks.
Passengers and airport visitors who snap a photo with a baby chick and post it on social media using #sjc75 and #PicWithABabyChick tags will be entered to win a commemorative SJC 75th anniversary swag pack. (We hear there may be socks…)
(Deadline: Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Limit one post per social media platform.)
Located in Terminal B, across from Gate 19, the restaurant is serving up a Signature Mac along with a wide variety of customizable mac and cheese dishes with cheddar cheese sauce, 5-cheese white sauce, grilled chicken, smoked bacon, and BBQ pulled pork.
The menu also includes Grilled Mac + Cheese Sandwiches, Breakfast Mac + Cheese Burritos, and a full bar.
First, we spotted these very comfy chairs right by the baggage claim carousels.
Then, once through security, we made our way down a hallway filled with useful – and tempting – vending machines.
We’ve seen the Fuel Rod machine that dispenses handy fully-charged chargers in quite a few airports. But the machine that’s ” a carwash for glasses and jewelry,” and the one that dispenses tins filled with licorice aren’t as common. Yet.
And how’s this for service?
We saw a gate agent sprint off towards the security checkpoint and wondered what was up. In just a few minutes she came running back with a young man in tow who would have missed his flight had she not rushed over and hustled him to the front of the security checkpoint line.
