Seattle Tacoma International Airport

Travel tidbits from airports near you

Pittsburgh Int’l Airport’s new terminal is almost done

(Image courtesy Gensler)

Later this week, we’ll be doing a hard hat tour of Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal, visiting the airport’s in-terminal day care center (yes, they have one!) and checking in on some of our favorite art pieces at PIT.

Stay tuned for pics.

Fresh art at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

SEA is the home base airport for the Stuck at the Airport team, and one thing we love about the airport is all the art. It’s wonderful and, often, reassuring to see favorite pieces before or after a flight.

And it’s always a treat to spot new art being added to the collection.

It’s not crazy to celebrate an anniversary at an airport

Our tradition of celebrating milestone anniversaries at new or cool airport hotels, such as the Hilton with a rooftop lounge that opened at Nashville International Airport not too long ago, made it into this Washington Post article about airport hotels.

This article is a perfect match for a story we wrote back in 2018 about the first airport hotels.

Airport hotels are no longer dominated by the staid, cheap, bed-for-a-night abodes that were standard for so many decades. New accommodations hark back to the luxury of early aviation, featuring top-notch amenities enjoyable by all. My latest in the @washingtonpost.com.

Edward Russell (@byerussell.com) 2025-04-22T13:06:28.199Z

Travel tidbits from airports near you

Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has a cool new art car on display in Terminal A.

It’s called the “Karmadillo” – for obvious reasons – and is being referred to as the “most Texas ride ever.”

Agree?

SEA Airport’s N Concourse celebrates a concession milestone

When it officially opened at the end of 2021, the remodeled and expanded N Concourse at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) boasted 8 new and 12 remodeled gates, fresh new art and a long list of cool new shops and restaurants.

Due to the pandemic, it’s taken a while for all the contracted tenants to open their spaces.

Now they have. And this week SEA took the time to celebreate with lion dancers, ribbon cuttings and a visit from Jett the SEA Otter, the airport’s new mascot.

If you’re headed to SEA sometime soon, here are eight of the most recent openings:

Sky GamerzΒ is a gaming lounge serving up retro Atra-era video games that can be played for free, along with a full food and drink menu .

Tender Loving Empire was born in Portland and is a welcome Seattle gift shop addition that supports hundreds of artists, makers, musicians, and small businesses.

CHALO SeattleΒ offers fun travel gear with really great graphics.

Show PonyΒ is a locally-owned boutique featuring clothing, jewelry, accessories, and gifts from independent small designers, many local to the Pacific Northwest.

Other new venues include a branch of P.F. Chang’s, Lil Woody’s Burgers & Shakes, Embarque Whiskey GrillΒ and Village PubΒ .

And check out what’s on deck for the Great Hall at Denver Internaitonal Airport

Travel Tidbits from airports near you

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) hosted a popcorn giveaway in honor of the Super Bowl.

We wish we were there…

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) are among the airports celebrating the Lunar New Year.


Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is marking Black History Month by celebrating an intriguing piece of its public art collection. Mark Bradford’s hard-to-miss giant sculpture, Bell Tower, is in the Tom Bradley International Terminal Departure Hall.

And we were delighted to add our comments to – and learn from – this article about observation decks and outdoor patios to be found at airports.

β€œI love the idea of being able to go outside and be a part of what’s happening on the tarmac,” said Thom Filicia in 2013.So do many travelers. In the years since, American airports have begun, if not clamoring for, actively including consideration of outdoor airside spaces in a myriad of projects.

Airport Architecture (@airportarchitecture.byerussell.com) 2025-02-05T13:57:20.524Z

Retro-themed gaming lounge open at SEA

If you grew up with or are a fan of Atari and Ninendo-era video games such as Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros. and Ms. PAC-MAN then you’ll be thrilled with a visit to the new retro-themed Sky Gamerz in the N Satellite at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

There’s a full menu and a bar with the requisite bank of large TV screens overhead turned to sports and, if everyone behaves, national news.

One side of this restaurant is open to patrons of all ages. And on the all-ages side, settling in at a table and playing any of the retro-computer games is free.

There’s even a small ‘champagne room’ in the back of the venue perfect for families with small kids.

To check out a game cartridge, all you need to do is give your ID to the bartender. Want to play another game? Simply swap the game cartridge at the bar or ask one of the waitstaff to bring it over.

While no purchase is necessary, you’ll probably want to order something off the well-priced menu, which includes items such as Nutella stuffed French Toast.

If you do order a meal, be sure to save room for what may be the best value dessert at the airport: the ice cream sandwich.

Each freshly made ice cream sandwich is made of 4 ounces of vanilla ice cream stuffed between two large, warm chocolate chunk cookies.

When we visited, our Sky Gamerz guide just happened to have a tape measure with him and we measured the hefty dessert at more than 4 inches across.

This dessert is perfect for sharing. And at just $8 (plus tax), we’re declaring it the best value dessert at SEA airport.

Reno Airport celebrates rodeo+SEA embraces Bridgerton

The 105th annual Reno Rodeo is underway in Reno, Nevada and Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is joining with Southwest Airlines to welcome rodeo enthusiasts to town.

On Friday morning (June 21), from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., Southwest passengers traveling to and from Denver Airport will be treated to a class in country dancing. If you’re passing through, mosey on over and join in.

SEA airport says “pay attention, gentle readers”

Have you been watching Bridgerton? Evidently the social media team at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has. Their feed is currently full of Bridgerton-themed travel tips. And they’re very charming.