Thanksgiving

Military eat free at airports during Thanksgiving

Airports, Food, Free Stuff, Holidays, ,

THANKSGIVING coin postcard

During Thanksgiving week (Nov. 23 – 27), military personnel are invited to eat free in participating airport restaurants across the country operated by Paradies Lagardère (formerly Paradies) as part of its “Treat Our Troops” program.

Active and retired military personnel can show their military I.D. cards when ordering or checking out to receive a complimentary menu item and beverage at these restaurants:

• Sweet Auburn Market – Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
• Blue Ridge Tavern – Asheville Regional Airport
• 4th Street Vine, McKenna’s on the Fly and the Long Beach Marche – Long Beach Airport
• Bar Symon – Pittsburgh International Airport
• Big Bowl, Magic Pan and Say Si Bon! – Denver International Airport
• Jammin’ Java, Smokewood American Grill and Say Si Bon! – Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport
• Say Si Bon! – Reagan Washington National Airport

Thanksgiving is also being celebrated at Washington’s Dulles and Regan airports with a “Turkey in the Terminal” promotion.

Turkey in the Terminal

At Dulles International Airport, six restaurants are participating in the promotion, including Bar Symon, which is offering a Gobbler Burger; Cosi, which is serving Turkey Chili; and the District Chophouse and Brewery, which is featuring a Smoked Turkey Club.

At Regan National Airport, four restaurants are featuring turkey-themed dishes, including Ben’s Chili Bowl, which is offering a Jumbo Turkey Dog.

Through Nov. 30, both airports are sharing a juicy turkey recipe from Chef Symon.

Airports where military eat free this Thanksgiving

Airports, Food, free Wi-Fi, Holidays, , ,

paradies

Here’s a nice gesture being extended to military personnel traveling this Thanksgiving:

Paradies, a company that operates many airport concessions, is inviting active or retired military to dine for free in any of its airport restaurants from November 24 to 27.

The offer is courtesy of the company’s Treat Our Troops program and will cover one menu item such as an entrée, sandwich or salad, and a non-alcoholic beverage.

To take advantage of the promotion, active and retired military service men and women can simply show their military identification when ordering or checking out.

Funds for the promotion come not just from Paradies, but from other travelers: throughout the year, Paradies restaurant customers can buy a $5 voucher that is then applied to the dining check of an active or retired military service member.

Here’s a list of some of the participating airport restaurants:

· Sweet Auburn Market – Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (Atlanta, GA)

· Blue Ridge Tavern – Asheville Regional Airport (Asheville, NC)

· McKenna’s on the Fly, 4th Street Vine Wine and Beer Bar, and the Long Beach Marche – Long Beach Airport (Long Beach, CA)

· Bar Symon – Pittsburgh International Airport (Pittsburgh, PA)

· Say Si Bon Gourmet Market – Denver International Airport (Denver, CO)

· Smokewood American Grill and Say Si Bon Gourmet Market – Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (Bentonville, AR)

bturkey

Thanksgiving events at U.S. airports

Contests, Holidays, ,

HEATHROW TURKEY

If you’re going to be spending any time in an airport this Thanksgiving holiday, hopefully it will be in one of these airports offering some holiday fun.

Terracotta Warriors at IND airport

Real Terra Cotta Warriors from the army built by the first emperor of China to protect him in the after-life will arrive in May, 2014 at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for a blockbuster exhibit.

Right now, though, there’s a six-foot tall replica warrior at Indianapolis International Airport. Beside it is a cut-out warrior, for photo opportunities.

IND WARRIOR

Santa is also scheduled to make a visit to IND on November 30 between 11 and 2 pm for photos and free holiday activities (Hopefully he’ll snap a photo with the Terra Cotta Warrior).

IND SANTA

Southwest Airlines offer free Nintendo

Denver Nintendo

Nintendo games set up at Denver International Airport.

Nintendo has partnered with Southwest and set up free Wii U Gaming Lounges where travelers can play Super Mario 3D World and other newly released games at Dallas Love Field, Chicago (Midway), Denver, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and St. Louis.

The games will be installed through December 22, but through December 25 you can enter a contest to win one of 30 prize packages containing a pair of Southwest Airlines round-trip tickets and one Wii U system. A new winner will be selected each day.

Bonus coupons at LaGuardia Airport; free shipping at DFW Airport

Passengers traveling through DFW from now through December 24 can get free domestic shipping as well as free gift-wrapping on gifts purchased at participating shops.

If you’ll be traveling through New York’s LaGuardia Airport anytime before January 2, 2014, be sure to use this coupon good for 20% off an item at the Food & Shops in Terminal B.

Surprises in Houston

zappos

Some lucky passengers heading to baggage claim to pick up their luggage at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) are in for some big surprises on Wednesday, Nov 27. Zappos has taken over one of the carousels and will be handing out gifts to travelers as they grab their bags off the belt beginning at around 8:30 am local time. Prizes will include everything from $25 Zappos gift cards to Kitchen Aid mixers.

Free meals for military at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

And from Thanksgiving Day through midnight January 1, 2014 all active-duty United States Military flying through Austin-Bergstrom International airport will be treated to complimentary meals, courtesy of concessionaire Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services.

Active military with ID can receive sandwich or slice pizza, a side of or bag of chips and a medium (non-alcoholic) fountain drink at Annie’s Café, Ray Benson’s Roadhouse Bar, Mangia’s Pizza, Austin Java, Schlotzsky’s Deli, The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que, Earl Campbell’s Sports Bar, Maudie’s Tex-Mex, Hill’s Café, Nuevo Leon Mexican Restaurant, SoCo Market, and Saxon Pub.

Helpful freebies for travelers heading to Thanksgiving

Airports, Insurance, Shopping, Wi-Fi, , ,

Holiday travel can get mighty hectic. And if something goes wrong this Wednesday- the day before Thanksgiving and the notorious “busiest travel day of the year” – an inconvenience can turn into a disaster.

So it’s nice to know that the travel insurance and assistance company Travel Guard North America will be offering emergency travel assistance services free to all U.S. travelers on Wednesday, November 23.

The company’s services include flight rebooking, hotel booking, emergency cash coordination and message relay, as well as emergency medical assistance such as referrals, access to air ambulances, medical providers and more.
It’s a service I hope you won’t need to use. But if you do, here’s the number: (866) 644-6811.

And on Wednesday, if you manage to avoid travel emergencies and find yourself on a plane equipped with GoGo in-flight Wi-Fi, you’ll be able to jump online –free – for 30 minutes of shopping courtesy of a Fly & Buy promotion with Nordstrom’s, Target, Wal-Mart, Amazon and other retail companies. The promotion runs through January 2, 2012, but for the Wednesday’s kick-off some companies will be throwing in extras.

Home store Hayneedle.com is entering each customer in a Fly & Buy contest to win a $5,000.00 shopping spree and also handing out in-flight shopping vouchers in several terminals at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.