travel

Singing the praises of Sea-Tac Airport’s Music Program

Airports, Music, ,

 

Seattle-Tacoma International is not only one of my favorite airports, it’s my home-base airport.

And so I’m delighted that the airport has received a Future Travel Experience Award for its music program, which welcomes travelers with live music performances, exhibits about local music history and a music soundtrack of Northwest artists from the likes of Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, The Ventures and Perl Jam that is played overhead, on video monitors and on a web radio player that can be accessed in the airport and on-line anywhere. Many of the public safety announcements travelers hear in the airport are also now voiced by Northwest musicians. (Here’s Macklemore and Quincy Jones.)


SEA Hendrix Display

Mobile signals at airports: all over the map

Airports, Technology, , , , ,

Museum of Bags and Purses - telephone bag

Frequent travelers know that at some airports it sometimes still requires finding a ‘sweet spot’ or standing on one foot in order to make a phone call, check email or download large files on a smartphone or some other mobile device.

A recent RootMetrics report evaluating coverage and performance of the four major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint) at 50 of the country’s busiest airports helps explain why.

“In aggregate the clear winners are Verizon and AT&T on the data side, but that has a lot to do with their faster deployment of 4G LTE technology,” said Bill Moore, CEO of RootMetrics.

The Bellevue, Wash.-based firm measures and analyzes mobile services and tested speed and reliability of airport signals, looking at average download and upload speeds, email performance, web and app performance and network reliability.

Carrier-wise, the test gave top honors to AT&T and Verizon. Each carrier received top scores (RootScore awards) at 30 airports. T-Mobile performed well at 3 airports; Sprint was shut-out.

Sprint didn’t respond to a request to comment on the results for this story, but T-Mobile said it’s already making upgrades.

“T-Mobile has made significant enhancements to the network since this testing was conducted, including launching 4G LTE in 116 metro areas reaching 167 million people,” Grant Castle, vice president of engineering at T-Mobile, told CNBC. “We plan to have 4G LTE coverage nationwide by the end of this year.”

On an airport by airport basis, the testers found huge differences and variances by time of day and location. “Baggage claim areas, down in the basements, are typically the worst,” said Moore, “So if you’re trying to get in touch with someone to pick you up that can be a big challenge.”

The varied results make it hard to say which airports overall are the best and worst. “We looked at both reliability and speed, since those are the two factors that mean most to consumers,” Moore said.

“Across the 50 airports that we tested, Verizon was the only carrier to record a perfect score for network reliability. They did so in four different airports—Austin (AUS), Charlotte (CLT), San Antonio (SAT) and San Jose (SJC). On the flip side, Sprint’s network reliability performance at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston was the lowest we recorded across the 50 airports.”

For frequent travelers whose mobile devices are essential tools for taking care of business at airports before, between and after flights, hit and miss signal strength and speed “absolutely influence” what types of services can be accessed,” said Cathy Schetzina, senior research analyst with global travel market research company PhoCusWright, Inc. “An inability to complete their task efficiently via mobile could cause certain travelers to revert to alternative methods – like standing in line!” she said.

And that can have an impact on the bottom line for travelers, airports and carriers.

When he learned about the RootMetrics report, David Wilson, chief technologist at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, immediately checked to see how SEA’s mobile services compared to other airports. “AT&T service at our airport is fantastic and our relative performance to other airports is very good,” said Wilson.

If it wasn’t, he said he’d immediately begin negotiations to upgrade service. “Our goal is to provide excellent customer service and we know the strength of our both of cellular and Wi-Fi network affects our customer satisfaction ratings.”

RootMetrics expects to complete another round of airport signal testing by the end of the year and “we’re hearing that there are considerable efforts underway to improve coverage at many airports,” said Moore.

In the meantime, “At least this study lets travelers know that they are not alone and that everyone is feeling the data crunch at the airport,” said Jason Rabinowitz, Associate Editor at NYCAviation.com.

(My story about testing cell signals at airports first appeared on CNBC Road Warrior)

 

Tampa Int’l Airport proud of its potties

Airports, Fun Stuff, ,

TPA Ladies Room-

Congratulations to Tampa International Airport (TPA) for having its recently renovated restrooms chosen as finalists in the Cintas 12th annual America’s Best Restroom Contest.

The contest lauds public loos across the land and, in addition to TPA’s toilets, the list includes a restroom in a Portland, Ore. arcade, an ice-cream parlor in West Palm Beach, Fla. and the glass bathrooms on the square in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

They’re all great places to, uh, go, but here at StuckatTheAirport.com we must root for the restrooms at the Tampa airport, which were renovated as part of a $30 million main terminal modernization project.

Tampa Intl Airport Mens Room

Airport officials say the restrooms were designed to offer a “fresh, Florida feel” with, among other amenities, those cool Dyson airblade hand dryers and wall-sized image of flowers, birds, fish and other native Florida wildlife.

TSA to extend PreCheck to 100 airports

Security, , ,

TSA PINK 2

 

Good news for travelers who hate taking off their shoes at airport security checkpoints: the TSA plans to extend its PreCheck program to an additional 60 airports and add extra PreCheck lanes to some of the 40 airports that already offer the expedited screening program.

This means that by the end of 2013, 100 airports will have some lanes set aside for pre-approved travelers who will not have to remove their shoes, light jackets and belts at the security checkpoints and who will be able to leave their laptops and little baggies of lotions and gels in their carry-on bags during screening.

The program currently applies to eligible passengers traveling on these airlines:

Alaska Airlines

American Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Hawaiian Airlines

United Airlines,

US Airways

Virgin America.

 

Two other airlines – JetBlue and Southwest – are still working out the details to join the program.

In addition to expanding the number of TSA PreCheck lanes, the TSA has been steadily expanding the type of passengers eligible to use the lanes.

Right now, eligible passengers include U.S. citizens in frequent traveler programs who get invited by their airline, U.S. citizens in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler program and Canadian citizens who are members of CBP’s NEXUS program. The TSA is also rolling out an application program that allows U.S. citizens to apply for the TSA PreCheck program – for an $85 fee.

Here’s a link to the airports that currently participate in the TSA PreCheck Program and here’s a link to the 60 airports the TSA is planning to add by the end of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Airport dining upgrades

Food, ,

This holiday weekend travelers can stop in for a bite to eat at Dylan’s Candy Bar, P.F. Chang’s or Bubbles Seafood & Wine Bar.

Not at the mall, but at the airport.

 

ATL PF CHANGS

PF Chang’s opening at ATL airport. Courtesy ATL

 

A spate of recent airport ribbon-cuttings for high-profile dining and snack outlets was spurred by changing tastes of travelers, airlines’ decision to pay less for services at the airports and turnover of competitive concession contracts.

Just this week, the first airport branch of P.F. Chang’s opened at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world’s busiest passenger airport. The airport also celebrated the opening of a food court featuring branches of three local brands, including Piece of Cake, serving cupcakes and other decadent desserts.

“Our concession program is nearly finished with opening 152 new restaurants,” said ATL spokesman Reese McCranie, “and each one has a strong reputation for top-notch food and service.”

At San Diego International Airport, which recently opened a greatly expanded Terminal 2 West, the line-up of new dining outlets includes Bubbles Seafood & Wine Bar, Seaside Stack Shack, Stone Brewing Co. and the first Jack in the Box to open in an airport.

This week, SAN opened the doors of an airport branch of Phil’s BBQ, a popular local favorite.

“The Airport Authority worked very hard to make sure that when people land at our airport, they know they’ve landed in San Diego,” said Katie Jones, spokesperson for the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “That meant bringing in the local flavors that make our city unique: San Diego’s Thai, BBQ, craft beers, wine bars and local coffee establishments are now available in our airport.”

Among the reasons for the shift is travelers’ changing tastes.

“You’ll still see the national brands such as McDonald’s at many airports, but LAX,  Phoenix, Minneapolis and, hopefully, soon the Chicago airports and the airport in Fort Lauderdale are incorporating a great many high-profile local and national brands,” said Ramon Lo, editorial director of Airport Revenue News.

Air travelers are also becoming more sophisticated and savvy consumers, said Ellery Plowman, owner of airport concessions consulting firm Elleco.

“They are demanding choices: They want the standard hamburger from McDonald’s, Wendy’s or Burger King when they have the family; they want a hip gourmet build-your-own hamburger when they have a meeting; and they want a slider in an elegant oasis when they are alone.”

The march of new, memorable munchies at airports isn’t limited to the main meals.

Last week self-sustaining Detroit Metropolitan Airport celebrated the opening of the first airport branch of Dylan’s Candy Bar. That might not only fatten passengers’ waistlines, but the airport’s bottom line.

“Having the very first airport venue for a fun and popular brand such as Dylan’s is directly in line with our strategy to generate important revenue by offering customers the kind of cool stuff they want to buy while traveling,” said airport spokesperson Scott Wintner.

With airlines cutting back on what they’re willing—or able—to pay airports, non-aeronautical revenue has become increasingly important. According to Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA,) food revenue at airports now ranks third in non-aeronautical revenue, after parking and retail/duty-free.

“Airports recognize that when passengers are provided a variety of restaurant options, revenues go up and so does passenger satisfaction, which is key,” said Debbie McElroy, ACI-NA interim president.

That’s why she says airports are getting competitive about snagging the first branch of a popular or unusual food venue. And not just in cities where passengers have multiple airport options, such as New York and Washington.

“There may be a restaurant that I particularly like or want to try and that may entice me to make my connection through a particular airport,” said McElroy.

My story about dining upgrades at airports first appeared on CNBC Road Warrior )

How to find free Wi-Fi at airports

Airports, free Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi, ,

San Diego Airport new seats

If your business takes you to or through a few airports on a regular basis you already know if the Wi-Fi is free (and the location of the power outlets and best coffee).

But it’s often less than straightforward to jump online if you start or end your trip in an unfamiliar airport.

Many airports proudly promote their free Wi-Fi on concourse signs, on their websites and whenever someone in the airport opens a browser.

“As airlines consolidate and airports compete for traffic and air service, every little amenity helps to lure flyers, and free Wi-Fi is a great perk to keep consumers happy while they wait for the flights,” said Airfarewatchdog President George Hobica.

But, citing economic factors and long-running contracts, many airports still charge for Wi-Fi or offer just a few minutes of free access. Some airports, including O’Hare and Midway in Chicago, allow travelers to visit some tourism and shopping websites for free, but if you want to check email or conduct business, it will cost you. Still others are moving to a hybrid plan offering limited Wi-Fi for free but more robust service for a fee.

“A typical airline passenger carries two Internet-enabled devices such as a laptop and smartphone, or a smartphone and tablet,” said Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and strategist with Hudson Crossing. And because many of these devices are bandwidth hogs, “we’re seeing some airports charge extra for high-bandwidth activities such as audio and video downloads.”

You can poke around an airport’s website for the status of the Wi-Fi offered, but there are a few other ways to determine if an airport offers free or fee-based Wi-Fi.

Jaunted.com has an airport Wi-Fi map that draws Wi-Fi status information from the on-the-ground experiences of its writers and tips from travelers who use the map and send reports on where they’ve successfully accessed complimentary airport Wi-Fi.

“The main challenge right now is noting what networks are truly free and unlimited (examples: Hong Kong, JFK’s Terminal 5) and which are ad-supported, limited-time connections, as the latter is becoming more common, but not less confusing,” said Jaunted’s managing editor Cynthia Drescher.

The team at Airfarewatchdog just published its own downloadable airport Wi-Fi chart offering a snapshot of the Wi-Fi offered at many popular U.S. and international airports. But the chart is already out of date.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, for example, is listed as “pricing unavailable,” but travelers currently get 30 free minutes of free Wi-Fi per device. In September the airport will switch providers (from Boingo to AWG) and begin offering free, faster Wi-Fi. (An advertisement will be shown every 45 minutes and paid higher-speed Wi-Fi will also be available.)

The Airfarewatchdog chart also doesn’t include the fact that in Houston, both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport offer 45 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi to passengers. According to airport spokesperson Darian Ward, the goal is to begin rolling out completely free Wi-Fi in some terminals by the end of the year.

If you’re at an airport with a fee for Wi-Fi and you are unwilling to enter your credit card information, some travelers have had luck getting passwords for the Wi-Fi signal in airline lounges and cafes by using a free mobile phone app or search engine to look on sites such as Faceboook, Foursquare or Twitter for passwords being shared by other travelers.

(But you didn’t hear that here.)

My story about Where to find free Wi-Fi at airports first appeared on the CNBC Road Warrior blog.

Opening day: San Diego Int’l Airport expanded Terminal 2

Airports, Architecture, Events, Openings, ,

The expanded Terminal 2 at San Diego International Airport (SAN) becomes operational today – August 13, 2013 – offering travelers a faster, smoother and far more amenity-rich trip from the curb to their flights.

San Diego lobby photo T2

Dubbed “The Green Build” in reference to it’s focus on the environment, the transformed Terminal 2 is opening on schedule and, at $907 million, $45 million under budget with all the latest in sustainable features, including solar panels, reflective roofs and parking spaces with chargers for up to 40 electric vehicles.

“We’ve added a lot of new features that business travelers, especially, will appreciate” said airport spokeswoman Katie Jones, “including separate arrival and departure roadways and 27 curbside self-service check-in kiosks under a canopy out front.”

SAN does not yet participate in the TSA’s PreCheck program offering expedited passage through security, but with a possible 12 lanes (up from 6) at the checkpoint, “there will be shorter lines everywhere,” she said.

Inside the terminal, travelers will find 10 new gates, $6 million worth of fresh art and at least 800 new seats equipped with cup holders, power outlets and USB ports.

San Diego Airport new seats

Club lounges for United and Delta Air Lines, each with a view of the airfield, are a floor above Sunset Cove, the greatly expanded concessions area. For those traveling with their pets, there’s also an indoor pet-relief area with faux grass and a red hydrant by Gate 46.

Dining options include Saffron, Bubbles Seafood & Wine Bar, Seaside Stack Shack, Stone Brewing Co., Phil’s BBQ and the first Jack in the Box to open in an airport. New service and retail outlets include branches of the Be Relax Spa and Warwick’s of La Jolla, a locally-owned bookstore.

United Airlines, which was operating out of Terminal 1, has moved its operations over to Terminal 2, but unfortunately, passengers flying on airlines that currently use the Commuter Terminal or Terminal 1 (Alaska Airlines/Horizon Airlines and Southwest) won’t have access to the new Terminal 2 amenities.

“But those terminals will be getting some upgrades and new concessions as well,” said Jones.

Flight Attendant Celebration Day at SFO Airport

Flight attendants, History, , , ,
United We StandFemale Flight Attendant Uniforms of United Airlines

United Air Lines stewardess uniform 1957–1958, courtesy SFO Museum

If you happen to be at San Francisco International Airport on August 20th, 2013, make your way over to the library at the Louis Turpen Aviation Museum in the International Terminal for Flight Attendant Celebration Day.

The event will run from 10 am until 3 pm and celebrate the history of flight attendants with talks, short subject films and commemorations, along with complimentary refreshments and free validated parking.

Here’s a link to the scheduled events of the day.

Even if you can’t be on hand for Flight Attendant Celebration Day on August 20th, be sure to stop by the museum to see the current exhibition United We Stand: Female Flight Attendant Uniforms of United Airlines, which will be there through the end of September 2013.

Travel contests: you can’t win if you don’t play

Contests, , , ,

prizes

I’m a firm believer of the “you can’t win if you don’t play” theory of contests – and life. So here’s a round-up of some of the travel-related contests that have landed in my inbox.

Same-sex marriages are about to become legal in New Zealand and Air New Zealand is marking the occasion by holding an in-flight wedding for one lucky Kiwi couple, with a honeymoon in Palm Springs. Enter by July 26, 2013 here.

(Here’s my story about the first-ever, same-sex, inflight weddings, which took place on an SAS flight back in December, 2010.)

Contest_HA_Savor the Flavors image

 

To celebrate the launch of non-stop service to Taipei, Taiwan, Hawaiian Airlines is giving Facebook fans a chance to win 140,000 HawaiianMiles by taking the Hawaiian Airlines Street Eats quiz. The contest ends: July 31, 2013.

Finally (for now): prizes in a Radisson Blu contest that runs through August 15, 2013 include 30 free nights in a variety of Radisson Blu hotels around the world and 360,000 miles in Lufthansa’s Miles & More program which must be redeemed for two (2) Lufthansa Economy Class Round the World Flight Award Tickets.

You’ll need to write a very short essay about your dream destination, which will be judged on creativity and clarity. Details here.

Good luck!

Who buys luggage at the airport?

Airports, luggage, ,

women with luggage

I’m all for a very wide array of shops and amenities at airports, but whenever I see luggage for sale in a terminal I’m a bit perplexed.

After all, if you’re going on a trip, wouldn’t you already have a packed suitcase with you?

Bags break, of course, and many people do end up over-doing it a bit on the souvenirs, but I’m on a quest to hear some first-hand stories from people who have purchased a piece of luggage in an airport.

If that’s you, please leave a note in the comment section below. Your story may end up in a future column.