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20 airports you can visit without a plane ticket

01/05/26

Airport guest pass programs allow non-ticketed guests to go through the security checkpoint and access the secure side of a terminal to dine, shop, see the art and spend more time with family and friends. Currently, about 20 airports offer this service. And each airport has its own set of rules for how many guests →

Harriet Baskas

Airports

The Newsletter

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Airport and Airline Resources

News from 1 airline, 1 airport + a hotel lobby

Alaska Airlines’ big, bold Boeing plane order

Planes to fly, places to go & cool things to see

Holiday videos from Icelandair and Austrian Airlines

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Updated airline policies for change/fee waivers due to flight reduction mandate

Shutdown fallout: FAA will reduce air traffic by 10%. Starting Friday

Wee Delft Blue house marks KLM’s 106 birthday

Travel tidbits from airlines, airports & the U.S. governnment shutdown

News from Air Canada + Korean Air + More

Places to go. Great food & drink. Free cookies.

08/03/25

We can’t go everywhere that looks pretty. And we can’t eat and drink everything that looks tasty. But we want to. Especially when our inbox and our mailbox are full of tantalizing announcements and tasty treats. Here’s a sampling. Complimentary cookie at DoubleTree by Hilton If you’ve stayed at a Doubletree by Hilton hotel, you’ve →

Happy 90th birthday, Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l Airport. Party on!

07/30/25

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), which calls itself ‘America’s Friendliest Airport,’ was surely the funnest airport to be at this week during an anniversary party commemorating the purchase of the rural airport in 1935. 90 years ago, ‘Sky Harbor’ was nicknamed ‘The Farm’ time because of its location. And back then, the purchase price →

Miniature horses at Vancouver Int’l Airport

07/28/25

A real dog and pony show at YVR Airport The folks at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) know travel can be stressful. That’s why this award-winning airport has great art, a public observation area, a giant aquarium and lots of other great amenities. Since 2017, the airport has also had a pet therapy program called the →

It’s going to be a zoo at PHX airport

07/27/25

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) hosts an ongoing Culture Corner presenting free activities that include live art demonstrations, crafts, displays, readings, and more. Since January, local art, culture and history groups have stopped by the PHX Culture Corner to present everything from calligraphy, puppet making and airplane construction to Navajo weaving and petroglyph creation. →

New Orleans Airport really wants you to visit

07/24/25

We keep track of the airports that offer gate pass programs that allow non-ticketed visitors to go past security and hang out at the airport. You can see the full list here. At these airports, you can be at the gate to meet a friend or family member arriving on a flight. You can spend →

Get past security at these airports without a ticket

07/23/25

You don’t have to have superpowers to get past the security checkpoint at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) without an airline ticket. That’s because, starting August 11, 2025, CLE is launching a guest pass program called The Hopkins Hangout Pass. The program allows non-ticketed guests to apply for a pass that will give them access →