Travel Health and Fitness - I wish airports had gyms

Ms. noneemac and I were just wondering aloud about why airports -- and the Admirals Club and other lounges, in particular -- don't have gyms.

"Well, it's America," she noted, "where there's no shortages of eateries serving oversized portions and unhealthy food, so it really doesn't surprise me."

But then she thought about our Admirals Club visits and said, "It would be so great to get in a workout before taking a shower."

Yes, I thought, it makes great sense. What a great way to spend a two-hour layover.

Does anybody know of any airports that have a gym?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/18/business/businessspecial2/18gym.html

Edited to add: sorry, just realized that article is super old.

Ms. noneemac and I were just wondering aloud about why airports -- and the Admirals Club and other lounges, in particular -- don't have gyms.

"Well, it's America," she noted, "where there's no shortages of eateries serving oversized portions and unhealthy food, so it really doesn't surprise me."

But then she thought about our Admirals Club visits and said, "It would be so great to get in a workout before taking a shower."

Yes, I thought, it makes great sense. What a great way to spend a two-hour layover.

Does anybody know of any airports that have a gym?

As had been mentioned in this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-health-fitness/1190106-power-heavy-gyms.html) thread, both PIT and LAS had gyms at one time and they closed down. It apparently is just not a viable business model.

The Admirals Club at DFW (A Terminal) has a small gym. Otherwise, nothing wrong a brisk walk for an hour. Great people/gate/plane watching to boot.

While it's not in the airport itself, you can buy a day pass to the gym at ORD Hilton. Think it's $10. Just cross the driveway from the terminal to the Hilton.

Cheers.

Ms. noneemac and I were just wondering aloud about why airports -- and the Admirals Club and other lounges, in particular -- don't have gyms.

"Well, it's America," she noted, "where there's no shortages of eateries serving oversized portions and unhealthy food, so it really doesn't surprise me." But then she thought about our Admirals Club visits and said, "It would be so great to get in a workout before taking a shower."

Yes, I thought, it makes great sense. What a great way to spend a two-hour layover.

Does anybody know of any airports that have a gym?

Well its America and if there were a profitable market for one, then we would have them

In reality enough people won't pay the cost to enter or the additional cost to join a (say AC) club with work out facilities.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/18/business/businessspecial2/18gym.html

Edited to add: sorry, just realized that article is super old.

Thanks for this posting. Despite the column's age, it was interesting to read.



As had been mentioned in this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-health-fitness/1190106-power-heavy-gyms.html) thread, both PIT and LAS had gyms at one time and they closed down. It apparently is just not a viable business model.

Thanks for the link to the thread. I have a gym in my apartment complex, so I don't need to buy a full gym membership, but when I move to a place with no gym, I will explore the option to buy a multiyear membership through Costco. Good find!



The Admirals Club at DFW (A Terminal) has a small gym. Otherwise, nothing wrong a brisk walk for an hour. Great people/gate/plane watching to boot.

Ooh, now THIS is exactly the kind of intel I was looking for. Had our PBI-DFW flight last week not been rerouted to SAT, I would have enjoyed waiting out the tornado watch by getting in a good workout at the Admirals Club in Terminal A. I will plan for some longer layovers from now on in order to get a workout in between flights. Nice to know!

And you're right about a good walk. Or a run. The May issue of TrailRunner magazine has an article by a guy who gets a good run in during a 3-hour layover in SEA when a local hotel won't let him use the gym.

While it's not in the airport itself, you can buy a day pass to the gym at ORD Hilton. Think it's $10. Just cross the driveway from the terminal to the Hilton.

Cheers.

More great intel. Thanks for this. We're AA loyalists, so it's good to know we can be getting in good workouts in DFW and ORD.

Did some browsing last night and found this growing list of airport gyms: http://www.airportgyms.com/airport-gyms-usa.php

Did some browsing last night and found this growing list of airport gyms: http://www.airportgyms.com/airport-gyms-usa.php

Some of these are very far from airports. For example, I use the Ballston Sport & Health Club but it is a good 30 minutes from Reagan at rush hour and it is most definitely not an airport gym.

I am a member of the ORD Hilton athletic club which is one of the best. At DFW the Hyatt at D will sell day passes and many airport hotels sell day passes.

Chiming in on ORD. I've used the Hilton gym while on a 3 hour layover at ORD. It's a good gym although a little hot for me.

I used the LAS gym a fair amount back in the day.

Ms. noneemac and I were just wondering aloud about why airports -- and the Admirals Club and other lounges, in particular -- don't have gyms.

"Well, it's America," she noted, "where there's no shortages of eateries serving oversized portions and unhealthy food, so it really doesn't surprise me."

But then she thought about our Admirals Club visits and said, "It would be so great to get in a workout before taking a shower."

Yes, I thought, it makes great sense. What a great way to spend a two-hour layover.

Does anybody know of any airports that have a gym?

Amen! I know space=money, but I do wish more lounges would invest in a small room for gym equipment like the DFW Terminal A AC.

I tried to start a thread back in the day to help consolidate our knowledge around gym options either airside or adjacent to airports - but didn't get much traction: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-health-fitness/1191855-exercise-options-airports.html

Maybe there just aren't that many options out there... :(

Maybe there just aren't that many options out there... :(

I think that is the problem.

I poked around the airport gyms site upthread, and didn't find a single standalone airport gym. There are handful of hotels with Gyms at the airport, but most of the listings are nearby gyms requiring a taxi ride. Of course, this means a very surly taxi driver to the gym, since they've waited in a long queue for a 2-3 mile fare, and then having to call for one for the return.

I've used the gym at the Hilton Boston Logan a bunch of times. Not as good as the ORD Hilton gym but it works.

After walking from some of the farthest gates at FRA to exit, I'm thinking no gym is required here :eek: :D

Cheers.

My wife has gotten me addicted to workout/circuit type videos. If you aren't too self-conscious, you could do something like that in a quiet corner of a lounger or empty hold room.