Take Advantage of Airport Amenities
As much as they’re the same, airports are all different. And many offer unique amenities that you wouldn’t guess
were onsite. Lose a filling? New York’s JFK and LaGuardia each have dentists available. Want to take a nap? At Honolulu International, you can rent a bed by the hour. How about a restaurant with a great view? That could be at LAX, where you can sit high in the sky and people-watch at the
Encounter restaurant.
Several airports have improved their visual appearances by displaying local artwork. San Antonio, Texas, is a good example of that. Corridors are lined with shadow boxes and
display cases containing paintings, pottery, and crafts by regional artists and artisans. Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International has more than 200 works of art in its permanent collection, along with changing exhibits that
showcase Arizona’s artistic and cultural heritage. San Francisco International has fascinating exhibits in its museum of flight that are worth a look even if you’re not
flying. And Chicago’s O’Hare International has a learning area and play space developed by the Chicago Children’s Museum.
Airport shopping malls are a major trend. Amsterdam’s Schiphol is a legendary draw for travelers and city residents alike. The Schiphol Group was also behind the development of the new Terminal 4 building at JFK in New York, where upscale shopping is a major focus. London’s Heathrow, Pittsburgh International, and Orlando
International are also renowned for their airport shopping opportunities.
Many airports now offer massage services, fitness centers, and spas for passengers and crew with time between flights or who simply want to feel better. Taking 15 minutes for a head and neck massage at The Massage Bar upon arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International makes all the difference in the world after a cross-country or transpacific flight.
British Airways offers aromatherapy sessions at its arrivals lounge at London Heathrow, and Virgin Airways offers countless pre-flight “grooming” opportunities .
including hydrotherapy baths, massages, relaxation lounges, and beauty services -- at its Virgin Clubhouse in the same
London airport. Golfers with a time to spare can play a round at the Hyatt Bear Creek Golf Club, an 18-hole championship course at the southwest corner of Dallas-Fort Worth International.
Austin-Bergstrom nternational, also in Texas, has a course nearby that welcomes travelers, as well.
And if you’re heading for Nassau, in the Bahamas, a live band in the immigration hall plays catchy calypso music while you wait in line prior to presenting your documents.
It never fails to put you in a good mood despite the wait.
So you see, spending time in an airport holding pattern may not be so bad after all. With added creature comforts, user
-friendly services, and unique attributes, use your own time as an opportunity to pamper yourself or to discover something new.
For links to sites for airports in the U.S. and throughout the world, with terminal maps and directories of services, go to:
http://newsletter.oag.com/cgi-bin2/f...CH70TQ0BDjD0Ak
or
http://newsletter.oag.com/cgi-bin2/f...CH70TQ0BDjE0Al
