Tag Archives: airports

How Do You NOT Know When Your Child has Gone Missing at an Airport?

A real life version of the big screen hit “Home Alone” took place in Canada on Monday and despite hearing the story multiple times I still don’t see how a 23-month-old boy could be “inadvertently” left behind in a gigantic airport. So here’s the deal: According to The Vancouver Sun, a family immigrating to Canada from the Philippines claims the mix-up occurred during a last minute scramble to a catch their plane. Jun Parreno, the boy’s father, told the paper he, his wife and the tot’s two grandparents were desperately trying to make their connecting flight from Vancouver to Winnipeg … Continue reading →

Family Lanes at Airport Screening Areas

I frequently make use of the family lanes offered at my local supermarket so when I heard the Transportation Security Administration was experimenting with screening lanes designed specifically for families with children I was anxious to learn more. Heck, as far as I am concerned any parent who has struggled with juggling multiple tots and totes while navigating airport security areas should be interested in the new program. According to TSA security officials, the idea for the family lanes is to ease the pressure on parents journeying through an airport with young children. In airports around the world parents with … Continue reading →

Hip and Happening Airports

What do you do to pass time at an airport? Read? Talk on your cellphone? Shop? Eat? In previous blogs I’ve listed ways to conquer boredom between flights, but now it appears some airports are coming to the rescue of delayed passengers by providing unique boredom busters mid-terminal. Nashville International Airport leads the pack with its live concert series. The airport began offering the live shows in the early ’90s as country music was becoming increasingly popular among younger fans. Today, musicians from all backgrounds play the airport’s five stages almost every day of the week. Airport officials say they … Continue reading →

The End of the Single Carry-On Rule

Just how much can you cram into your carry-on bag? If you fly internationally you likely have the ability to push the limits of your carry-on well beyond most domestic travelers. That’s because an extremely unpopular rule was put into place by the British government last year after local authorities said they had foiled a plot to bomb trans-Atlantic jetliners using small amounts of explosives disguised as ordinary liquids. Since then travelers leaving airports in the United Kingdom were allowed to take just one bag into the aircraft cabin as opposed to two bags elsewhere in the world. The limit … Continue reading →

Alternative Airports

In my previous blog I mentioned that great airfare deals are available (even during the busy holiday travel season) provided you remain “flexible” with your travel plans. In addition to being flexible with your departure and return dates and times, it’s also helpful to consider flying in or out of alternate airports. For example, I live near two major airports in Wisconsin—–Milwaukee and Madison. So when I can’t get an affordable fare when I plug in one, I then check fares at the other. Some alternative airports are quite convenient; others are a stretch. For instance, I could fly out … Continue reading →

Sioux City–One Unforgettable City

Quick! What city do you live in? Okay. Now, this might be tougher: Do you know the three-letter airport code printed on tickets and luggage tags that identifies your city to pilots and other airport workers? For example, Los Angeles’ three-letter identifier is LAX. Dallas’ is DFW and Tulsa’s is TUL. If you live in Sioux City, Iowa then the question is a no-brainer. Sioux Gateway Airport’s infamous three-letter identifier—SUX— has been in and out of the headlines for years, and now city leaders are trying to put a new spin on the unflattering code. For more than a decade … Continue reading →

Flu Shots Made Easy For Frequent Flyers

There was a time when airports were known simply as places to a catch flight. These days a growing number of airports offer world-class shopping, fine dining, spas, wireless Internet access, even dinosaurs. So should you be surprised that many North American airports are now offering… flu shots? Nope. A few weeks ago about a dozen airports across the country started offering no-appointment-needed influenza immunizations to jet-setting passengers. If you plan to fly in or out of airports in Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Denver, Newark, Las Vegas and Vancouver British Columbia you can get a flu shot right at the … Continue reading →

Insults Flying In The Not-So Friendly Skies

If you are enrolled in a frequent flyer program with one of the country’s largest air carriers then you may have received an email asking for your help to convince Congress that private aircraft owners should pay more to help modernize an outdated air traffic control system. I happen to be enrolled in several frequent flyer programs and have already received a note encouraging me to pen a letter to my congressional representative and demand that private aircraft owners dig deep to help pay for a new air traffic control system. If you haven’t received an email from a major … Continue reading →

Sunday Travel Funnies: Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road?

Any guesses? Well, we’ll likely never know because the little critter didn’t quite finish his journey. But that didn’t stop him from creating a catastrophe in the process. Authorities in New Jersey say the reptile caused one heck of an accident on the Garden State Parkway a few days ago. According to police, a woman reportedly swerved to avoid hitting the turtle as it crawled across the northbound lanes of the busy expressway. In the process she lost control of her car, crashed through a guardrail and tumbled down an embankment before the car flipped over onto its roof. Luckily, … Continue reading →

Good News For Fliers—Aeroclinics and Luxury Parking

AEROCLINIC I can’t think of a worse situation than having to fly with an earache, a stomachache… or worse, getting sick on your flight. Luckily, for fliers arriving into or departing from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport help is right around the corner (and up an escalator and down a concourse or two). The airport just unveiled a new walk-in medical clinic located in the pre-security area above the main terminal. According to airport officials, the center provides treatment for illnesses such as flu, sinus infections, insect bites, burns and skin conditions. In addition, the 4,400-square-foot clinic can also “fill some … Continue reading →