No, I haven’t lost my mind. It’s true; the busy holiday season is typically when I suggest to parents with young children to avoid crowded airports at all costs, but that was before one airport started to give away free food with proof of a pint-sized traveling companion.
Dallas/Fort Worth Airport is hoping that free food and entertainment for kids will help make the hectic holiday travel season a bit brighter. To that end, the airport is offering a two-day “Kids Eat Free” promotion.
Here are the details: From noon to 2 p.m. on December 20-21, airport employees will distribute $5 coupons to people traveling with children under 12 at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. For each child, adult travelers will receive one coupon that can be redeemed at any airport restaurant or store.
In addition, during the promotion period, the airport will be hosting storytellers, face painters and balloon artists in an effort to encourage families on evening flights to get to the terminal earlier than they normally would.
The airport expects to give away 2,000 coupons.
Frankly, I think they should print out about 2,000 more of those coupons given that nowhere in the rules does it say that the child has to be related to you. I can just see hungry childless adult passengers roaming the terminal asking to “borrow” young flyers so they can get a free Value Meal from McDonald’s.
In other airport news (good news for passengers of all ages) JetBlue just announced it plans to move up the opening date of Terminal 5 at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to September. It had been scheduled for early 2009.
The 640,000-square-foot glass-metal structure cost more than $740 million to build and is one of the largest construction projects in the United States. It will replace the carrier’s operations at the cramped and dilapidated Terminal 6.
Some of the notable features of the highly anticipated terminal include a 900-foot covered walkway that will connect the terminal to AirTrain, JFK’s rail link. In addition, each gate will have 100 seats and two TV monitors with DirecTV programming, including sporting events. The new terminal will also be filled with retail stores and restaurants and have a town-square feel with two sets of grandstands where people can sit, eat and relax. It will also feature 26 gates, five more than at the current JetBlue terminal. The airline will also gain 10 security lanes and two baggage carousels.
Flying with children in the near future? Check out these blogs for helpful tips on making your next flight a smooth one:
Traveling With Children-Learn From My Mistakes
Flying with Children: Layover or Not?
Tips To Remember When Traveling With Children
Even More Tips To Remember When You Travel With Kids
More Tips To Remember When You Travel With Kids
Traveling With Young Children: More Dos and Don’ts
Traveling With Young Children: Dos and Don’ts
In Flight Diaper Changing Etiquette
Are Airlines Becoming More Family Friendly?