Search Results for: blog shopping at the airport getting more than i bargained for

Minneapolis—-More than Just Home to the Mall of America

I admit it; one of my first trips to Minneapolis, Minnesota was to visit what was then the world’s largest indoor shopping center–the Mall of America. The massive retail establishment is located in the suburb of Bloomington and is worth the 20-minute car ride from downtown Minneapolis. It is considered the Mecca of malls and with 2.5 million square feet (another 1.1 million square feet is being added), more than 500 stores, an indoor amusement park, a 1.2 million-gallon aquarium with more than 8,000 fish and other aquatic creatures, a virtual submarine ride, a wedding chapel, a NASCAR simulator, 50 … Continue reading →

Busy Airport Gets Major Boost

The good news: London Heathrow Airport just opened a new $8.6 billion state-of-the-art terminal with some of the most luxurious accommodations in the world. The bad news: Unless you are a higher-fare premium customer you won’t get the opportunity to indulge in the terminal’s ultra-luxe amenities. Still, airport officials say the addition of the new Terminal 5 will greatly improve the travel experience for millions of travelers who fly British Airways. (The new facility was designed specifically for the 30 million or so passengers who fly with the carrier.) For example, frequent flyers will now be pampered in the terminal’s … 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 →

Travel Tidbits: Singapore’s New Ultra-Luxe Airport Terminal and a Bicyclist’s Worst Enemy

If your air travels take you to Singapore any time soon you will be among the first to experience life at the newest and most luxurious airport terminals in the world. Changi Airport Terminal 3 opened to the public on Wednesday and it’s already causing quite a stir among frequent flyers. The state-of-the-art structure features first-class restaurants, a host of upscale shops, a vertical garden of climbing plants and four waterfalls that spans 984 feet inside the main building. It also boasts a roof with more than 900 skylights and reflector panels that automatically allow an optimum amount of natural … Continue reading →

Gift Ideas For Frequent Travelers

Forget about the goofy tie and the poinsettia set in a terra cotta pot. If you have frequent travelers on your holiday gift list you need to be thinking about function at 35,000 feet, or at least behind the wheel of a car. This blog was actually inspired by an item I saw on sale at Target this week—-a road emergency kit. This one retails for just $25 and includes the basics. However, if you have the time and inclination you could get even more creative and tailor the contents specifically for your special traveler. Simply get a sturdy duffel … 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 →

Infamous Minneapolis Airport Bathroom Getting Make Over

In a previous blog I described how a single restroom in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was fast becoming one of the Twin Cities’ most popular tourist attractions. Thanks to Senator Larry Craig, the infamous airport men’s room where his recent arrest took place is now getting new stall dividers that stop just shy of the floor. It’s an addition airport officials say makes the stalls less inviting for inappropriate liaisons. Currently, the dividers leave enough space so a person could easily duck under them. Back in June an undercover police officer said Craig allegedly used the open space under … Continue reading →

Are You In Favor Of “Cattle-Call” Boarding?

There was a lot of attention paid to discount giant Southwest Airlines this week. First, the low-cost carrier announced it would no longer be allowing families with children to pre-board flights. Then, the company revealed that it would be sticking to its unique open seating policy—-a process many passengers have nicknamed the “cattle call.” In a previous blog I told you about Southwest’s efforts to experiment with different seating strategies. The carrier spent the summer running several different seating and boarding tests in San Diego and San Antonio. And according to airline executives, the results of those tests convinced them … Continue reading →

Visiting Minneapolis Airport’s Infamous Bathroom and What NOT To Take Through An Airport Turnstile

Only in America… That’s what I thought when I heard that the bathroom stall made famous by U.S. Senator Larry Craig’s arrest in a sex sting has become a major tourist attraction in the Twin Cities. According to employees at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, thousands of travelers have been taking pictures of the infamous site where the prominent lawmaker claimed he was merely trying to pick up a piece toilet tissue that fell to the ground. The Idaho Republican was arrested June 11 by a Minneapolis airport police officer and later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Since then … Continue reading →

China’s Airport—What To Expect If You Are Going To The Olympics

Beijing Capital International Airport… it may not be a place many Americans are familiar with. But, by this time next year millions of world-class athletes along with their friends, family members, and fans of the Olympic games will have spent at least a few hours in it. Namely in the newest portion of it—Terminal 3. According to city officials, when the massive steel and glass structure opens to the public early next year it will be among the world’s largest airport terminals. Not only will it be one of the biggest, but it will also be one of the most … Continue reading →