Yesterday was “New Runway Day” at three major U.S. airports. Washington Dulles International Airport, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and my hometown Seattle-Tacoma International Airport all cut the ribbon on new runways.

What do these high-ticket investments in airport infrastructure mean for air travelers? Ideally, improved safety, reduced delays, and space for an extra 330,000 take-offs and landings each year.

We’ll see….

(Courtesy: Port of Seattle)

Of course, who cares if more planes can take-off and land unless you can actually get a seat on one of those planes?

So I was pleased to have a chance to stop by the world headquarters of Yapta this week to check out their poker table and learn about their new service that sends travelers e-mail alerts when frequent-flier award seats become available. As someone who recently spent way too many hours trying to figure out how to “spend” a chunk of expiring miles, I totally get the usefulness of this feature.

You can read about Yapta’s free frequent-flier award search service and a few related tools in a recent New York Times article. Or just sign up, snag a seat, and go try out one of those new runways.

(Photo: Daniel Schwen)

Tags: Chicago O'Hare Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington Dulles Interntational Airport | Add Comment »

The list of stress-busting activities being offered at the nation’s airports this holiday season just keeps growing:

In addition to the entertainment being offered by airports around the country and the free amenities being offered by JetBlue Airways in its new terminal at JFK, on Nov. 25th and 26th, travelers passing through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) can get free massages, free Wi-Fi, and free snacks.

The stress-reducing services are at the “privacy oasis” sponsored by 3M Computer Privacy Filters in the Airport Executive Conference Center on the 3rd floor of the Atrium. The company has also set up a Web site where travelers have been sending in tips about places to chill out at various airports around the country.

Given how close we sit next to each other on airplanes, computer privacy filters seem like a useful tool pretty much anytime. But as I wrote in a recent Well-Mannered Traveler column on MSNBC.com, privacy filters may become downright necessary as airlines roll out in-flight Wi-Fi. (Virgin America is launching its Gogo in-flight Internet service - on one plane - this Sat, Nov 22) Not all airlines plan to filter in-flight Internet service and some travelers are worried about being exposed to inappropriate material on a seatmate’s screen.

Tags: Airport amenities, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Free stuff, Guide to stress-free travel, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, In-flight Wi-Fi, JFK Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport | Add Comment »

With the economy in a tizzy, everyone is cutting back on just about everything, including travel.

But don’t let that lull you into thinking everyone but you will be staying home this holiday season.

Even in tough economic times - or maybe because of tough economic times - people gather together for the holidays. So planes, trains, buses and highways will be full. Lines will be long. And tempers could be short.

Which is why you might need the 15-point Guide to Stress-Free Holiday Travel that I put together for MSNBC.com.

When you’ve read through those tips, check out the cool “getting to Grandma‘ feature MSNBC.com put together about how culture - and Thanksgiving costs - have changed over the past 50 years.

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As I wrote about in my “At the Airport” column for USAToday.com, (Airports mark holidays with sales, Santas and song) airports are doing their part to make holiday travel fun and somewhat stress-free.

Now JetBlue Airways is joining in with some special events for passengers traveling to or from the new Terminal 5 (T5) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

“During select times on Tues. and Wed., November 25 and 26, the airline will be hosting complimentary events ….including magic shows to entertain the family, introductory yoga and stress-reducing exercises courtesy of New York Sports Clubs and five-minute makeovers courtesy of Harmony Pharmacy.”

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It may seem unnatural to blend a holiday shopping excursion with a trip to the airport, but this season many airports are working overtime to court you and your gift-buying dollars with prizes, promotions, festive décor, and lots of top-notch entertainment.

(A TSA choir -really- will perform at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport)

There are plenty of other reasons to shop for holiday gifts at an airport. Over the past few years, airports have been steadily upgrading the quality and variety of their concessions. Stores generally open early and close late to accommodate travelers’ wacky schedules. And many airports impose a “street pricing” policy, which means that the prices charged inside the airport must closely match the prices at local malls. Besides, if you travel by air, you’re already spending a lot of time hanging out in airports. So you may as well be merry while you multi-task.

Where are the best deals? At the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Sacramento International Airport you can pick up discount coupon books. Oregon’s Portland International Airport has a holiday festival with food sampling, demonstrations and a drawing for tickets on JetBlue. (You can enter on-line.) And check out the Frankfurt Airport’s Web site for a chance to win a big diamond.

There’s lots more information about airports offering holiday shopping specials and entertainment in my “At the Airport” column posted today on USAToday.com

Tags: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Frankfurt Airport, Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport, Portland International Airport, Sacramento International Airport, airport shopping | Add Comment »

The bad economy is forcing some airports to delay facility upgrade projects and to cancel others altogether. But Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) is just trying to finish a major upgrade to the East Terminal.

Right now they’re rushing to replace 9, 000 square yards of original terminal carpeting in time for the Thanksgiving rush. Look for it between Gates E-2 and E-33, in the passenger waiting areas for Southwest Airlines, USA 3000, Air Choice One and charter flights.

The new carpet is not only ADA-compliant, it’s got a custom design that “mimics the patchwork of crops and fields passengers might see if they were looking down from a plane at 35,000 feet.”

Can you see that???

Tags: Airport amenities, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport | Add Comment »

Heading to or through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) this holiday season? Be sure to leave some time for shopping.

The airport is giving out holiday coupon books with discounts, freebies, and gift-with-purchase offers from more than 60 airport shops and restaurants.

The coupon booklets will be available at the airport information booths and downloadable from the MSP Web site. Valid dates: November 26-December 31, 2008.

But why wait? Here’s a copy of all the coupons and offers.

Tags: Airport amenities, Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport, airport shopping | Add Comment »

All of a sudden there are lots of (free) reasons to visit Indianapolis.

The city has just opened its brand-spanking-new terminal at Indianapolis International Airport (IND), complete with free wireless Internet access, swanky shops and restaurants, and several million dollars worth of brand new public art.

Now museums, attractions and tourist destinations in town have banded together to offer free admission and other freebies, one each day, during the 12 days leading up to Christmas. The promotion begins Saturday Dec 13, with free admission to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum and ends on Christmas Eve with free admission to see Santa, a snow castle and other attractions at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. I have my heart set on flying in by Dec. 20th. That’s when there’ll be free tours at the Indiana Medical History Museum, which bills itself as the “nation’s oldest surviving pathology laboratory.”

(The “Anatomical Museum” room inside the Indiana Medical History Museum. Photo courtesy the IMHM.)

Here’s a link to more information about the 12 days of free events in Indianapolis leading up to Christmas.

Tags: Airport amenities, Free stuff, Indianapolis International Airport | Add Comment »

It’s natural to wonder (or hope) that the bathroom scale is wrong when you weigh in each morning.

At the airport, it’s a different story entirely. Airlines have been getting strict about charging passengers for overweight bags to the tune of millions of dollars each year.

But last week, the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures did a surprise inspection of the scales used by Southwest Airlines and US Airways at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

According to this article in the Arizona Republic, both airlines got dinged. Southwest “had to shut down three of its 26 scales because they received red tags, the most serious violation, from the inspectors. The problem: The scales did not start at zero.”

Another reason to try to fit everything you need into a carry-on bag…..

Tags: Carry-on bags, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Southwest Airlines, US Airways | Add Comment »

This week I got the fun assignment of putting together a quiz for the MSNBC.com travel section.

Some of the questions are about travel etiquette; others are about getting through the security checkpoint at the airport and then figuring out what to do once you’re on the other side. Take the quiz and see if you’re in shape for holiday travel.

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