Airports

Category Archives for Airports.

Peak Hipster: Austin Gets the World’s First App-Based Robotic Specialty Airport Coffee House

by Gary Leff

bar
Jul 13 2018

In what may be the most hipster effort in an airport ever, Austin is going to get a Briggo robotic coffee haus near gate 8 opening July 17. This is the “first app-based, robotic, specialty coffee system installed in an airport.”

You can order your coffee and pay in advance with your phone, and then walk up to the machine and enter a PIN code for it to release your cup to you (to make sure you get the right drink and no one else takes it) or you can order directly at the machine.

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New York Giants Player Lost His Mother. The TSA Spilled Her Ashes.

by Gary Leff

tsa logo with text on top
Jul 09 2018

New York Giants defensive tackle A.J. Francis lost his mother unexpectedly two weeks ago.

He’s been traveling to visit with family in Arkansas and then to spend time with friends in California. He had to carry home his mother’s ashes. He checked his bag, and that’s when things went wrong because the TSA decided to inspect it. And open the urn inside. And. Spill. It.

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Airport Bans Sleeping and Sitting on the Floor, Employs Monitors to Wake Passengers

by Gary Leff

small room with cot
Jun 16 2018

Sleeping in airports is a time-honored tradition. It happens regularly during major storms, when flights are cancelled and airlines aren’t giving out hotel vouchers or nearby hotels are booked solid. Airports sometimes bring in cots.

Passengers with long layovers after an overnight flight may lay down in a quiet spot on the floor, too. There’s even a guide to sleeping in airports.

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What Are the Least Racist Airports to Go Through US Immigration?

by Gary Leff

passport getting stamped
Jun 16 2018

There’s no question that immigration and customs develops a different culture and reputation at different airports in the U.S. While you’d hope they would apply standards and procedures from their handbook uniformly, there’s a difference between de facto practice and de jure rules.

People learn procedures by watching other people, and by discussing how to go about doing their jobs with colleagues. In other words, customs and immigration procedures are carried out by people.

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Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses at Newark and Washington Dulles Now Open to Priority Pass Cardholders

by Gary Leff

lounge
Jun 11 2018

Back in the fall Priority Pass added access to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at LAX. That seemed fantastic, and it is — finally a Priority Pass-accessible lounge at LAX terminal 2. However it wasn’t exciting as it seemed at first blush. Hours are limited to when Virgin Atlantic’s own passengers aren’t there. Initially the LAX lounge was open 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. That’s been cut back to 10:45 a.m. Since they’re not servicing Virgin’s customers they don’t offer the extensive food service Virgin customers are used to. Credit: Virgin Atlantic Credit: Virgin Atlantic They’ve apparently extended the model of generating revenue for otherwise-unused lounge space, getting Virgin Atlantic lounges to open earlier in exchange for that sweet, sweet bank cash funneled through Collinson Group. Priority Pass cardmembers now have access to Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses…

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LAX Restaurant Now Serves Free Food to Priority Pass Cardmembers

by Gary Leff

barney's beanery
Jun 09 2018

Two years ago the Los Angeles Barney’s Beanery chain opened in LAX’s terminal 2 by gate 22. The original Barney’s in West Hollywood opened in 1920. So it fits the trend of airports driving to host brands that are local institutions.

The airport location now offers $28 credits per person for Priority Pass cardholders. This credit is not available before 10:30 a.m.. Of course in the mornings the Virgin Atlantic clubhouse is available for Priority Pass guests albeit with limited service.

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