9 Things You May Be Surprised to Find at the Airport

2018-02-26

These atypical airport amenities can help take the stress out of air travel.
Did you know you can watch a movie or unwind in a yoga studio between flights? On your next long layover, you can also kill time by testing Lady Luck at a casino or hitting the links at an indoor golf course. And that’s just the start. Whether you want to retreat to a high-end suite or catch up on emails in a private workstation, there are unique, unexpected and state-of-the-art amenities at top airports around the country that just might make your next layover a little more exciting. Keep reading to discover fun diversions next time you’re stalled in transit.

(Courtesy of Denver International Airport)

Yoga rooms
If you’re looking for a place to decompress, a variety of airports, including Denver International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and Chicago’s Midway International and O’Hare International airports offer yoga rooms. Denver is home to Yoga on the Fly, the first private airport yoga studio, which offers private yoga areas, eight- to 20-minute instructional videos, yoga mats and wireless headsets. In San Francisco, you’ll find a 24-hour yoga studio in terminals 2 and 3. Likewise, travelers can stop in Midway’s yoga room in Concourse C or O’Hare’s yoga room in Terminal 3, where they can take advantage of bamboo floors and loaner mats, available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Bike Charging Station
(Courtesy of Indianapolis International Airport)

A charging station where you can cycle
At Indianapolis International Airport, flyers can get some exercise before or after sitting on the plane while charging their portable devices on a WeWatt Kiosk. This clever construction located in Concourse B near the Southwest Airlines gates lets you pedal a bike as you charge up your device. These human-powered charging stations power up phones and tablets at the same rate as a wall charger.

Slot machines, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport
(Courtesy of Las Vegas McCarran International Airport)

Slot machines
After a trip to Las Vegas, you can continue rolling the dice before your flight at McCarran International Airport, which boasts more than 1,300 slot machines at its gates and outside of security checkpoints. Interestingly, the machines generate about $35 million in gross revenue annually, and most of the winnings go back to the airport to help reduce operating costs. The largest jackpot ever won at the airport is a cool $3.9 million. Among the gambling options, the Wheel of Fortune slot machine is the most popular with guests.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
(Courtesy of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport)

Movie theaters
If you want to catch a flick between flights, you’re in luck. At Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and Portland International Airport, you can watch movies at small-scale theaters. The See 18 Film Screening Room at Minnesota’s major hub shows free short films and award-winning documentaries from upper Midwest filmmakers in Concourse C. In Portland, stop in the free 17-seat Hollywood Theatre in Concourse C to see short family-friendly films about the Pacific Northwest.

LAX Airport
(Courtesy of The Private Suite)

Ultra-luxurious suites
Imagine sitting outdoors while the kids play, awaiting your own personal transport to your plane. It can happen at Los Angeles International Airport for VIP members at The Private Suite at LAX. This private terminal, which is open to everyone flying through the airport (for a steep price starting at $2,000 per person), grants you a private suite fully stocked with food, a daybed and a bathroom, as well as private TSA screening and personal transport to your plane. There’s even an outdoor area where you can enjoy some fresh air before your flight.

The ARK Pet Oasis Lobby
(Courtesy of The ARK at JFK)

A pet terminal
Pets have their own place to play at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The ARK Pet Oasis at JFK provides boarding, veterinary and travel care services starting at $125 per pet, ranging from dogs and cats to horses and goats. Rather than letting your pooch spend hours in a crate without food or access to a relief area, you can retreat to this dedicated area. From the ARK Pet Oasis, pets can directly board the plane rather than stay in a cargo hold, use an outdoor relief area and have access to food and water. For an additional $50, the ARK will even email you a photo of your pet and let you know how Fido is doing.

Miniature Therapy Horses at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport
(Courtesy of Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport)

Miniature horses
It’s no surprise to encounter horses in Kentucky, a state known for its thoroughbreds, but coming across horses in the airport may be unexpected. If you happen to be at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport at the right time, you may find a miniature horse that’s trained to help alleviate passengers’ flight anxiety. Brought from a local farm, the horses visit the airport twice each month. The program has won several awards, and the horses regularly show up on travelers’ social media pages.

Golf, Detroit Metropolitan Airport
(Courtesy of Detroit Metropolitan Airport)

A golf practice area
Golfers who want to get in a little practice before arriving at their destination can brush up on their golf skills at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The PGA Tour Shop in the airport’s McNamara Terminal offers golf gifts, apparel and accessories, along with an area where you can practice your swing, get professional instruction and even learn which clubs are best for you. While prices range, they start at $4 for 25 balls at the driving range or $15 for 15 minutes of open play.

LaGuardia Workspaces
(Courtesy of Jabbrrbox)

Private work booths
It can be tough to get much work done in a busy airport, but a new feature at New York’s LaGuardia Airport gives travelers a quiet booth outfitted with secure Wi-Fi connectivity to escape and knock a few items off their to-do lists. Eight of the Jabbrrbox work booths are located in Central Terminal B and are available to rent in 30-minute increments for $15. The workspaces also offer flight-tracking tools, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calls and a camera for video conference calls.

Courtesy of USNews