Waiting
it Out
No need to suffer the terminal blues
while waiting for flights
Savour spas, local history, shopping or even a power nap, writes Steve Trotter
WASHINGTON — Flight delays and missed connections are as much a
part of
today's flying experience as peanut-free snacks.
Your odds of facing a delay flying in the United States are about one
in four on a good day.
Transport Canada, unfortunately, doesn't require Canadian carriers to
report on-time performance, although Calgary-based WestJet does it
voluntarily on their website.
But there's no need to suffer the terminal blues. Delays can give you
time to indulge in the little pleasures of life.
Faced with a five-hour layover at Washington's Reagan National, en
route to Fort Lauderdale, Linda Graziani and husband Alan hopped on the
Metrorail with their two kids and visited The Smithsonian National Air
and Space Museum.
"It was an incredible experience," said Graziani. "And all it cost us
was about six dollars for the Metrorail return fare."
Research your connecting airport before you book. While many, such as
Toronto's Pearson Airport, feature on-site art displays or even
galleries, there are other ways to stay grounded:
HISTORY BUFFS
Charlotte-Douglas International, N.C. Near ticketing, you'll
find a
replica of the Wright Glider, designed, built and tested by the Wright
brothers in 1902.
Reagan National. The ruins of Abingdon Plantation, a colonial
plantation and birthplace of Eleanor Parke Custis, stepdaughter of
George Washington, are a short walk from the terminal. Artefacts from
the archeological site are displayed at Exhibit Hall, in Terminal A.
Portland International. The Lewis and Clark at Neer-chokio
display in
the Mighty Columbia River Exhibit showcases the renowned explorers
interactions with the Neer-chokio, whose village sat on what is now the
Oregon airport's property.
Chicago O'Hare. An original F4F-3 Wildcat World War II fighter
plane,
like the one flown by Lt. Commander Edward "Butch" O'Hare during his
Congressional Medal of Honor winning flight, is on display in Terminal
2.
GOURMETS
LaGuardia. Home to Figs, the creation of one of America's most
celebrated chefs, Todd English. Manhattanites actually drive to
LaGuardia just to savour English's inventive Mediterranean cuisine.
SHOPPERS
Minneapolis-St. Paul International. It's just a five-minute
train ride
to Mall of America's 400 stores, including Bloomingdale's, Macy's,
Abercrombie & Fitch, Hot Topic.
Pittsburgh International. AIRMALL, in the airport, has 100
shops, from
Victoria's Secret to Godiva Chocolatier.
STRESSED-OUT TRAVELLERS
Vancouver International. Absolute Spa, four airport locations,
features
three Flight Delay packages in addition to warm stone massages, and
oxygen therapy.
Toronto Pearson International. Vaccaros Spa, Sheraton Hotel,
Terminal
3, offers a full spa menu and hair styling.
Calgary International. OraOxygen, Departures Level, provides
massages,
oxygen and aromatherapy, and ear candling.
JFK. Full body massage, waxing, facials, and manicures are
available at
Oasis Day Spa, JetBlue Airways Terminal 6.
Newark Liberty International. Departure Spa, Terminal B, offers
private
rooms for full-body massages, European facials, manicures, and
pedicures.
SIGHTSEERS
San Francisco International. The airport website features a
"Visit the
City Between Flights" link brimming with exciting sightseeing
adventures, 30 minutes away via BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).
KIDS
Chicago O'Hare. Terminal One has the largest full-scale
dinosaur model
on the planet, the four-storey tall Brachiosaurus.
San Francisco International. Three aquariums, Terminal 1, let
kids
discover different marine communities. Kids' Spot, Terminal 3, an
interactive exploration area with exhibits on weather from the
Exploratorium of San Francisco, has a crawling apparatus, and a Plasma
Wall, which shoots arcs of energized colour when activated by sound. InMotion Pictures,
Terminal 3, rents portable DVD players and
children's movies for use at the airport, during a flight, or for the
entire vacation. Also available at Vancouver International, Level 3,
U.S. Departures.
SLEEPYHEADS
Vancouver International. Take a power nap at MetroNaps ($9.50
for 30
minutes, $15 for two hours), U.S. Departures. Napping pods let you fall
asleep to music and awake to a gentle vibration. The Plaza Premium
Departures Lounge ($30) includes private sleeping rooms, food and
beverages, and more.
BUSINESS TRAVELLERS
San Francisco International. Voted number one American Airport
in 2004
for business travellers by Newsweek Budget Travel, SFO's Business
Center provides cellphone rental, battery charging, express mail and
Wi-Fi.
Portland International. The airport offers free Wi-Fi, postal
facilities, photocopy machines, and workstations with phones and
computer ports.
Dallas Fort Worth International. The Laptop Lane business
centre
provides private workstations, computers, phones, faxes and printers.
Copying, graphics and postal services are also available at The Hyatt
Regency Business Centre.
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