But many community members had gathered weeks earlier to honor a 22-year-old piece of airport-owned art. On February 16, the St. Louis airport re-dedicated “Black Americans in Flight,” a multi-panel mural measuring 8 feet tall and 51 feet long that pays tribute to African-American achievements in aviation. Painted in 1990 by local McDonnell Douglas employees Spencer Taylor and Solomon Thurman, the mural includes 75 portraits, 18 aircraft, three American Bald Eagles, five unit patches and one spacecraft. PHOTOS: Airports rescue and restore murals “Our airport is going back to its original vision and trying to be a cultural institution as well as [ ... ]

When I asked why they could not honor my reservation, they told me they “overbook just like the airlines.” I also asked why did they not call my cellphone, which was on file with my reservation. The answer was “we just don’t.” They said the problem was caused by a big Intel convention in town. I walked back to my hotel, where the concierge was able to get me a car at Budget which cost more than my Hertz reservation. I e-mailed Hertz customer service twice. The second time I received a response after more than two weeks. Hertz apologized and offered [ ... ]

Like the New England Patriots and New York Giants, the team players at IND have spent months studying the playbook and practicing their moves: Public safety procedures have been tested. Security checkpoint hours have been tweaked. Offerings at shopping and dining outlets have been beefed up. And an enhanced team of Airport Ambassadors has gone through the special Super Bowl Super Service training program and is now on duty welcoming and assisting visitors. “With original Indianapolis businesses throughout the terminal and employees that have had years of training focused on providing super service, IND will make a great first – and [ ... ]

Like the New England Patriots and New York Giants, the team players at IND have spent months studying the playbook and practicing their moves: Public safety procedures have been tested. Security checkpoint hours have been tweaked. Offerings at shopping and dining outlets have been beefed up. And an enhanced team of Airport Ambassadors has gone through the special Super Bowl Super Service training program and is now on duty welcoming and assisting visitors. “With original Indianapolis businesses throughout the terminal and employees that have had years of training focused on providing super service, IND will make a great first – and [ ... ]

To ease the stress and help keep passengers in good spirits, many airports offer holiday entertainment, promotions and contests as well as discount offers at shops and restaurants throughout the terminals. Here’s a taste of what’s on tap for this holiday season. For more, keep your smartphone handy when you travel: Many performances and special offers are still rolling out on airport websites and some events are being posted exclusively on airport Facebook pages and Twitter feeds. MORE INFO: Check out our airport guides Prizes and promotions  This year it may pay to save some cash – and room in your carry-on – [ ... ]

But this year it won’t be so easy for health-conscious road warriors to get that flu shot on the fly. After a several-year spike in availability, the trend of offering flu shots at U.S. airports seems to be waning. 2010: Get your flu shot at an airport near you While there are several cities where the flu vaccine is available at clinics on airport property or right nearby, as the accompanying chart shows, this year there are less than a dozen U.S. cities where travelers will be able to get immunized against this year’s strain of the flu inside an airport. “The [ ... ]

There’s no need to be frightened. In fact, you might want to build in a little extra time to get to know this new creature. The giant, three-legged, glossy white Space Observer was created by artist Björn Schülke and is just one of more than a dozen high-tech works of art commissioned specifically for the airport’s futuristic-looking new 12-gate terminal, which opened for business earlier this month. Each piece was chosen not only for its ability to entertain and/or engage passengers, but to let them know where they are. “An airport is a gateway to a community,” says Mary Rubin, [ ... ]

 Enlarge Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport Golfers get free airshows at the Crosswinds Golf Club near Georgia’s Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. But what about all that noise? “Many of us play golf simply for the joy of hitting a ball, watching it go up in the air and seeing it go in the hole,” says Ritterbusch. “And if a golf course is conveniently located, having the peace and tranquility adversely affected by low-flying planes is a trade-off many golfers are willing to make.” If you’re in that group, grab your clubs, and maybe a pair of earplugs, and start taking notes. Here’s a sampling of [ ... ]

Unfortunately, that’s not true. “Frankly, there isn’t enough policing going on to go look at all these airports to see if they’re 100% compliant,” notes Tim Joniec of the Houston Airport System. “So at some airports it may take a traveler complaining about a service that isn’t there before attention is paid to a problem.” And even if a traveler does lodge a complaint, “you’d be surprised at how many airports, including some enormous ones, just don’t care,” says Eric Lipp, the executive director of the Open Doors Organization (ODO), a non-profit that works with businesses and the disability community. [ ... ]

All important topics, of course, but the real fun was on the exhibition hall floor. There, vendors displayed everything from the latest in airport seating (cup holders and USB plugs, thankfully, seem to be the next big thing) to new, high-tech machinery for shooing wildlife off runways. Here’s a roundup of just some of the fresh amenities on display at the conference that may soon show up at an airport near you: Napping nooks If you’ve passed through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport over the past year, you may have noticed the Minute Suites napping nooks on Concourse B, next to Gate B15. [ ... ]

 Enlarge 2009 photo by Lynne Sladky, AP Nurse Marcel Giguere gives a flu shot to Sandra Ghisays at the Airport MD clinic at Miami International Airport. So on Monday, when he arrived from Chicago and saw that the Harmony Pharmacy store at New York‘s JFK airport was offering flu shots, he took off his heavy tweed jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeve. “I’d shopped there before and just thought ‘Now is as good a time as any.’ I didn’t feel weird at all,” said Gibbs, “In fact, getting a flu shot while running through the airport seemed pretty cool.” Cool and easy, says [ ... ]

 Enlarge By Sandy L. Stevens, Austin Bergstrom International Airport TSA employees at Austin Bergstrom Airport have been practicing for their annual holiday performance. Here’s a sampling of what’s in store; check your airport’s website – or Facebook page – for more. Tunes in the terminals Airports stretching from San Diego and Sacramento to Philadelphia and Fort Lauderdale will be hosting holiday carolers, choirs, crooners and yes, Virginia, karaoke. Nashville International Airport is hosting half a dozen holiday-themed performances between now and Dec. 22, while at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, the holiday entertainment program once again includes the Judy Lee Dancers (all dancers are 60 years [ ... ]

So far this season, storms have triggered the cancellation of thousands of flights and forced the temporary closing of many airports. That means there’ll be plenty to talk about at this year’s conference, as attendees try to take in tactics to make you less likely to get stuck at an airport next winter. But when it comes to operations in unforgiving winter weather, not all airports are created equal. So we asked some past award winners at snow-savvy airports to share their snow-removal strategies. Art. Not science. “It’s not a science. There’s no book out there called Airport Snow Removal for [ ... ]

Music and magic  When he’s not training for swim meets, Daniel Meek, the TSA administrative officer at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell Airport, plays the bagpipes (yes, in a traditional Scottish kilt) at events ranging from funerals to local, regional and national law enforcement ceremonies. “A group of TSOs [Transportation Security Officers] are going to ride motorcycles to the 9/11 ten-year anniversary ceremonies in Washington DC, and I’m going to join them with my bagpipes,” said Meek. Special events at Los Angeles International Airport now often include a [ ... ]

Expedia refunded the hotel costs and initially told me I had one year from the date of purchase to rebook our trip. Expedia now says we must book and complete our trip by October 28, 2010. Due to my husband still being out of work and our dire financial situation, this simply is not possible. I received mixed messages about whether I should contact Expedia or United to ask for help. Expedia finally directed me to United, which simply told me I had to use the credit or lose it, but then said I had to contact Lufthansa. I am aware [ ... ]