Every so often I find myself with way too much time to kill in an airport. Performing a search for things to do in an airport offers results like these:
- get a massage
- shop
- grab a meal at a restaurant other than the food court style ones
- check out artwork and other cultural displays
- take a walk
- visit an airline lounge
BORING!!!!!!!!
Heck, in DFW I’ll ride the SkyLink. That’ll kill 20 mins.
Well recently I had one of those days. A little too much time on my hands to think about what offerings I would like to see at an airport. And here are two!
First, why aren’t there rooftop bars or restaurants where one can watch the planes landing and taking off? I don’t recall ever seeing one. I’ve seen observation decks. You might find the occasional restaurant with a few windows (like the featured picture in this post) that catch a glimpse but imagine how cool a rooftop panoramic view would be as you sip that cocktail or eat that $20 subpar chicken sandwich. Heck, charge me $25 if there’s the view!
Second, let’s talk entertainment. Sure, there’s the occasional piano player or string quartet at the airport, but how about an Improv/Comedy Club? Performers could do 20-30 minute sets. Improvisation games don’t take long at all. Think Whose Line Is It Anyway. Order a cocktail – or 3 depending on your free time, get some food, have a few laughs, maybe even get up and participate and be on your way. Just don’t have too much fun you’ll miss your flight. This could make for a great fun traveler experience. Heck, people might want to arrive at the airport earlier. Which means more money to be made.
We overuse the word experience so much these days. So how about giving travelers an airport experience they may actually enjoy.