?? Is JAA, JIA, JTA, JPA or Amtrak Reading This ??

[Ocklawaha]

A piece out of USA Today, and it left me wondering if our own transportation passions could spill the cookies? Can we duplicate this?  We'd be the only Amtrak Station, Bus Operation, Airport, Port Terminal, in the Southeast to EVER roll out the red carpet like this.  This is something that could be accomplished by a local organization that links with our agencys.  We could ask for a donation, but PLEASE don't feel obligated.

Save a Buck
Airport Freebies

By: Sid Kirchheimer | Source: AARP Bulletin Today | - September 16, 2008


These days, airlines may be charging for everything from baggage to in-flight beverages, but some airports are picking up the slack and offering free perks. Take a look:

Free parking is available for the first 30 minutes at two Texas airportsâ€"Austin-Berstrom International and San Antonio Internationalâ€"as well as at Charlotte-Douglas International in North Carolina; Sioux City’s Gateway Airport in Iowa; Baltimore-Washington International, which also provides a free “cellphone parking lot” for those waiting for phone calls from incoming passengers; and Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International, which offers as-long-as-you-need free parking for motorcycles. Check their websites for locations.

Need a shoeshine? At Los Angeles International Airport, visit Marvin’s Complimentary Shoe Shine stands in terminals 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 for a no-cost cleanup between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays (tipping is encouraged).

The Outagamie County Regional Airport in Appleton, Wis., stocks bathrooms with pocket-size oral hygiene kits.

By Harriet Baskas, special for USA TODAY
It started with a smell.

Larry Thompson arrived at Fort Wayne International Airport one day back in 1988, walked out the front door of the small terminal and took a deep breath. "Instead of smelling jet fuel," he remembers, "I smelled the cookies from the bakery across the street."

The aroma gave Thompson a reassuring, "welcome home" feel. So when the airport marketing committee needed a low-cost way to promote the facility, Thompson suggested a campaign involving those cookies. Phone calls were made. A bulk cookie order was placed. And soon volunteers armed with goody-filled wicker baskets were on duty inside the terminal offering arriving passengers an enthusiastic "Welcome to Fort Wayne" greeting â€" and a complimentary, individually-wrapped, locally-baked cookie.

AIRPORT GUIDES: Learn more about the top 25 U.S. airports

More than ten years later; volunteers at Fort Wayne International Airport still give out free cookies; up to 100,000 a year. And this past December, TV crews and well-wishers were on hand when volunteers presented the airport's millionth free cookie to an unsuspecting, but appreciative passenger. Arriving home on a snowy day after a trip to Florida with her husband, Fort Wayne resident Lorraine Leach not only got a free snack, but a prize package that included 25,000 airline frequent flier miles, locally-made gourmet chocolates and, of course, a big box of the airport's signature sugar cookies.

Do cookies = customers?

Everyone, except maybe travelers trying to stay on a diet, loves getting those free cookies. But in these tough economic times, when every penny counts, does it make sense for an airport to spend $15,000 a year buying cookies?

Dave Young thinks so. Although he admits he thought someone was trying to sell him something the first time he was offered a free cookie at FWA, he says he soon realized it was a sincere, Midwest welcome. And now that it is his job to drum up business for the airport, Young sees those cookies as a valuable marketing tool. "We're a small, non-descript, typical airport," says Young, "And although fares are often cheaper at Indianapolis International Airport and other airports that are just a few hours drive from here, free cookies and other amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and our free Skycap service, help us differentiate our airport as a friendly and very customer-oriented place."

No cookies, but no cavities either

Fort Wayne International Airport isn't the only small or midsized airport offering passengers unusual freebies in an effort to stand out and build loyalty. The Jacksonville International Airport distributes free flowers to passengers each year on Valentine's Day and on Mother's Day. The Reno-Tahoe International Airport offers free local phone calls year-round. And in Milwaukee, home of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and the Harley-Davidson Museum, the General Mitchell International Airport offers free parking for any traveler who arrives on a motorcycle.

At Ohio's Port Columbus International Airport, children are given free crayons and blank post-paid postcards and asked to please mail back a picture from their travels for display in an airport gallery. The airport has also purchased its own popcorn machine and hands out free bags of popcorn during quarterly customer appreciation days. "It's a great way for us to say thanks," says CMH communications manager Angie Tabor, "Plus, who doesn't love the smell of popcorn?"

Of course, if you're going to snack on free popcorn and free cookies at the airport, your dentist would probably like it if you took a moment to brush your teeth. They've made that task easy to take care of at Outagamie County Regional Airport in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Airport marketing manager Kim Sippola says airport officials occasionally stand in the terminal watching passengers just to see what they need. "We noticed that many business travelers would get off the plane, go into the bathroom, and search through their bags for a toothbrush because they were going right from the airport to a meeting. So we thought we'd reduce some stress for our customers by providing them with toothbrushes."

The airport now stocks the post-security bathrooms with pocket-size oral hygiene kits that contain mouthwash, dental floss and a toothbrush with a single-serving of toothpaste. The kits are provided by a local dentist and since October 2009 more than 2,500 travelers have been able to freshen-up for free.

Can cookies and popcorn really help the bottom line?

Jim Way, a frequent traveler who's also a marketing director for a national non-profit association says that while most travelers probably choose an airport based on fares, ease of use, and experience â€" in that order â€" "every touch point along the way contributes to the experience." So while an airport can't control airfares and many other aspects of the travel experience, providing a reliable, special perk can be a meaningful constant.

But, Way warns, an unusual airport perk such as free cookies or fresh-popped popcorn, can also backfire. He says if some of an airport's services and facilities aren't up to snuff, passengers may end up thinking "Why aren't you spending money cleaning the ladies' room instead of baking cookies?"

They know that back at Indiana's Fort Wayne International Airport, where Dave Young says close attention is always being paid to the overall passenger experience. "The budget is tight, but this year we're talking about creating a loyalty program for passengers that might offer parking perks or some other new amenity. But don't worry: cutting the cookie budget isn't even on the table.

Airport freebies: As airlines gouge, airports give back
Updated 4/9/2008 12:37 PM |

It's getting tough out there. Airlines continue to cut back on services while piling on fuel surcharges and fees for amenities that were once complimentary. But take heart: You may have to pony up now to check a second bag or to get that coveted aisle seat, but you can seek consolation with services that some airports still offer for free.

Free parking

In an effort to reduce traffic congestion on terminal roadways, dozens of airports now offer free cellphone lots. Drivers can park in these off-site lots and swoop in for the pick-up once an arriving passenger calls to say they're off the plane and at the curb.

Cellphone lots are great, but sometimes it's nice to be able to walk someone to or from the terminal without paying for an hour of parking. That's when the free 30-minute short-term parking offered by airports such as Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and San Antonio International Airport comes in handy.

Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport also offers free 30-minute parking in its garage. However, anyone riding a motorcycle to what is, after-all, Harley-Davidson's hometown airport, can park for free as long as they like.

Free roadside services

But what if your motorcycle or car doesn't start when you're ready to leave the airport parking garage? That's no problem at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. In addition to free 30-minute parking in the short-term lot, BWI also offers complimentary road services in all parking facilities, including jumper cable services for dead batteries, changing or inflating flat tires and assistance with opening car doors if you've locked your keys inside.

Free phone calls

Airport pay phones seem to be disappearing now that so many people have cellphones. But hold on: Not everyone has unlimited cellphone minutes and not everyone has a cellphone (yet).

When Iowa's Sioux Gateway Airport removed all the payphones this past January they were replaced with phones that allow travelers to make free local and toll-free calls. The same thing happened at Nevada's Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Free phones for local calling were installed in mid-January when the traditional pay phones were removed. The airport's Brian Kulpin says, "When we opened our cellphone waiting lot last year, we quickly realized just how many people do not have cellphones. In the first week, more than 1,600 free calls were placed in our baggage claim area alone."

Free power

Travelers lugging laptops and other power-sucking devices must often jockey for a spot on the floor next to the lone electrical socket in a gate area. Now some airports are offering more, and more easily-accessible, power to the people.

Travelers passing through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport have access to 900 electric outlets along the 24 gate concourse. In Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport there are currently 2,100 free power outlets, including those inside eight airline-club-inspired Samsung travel centers. More power is on its way.

Free power-up stations, some complete with stools, desks or work shelves, have also appeared at airports in Las Vegas, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, where 51 Samsung-sponsored free charging stations have been installed in boarding areas throughout the terminals.

Free shoe shines

Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport can not only re-charge gadgets for free, they can also get their shoes shined.

For several years now, various airlines have made room in some boarding gate areas in terminals 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 for Marvin's Complimentary Shoe Shine stands. The service is free to travelers, but the employees can accept tips. (Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday.)

Free entertainment

People-watching at the airport is always free, but scheduled performances are more reliably entertaining. Reno-Tahoe International Airport books "rock bands, choirs, ballroom dancers, and children's theater." San Diego International Airport presents live concerts on the second and fourth Friday of each month. And both Nashville International Airport and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport offer free concerts by local performers multiple times each week.

Free art and history exhibits

Many airports have great art and history collections you can see for free. For example, art lovers can tour the large and quite valuable collections owned by airports in Seattle, Denver and Phoenix just by strolling around the terminals. History fans can visit the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, the Mitchell Gallery of Flight at Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport, and the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum at San Francisco International Airport. SFO's accredited museum program also organizes more than 20 different art exhibitions throughout the airport each year.

Free wireless Internet access

Slowly but surely, airports large and small are wising up and offering free wireless Internet access. Someday they all will.

Until then, some highlights on the free Wi-Fi list include Denver International Airport, Oregon's Portland International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Orlando International Airport, parts of Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport and, on weekends, all of Philadelphia International Airport.

Free food

At Indiana's Fort Wayne International Airport, cheery volunteers still offer a free locally baked cookie to each arriving passenger. Sweet-toothed travelers also know that many airport candy stores offer free samples. Some reliable spots include the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Terminal D at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and any of the fudge shops at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

Airline freebies

Don't give up on all the airline freebies just yet. Midwest Airlines passengers can still snack on warm chocolate chip cookies. Continental Airlines passengers still get served light in-flight meals. And Horizon Air still pours complimentary glasses of Pacific Northwest microbrews and regional wines.

And if you happen to be traveling on Austrian Airlines anytime soon, hold on to your boarding pass stub. That little piece of paper gets you free entry to a variety of cultural institutions in Vienna, Paris, New York, Istanbul and other cities.

Have you found a great airport freebie? Let us know!

OCKLAWAHA

[CS Foltz]

Amtrak in the North East Corrider will be offering "Wireless"...........just heard about it! No time table for inplementation other than soon!

[Lunican]

The Jacksonville airport does offer free wifi, which is nice. They also have some seats with outlets built in.

[mtraininjax]

JIA offers free unsecured Wi-Fi with Google through Jan 15. It will be intereresting to see if they continue it past that date. In the area of Gate C, they could use some business user friendly areas, the seats they have now are more like bus lounges. Denver's layout blows Jax away.

Don't the JIA officials go anywhere and see what other airports have done? This is not rocket science!

[Lunican]

JIA had free wifi long before Google rolled out their "Holiday Gift of free wifi" so I would expect it to continue.

[tufsu1]

JIA offers free unsecured Wi-Fi with Google through Jan 15. It will be intereresting to see if they continue it past that date. In the area of Gate C, they could use some business user friendly areas, the seats they have now are more like bus lounges. Denver's layout blows Jax away.

Don't the JIA officials go anywhere and see what other airports have done? This is not rocket science!

actually I think the new concourses (A and C) at JIA are really nice...as noted, they have free wi-fi, and many seats are adjecnt to tables w/ built-in outlets....it will be a few years before a rebuilt Concourse B is needed.

Prior to Google's deal, I twice paid $7.95 to use wi-fi in ATL...each time for about an hour!

[JeffreyS]

I had free wifi in Managua, Nicaragua but had to pay in Miami.

[Ocklawaha]

I had free wifi in Managua, Nicaragua but had to pay in Miami.

MEDELLIN (Near Ock's Condo)


Resurfacing and new lines for the FREEway in BFE Colombia, or to be exact in State of Cundinamarca ("Interstate Highway A")


3Rd World? Too poor to afford housing on a flat lot? a car? bus fare? Don't sweat it, Medellin Metro will take care of you ---FOR FREE!


No usable Convention Center in Jacksonville? Meet the 3Rd World in Medellin.


Your basic 3Rd World Airport

Doesn't surprise me Jeffery. As I have stated over and over, the 3Rd World is only the 3Rd World, because we insist on calling it the 3Rd World... Sure the annual income of the average citizen is dwarfed by the USA, but so are the living costs.  Due to the implied lack of material things, the nations tend to be much more up to date then Uncle Sam!  In Colombia, the transportation network puts the gringos to absolute shame! I'm not just talking railroads either, air, rail, sea, bus, highway... for it's population and industry (which seems bigger then our own), Colombia is an equal. Ditto for Wi-Fi, Cellular, Parks, Public Art, Livable-Sustainable Cities... Etc.  If we could switch the languages on the signage, and drop the average Jacksonville resident into the middle of downtown Managua, Bogota, Panama City, Medellin or Cali, they couldn't tell if they were in New York, Paris, London, Rome or Rio... then there is Mexico City, and Bello Horizonte!

Wouldn't it be great if one of our local community service clubs, welcome wagon, red caps/sky caps, travelers aid, etc... would jump in and sponsor these little "nice" touches not just at the airport, but at AMTRAK, the central BUS STATION, and the two JTA transit centers. Hell JTA even HAD a proposal to open a child care facility just a few years back!! NO KIDDING!  Can't you just see Mike Miller reading "The 3 Little Pigs,"  to all of the kiddies?

OCKLAWAHA

[CS Foltz]

Heck if they had that at JIA............Johnny would be in the front I would bet!

[mtraininjax]

JIA had free wifi long before Google rolled out their "Holiday Gift of free wifi" so I would expect it to continue.

They may have, but I took a trip a few months ago and the service was horrible which led me to believe either A) it was not working or B) Google's product is 1000% better than the old service.

[Lunican]

I don't know. I've never had problems with it. Maybe you connected to one of those scam free wifi signals that always seem to be available.

[mtraininjax]

Maybe, but I was able to get Google's loud and strong.