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Philadelphia International Airport Scores High On USA Today's List of Top 10 Amenities; Programs and Services Aim to Make Airport Experience Pleasant and Relaxing

Posted on: Thursday, 8 June 2006, 09:01 CDT

Traveling by air can sometimes be a stressful experience, and today's air traveler typically spends more time at the airport seeking conveniences that make their visits more pleasant and productive. With the needs of airport users and the realities of modern day air transportation in mind, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) offers passengers a variety of visitor-friendly services and programs from comfortable rocking chairs and a refreshing spa to fascinating exhibits and exciting entertainment.

At PHL, passengers can find most of the services and programs mentioned in a recent USA Today article listing the top 10 amenities that make an airport appealing to travelers, such as live music, rocking chairs, wine bars, art galleries, laptop chargers, day spas and Internet access. Here is how PHL fared against the USA Today list: 1. Live Music PHL's Performing Arts Program entertains travelers with a variety of local musicians, singers, and dancers as well as costumed characters, caricature artists, face-painting and other surprises for special occasions. Performances take place twice weekly; daily during the summer and winter holiday seasons. 2. Rocking Chairs The Airport was one of the first in the country to provide rocking chairs as a seating option beginning in 1999. More than 150 comfortable chairs are conveniently placed throughout the terminal building. 3. Wine Bars The award-winning Cibo Bistro Wine Bar has locations in Terminals B and A-West. The refined ambience invites patrons with a taste for fine dining and fine wines. 4. Art Galleries PHL's Exhibitions Program has presented more than 100 exhibits since 1998. The Program, which features works by local artists and museums in 15 locations throughout the Airport, has fascinated visitors with an eclectic array of unique creations encompassing a diversity of artistic, historical and cultural themes. 5. Napping Pods - Not yet! - But we're looking into it. We do have eight vibrating lounge chairs strategically located for optimum down-time. 6. Free Wireless Internet Not free, but reasonable at $7.95 for a 24-hour connection. PHL was a pioneer in airport wireless, offering Wi-Fi in all its gate areas beginning in 2003. Last month, 11,000 passengers logged on. A program upgrade, covering the huge international terminal, and free wireless in the food court/mall area is scheduled for completion this summer. 7. Laptop Chargers Electrical outlets are conveniently located in public seating areas throughout the Airport. In addition, half of the Airport's 600 pay phones have data ports for laptops. One-hundred of these are semi-private sit-down units consisting of a work surface, telephone, outlet and bench. Travelers needing more extensive business services can visit Laptop Lane, located just inside the Terminal B checkpoint on the A-B walkway. 8. Day Spas On May 8th, the Airport opened Xpress Spa in Terminal C near Gate C-16. Xpress Spa offers a variety of massages, manicures, pedicures, skin care and body treatments. 9. Booties The Airport's Hospitality Program provides passengers with clear plastic bags in which to place small items to facilitate processing at the security checkpoints. Although we do not offer booties yet, we hope to have them this summer. We are also experimenting with special floor mats in the checkpoint areas to address this need. 10. Convenience Stores Although a Wawa store opened at Northeast Airport on June 2nd, we know that doesn't count. However, many convenience items such as diapers, aspirin, etc., are available in the news & gift stores throughout the Airport. Bonus Item: 11. Rail Connection to the City PHL is one of the few airports in the country with rail service directly linking the Airport with downtown. The fare is $5.50 each way, and trains run every 30 minutes and stop at every terminal. Stops on the rail line include 30th Street Station (connections to AMTRAK), Suburban Station (connections to Broad Street Subway) and Market East Station. Connections to other SEPTA rail lines, the Market Frankford El and bus lines can be accessed at these stations. The R1 line has a daily ridership of 5,400.

The Philadelphia Airport System is owned and operated by the City of Philadelphia and is composed of Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The Airport System is a self-sustaining entity that operates without the use of local tax dollars. It is one of the largest economic engines in Pennsylvania, generating an estimated $14 billion in spending to the regional economy and employing a workforce of nearly 34,000.

Visit the official Philadelphia International Airport website at http://www.phl.org

Source: Business Wire

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