StuckatTheAirport.com headquarters is in Seattle. So we keep a close eye on what Alaska Airlines is up to.

The airline recently began flying from its hometown hub in Seattle to Rome, London, and Reykjavik.

Before that it added flights to Seoul and Tokyo.

Today the airline announced it will be expanding its international network a bit more.

On May 12, 2027, Alaska will begin flying from Seattle to Athens International Airport (ATH) three times a week, with seasonal service through October.

This will be the longest route Alaska has ever flown and the first nonstop flight offered from Seattle to Athens.

Nice!

But wait there’s more.

Beginning May 25, 2027, Alaska Airlines will also kick off seasonal service between Seattle and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

The flight will be offered 5 times a week through October.

And tickets for both flights are on sale now.

Both routes will operate on Alaska’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with international business class Suites, multi-course dining, premium amenities, and (as installation continues) complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi for Atmos Rewards members.

With these two new routes, Alaska will be serving seven intercontinental destinations from Seattle and be the city’s largests international carrier.

They’re not stopping there. The airline says it has plans to launch another dozen international long-haul destinations from Seattle by 2030.

Even nicer!!

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The day now serves to celebrate the contributions Orville and his brother, Wilbur made to human flight and all that has come of that.

But let’s not forget the important role Orville and Wilbur’s sister, Katharine, played.

Forgotten in so many of the Wright Brothers stories, Katharine was known as “the third Wright brother” for her role in helping fund her brothers avation hobby, running the bicycle shop while her brothers were in Kitty Hawk testing out their inventions, serving as their business and social manager and running their household.

(Wilbur, Orville and Katharine Wright – courtesy Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum)

You might be marking the day by getting a plane.

Elsewhere;

The First Flight Society is celebrating at Dare County Regional Airport (MQI) in Manteo, NC with a fly-in, flyovers, airplane displays by the Bullseye Flight Team, a scavenger hunt for kids and guest speakers. Admission and parking are free for all attendees.

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is celebrating with a midday event that includes a flight simulator for guests and employees to try, information tables with giveaways from PHL’s airline and airport partners, music and treats.

San Jose Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) is hosting a three-day celebration that features a Joby eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi mobile simulator parked outside SJC Terminal B.

Anyone can sign up for a 30-minutes free session (here) to “experience what the future of flight feels like: no pilot’s license required.”

(Top image: With Orville Wright at the controls and Wilbur Wright mid-stride, right, the 1903 Wright Flyer makes its first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., Dec. 17, 1903. Courtesy Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum)

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Change at airports – and airport restaurants – arrives notoriously slowly.

But some vendors seem to be able to turn on a dime.

Seattle’s Kathy Casey, a noted chef and mixoloist, is a fun example.

During the pandemic, with travel light and airport bars and restaurants struggling to stay open, Casey rolled out the Shot Bar at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

At this walk-up window, passengers ordered chilled single or double shots served in mini plastic red cups, downed their shots and moved on.

Always on the lookout for creating joy, Casey is now jumping on the Jimothy social media trend.

She’s adding a Jimothy-themed menu item at her Lucky Louie restaurant at SEA Airport.

In case you’ve somehow missed it, this summer the internet and the world is in love with a short-spined wild racoon spotted in a Seattle neighborhood and dubbed “Jimothy.”

Airports are all in.

There’s all manner of art and Jimothy-themed merchandise. And the odd animal received an offiical Seattle City Proclamation.

(Art by Kayla Julianna Carabes)

Now passengers at SEA Airport can dine on a Jimonthy-inspired ice-cream treat.

At Lucky Louie Fish Shack, in the Central Terminal at SEA, the newest menu item is the Jimonthy Swirl.

The dessert ($8.99) is made with vanilla soft serve, dark chocolate sauce and Oreo cookies all swirled together. The topping is a house-made vanilla whip.

The treat comes with a free Lucky Louie Jimothy sticker featuring Jimothy wearing a cap with a Space Needle image. Jimothy is holding SEA luggage tags and racing to catch his flight.

Casey says the sticker is available on its own for $3.75, “but we think it’s much better to treat yourself to a swirl and get the sticker for free.”

The Jimonthy Swirl will be on the menu through the end of September, but Casey says it’s possible it will become a permanent menu item.

The Stuck at the Airport dessert team will stop by Lucky Louie at SEA Airport next week to give the Jimothy Swirl a twirl and will share some snaps.

The post It’s a Jimothy Summer at SEA Airport appeared first on Stuck at the Airport.

Airports and dinosaurs.

It seems to be a thing.

Chicago’s O’Hare Airport (ORD) has a 72-foot-long, 45-foot-tall Brachiosauras skeleton replica on loan from the Field Museum in Terminal 1 , Concourse B. (Her name is Ernestine).

At Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Ally, a replica 30-foot-long, 15-foot-tall Allosaurus fragilis skeleton is on display at the entrace to Concourse B, courtesy of the Natural History Museum of Utah.

And for many years, PIttsburgh International Airport (PIT) had a dinosaur cast on display.

Now Colorado’s Grand Junction Regional Aiport (GJT) is hoping to have a dinosaur replica to display too.

Not just any dinosaur. But it’s own replica casting of the Brachiosaurus fossils discovered at what is known now as Riggs Hill in Grand Junction, not far from where GJT airport sits today.

Back in 1900, it was Chicago Field Museum paleontologist Elmer S. Riggs who uncovered the remains of one of the largest land animals ever discovered. That’s the dinosaur he named Brachiosaurus altithorax.

(Courtesy The Field Museum)

And that’s the dino replica cast on display at O’Hare Airport.

Now, as part of its ongoing renovations and expansion, Grand Junction Regional Airport wants its own cast of that dino.

The airport, the Museums of Western Colorado, the local community and Gensler (the architecuture firm leading the airport expansion) are working together to figure out how to fit a dino into the terminal.

And to help make it happen, they’re raising funds for the “Bringing our Brach Home Project.”

Thousands of visitors arrive in Grand Junction every year to to visit the area’s public lands. Project organizers believe a towering Brachiosaurus rising inside the terminal would be “an unmistakable reminder that they have arrived somewhere extraordinary.”

We agree.

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It should be the quiet days of the end-of-summer, but there’s plenty of news from airports and airlines. Here are some of the items still in our in box as Friday rolls around.

SEA Airport : new route and next big upgrade

The Stuck at the Airport headquarters is in Seattle, so we follow news from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) closely.

And this week, there’s lots of news.

Delta Air Lines already flies daily nonstops from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Tokyo-Haneda Airport (HND).

But starting in March 2027 the airline will add daily nonstop service to Tokyo-Narita International Airport (NRT).

Delta’s flights to Tokyo-Narita will be on A330-900 aircraft; flights to Haneda travel on Airbus A350-900 planes.

Meanwhile – Delta also just announced that it will launch service to Paris from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in March 2027 as well.

SEA’s S Gates getting a much-needed makeover

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We’re still gushing over the Concourse C expansion project at SEA, which brought a boatload of new art, amenities, light and breathing room to a once-cramped space.

Now the Port of Seattle turns its attention to the S Concourse at SEA. Built in 1973 (!), the nicest amenities here right now are the vending machine stocked with Japanese treats and the fact that most international flights begin their journey here.

Initial funding for a $2.5 billion renovation of the S Concourse at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has been approved. So, after a few years of construction, travelers will be rewarded with an extra 150,000 square feet filled with new dining and retail, a children’s play area and two new lounges.

Despite an uptick in international flights at SEA, no extra gates are planned for this next upgrade as there’s just not enough room to expand between the main terminal and the airfield.

Airport amenity of the week: Pickle Juice Shots at CLT Airport

During our recent residency at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) we noticed that some of the shops had lime green barrels filled with small containers of Mt. Olive Pickle Juicers.

We looked closer and discovered that this very popular pickle juice comes from the Mt. Olive Pickle Company, based in Mount Olive, North Carolina. And that these shot-sized bottles of kosher dill pickle brine are a super popular snack-shop item at the airport.

They are not only cute souvenirs, but they offer a quick, salty, electrolyte boost.

We tried one and, later, went back for more. And now declare pickle juice shots at CLT Airport the Airport Amenity of the Week.

Price: $4.99 for single.  $9.99 for 3 pack.

The post New routes + concourse upgrades + airport pickle juice shots appeared first on Stuck at the Airport.

Denver International Airport (DEN) put some of its most interesting and iconic art in storage during a multi-year construction project in the airport’s Great Hall.

But now some of those murals and sculptures are coming back.

Most have undergone restoration during their time off view. But with their return comes renewed chatter about conspiracy theories that some of the artwork inspired when it was first installed.

“We know passengers will be excited to see these familiar murals and sculptures, which have been the source of so many conversations over the years,” Interim DEN CEO Dave LaPorte put it politely.

Two 28-foot wide murals, titled In Peace and Harmony with Nature, by Leo Tanguma are already back in place on Level 5, Northwest.

And over the years, these pieces have spawned debate and added to the myths and conspiracy theories about DEN ranging from underground bunkers, lizard people and more.

Tanguma’s work references the social realist murals of Mexico depicting the destruction of the environment. The first half of the mural depicts children displaying great sadness over the destruction and extinction of life,

The second half of the artwork depicts humanity coming together to rehabilitate and celebrate nature.

But conspiracy theory fans focus on the images of war, death, pollution and environmental destruction. And some claim there are messages in the artwork about a coming apocalypse.

Lots to look at and ponder during a layover or a long delay.

A less controversial returning piece is America, Why I Love Her by Gary Sweeney.

This piece pays homage to the artist’s family vacations and the beauty and grandeur of the land, as well as the monuments and, our favorite, a wide variety of roadside attractions such as Wall Drug and the World’s Largest Ball of Twine.

Here are two other pieces that are returning to the DEN Terminal.

The mural La Memoria de Nuestra Tierra (Our Land Has Memory) by Judith Baca, is a digital tile mural exploring the concept that the land we live on and records the stories of the people who have inhabited it.

Mile High and Rising by Marcus Akinlana depicts the spirit of adventure, optimism and triumph that African Americans brought to Colorado and the Old West.

Other remaining artworks, including Spirit of the People: A Native American Exhibition and Tribute to Elrey Jeppesen sculpture will be returned later this fall.

Learn more about Denver International’s Art collection and read about a plan to put pedestrian walkways in the underground tunnels at DEN that many believe are inhabited by lizard people.

The post Iconic & controversial artwork returns to Denver International Airport appeared first on Stuck at the Airport.

Who gets the middle seat armrests? Is it OK to recline your seat? Should you clap when the plane lands?

These and other big airplane etiquette issues are being addressed by Lufthansa in a fun series of caps, bags and and sweathshirts that we now covet.

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The gear isn’t commercially available (yet). But the Stuck at the Airport contest crew is keeping an eye on Lufthansa’s social media channels for our chance to win some airplane etiquette merch.

Have a travel etiquette question or experience? The Stuck at the Airport crew served as MSNBC’s Well Mannered Traveler columnist for many years, so may be able to help you out.

The post Want: this airline etiquette gear from Lufthansa appeared first on Stuck at the Airport.

We’ve been doing some Oregon touring and stopped in to visit Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM), which serves the rapidly growing Central Oregon region.

The airport currently offers direct service to and from 10 cites: Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Burbank, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and San Diego.

We are pleased to see some of our favorite features (looking at you, Sasquatch statue) are still there. And we are delighted to learn that the airport is growing.

So it is clearly time for an updated editions 5 Things We Love About: Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM).

5 Things We Love About Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM)

1. Bigfoot at Redmond Municipal Airport

RDM is in Bigfoot country. And while few have ever seen the elusive creature alive in the wild, this 6-foot-tall Bigfoot statue lives in the terminal year-round.

2. Art and nature in the RDM terminal

The tree, below, is an example of the beautifully gnarled and twisted Western Juniper trees that can be seen growing in the high desert of Central Oregon.

RDM’s juniper tree is thought to be about 500 years old. A baby compared to the oldest juniper tree in Oregon, which is on a ridge east of Bend and may be more than 1600 years old.

3. Rocking chairs at RDM

We’re happy to see another airport with welcoming rocking chairs for passengers.

4. Kids play area and Flybrary Library

RDM has fun pre-security play area for kids with activities for children of various ages. The airport’s Take One/Leave One ‘Flybrary’ is a partnership with the local library.

5. Fun souvenirs

We spotted these cute souvenirs in one of the airport shops and will start our own “Stuffed States” collection with Oregon.

5. The RDM Terminal Expansion

RDM Airport is growing to meet the needs of Oregon’s fast growing community. A concourse extension is set to open in November 2027 with 80,000 saquare feet of new space, seven new jet bridges, expanded waiting areas, lots of new art, more seating capacity and new concessions.

The expansion will also bring new and more modern restrooms, a post-security pet relief area and great views.

We’re looking forward to going back for the grand opening.

The post RDM: 5 Things We Love About Oregon’s Redmond Municipal Airport (Updated) appeared first on Stuck at the Airport.

Sullenberger Aviation Museum – Charlotte, NC

The Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) houses the “Miracle on the Hudson” plane. That’s the Airbus A30 involved in the January 15, 2009, incident in which US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of geese, resulting in engine failure.

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger managed to land the plane safely in New York’s Hudson River. And all 155 people aboard (150 passengers, three flight attendants and two pilots) miraculously survived.

The entire recovered Airbus A30 that flew as US Airways Flight 1549 — including the fuselage, wings and tail — is the centerpiece of the recently revamped and much-expanded Sullenberger Aviation Museum. We recently visited to see the plane, the accompanying exhibits and to learn about the museum’s tour dubbed the “Miracle on the Hudson Experience.”

That two-hour, add-on guided tour digs deeper into the incident and its aftermath. And it offers participants a chance to learn about and touch some of the objects involved in the recovery and artifacts retrieved from the water.

Read more about our visit in the story we wrote about the Miracle on the Hudson Plane for The Points Guy site.

Petersen Rock Garden & Museum – Bend, Oregon

The 4-acre Petersen Rock Garden, in Central Oregon, near Redmond, is one of those charming, decades-old roadside attractions that was in danger of fading away.

Starting in 1935, Danish immigrant Rasmus Petersen began using regional-sourced stones of all sorts to build intricate miniature castles, churches, bridges, and monuments on his land.

Petersen’s family cared for the garden after his death in 1952, but funds and interest faded and the garden closed in 2016.

In 2022 new owners reopened the site. They are now working with community volunteers to repair and revitalize all the charming rock structures and to care for the 40+ peacocks that roam the grounds.

If you’re out that way, be sure to stop by.

High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon

(Courtesy High Desert Museum)

The High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon sprawls across 135 acres of Ponderosa pine forest and includes multiple indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces, trails, animal habitats, art shows and historic structures such as a 1904 ranch and a sawmill.

During our recent visit, we loved walking the trails, seeing the art and western artifacts, and visiting with the otters, the birds of prey, the porcupine, the skunk and the bobcat.

And we expanded our regional geologic knowledge in a fun exhibit about volcanoes that features an interactive game that transforms the floor into flowing lava.

The post Museum Monday: 3 places for your “go there” list appeared first on Stuck at the Airport.

The Stuck at the Airport team is exploring all the scheduled routes SeaPort Airlines flies in Oregon and Washington, beginning with a quick trip from Seattle’s King County International Airport (BFI) to the Business Aviation terminal right next to Portland International Airport (PDX).

For this quick trip we saved significant time by taking advantage of the short travel time between the Stuck at the Airport headquarters just north of downtown Seattle to King County International Airport (BFI), which is just four miles south of downtown.

And because there’s no TSA screening rigamarole at BFI Airport, we only needed to show up 20 minutes before our 45-minute flight to Portland.

Once in Portland, we grabbed an Uber and headed downtown to take advantage of free first Thursday at the recently expanded and lovingly transformed Portland Art Museum.

(4th Floor To Mildness by Pipilotti Rist)

Afterwards, we headed back to PDX to check out some of the newest amenities located both before and after security, including the beautiful new all-gender restrooms and a fun ribbon-cutting event for Straightaway Cocktail’s new airport bar.

Next stop: we’ll be boarding SeaPort Airlines’ flight from PDX to Redmond, Oregon to explore the High Desert area of Central Oregon. Fingers crossed the smoke from wildfires in the area doesn’t get in the way.

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