Comments on: Welcome to “Hidden Airport”

By: Dean C.

Dean C. — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:30:48 +0000

One things about details in airports that is almost always missed is the Art Deco work at National, between Terminals A and B. As you walk from A, you pass through some of the old gates, and everything, especially on the second floor landing overlooking the gate area, is decorated with Art Deco work. Go to the bathroom on that second floor, and you will immediately think you are in a noir detective story.

Now, as more and more flights are crammed into National (they have about 30% more flights every day than Dulles and about 40-50% more than BWI, according to FlightRadar), maybe the old gate area has been turned into some kind of TSA-a-palooza, but when I was flying on USAir (yeah, it’s been awhile…) I would always enter the airport at Terminal A then walk to the Main (?) terminal through the old gate area.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 06 May 2026 16:51:38 +0000

In reply to No Longer Stuck In Melbourne.

There’s a piano in Boston in terminal E.

I’ve seem them elsewhere too.

By: No Longer Stuck In Melbourne

No Longer Stuck In Melbourne — Wed, 06 May 2026 08:54:22 +0000

I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned Rome’s Fiumicino. The food court has a baby grand piano, that you can play! There was a Chinese guy playing when I was there, and while he was a bit rusty, he definitely knew his stuff.

And going to the gates, it seemed that every second gate also had one. I didn’t see anyone playing those, but it surely would’ve been OK… 🙂

By: Penny in Amsterdam

Penny in Amsterdam — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:12:58 +0000

Schiphol is my home airport. Although I now only fly South once a year; I’m getting too old for more.

Iconic for me are the “loopbanden”. Long moving horizontal walkways, increasingly important for me as I get older. These are invaluable as the walk from the gate to baggage claim and exit at Schiphol can sometimes take 3/4 of an hour or more! (That’s nearly as long as my flight from Pisa!) As you near the end of the walkway a discretely soothing voice will say “Mind your step, … mind your step”. This really should form part of a Pink Floyd track.

Sadly though now many of them are broken, out of order. They should spend more on servicing them and less on megalomaniac rail extensions to the airport, which are already more than adequate.

By: Rosemary Sullivan

Rosemary Sullivan — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:52:29 +0000

Hi, Patrick. This is wonderful information about the variety of peaceful and beautiful oases in different airports. I took a photo in the Milwaukee airport some years back, because after passing through security the seating area was called the discombobulation zone, or something similar. That camera was stolen before I developed the photo. I found the idea charming, though. Have even searched the airport website to see if there was a picture, but no luck. If you are ever there, you might check to see if it’s still there. If anything, we need such an area more than ever! Thanks for your wonderful emails. They give me a lot of pleasure and knowledge.

By: Jonathan Johnson

Jonathan Johnson — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 21:46:21 +0000

Have any plans to travel through PDX? I’m curious to hear your opinions of the main terminal remodel. I haven’t been through there myself yet (I don’t air travel much; it’s my home airport) but friends have been impressed.

By: Cecil

Cecil — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 19:52:02 +0000

Austin-Bergstrom has a “secret” gate ∞ between gates 12 and 14, complete with a departure board with imaginary destinations, including Pemberley, Penn, SimCity, Slumberland, and more.

https://sightlinesmag.org/now-departing-for-narnia-at-austins-airport-janet-zweigs-interimaginary-departures

By: Rod

Rod — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:21:25 +0000

“What’s not here are Logan’s more infamous moments. The crashes, for example.”
Yes, not really surprising. Most larger, older airports could probably set up a “crash museum” but it’s hard to imagine the idea catching on.

Not at all surprised to learn you’re a Vonnegut fan. A latter-day Mark Twain (whom he consciously emulated in his appearance I think). Good to know Indianapolis celebrates its native son.

By: Leslie Lenkowsky

Leslie Lenkowsky — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 03:56:33 +0000

If you have a layover in Indianapolis, there is also a Kurt Vonnegut Museum about 15 minutes from the airport.

https://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/

By: wilson

wilson — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 19:58:12 +0000

What’s next at these airports… fern bars?