What are airports missing?

[G00r]

I know some people insist on getting to the airport 2 hours before (intl) and again nice and early for domestic flights.
I personally try to minimise the dead time at airports (otherwise I end up killing time/liver in the bar (which I am doing right now as a meeting ended early and my flight is in 80 minutes))
Sure you need to allow for delays in getting to the airport and then of course there is the issue of clearing security, but experienced travelers know that you can get through quicker if you're running really late.
This equilibrium of course relies on most people arriving with plenty of time (otherwise everyone would be arriving <20 mins from departure time).

So my question to the community is (for those who don't buy flexible tickets) what services would ideally be available inside the airport (post-screening), which would encourage you to arrive a bit earlier than you do, or make you feel like you were wasting less time waiting around.

The one at the top of my list is hairdresser/barber. If you clear security at 1100 and your flight starts boarding at 1125, well if there was no wait, that's more than enough time for a quick snip and for you to make a timely and stylish dash to the gate.

Any others?

 

[yohy?!]

how about...

shoe-shiner
masseuse
dry cleaner
post office
gym

 

[TonyHancock]

NTL is missing a VA Lounge.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

A shirt pressing service.
Although that would be for PAX in transit.

 

[G00r]

how about...

shoe-shiner
masseuse
dry cleaner
post office
gym

Gym! I was thinking about this the other day, the ultimate way to kill time (given you could spend as little or as much time as you wanted/had)

 

[jb747]

Humanity....as in 'humane'.

 

[marki]

how about...

shoe-shiner
masseuse
dry cleaner
post office
gym

Good options

A shirt pressing service.
Although that would be for PAX in transit.

If you changed clothes in gym clothes !

Gym! I was thinking about this the other day, the ultimate way to kill time (given you could spend as little or as much time as you wanted/had)

I don't want to sit next sweaty gym person unless of course pressed clothes earlier and changed back into normal clothes!

What about becoming P1 you could fly ahead on a earlier connection! Don't have to have flexible ticket then either.

Although I do suspect you would not cover all the airlines of the world just QF :erm:

 

[moa999]

reasonable passenger fees
reasonable parking charges
decent quality public transport without surcharge (MEL and SYD)
friendly security officers

public places to charge laptops//phones (although getting better)

AA DFW Terminal A lounge has a workout room, but doesnt get much use.

 

[harvyk]

For me, the answer is simple - a decent lounge which I have access to.

However for the times which I am outside those golden doors my wants are simple,

Comfortable seating outside the lounges,
Decent food / drink which does not cost the earth
Easy access to a power point
WIFI
A view of the planes.

It's funny how often that last one is missed, as airports turn more into shopping centers. TPE is probably the worst example, apart from the Chinese writing on signs, I could have been down at my local mall.

 

[teamhamsandwich]

A barber and a gym!

 

[JohnK]

Comfortable waiting areas also suitable for sleeping.
Good overnight security.

Wouldn't any service at airport be expensive?

 

[Pushka]

Comfortable waiting areas also suitable for sleeping.
Good overnight security.

Wouldn't any service at airport be expensive?

Singapore has those. In reality they may not want to encourage homeless people though in 24 hour airports.

MrP slept at Frankfurt airport overnight once. To this day I have no idea why he did that.

 

[Buzzard]

+1 tells me she would like to see a hairdresser and nail salon.

The problem for some businesses, for example a post office, is the rent. You will never pay it selling $1 stamps for $1.

 

[Quickstatus]

There is nothing which would entice me to spend more time and money in an airport than is necessary. 2hours post formalities is the max. But to answer the question:

turn it it into a destination which just so happens to be an airport.
reasonable prices

Everytime I go to local airport I don't buy anything unless essential because I feel violated whenever I open the wallet. I'll give my business to MEL as its ultimate owner is a group of industry super funds one of which I have an account with. Which suits me just fine as I don't mind transiting in MEL to catch the 93 instead of the 11- same price more SC (the Claytons status run as I have a separate plausible reason for going via MEL). Hopefully my odd purchase there will allow me to retire earlier....Silver doughnut - never

 

[dajop]

A lap pool and a spa/jacuzzi. Do 30 mins of laps, a quick dip in the spa, shower and off to the plane. At least for medium-long haul.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

So my question to the community is (for those who don't buy flexible tickets) what services would ideally be available inside the airport (post-screening), which would encourage you to arrive a bit earlier than you do, or make you feel like you were wasting less time waiting around.
<snip>

Any others?

I'm afraid I fail the question because I'm one of those who always leave home/office early 'just in case' so inevitably arrive with lots of time to kill. With an Australian standard lounge, I'm reasonably content; that is with my laptop and lounge power point, wi-fi, food and bev, I'm good for 3 hours or so and don't need third party services which will inevitably be expensive because of airport owner's licence-to-gouge.

 

[Mal]

pharmac_. There have been a few international connections where I've wanted to grab something from a pharmac_, but none have been around.

 

[wandering_fred]

pharmac_. There have been a few international connections where I've wanted to grab something from a pharmac_, but none have been around.

Maybe I have been spoiled by the the chemists in Oz and the shopping mall type pharmacies in the USA, but in my international travels what passes for a pharmac_ fails, badly. EG Try buying enteric coated aspirin< acetominophen - panadol etc in an Asian airport...

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Deleted member 29185]

shoe-shiner
masseuse
dry cleaner
post office
gym

shoe-shiner - Yes definite;
masseuse - Yes nice idea;
dry cleaner - How many people travel with their dry cleaning as hand luggage? maybe, but not for me.
post office - What's a post office?
Gym :shock:.....my God no. Although many people do display common sense, the "worse than feet on Bulkhead" thread shows there are many of our fellow travellers with a brain the size of pea and having been sat once next to someone with body odour that would kill an elephant at 200 paces, I would despise being sat next to someone admiring their biceps the whole flight whilst sharing with us all, their eau de cologne that would make an onion cry!

A lap pool and a spa/jacuzzi. Do 30 mins of laps, a quick dip in the spa, shower and off to the plane. At least for medium-long haul.

What would you do with wet swimming gear? Certainly not on JQ, the 7kg limit doesn't allow for wet togs, towel and goggles!

 

[marki]

A barber and a gym!

Yes always thought a barber would be a good idea !