Best new airport amenities in 2012

2012 has come and gone. With it, we saw many changes in the Travel industry. Some changes were great. Some were irritating. One trend that we have been seeing is with the improvement in airport amenities. Airports throughout the country continue to make strides in adding new amenities to make the traveling experience more enjoyable.

Gone are the days where finding electrical charging stations or free Wi-Fi at airports is unheard of. An estimated 88% of airports now have electrical charging stations and 90% offer free Wi-Fi. These amenities were once unheard of, but now are staples at most airports.

In 2012, airports continued to add innovative and creative amenities to enhance the customer experience. For example, San Francisco International Airport has introduced a first-of-its-kind airport Yoga room. This space allows for travelers to have a room devoted to contemplation and self-reflection. This is just one example of how airports are trying to make your travel experience a little mellower, healthier, and more connected.

Here is a list of USA Today’s Best new airport amenities in 2012.

Let’s hope that 2013 continues to bring improvements to our airport experience.

UPDATE: Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) Opening Postponed

As of moments ago, Berlin Brandenberg Airport has announced that they will be postponing the airport’s June 3^rd opening. VisitBerlin cites issues in fire protection protocol forcing the airport to push back their highly anticipated opening date.

Planning on flying into BER after June 3^rd? Flights bound for Brandenburg will be directed to Tegel and Schönefeld, as Tegel will remain open until Brandenburg becomes operational. Both AirBerlin and Lufthansa have confirmed that flights will be redirected to Tegel with minimal impact on travelers schedules.

New International Airport to Open in Berlin, Tegel Set to Close

On June 3^rd, Berlin’s main international airport, Berlin Tegel (TXL), is set to close to make way for Germany’s newest Flughäfen, Berlin Brandenburg (BER).

Berlin Brandenburg Airport will provide many new amenities, including the Berlin Brandenburg WelcomeCenter lounge, which will provide a location for potential meetings and presentations. The congress Hotels surrounding the airport will also provide an ideal venue for business functions and hospitality accommodations.

Located in Shönefeld, about 11 miles from the center of the nation’s capital, BER will provide suburban trains, bus lines, and underground lines directly linking the airport with the inner city of Berlin.

Among multiple new flight destinations, BER will be offering non-stop services to Los Angeles, Windhoek and Marseille.

More information can be found on the airports website here

Flooding in Thailand Shuts Down Bangkok's Don Muang Airport

Thai flood waters have breached the barriers erected to protect Don Muang Airport, the second largest in Thailand after Suvarnabhumi Airport- also in Bangkok. Don Muang Airport serves primarily domestic flights. Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand's main international arrival and departure point, has not (yet) been affected by the flooding and is continuing to operate flights as normal.

The flooding could cause up to five feet of water in the capital's lowest areas, though the 9 million residents of Bangkok have been largely unaffected thus far. The flooding of Don Muang Airport adds to the severity of the ongoing Thai flood which has claimed the lives of 366 people and flooded one third of Thailand over the past three months.

If Don Muang Airport floods, it would further aggravate emergency operations, as the Thai government has recently set up the emergency Flood Relief Operations Center and converted a terminal into a shelter for misplaced individuals.

The closing of the airport has caused an increased sense of chaos and added even more uncertainty as to how the Thai government will be able to avert further damage and provide disaster relief to those afflicted by the flood.

For a more in-depth article on the situation, see this: http://news.yahoo.com/thai-floods-shut-bangkoks-second-largest-airport-164107578.html

Loaded Gun Falls Out of Checked Luggage at LAX

A loaded handgun fell out of a checked bag being loaded onto an airliner for an Alaska Airlines flight at Los Angeles International Airport.

The TSA claims (rightly, though pretty non-sensibily) that identifying firearms in checked bags is not the agency's job. I suppose this makes a little sense, since it would be difficult to use the firearm from your seat when the bag is stowed elsewhere in the plane... but come on! There are a lot of "what ifs" that could be implanted into this scenario that are worrisome. TSA says the bag passed explosives screening. Maybe it's time for an equipment update?

The passenger was questioned and then later allowed to board his flight.