It used to be that airlines were in charge of attracting passengers while airports just quietly went about their business. In the last few years, though, industry dynamics have changed and airport facilities are now front and center. Cities have been left to to sell themselves to potential flyers, with the result being what USA Today is sensationally calling "The Airport Wars." These involve campaigns and travel ads that promote home airports, highlight their amenities, and even sometimes explicitly trash rival airports.

Before we get to some examples, a bit of context. There are positive and negative changes driving these efforts. On the good side, you've got a combination of LCCs, online travel agencies, and technological savviness empowering passengers. Flyers can and do mix and match their own connections. On the downside, you've got airlines decreasing their amenities, forcing airports to step up. The results have included everything from SFO's cheerful "I Wanna Go Through SFO" campaign (see the video after the jump), to Edmonton International's gloves-off attack ads on rival airport Calgary:"When you go south, so does your air service." That's just mean.]]> Omri 2010-03-19T15:49:11-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/1/15/101521/143

Please allow us to begin this lovely Friday by getting the music from The Who's Tommy stuck in your head: "He ain't got no distractions / Can't hear those buzzers and bells / Don't see lights a flashin' / Plays by sense of smell / Always gets a replay / Never tilts at all / That deaf, dumb and blind kid / Sure plays a mean pinball."

Now translate this to apply to your layover at San Francisco International Airport (except the deaf, dumb and blind part), and we've got a winner! You see, SFO has installed some 36 pinball machines in the International Terminal as part of an exhibition on the history of the game. Machines range from the 1870s to the 1990s, and you'll even get to play on them! FOR FREE!

Today in the Sky fills us in on this awesome layover activity:

In conjunction with the exhibition, during the first two weeks of January, the San Francisco Airport Museums and Pacific Pinball Machine will present free-play pinball, where members of the public will be able to test their skills on classic pinball machines. Machines will be located in the International Terminal from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

Egh...okay so the first two week os January are up, but maybe they haven't flipped the switch yet to ask you for money. Check it out and let us know! We desperately want to become the airport pinball wizard.

Related Stories:
· San Francisco Fliers Can Test Pinball Skills [Today in the Sky]
· Airport News [Jaunted]

[Photo: Carly & Art] ]]> JetSetCD 2010-01-15T10:45:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/1/6/1339/64198

After a 2009 full of focusing on the east coast (Boston, what what!), Jetblue is getting back in the west coast game by turning up the heat at SFO-San Francisco International Airport. This week, they've bulked up on existing routes from SFO, perhaps as a raised eyebrow threat to competitor Virgin America, who look to make SFO their own cozy little home with the renovated Terminal 2 later this year.

Anyways, Jetblue is renewing their love for the Golden Gate with one more daily flight each to Boston and New York, and two more daily flights down to Long Beach. That's four new flights out of SFO, bringing the total number of daily Jetblue SFO flights up to 11, since you'll catch them also flying SFO to Austin and Fort Lauderdale. And here it feels like just yesterday that Jetblue was adding flights out of Chicago...oh how time flies when you're having fun!

Related Stories:
· Jetblue Expands In San Francisco Today [Jetblue]
· Jetblue expands in San Francisco [Today in the Sky]
· Jetblue coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jetblue Route Map]]]> JetSetCD 2010-01-06T14:34:56-05:00 37.6152230 -122.38997 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/12/14/154651/70

Last weekend, we found ourselves on an insufferable four-hour layover in the San Francisco International Airport's international terminal which is where Virgin America and JetBlue fly out of.

The problem was, we were booked on a flight out of JFK to Las Vegas except we couldn't make the morning flight and all that was left were flights that routed us through SFO. Yes, essentially we flew over Las Vegas, spent four hours at SFO and then flew back to Vegas. Don't worry, we got plenty boozed up to deal with it all.

On our terminal adventure, we decided to leave the security checkpoint and seek out the XpresSpa in Terminal 1. But after walking about a half-mile through the airport with at least another mile to go, we decided to scrap these plans and just head back to our terminal to drink. Lesson learned: Don't ever leave the terminal. Going back through security is somehow more hellacious than the initial examination. ]]> juliana 2009-12-14T15:57:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/10/27/81416/281

Thanks to the TSA, travelers have all kinds of hoops to jump through when it’s finally time to catch your flight. Everyone knows there’s some math formula with the number three and something about one ounce when it comes to the rules regarding liquids and plastic baggies. Well if you have something else that weighs an ounce and comes in a plastic bag you won’t have to do much to get through security. Medical marijuana patients can now pass through the San Francisco International Airport and other Bay Area airports without any issues, or so they say.

As long as you have the proper paperwork you can carry up to eight ounces of marijuana with you. That’s the city’s policy, and it’s up to city police to make the final ruling. The TSA kind of has no authority over the issue, but if we had some healing hooch we’d still probably be a little discrete when going through airport security. The US Department of Justice pretty much told US attorneys to not bother passengers when they are just following the state’s rules and regulations. ]]> kjb 2009-10-27T08:54:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/10/21/8153/5713

Late last year, work began on renovating Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport. The terminal used to be the gateway to foreign lands, but after all the new paint and fancy lighting it will be primarily used for domestic adventures. The airport is shelling out nearly $400 million to revamp things, and when complete, it will probably make all the other terminals jealous. Virgin America is especially excited over all this construction, because this will be their official home when all the dust settles.

There will be 14 gates at the new terminal, which should leave a little extra room if another carrier or two wants to sneak into Virgin America’s home turf. The gates will be designed for narrow body aircraft, but they will have the capability for some bigger jets—just in case. Some of the cool new stuff that travelers will experience while waiting for flights includes a wine bar, spa, and over ten restaurants. The airport is even looking to recruit some slow food vendors to ensure travelers are eating healthy, locally grown food—does this include Cinnabon? There will be lots of public art, and for fans of green, the facility expects to get silver LEED certification. ]]> kjb 2009-10-21T09:01:21-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/13/132512/182

It's crunch time for your flight and you're desperate to pick up your prescription or some nasal spray or just some St. John's Wort *wink*, but you know the airport is notorious for having lots of only one thing: a greasy, overpriced food court. Thankfully, this is no longer the case as some airports welcome Harmony Pharmacies, regular pharmacies stocking necessities and more when you don't have the time to hook yourself up with some last-minute NyQuil.

Back in 2007, Newark International was the first United States airport to welcome a functioning pharmancy with on-site nurse practitioner and prescription service, all of which is still located in Terminal C1, near Gate 91.

Then, during last fall when T5 at JFK opened, another Harmony moved in near Gate 7. And now the health has spread to San Francisco Intl Airport and it won't stop there; Dallas/Ft. Worth, Cleveland-Hopkins, and Baltimore-Washington Intl should all have their own Harmony airport pharmacies by the end of next year.

Until then, feel free to fill your Viagra Clarinex prescriptions with the full-time pharmacist or check your blood pressure; SFO's Harmony Pharmacy is located in the "F" hub of Terminal 3.

Related Stories:
· SFO Welcomes Airport Pharmacy [SFO Press Release]
· Harmony Pharmacy [Official Site]
· On the fly and forgot to pack your meds? San Francisco Airport's new on-site pharmacy [Examiner]
· Airport News Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Harmony Pharmacy] ]]> JetSetCD 2009-07-13T15:24:17-05:00 37.6152230 -122.38997 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/