But while there were specifics on a couple places, further details on the dining options were fuzzy. That is, until we were handed a JetBlue-authored list of every restaurant, bar and to-go place that would populate the terminal when it opens later this fall.
Actors have previews, football players have scrimmages and JFK's Terminal 5 is having a "trial run" on August 23rd. But unlike on Broadway or at Alvin Ailey, you can be a part of this trial run if you got JetBlue's latest love letter, which went out to some of its TrueBlue frequent flier members, one of which was good enough to post the invite and his thoughts.
The airline seeks 1,000 warm bodies to play passengers, proceeding through check-in and security and hanging out at the gates. Participation also includes free lunch, which is more than you can get as a paying passenger on a flight!
You have to fill out a special form to participate--anyone want to forward us the fun? The rest of the invitation, after the jump.
You know how you can always tell the tourists headed to warmer climes when you walk through the airport? They're always the ones wearing goofy print shirts and short shorts even though it's bound to be frigid on the plane.
Jaunted member JetSetCD sent us this funny snapshot, along with a bit of an explanation:
I mean, it may be the Motor City and all, but really? Gotta love the guy in the tropical shirt at the bar; the flights around it were headed to various parts of Mexico.
Have your own travel snapshots? Drop 'em in our Flickr pool.
We normally disregard all those handy stretching guides in the back of airport magazines, but moving around in the terminal can forestall the plane jitters. That's why we love the Aeroports de Paris plan to offer in-terminal dance lessons at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports this summer.
Learn anything from tango to twist on your layover this month before the program ends on August 17. Visit Gate 17 at Orly South, Gate 40 at Orly West and Gate E51 (Terminal 2E) at Charles de Gaulle to show 'em your best moves.
After an airport revolt earlier this week, authorities in China will start penalizing airlines that don't clamp down on riotous passengers. Says deputy head of the civil aviation office, Yang Guoqing:
We will severely punish airlines which experience aircraft occupations and other incidents as a result of service reasons which originate with the airline. These measures include cancelling slots at corresponding busy airports.
On the upside, at least it looks like checking your flight status might be a little bit easier, now that China has been shamed into partially lifting some internet restrictions.
Look out, Argentina! Chinese passengers stranded at Kunming Wujiaba International Airport staged an even bigger riot than the one that went down at Ezeiza in January. Sadly, though, we can't find any video of this one.
After China Southern Airlines cancelled three flights Monday night due to foul weather, more than 170 passengers were forced to spend the night on-board their planes or in the departures hall. A Chinese state media outlet reports that no food or alternative accomodations were provided. When staff came back on Tuesday, the passengers started smashing computers and desks and got into a scuffle with police at the airport.
China Southern, though, says it did offer up a hotel that some passengers simply refused. Whatever the case, the airline managed to get all of the stranded out of the airport by Tuesday afternoon.
Last we heard from JetBlue, there wasn't much new happening at the still-under-contruction T5 at JFK. But The New York Times dug up some juicy new details on the innovative new dining and shopping options coming to the airport's newest addition this fall.
The 26-gate terminal will have dining bars, pictured, scattered throughout, with plug ins for your electronics and touch-screen ordering a la Virgin America's RED. Tap in an order, and it's delivered to you a few minutes later. In the heart of T5, a 10,000-square-foot food court will have a Whole Foods-style buffet of hot and cold items, perfect for grabbing on the run.
Fancier options include a "rustic Italian trattoria," a sushi spot, a brasserie, a tapas joint and a Mexican place, all of which count chefs from popular NYC restaurants as consultants.
On the retail side, be on the lookout for a Muji outpost to compliment two other locations in New York. There will also be a an outlet for WFAN, a local sports radio station, and 17 other shops.
Speaking of JFK, with our heavy focus last week on architect Eero Saarinen, what better time is there to check in on progress at the airport's new Terminal 5? We went straight to the source, asking JetBlue spokesman Bryan Baldwin what was up.
Here's what he said:
T5 is progressing very nicely. We're scheduled for a late September operational start date. The exact date is still being finalized. The project is still on budget, and a September opening will put us almost six months ahead of schedule.
Don't worry: We'll be trying our best to get another sneak preview before T5 finally opens to fliers this fall.
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