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By Kimberly Jaso

Allegiant Airlines is the latest low-cost domestic carrier to begin charging customers for their carry-ons, following Spirit Airlines similar move in 2010. While you’re still allowed one personal item—such as a purse or laptop bag—starting this April, bringing smaller suitcases on board is no longer the guaranteed way to avoid baggage fees.

Although Allegiant and Spirit advertise more affordable airfares, extra costs such as carry-on baggage fees can surprise travelers, especially those trying to save on checked baggage charges, which often start at $25 per bag. In an attempt to offset high fuel costs, Spirit Airlines became the first domestic airline whose optional fees range from $20 to $45 for carry-on baggage. Allegiant’s fees depend on weight and when you pay; at the airport, the fee is an automatic $35, but reserving in advance can bring prices as low as $10.

While the fee may seem superfluous considering the many other fees airlines charge today, one benefit of carry-on baggage costs could be that it will help expedite the boarding and deplaning process. Passengers packing as much as possible into a smaller carry-on can cause delays due to limited overhead cabin space.

Andrew Levy, president of Allegiant Travel Co., acknowledges today’s à la carte fee structure, “When flying Allegiant, travelers do not pay for something they do not need or want. We are confident that our customers will continue to appreciate our efforts to keep their base fare as low as possible, while offering a completely customized travel experience.”

How would a carry-on charge on your next flight affect your travel plans?

Photo Credit: Allegiant Airlines via Shutterstock.com.

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/fodors/travel-news/~3/jMk62ARfg_w/story_5388.html

It’s bound to be the busiest weekend of the year as 1.5 million holiday-makers are expected to be on the move hoping to enjoy a short break abroad. But, according to the major airlines, UK airports won’t be able cope this Easter weekend.

A letter from 11 major UK airlines has been dispatched to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, about the impending crisis. In a nutshell, the letter told her that the UK Border Agency does not have the resources to check the passports of everyone coming into Britain.

More than 370,000 passengers will leave Heathrow between Good Friday and Easter Monday while Gatwick will handle 200,000 passengers.

Among the signatories were carriers British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, BMI British Midland and easyJet. They are warning that the lack of staff will cause delays and overcrowding and the slow passage through passport control may cause delayed flights.

They are urging the Government to either employ more border control staff or relax the tough restrictions on immigration checks. These checks were introduced after a scandal at the UK Border Agency last November resulting in the resignation of Brodie Clark, the head of the agency, after Mrs May said that he had relaxed checks without her permission. Brodie was later awarded £100,000 compensation by the Home Office, with neither side admitting fault.

The letters tell of problems caused by a return to 100 percent passport checks at a time when border staff numbers have been reduced.

A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic said last night: “While the decision on what level of checks should be made at the border is of course a matter for government, we are concerned that there is currently a mismatch between policy and resource.”

4 April 2012

source: http://www.thetravelmagazine.net/i-4613--uk-airports-face-chaos-and-delays-over-easter-holidays.html

TAP Portugal will become one of the first European airlines to offer inflight connectivity on flights between Europe and both North and South America, when it launches OnAir’s inflight WiFi service sometime in 2012.

Passengers flying TAP’s transatlantic routes in Airbus A330 aircraft will be will be able to use Internet OnAir to access the web using their Wi-Fi enabled personal electronic devices, such as iPhones, iPads and BlackBerrys, as well as laptops. Passengers simply pay with their credit card and start surfing the Internet, including the use of email.

According to TAP Portugal, “Connectivity is an important part of our service offering, giving TAP a vital competitive edge as one of the first airlines to experience OnAir’s services. Passengers have been enthusiastic users of inflight connectivity whenever they have access.”

TAP has also committed to deploying OnAir’s services on its planned fleet of A350s.

“The inflight connectivity market is maturing and today’s deal confirms OnAir’s position as the number one provider of global inflight connectivity services,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “Our ability to provide worldwide coverage consistently is of the very highest importance to our airline customers.”

OnAir’s use of Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband, combined with the most extensive network of regulatory approvals and roaming agreements, means its services are available everywhere in the world.

5 April 2012

source: http://www.thetravelmagazine.net/i-4597--tap-portugal-adds-inflight-wifi-on-transatlantic-flights.html

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Uniforms like this one donned by United Airlines flight attendants in 1968 are among the most iconic ever made, says collector and aviation enthusiast Cliff Muskiet.

Muskiet has been collecting flight attendant ensembles since the early 1980s.

In more than 30 years he has managed to accumulate over 1,000 flight attendant outfits and accessories.

Muskiet says the uniforms offer a window into different eras of style and commercial aviation history — like this stylish ensemble from the now defunct Braniff International Airways.

“You can see the fashion change through the years,” says Muskiet, as emphasized by this early 1970s outfit from Hughes Airwest.

The vibrant technicolor of Bangkok Air’s uniform is a throwback to the 1970s designs of many American airlines.

Muskiet often receives requests to display his collection at industry shows and exhibitions.

Other exhibitions to display Muskiet’s uniforms over the years include the Farnborough Air Show.

Displays of national identity in airline uniforms can help differentiate cabin crew outfits and make a statement, explains Muskiet.

But a uniform can still be very attractive despite the absence of any reference to national identity, he adds.

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Cliff Muskiet has been collecting female flight attendant ensembles since the early 1980s and has accumulated over 1,000 outfits and accessories, which he proudly displays on his website uniformfreak.com.

“I love airplanes and everything that comes with it,” says Muskiet, who also works as a flight attendant for KLM Royal Dutch Airways.

“When I think of an airplane, I automatically think of a stewardess. When I think of a stewardess, I automatically think of a uniform. When I think of a uniform, I want to have it,” he adds.

See also: High-end designers create uniforms for the masses

Muskiet often receives requests to display his collection at industry shows and exhibitions. He says the uniforms offer a window into different eras of style and commercial aviation history.

“You can see the fashion change through the years when you look at the stewardess uniforms,” explains Muskiet.

“I love the 1970s psychedelic patterns and color combinations: yellow, red, orange, purple, green, white, blue. Every color was used and everything was possible,” he adds.

Over the years, some of the world’s most prominent fashion designers have created outfits for airline companies, including Giorgio Armani (Al Italia), Nina Ricci (Cathay Pacific) and Christian Lacroix (Air France), says Muskiet.

See also: ‘Safe-list’ flyers get security fast track

But just because big-name designers put their names to particular items it doesn’t mean that the uniforms they produce are always a work of beauty, he explains.

“Yves Saint Laurent, for example, has made beautiful clothes for women, but the uniform he designed for Qantas in the 1980s was so horrible,” says Muskiet.

Muskiet highlights 1970s uniforms from Japan Airlines, El Al and Iberia as some his all-time favorite items.

He says the combination of aesthetic style and neat accessories, as well as the embodiment of the carrier’s national identity — although this is not absolutely necessary — can all be important factors in creating a uniform that will resonate.

See also: Air France, flying chic for 70 years

“Look at Emirates, they wear a Western uniform and the color is horrible,” says Muskiet.

“But the red hat with veil is eye catching. The veil is that national identity as well as the color of the uniform: beige is the color of sand.”

Muskiet says his collection will continue to grow for as long as airlines are willing to let him get his hands on their attire. In doing so, he hopes to preserve and further chronicle the historic link between airlines and the styles they continue to spawn.

“There has always been something glamorous about aviation and airline fashion,” he enthuses. “These two go well together.”

source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_travel/~3/PJ-BlD3GpIQ/index.html

JetBlue pilot charged with interfering with flight crew

JetBlue has not elaborated on the pilot’s condition, but CEO Dave Barger referred to the incident as a “medical situation.”

The pilot’s behavior points to possible psychological distress, doctors say.

The episode could be the result of bipolar disorder or a recent start on antidepressant medication, said Dr. Charles Raison, a psychiatrist at the University of Arizona and CNN consultant who has not treated Osbon. Medical illnesses such as brain tumors, subtle seizures or hormonal imbalances could also have caused Osbon’s behavior, Raison said.

The exam does not include a formal psychiatric evaluation, although the examiner should “form a general impression of the emotional stability and mental state of the applicant,” according to FAA’s Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners. Bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders that involve “acting out” and substance dependence generally are disqualifying conditions, according to the guide. In these cases, the examiner would either deny issuing the certificate or defer it and report evidence of significant problems to the FAA, the guide says.

“If the person is exhibiting any signs of psychosis, thinks he’s on the moon, is disoriented in time and place, if he’s taking any medicines — and the FAA is very strict — the computer won’t even let me give an exam if medicines are not approved. It’s very strict under those circumstances,” said Dr. Gabriel Guardarramas, an FAA-approved New York family doctor who performs about 40 pilot exams a year.

Guardarramas said one pilot grieving the death of his father raised a red flag for him and he deferred certification to the FAA.

“Pilots as a rule are extremely stable people,” said retired airline Capt. Steve Luckey, a 33-year veteran. “By the time a person becomes a commercial pilot, they’ve gone through so many filters.”

However, the agency’s strict criteria prompt some to hide their conditions, according to two pilots who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity out of concern for their own careers.

One veteran with three decades of experience said he’s known just a single fellow pilot who sought treatment for depression. The treatment lasted eight or nine months, and he never told his employer, the pilot said.

“A guy has worked his whole career toward what he’s gotten, and he’s dealing with issues, what does he do? If he says, ‘Hey, I’m depressed,’ then the FAA pulls his medical certificates and then there goes his career.”

Another veteran pilot echoed that sentiment: “Yes, pilots are flying around depressed because if they do (admit depression), they’ll be grounded.”

“Pilots are generally well psychologically screened for all the right reasons. Some people snap. If this pilot did indeed snap, it doesn’t surprise me. There’s tremendous pressure out there in the pilot group, and that’s something the public should care about,” the pilot said.

In its medical examiners guide, the FAA says pilots being treated with four specific antidepressants may receive medical clearance, which would be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Osbon’s breakdown comes just weeks after an American Airlines flight attendant’s behavior alarmed passengers and prompted flight crew members to restrain her while the plane was taxiing. One passenger said the flight attendant described herself as bipolar and said she had not taken her medication. Other accounts referred to her talking on the intercom about the plane crashing.

American Airlines has not identified her, and no charges have been filed. She remains employed by the company, the airline said Wednesday. American said the airline follows all FAA rules.

Unlike pilots, flight attendants are not required to pass medical examinations before they fly, according to the Association of Flight Attendants, a union that does not represent American Airlines workers.

“However, flight attendants do have to go through recurrent training each year to refresh their emergency situation skills,” said AFA spokeswoman Corey Caldwell. They are also required to receive proficiency certification from the FAA.

She added that “in most cases,” flight attendants could be treated for various conditions and still perform “as first responders efficiently,” noting that red flags would probably come up during the initial six- to eight-week training period or during a probationary period of up to a year.

In addition to the pressure of performing the duties of flying itself, airline employees face the added stress of trying to survive in an industry fraught with restructuring, bankruptcies and other uncertainties.

“This industry is very turbulent,” Caldwell said. “And after 9/11, these workers really went through a very difficult time personally and professionally.”

CNN’s Mike Ahlers, Katia Hetter and Lizzie O’Leary contributed to this report.

source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_travel/~3/nStUVbcD_HM/index.html

28 March 2012
Last updated at 21:19 GMT

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The first officer is heard telling air traffic control that the plane crew is facing an emergency

The US flight captain who suffered an apparent mental breakdown during a domestic flight has been charged with interfering with cabin crew.

Court documents say JetBlue’s Clayton Osbon told his co-pilot “we’re not going to Vegas” and started ranting.

Mr Osbon began screaming about a bomb and had to be restrained by passengers about three-and-a-half hours into a flight from New York to Las Vegas.

Flight 191, carrying 135 people, made an emergency landing in Texas.

Earlier on Tuesday JetBlue said Mr Osbon had been suspended.

The airline’s chief executive David Barger told NBC News that there was nothing in Mr Osbon’s records suggesting he could be a risk.

“I’ve known the captain personally for a long period of time and there’s been no indication of this at all,” Mr Barger said.

Mr Osbon is currently at a medical facility.

Captain confusion

According to passenger accounts Mr Osbon came out of the cockpit, left the door open and tried to force his way into an occupied bathroom.

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JetBlue flight 191 passenger David Gonzales: “I wasn’t letting go of this guy until we landed”

As he became more agitated, crew members tried to calm him down and move him away from the cockpit.

He began running through the aisles, calling on passengers to pray and shouting: “They’re going to take us down!”

One passenger, Don Davis, said: “Nobody knew what to do because he is the captain of the plane. You’re not just going to jump up and attack the captain.”

Eventually, several male passengers brought Mr Osbon to the ground and restrained him using seat belt extensions and zip-tie handcuffs.

Screaming

An off-duty pilot who happened to be on board took over and helped land the plane.

Tony Antolino, one of the passengers who helped restrain the captain, said: “Clearly, he had an emotional or mental type of breakdown.

“He became almost delusional. A group of us just jumped up instinctually and grabbed him and put him to the ground.”

Another passenger, Gabriel Schonzeit, told the Amarillo Globe-News: “He started screaming about al-Qaeda and possibly a bomb on the plane and Iraq and Iran and about how we were all going down.”

Once on the ground in Amarillo, Texas, passenger Grant Heppes said each person was interviewed after leaving the plane.

An FBI spokeswoman said the agency was investigating the incident, along with federal air and transport safety regulators, airport police and local police.

The Federal Aviation Administration has said it is likely to review whether Mr Osbon should be certified healthy enough to work.

Pilots must have a first-class medical certificate in order to fly. It is renewed every six months to one year, depending on the pilot’s age.

The medical test includes a physical examination and questions about the pilot’s psychological condition.

A few weeks earlier, an American Airlines attendant was taken off a plane after she began rambling about 9/11 and that she was afraid the flight would crash.

Aviation expert John Cox told the Associated Press news agency that he could only think of three or four cases in the last 40 years when a crew member had become mentally incapacitated during a flight.

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-17544301

By Lisa Armstrong

There are few things as frightening as taking a long-haul flight with small children in tow. You parents know the drill: First, it’s the walk of shame down the aisle, as other passengers avert their eyes in the hopes that looking away will somehow propel you and your offspring to a seat far, far away from them. Then, there’s the trepidation as you buckle your children in and wonder how they will spend the next eight hours confined in their seats. Will they bicker and bawl, loudly, over who gets to sit by the window? How many hours will it be before they start kicking the seat in front of them out of sheer boredom? And, if you fall asleep, will they break loose and run, screaming like banshees, down the length of the plane? These five airlines have worked hard to allay your fears, and have come up with special programs, food, and loot to keep their pint-size passengers (and you, by extension) happy at 35,000 feet.

Kid-Friendly Food on Lufthansa

Airline food is usually not particularly palatable, but Lufthansa has come up with special children’s menus with meals that will please even the pickiest eaters. The menu options, which include items like “Tiger Tail,” a pancake filled with chicken and vegetables, and “Pirate’s Hand,” fish fingers with cabbage and potato purée, were developed by Stefan Marquard, a famed German TV chef. Entrées contain little to no sugar and vegetables are hidden in many of the creations to make sure kids get a properly balanced meal.

The onboard activities, meanwhile, are all a part of “Lu’s World,” (Lu being the airline’s little crane mascot), and include a variety of games, puppets, jigsaw puzzles, and card games. Children in first and business class get bonus booty in their own special amenity kit, which includes child-size earplugs, socks, eye mask, toothbrush kit, hair gel, and, of course, the requisite lollipop.

Insider Tip: As part of the Lufthansa Family Service, the airline offers guides to help navigate the airports in Frankfurt and Munich. Guides accompany families to their gate and, on landing, to baggage claim, as well as to restaurants, hotels,or car rental companies.

Plan Your Trip: Lufthansa flies to 203 different destinations. The main hubs are in Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, and Zurich, but the airline also flies from 22 North American cities, including New York, Boston, Charlotte, and Los Angeles.

Sky Nannies on Gulf Air

If you’ve ever wished that you could afford to bring a nanny along on vacation, or at the very least on the flight, so that you’d have the freedom to read or watch a movie without interruption, Gulf Air has granted its passengers that wish. The airline has employed specially trained Sky Nannies on long-haul flights to entertain your children. They do puzzles, offer snacks during movies, set up bassinets if you’re traveling with a baby, and serve children their meals. Gulf Air also has plenty on hand to keep children entertained: Their in-flight entertainment system includes Disney specials and movies, as well as an educational audio channel.

Insider Tip: Gulf Air recently introduced Family Check-In counters that offer priority check-in, boarding, and baggage claim to avoid long lines.

Plan Your Trip: Gulf Air’s main hub is the Bahrain International Airport, and the airline flies to countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Gulf Air has code-share agreements with American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic to connect to major U.S. destinations.

Superb Entertainment on Emirates

Emirates’ onboard entertainment system, ICE, has hundreds of channels with new release family movies, Disney classics, musicals, audio stories, and interactive games (you can play against other passengers)—basically enough to keep your children occupied for an entire flight, no matter your destination. Children are given specially-designed kiddy-size headsets in bright colors and backpacks that include Dr. Seuss books, an Emirates kids’ magazine, games, coloring pencils, and a stuffed animal called a Querk, which comes in one of five different costumes, each designed to reflect an Emirates’ destination. If your child is flying on his or her birthday, the airline will even prepare a cake and take Polaroid pictures to mark the event.

Insider Tip: Skysurfers, Emirates’ frequent-flyer club for children between the ages of 2 and 16, offers the same benefits as Skywards, the adult program, as well as special children’s rewards, like vouchers to water theme parks.

Plan Your Trip: Emirates flies from Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, and Houston to its hub in Dubai, and from there connects on to dozens of destinations in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Comfy Seats for All on British Airways

Though it’s great that children up to 2 years in age fly free on most airlines, holding a heavy toddler on your lap for the duration of a long-haul flight can be more than a tad uncomfortable. On British Airways, toddlers can travel free of charge in their very own Britax seat, which fits directly on to the bulkhead. You have to request the seats before the flight and they are available on a first come, first served basis. British Airways also offers carry-cots for infants that attach to the bulkheads.

BA’s Skyflyers activity packs include a range of goodies, including a log book that allows children to record their travels and collect a signature from the captain certifying their flight. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Paddington Bear last year, British Airways created an activity pack for 3- to 5-year-olds designed to look like Paddington’s well-travelled suitcase.

Insider Tip: British Airways’ “feed families first” policy ensures that children get their meals first. Kids will be happy to see fun menu options like chocolate-coated fruit; the airline guarantees that an appropriate portion of fruit or vegetables is included in every meal.

Plan Your Trip: British Airways, with either its own flights or through code shares, offers service to over 600 destinations. The airline’s main hub is in London, and it offers flights from almost every major U.S. city.

Cool Amenities on Virgin Atlantic

Children flying on Virgin Atlantic get their own amenity kits, designed as travel backpacks, which include baseball caps, coloring books, games, sunglasses, toys, and digital watches. Kids’ meals are served with child-size silverware, and the menu includes tried-and-true staples such as chicken fingers, pizza, and chocolate, along with a healthy side dish such as a green vegetable, fruit, yogurt, cheese string, or cucumbers and carrots, to balance things out. Like many airlines, Virgin Atlantic offers cots for babies and also offers complimentary diapers, bottles, baby foods, and changing facilities on all flights.

Insider Tip: At the London Gatwick and Manchester airports, Virgin Atlantic has V-rooms—lounges designed specifically for travelers on vacation—which include kids-only zones with TVs, snacks, video games, and other activities. At other airports (JFK, Boston, and Newark, for instance), passengers flying Upper Class can access the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, which are also equipped with toys and games.

Plan Your Trip: Virgin Atlantic is based at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports and Manchester. The airline flies between Heathrow and New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, Boston, Miami, Orlando, Tokyo, Johannesburg, and other cities in Africa and Asia. The airline also offers service between Gatwick and several Caribbean islands.

Photo Credit: courtesy Gulf Air

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/fodors/travel-news/~3/H0kWa_GK1Hg/story_5345.html

source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_travel/~3/0juUA8czWIU/index.html

By Suzanne Steinert

Getting stuck at the airport usually equates to mind-numbing boredom. With ever-looming potential for weather delays, flight cancellations, or back-to-back long-haul flights, it’s easy to land yourself in dreaded “layover” status. The good news: Many international jet-set hubs (naturally, big stopover points) are coming to flyers’ rescue, continuing to roll out mega-entertainment options and “top that!” amenities that transform their terminals into temporary tourist destinations in their own right. From golf courses and yoga rooms to sleep pods and swimming pools, these seven airports make waiting around so fun, you might want to skip your flight.

1. Singapore Changi (SIN)

What to Do: Consistently ranked among the world’s best airports, Changi in Singapore has it all, including a bevy of award-winning, open-air gardens. We’re not sure which is cooler: the two-story butterfly grotto featuring a 27-foot waterfall, indigenous plants, and a thousand free-flying native butterflies (T3); the 40-species cacti garden (T1); or the rare orchid and sunflower gardens (T2). Added crowd-pleasers include T1’s Balinese rooftop pool ($13 nets you shower access, plus a free drink); the world’s tallest airport slide (T3); the Entertainment Deck (T2) with complimentary XBox and PlayStation consoles; and a trio of free movie theaters screening Hollywood flicks 24/7. Specially-designed reclining snooze chairs are plentiful, as are recharging kiosks and free Wi-Fi hotspots. Didn’t bring your laptop? Hunker down at one of the 550 free Internet kiosks. Visit T1’s Fish Spa for a 20-minute fish-nibbling pedi-session, ear candling, hot stone massage, or aroma-enhanced power nap. Lastly, ladies will love the fancy, salon-quality powder rooms (check out T3’s especially)—perhaps the world’s only airport restrooms that are so plush, comfy, and clean, you’ll be tempted to nap stall-side.

Where to Eat Drink: Sample Singaporean specialties like laksa (a piquant noodle soup) and spicy pork rib soup at Prima Taste, or try Imperial Treasure for Cantonese roast goose and fresh fish. One of the city’s most popular watering holes, hit up Harry’s Bar outposts in Terminals 1 and 3 for live acoustic performances, good drinks, and light bites.

Where to Sleep: Ambassador Transit Hotels are located in each terminal. The best part? You can check-in and out without ever clearing immigration (rooms are available in six-hour blocks; from $28).

Nearby Attractions: Customers with layovers lasting more than five hours are eligible for a free guided two-hour city tour, given by airport authorities.

2. London Heathrow (LHR)

What to Do: The Olympic host airport for 2012 garners first-class stopover status for many reasons, but fashion comes first. Gleaming flagship Terminal 5 accords a slew of luxury shops worthy of London‘s Oxford Street, like Burberry, Dior, Mulberry, Gucci, and a sprawling 11,000 square-foot Harrods. Sample testers at specialty Cocoon skincare and World of Whiskies (both in T1), or browse jewelry, Parisian macaroons, and trendy British clothing at various pop-up boutiques. Don’t forget to pick up an official 2012 Olympics souvenir from The London 2012 Shop (T3) and check www.heathrowairport.com daily for special offers at all airport stores, including eight World Duty Frees. Dive into a copy of Alain De Botton’s A Week At The Airport, which recounts the author’s weeklong stint as Heathrow’s writer-in-residence, or weasel your way into Virgin Atlantic’s 8,000-foot clubhouse. Tykes in tow? Gate agents will happily hand out coloring books, crayons, and stickers for the little ones’ amusement.

Where to Eat Drink: Gordon Ramsay’s see-and-be-seen Plane Food (T5) has runway views, an open kitchen, and a respectable British menu (reservations recommended). Or, opt for quick and tasty noodles at Wagamama, Heathrow’s outpost of the globally trendy pan-Asian chain, in a bright and airy communal setting. For drinks, Three Bells above Virgin’s check-in desks (T3) presents plush Chesterfield sofas, an international collection of draft and bottled beers, and a choice cocktail list.

Where to Sleep: Catch some shut-eye or a shower in one of Yotel Heathrow’s 32 en suite pod rooms in T4 (from $10/hour; four-hour minimum).

Nearby Attractions: A mere 20 minutes’ drive, take in a polo match (summer weekends) at the Guards Polo Club, where you can also watch the world’s best players compete during July’s Cartier International. Windsor Castle, also under 20 minutes away, is the Queen’s official residence and the largest occupied castle in the world. Take the tube directly from the airport, as cabs will cost close to $50 each way.

3. Seoul Incheon (ICN)

What to Do: What other airport doubles as a veritable cultural museum, where visitors can don traditional Korean garb, peruse 5,000-year-old UNESCO artifacts, or make their own hanji (Korean-style paper) handicrafts for free while watching a live arts performance? Or, has an ice-skating rink made of artificial “plastic” ice, so you stay dry if you fall? As if that weren’t enough, Seoul’s superlative Incheon airport boasts, among much else, a newly completed “golf town” with a 330-yard driving range, 18-hole putting course, and swing analysis center; fragrant pine and wildflower gardens; childcare lounges; and an adjacent foreigners-only casino (just two minutes by shuttle). Ubiquitous free Wi-Fi is a given, as are the two new complimentary movie zones courtesy of Korea’s ritzy CGV cinemas, broadcasting films and TV shows in seven languages. Browse shops from legendary brands like Louis Vuitton and Harley Davidson; book a Thai massage or private sleeping room ($18 includes shower and sauna) at the classy 24-hour Spa on Air (B1); or head to the pay-per-use Hub Lounge, which provides buffet meals, Wi-Fi, booze, and showers for $35.

Where to Eat Drink: Hit up JaYeon for authentic yet modern Korean fare and a swank lounge vibe. Haneul’s is also a solid bet for Korean specialties like beef bone stew, bibimbap, and banchan.

Where to Sleep: The Incheon Airport Transit Hotel, located on the fourth floor of the international terminal, has day rooms available in six-hour blocks from $45.

Nearby Attractions: Swing by Freedom Travel Inbound in the passenger terminal to book a quick temple and market day visit, or a local kimchi-themed cooking class. They’ll hold your luggage for you and no visa is required.

4. Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)

What to Do: Showcasing both the funky and refined sides of Dutch culture is Amsterdam’s Schiphol, with awesome airport amenities like a free branch of Amsterdam’s famous Rembrandt-filled Rijksmuseum art gallery; library featuring classic Dutch literature, music, and iPads; and even a casino. Grab your one hour’s worth of free Wi-Fi and some fresh air on the sunny terrace or in an ivy-upholstered designer chair at the new indoor/outdoor Airport Park, opened in 2011 smack dab in the middle of Schiphol and featuring a 130-year-old tree as a centerpiece, picnic tables, organic snacks, and fair-trade coffee. Images of butterflies are projected onto the walls, while recordings of birds chirping play in the background. Opt to recharge your gadgets (and yourself) by pedaling bicycles for energy, or, inhale aroma-infused air at the Back to Life oxygen bar (main terminal) and get a mani-pedi at Xpres, Europe’s first airport spa. Last year also saw the opening of a pre-security 6XD Theater, which offers five-minute film “rides” interspersed with tangible special effects, like simulated wind and lightening strikes.

Where to Eat Drink: Grab a newspaper, pikketanissie (a traditional Dutch alcoholic drink), and a seat at cozy Café Amsterdam, or sip champagne and swallow caviar at Bubbles raw bar, set in front of a large saltwater aquarium.

Where to Sleep: Yotel Schiphol’s smartly designed sleep pods offer comfy beds, free Wi-Fi, and hot drinks (with food available to order). Rates start $11/hour; a four-hour minimum is required.

Nearby Attractions: It’s a quick hop by train directly to the heart of the city, set just 15 to 20 minutes away. In 2011, boat company Rederij Lovers launched Amsterdam’s Floating Dutchman, amphibious bus tours just for day-tripping layover-ers. Departing directly from Schiphol, the three-hour tours buzz by all the city’s main sights on land, before cruising the canals.

5. Hong Kong International (HKG)

What to Do: Digital delight is the name of the game at Hong Kong International, where Asia’s largest 4-D cinema offers a multisensory experience for movie fanatics; flight simulators encourage interactive cockpit play at the Aviation Discovery Centre (reopening soon); and virtual gamers get the PlayStation Gateway, a free gaming area offering the latest PS3 games. In a few months, the world’s first 358-seat airport IMAX is set to debut in Terminal 2 (the entertainment-only wing), showing 2-D and 3-D films on a screen that’s likely bigger than your plane. Tee up at the 24/7 nine-hole golf course, set outside on an island in the middle of a big fake lake, or fit in a computer-simulated basketball or skiing session at the i-Sports gym.

Where to Eat Drink: Tian Xia Dumplings offers a mix-and-match take on Chinese street food with a delicious modern twist. Seek out Ah Yee Leng Tong for dim sum and traditional soups (note that the eatery’s sign is in Chinese, so you might want to ask directions). Top-tier travelers can’t beat the self-serve buffet, chef-staffed noodle bar or Chinese-style Bao at Cathay Pacific’s chic members-only lounge, The Wing. For bargain beverages at a flat fee, the Travelers’ Lounge (T1) offers unlimited free beer, plus hot showers and massage chairs.

Where to Sleep: Five minutes from Hong Kong International, the Novotel Citygate, located adjacent to a shopping area, has two restaurants, a bar, gym, and pool. Count on an easy check-in and free airport shuttle that leaves every 15 minutes; from $167/night.

Nearby Attractions: Convenient to reach by bus or train, though taxi is quickest, Hong Kong’s “miniature” Disneyland is just 15 minutes away. Purchase tickets ahead of time at Terminal 2.

6. Dubai International Airport (DIA)

What to Do: The Middle East’s aviation hub, Dubai International Airport is a desert oasis that lives up to the glitz and glam of the city itself. Pay pocketbook homage to the world’s largest airport duty-free shop (all 58,000 square feet of it); test your Midas touch at one of the dazzling gold bullion “islands,” where gold bars are sold by the gram; or swim laps, shower, or enjoy a shiatsu massage at the round-the-clock G-Force Gym. Pick up a free Wi-Fi signal or just chill out and zone out at the airport’s open-air palm, pine, and fern Zen gardens, outfitted with refreshing hidden mist machines. Flying first or business class on Emirates? You’ll have access to all kinds of perks at its lavish T3 lounges, like free mini-spa treatments. If you really want to do it up, buy a $139 ticket for the Finest Surprise raffle and be in to win a luxury car (free shipping)—or throw down $278 on Dubai Duty Free’s newest ongoing raffle, the Millennium Millionaire, and enter to win $1 million.

Where to Eat Drink: If you’re flying Emirates and your transit time is more than three hours, you’re entitled to a free buffet meal at the Safar Restaurant (main concourse). Otherwise (and for fancier fare), UK-based Caviar House Prunier Seafood Bar wins top dining accolades. Colorful Wings Bar’s spacious, stainless-steel counter is open 24/7, starting off with coffee in the morning and finishing with evening cocktails. Finer palates should sneak a pre-flight tasting at Le Clos (T3), purveyor of some of the world’s rarest (and most outrageously expensive) vintages.

Where to Sleep: T1’s new SnoozeCubes each contain a full-size bed, touch-screen TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, and flight info updates; from $16/hour. The 341-room full-service Dubai International Hotel (T1, T3) offers hourly rates starting from $18, as does the Emirates Airport Hotel (T3), whose natural stone and candlelit spa features treatments incorporating fresh dates and frankincense.

Nearby Attractions: Just three miles from your boarding gate, pop into Dubai‘s city center to behold the world’s tallest building and lavish mega-malls. Hit the slopes at the Mall of the Emirates’ indoor skiing facility, or arrange a half-day 4×4 sand dune jaunt or camel ride via outfits like Arabian Adventures.

7. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

What to Do: San Francisco International is a prime jumping-off point for Pacific long-haul flights—and a cushy one at that. Pass time perusing exciting new exhibits at the SFO and Aviation Museums; window shopping at the SFMOMA store; ogling the aquarium’s fauna from tropical rain forests and South Pacific coral reefs; or appreciating the 70 major, original works of art decorating the airport’s clean, airy terminals. Terminal 2, the hip new home to domestic flights from Virgin America and American Airlines, debuted in 2011 as the U.S.’s greenest terminal, featuring free Google-sponsored Wi-Fi, club-like gate seating, an Xpres spa, hydration stations for reusing water bottles, and paperless ticketing. In January 2012, T2 debuted the world’s first airport yoga room, open to any ticketed passenger (mats provided). Meanwhile, at the massive International Terminal (measuring some 35 football fields in length), Cathay Pacific and Emirates Airlines’ new top-notch lounges (unveiled December 2011) feature special Solus privacy chairs, showers, a noodle bar (Cathay), Rolex wall clocks, and a Mecca-facing prayer room (Emirates). Need a shower, but not a club member? Stop by the Freshen Up! Store, where they’re $15 a pop.

Where to Eat Drink: SFO is chock-full of healthy, local, and organic fare. Try the juicy porchetta sandwich at Tyler Florence, inside Terminal 2’s Napa Farms Market, or wash down beet salad and quinoa with fresh juice at Plant Cafe (T2). Famed local haunt Anchor Brewing Company’s airport outpost stocks a full range of uniquely brewed craft beers (T3), plus panoramic views of the tarmac. Alternatively, grab a bottle of Sonoma chardonnay for an unbeatable price at the duty-free San Francisco Wine Gourmet.

Where to Sleep: Plans for in-airport sleep pods are on hold for now, so in terms of off-site overnighting, cozy boutique The Inn at Oyster Point (10 minutes away) is the best bet, with its complimentary breakfast, free airport shuttle and Wi-Fi, stylish lobby lounge, and bay views from every room; from $109/night.

Nearby Attractions: Take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) from SFO to the doorstep of famous downtown San Francisco attractions like Fisherman’s Wharf, all just 20 to 30 minutes away. Head to Golden Gate Park (25 minutes) for 1,000-plus acres of botanical glory (including an arboretum and Japanese tea garden), primo bridge views, and 27 miles of footpaths to stretch your cramped legs.

Photo Credits: courtesy Changi Airport Group; Yotel; Gatsenko Alexander/iStockPhoto; jaap2/iStockPhoto; Hong Kong Tourism; Dubai Airports; and San Francisco International Airport

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