West United States

In March, National Car Rental at its off-site location at LAX and at the consolidated car rental center at SFO will introduce its new touch-screen kiosks. Usage of the equipment will cut check-in time by as much as half, National claims. The kiosk allows any customer with a valid driver’s license, major credit card and an existing reservation to bypass the rental counter and check in. At the exit booth, the customer shows the rental agreement printed out by the kiosk, the driver’s license, and is on his way.

 

Southwest United States

 

To say that Phoenix is rising fast understates the case. The eighth-busiest airport in the land is burgeoning. To help it handle all the traffic there’s a new $89-million control tower. Graced with a grand view of all Sky Harbor, the assembly replaces a 30-year-old tower.

 

South United States

 

Great news for American Airlines flyers frequenting Nashville. Remember when AA operated one of the best Admirals Clubs in the country at BNA? When the airline industry tanked, it closed. Now the club is primed for a comeback. Set to reopen this spring in its original location on the Mezzanine Level of Concourse C (near Gate 12), the “A Club” will offer Wi-Fi, a business center, full-service bar and attendant accoutrements.

 

Northeast United States

 

First, British Airways got it. Now word that Air France is about to. The Clear® Registered Traveler program is setting up shop in Terminal 1 at New York JFK in February. $99, and passage of a thorough background screening, buys you a Clear card for a year—a biometric ID that permits expedited passage through security at places using Registered Traveler here in the United States. BA was first to announce that Clear was coming to its Terminal 7 facility at JFK.

 

Midwest United States

 

Akron-Canton just keeps making flyer-friendly adjustments. Consider: There’s new leather seating in the passenger greeting area, a couple of breast-feeding stations (one before, and the other after, security), a Step2 Play Port for kids, and (our favorite) First Class Seating® Massage Chairs.

 

Worldwide

 

Major news in Toronto. Pier F at Pearson International was set to debut January 30. Why does this matter? Pier F allows Air Canada to transfer most of its transborder operations from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1. United will also move to 1. That means the demolition of Terminal 2 can continue apace. There will be 25 additional gates out on F. To help you get to all those gates the facility touts what it claims are two of the planet’s longest and fastest same-step moving sidewalks.