Winter is coming.
No, not THAT “winter is coming.” I mean REAL winter is coming.
OK, OK…I will admit that winter isn’t much of a thing for us in the deep south (although it did snow 1/4″ in Central FL in 1977). It’s not a big issue for most places closer to the equator.
But for parts of the world where winter is truly a “thing,” it can become an issue when one travels.
Traveling by plane during the winter means you have all that “stuff” – coat, hat, scarf, gloves, possibly even snow boots – that you must put somewhere while on the plane. And let’s face it, if the overhead is completely full, chances are good that heavy winter coat of yours, and all of its accoutrements (that’s French), are going to wind up on your lap for the length of your flight. Hello, uncomfortable!
To make matters worse, if you’re starting from somewhere cold but are flying to somewhere warm, once you get to your destination, you won’t even need that coat and stuff until you get back to where you came from.
Happily, a few airports worldwide understand that dilemma and offer the services of a long-term coat check, usually for reasonable prices (since you’re just checking, you know, a coat). Here are some of them:
Canada
Calgary Int’l Airport (YYC)
Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Canadian Federal Security Regulations:
- Passenger and airport staff only with the exception of keys
- Travel Itinerary and ID must be presented
- Contact information must be provided – All bags are subject to search
- Calgary Airport Authority reserves the right to refuse storage
- Coat (per item) $2
- Payment Options: In person Credit/Debit pre-payments ONLY.
Edmonton Int’l Airport (YEG)
The Ground Transportation office on the arrivals level offers a free coat check service to customers who have parked at:
Show the Ground Transportation representative proof of your online parking reservation or the parking ticket that was dispensed upon entering the parking area. The coat check service is always open (24 hours per day, every day). Didn’t park on-site? You can still check your coat for $2 per item per day.
Ottawa Int’l Airport (YOW)
Heading somewhere warm during the Winter? Leave your coat and boots here! Items are stored safely and securely while you’re away. Passengers can also store their baggage for a few hours, weeks or months. This service offered by PARS 2000.
Toronto Pearson Int’l Airport (YYZ)
Safely store your bags or coat for a few hours or weeks at Excess Baggage. Excess baggage also offers parcel delivery, retail luggage and accessories, and baggage transfers to and from your hotel. Located at Terminal 1, before security, at Domestic Arrivals.
Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG)
Going somewhere warm and don’t want to bring your coat with you? Store it at the Valet & Away booth for $2.00 per day, or $13.25 per week. For more information on this and other services offered at the Valet & Away booth, please follow this link.
Germany
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Winter coats and down jackets can be conveniently stored at the airport. Your jackets and coats are safe at the baggage storage for only 1 euro per day each. The price also applies to longer stays abroad. This service is available in Terminal 1, Hall B (Arrivals) throughout the year.
Munich Airport (MUC)
Are you taking off on a sun holiday? Would you like to leave your jacket or coat at the airport? At the Service Center you can check in items of clothing until you return. This will save you from carrying more luggage than you need.
€3,90 – Charge per cloakroom unit (up to seven individual items) for the first 24 hour period or part thereof
€1,10 – Each additional 24 hour period
Korea
Incheon Int’l Airport (ICN)
Available seasonally, this service is specifically for Korean Air passengers traveling internationally from ICN with KE-marked flight tickets.
Korean Air stores winter coats for passengers traveling to warmer destinations.
Service Details
- Service Period : December 01, 2022 ~ February 28, 2023 (that’s what’s on their website right now. I’m sure it will be updated as we get closer to December 2023)
- Eligible Passengers : Passengers traveling internationally from ICN with KE-marketed flight tickets.
- Service Hours : 24 hours (The operating hours of A20 counter : 14:00 ~ 20:00/Local Time)
One passenger may store one coat for up to 5 days free of charge (including the deposit date)
After 5 days of complimentary storage, 2,500 KRW (about $1.85) or 350 SKYPASS miles will apply for each additional day of storage.
(Note: It appears that Asiana Airlines used to offer the same service, but no longer does)
United States
Appleton Airport (ATW)
ATW Express Coat Check is a free, convenient service available to all travelers who want to ditch their coat before takeoff. When you arrive, simply visit the Express Park desk and they’ll help you from there.
Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)
Passengers who do not want to take their coat with them on their flight can check it at the information desk. To reserve this service, please fill out the coat check form. This is a credit card-only service and costs $10 per item.
MAYBE: Green Bay Austin Straubel Airport (GRB)
Local news channels mentioned that GRB offered a coat check during the winter of 2020 and 2021. There’s nothing on GRB’s website that mentions this service.
MAYBE: John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK)
I’m including this one because it maaaay still be available? But I’m not sure.
Chexology (formerly known as Coatchex) say they’re available at Terminal 5 (JetBlue’s terminal) at JFK. And an article in the NY Daily News did a write up about them in 2015.
However JetBlue doesn’t mention them, and JFK’s official page doesn’t include them in their list of amenities. They do mention bag storage by SmartCarte, in Terminals 1 & 4, as well as Baggage Storage at the Arrivals Hall of Terminal 4, and Meehgan Services Baggage Storage at Terminal 8. However lots of airports offer baggage storage and charge significantly more than a coat check place.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Coat check services are available inside the Summerfest Marketplace store, which is located pre-security in the concession mall. Travelers can wear their coats to the Airport, leave them with a friendly attendant in the Summerfest Marketplace, and then claim them after landing at MKE. The location is easily accessible to travelers using any of the Airport’s concourses, and will be available to travelers on all flights, seven days per week. The cost is two dollars per day, with a maximum charge of ten dollars. Note: Travelers arriving from international destinations (excluding Canada) will need to take a free shuttle from the International Arrivals Terminal to the Main Terminal to retrieve their coats.
Coat check is available November 1 to April 1.
MAYBE EVENTUALLY: Quad Cities International Airport (MLI)
MLI announced in 2020 that they were introducing a coat check service. Their website still has it listed as “Coming Soon.”
Considering how harsh winter can be in some parts of the world, I’m surprised more airports don’t offer a coat check service. I mean, Chicago O’Hare? Anywhere in Upstate New York? Wisconsin? More places in Minnesota? I’m sure that would be a service many travelers would be very grateful for.
Feature Photo: MKE/Twitter
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