When it comes to airports, designers in recent decades have put a lot of effort into making them look nice. I mean, when you look at an airport like LaGuardia, which used to be small and dark, and now is winning accolades for its new design, you can appreciate how the aesthetics of an airport really matter.
Big, open spaces, lots of natural light, trees and artwork all help to make an airport’s check-in and airside areas more pleasant spaces. Use of color and carpeting (or not) helps to keep areas calmer. Of course, airports also use all sorts of ways to encourage you to spend more, but that’s still an important part of doing business. Even airport restrooms are getting new designs that make the spaces more pleasant and easy to use. They’re even winning awards for that!
And then there are luggage carousels
Despite all the updated designs in airports, luggage carousels really haven’t changed much. They’re still the utilitarian things they’ve been for decades. Sure, the space they’re in might have more space and more light, but the carousels themselves remain just…practical. Kind of boring.
Carousels that make you look twice
Although most airports let their carousels sit there and be kind of “meh,” others have partnered with various entities – local companies, artists, etc., to make their carousels a little bit more whimsical…or at least more appealing.
Take a look…
Edmonton International Airport
Edmonton is well known for its arts and culture. YEG promotes that by investing in public art which they say brings, ” a‘sense of place’ and visual interest and context to airport terminal spaces.”
Schiphol Airport
In 2017, Rijksmuseum curator Femke welcomed travelers to the Netherlands with the first-ever “baggage art exhibition.” The baggage belt – no.16, Baggage Hall 3 – celebrated the newly opened Rijksmuseum Schiphol.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
In 2013, Zappos put together a one-day-only takeover of one of IAH’s carousels.
On Wednesday, November 27 (that was the day before Thanksgiving that year), Zappos turned the carousel into a Wheel of Fortune, with real prizes. Starting around 8:30 that morning, they handed out gifts to travelers as they grabbed their bags off the belt. Prizes depended on where on the belt your bag landed, but they included everything from $25 Zappos gift cards to Kitchen Aid mixers.
Oita Airport
Japan’s Oita Airport was an early adopter of having fun with its luggage conveyor belt. Since 2007, they’ve been “serving” giant custom-made sushi – weighing 25 kilograms (about 55 pounds) each – on their carousel. So in essence, they turned their baggage carousel into a giant sushi carousel.
Kochi Airport
More recently (read: just about a year ago), Kochi Airport, in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture, began serving up giant sushi (you see what I did there?) on their luggage carousel, too.
Frankfurt Airport
One of the luggage carousels in Frankfurt Airport has an advertisement for a local casino…by turning the carousel into – you guessed it – a roulette wheel.
Similarly, around 2008-2009, ClearChannel partnered with an ad agency to make similar “Roulette wheel” advertising in the U.S. This one was for Harrah’s Casino in North Kansas City.
Have you ever seen any fun or interesting luggage carousels? Where?
*** Many thanks to Leah & Megan, and Megan’s sister, for their help with the, “This went up at YEG in 2012; is it still there?” question. 😉
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