Mall culture flies high

Ricky Yngsdal flies at least twice a month but lately he has been spending more time in airports than on aeroplanes because of the soaring pace of flight delays, cancellations and missed connections.

How does he cope? “I eat and shop at the airport,'' said the California resident and shipping manager for General Mills Inc.

Sitting pretty

Other passengers are getting manicures, pedicures, massages, haircuts and even “revitalising'' aromatherapy, a way of relaxing by breathing in plant oil scents.

In last year's record-setting air travel delays in the US, many passengers were resigned to getting stuck at the gate longer and more often.

And they were desperate to find different ways to whittle away time.

The average passenger now spends 108 minutes at the airport, more than double the amount of “ dwell-time'' passengers in 2000 spent waiting, according to Airport Interviewing & Research Inc (AIR), a market research firm.

There is money to be made in having captive consumers with nowhere to go.

So fancy restaurants and upscale retailers are setting up kitchens and shops next to game machines and “oxygen'' lounges.

“The sheer number of people at airports is growing exponentially and the time they're spending at the airport is growing,'' said Ira Weinstein, president of AIR. “I know of no concessionaire that has gone into the airport and has not done well.''

High-flying designs

Brooks Brothers is opening a store at Sacramento International Airport in California and Gucci and Sephora now vie for affluent frequent fliers at San Francisco International.

“Once you get coffee, newspaper and a bite to eat, there is still 30 minutes left, so why not get a manicure?'' said Karen Janson, a co-founder of 10 Minute Manicure, which opened its first nail salon last year and now has stores in nine airports.

The ten-minute manicures cost $15 (Dh55).

Many airports now are more like malls than the typical terminals of a decade ago, when cafés, news-stands and gift shops were the only distractions for lingering passengers.

Some airports are better than others at offering passengers an array of stores, restaurants and other amenities.

Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport is considered one of the best, with a huge shopping area and a bevy of eateries beyond security screeners.

Passengers can easily rent DVD players and films. Children can let off steam in two play areas, each stocked with a mock aeroplane and an air traffic control tower.

The airport also has a guarantee that food and beverages served by its concessions won't cost more than similar offerings in town.

It is the latest response from airports to complaints that airport fare is more expensive.

Author Peter Greenberg, travel editor for NBC's Today show, says many airports still overcharge for food and internet.

“The good news is there is more than just mystery [buns],'' said Greenberg, who hops on aeroplanes two or three times a week.

“But the bad news is that you're still going to be paying a premium.''