Airport Zen

By Matthew Owens

Air travel has become a somewhat dreaded experience these days. Passengers need to allow hours before scheduled flight to allow enough time find parking, then to get through security, hoping not to get any extra searching by the TSA, then rushing through the terminal searching for their gate hoping to make it in time to catch their flight. The time it is taking in the preflight process has been getting longer and more stressful for passengers, on top of the stress and fatigue already associated with traveling.

San Francisco International Airport has taken measures to reduce stress levels in traveling passengers and create a better experience flying in and out of SFO with the implementation of a new yoga room, in terminal 2 designed by Gensler. Passengers coming or going can stop off in the new yoga room, which has plenty of mats for passengers and features a Zen like atmosphere. The yoga room offers a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the busy, noisy, and stress filled terminal. SFO is definitely not fitting the mold of the typical American airport. The typical airport is all about moving passengers in and out as quickly as possible while pushing passengers to spend their money in shops and restaurants that line the terminal. SFO is creating a much more user friendly airport environment with the implementation of their new yoga room. But this is the first time SFO has attempted to create a better passenger environment or brought attempts to humanize the airport. Other passenger friendly amenities include the SFO museum, a reflection room, an aquarium, and a spa. SFO also offers DVD and DVD player rentals, and also provides free Wi-Fi throughout the airport, which is not free or even available at other large international airports. SFO is not as concerned with exploiting travelers as other airports here in America. They are more focused on creating a user friendly environment, and the San Francisco airport is becoming more of a destination rather than a node for which travelers pass through.

Other airports could and should take a look at the atmosphere SFO is creating in their terminals. Such amenities are aimed at de-stressing airports and aircraft travel. Things do not always run smoothly in air travel, delays and layovers are common especially during the winter months. Implementing amenities that are passenger friendly such as yoga and reflection rooms, and spas help stranded passengers deal with being in an airport for an extended time.