Don’t lug your winter coat on a beach vacation — check it at this airport
Winters in Milwaukee are reliably cold, with temperatures hovering around freezing from January through March.
That's why many locals like to get out of town in the winter.
It's also why Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is enthusiastically promoting its flights to warm-weather destinations such as Miami; Austin; Fort Lauderdale; Orlando; Cancun; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
It's also why MKE has brought back a popular, convenient, low-cost and, really, no-brainer amenity for travelers: airport coat check.
As of Friday, passengers heading to warm-weather destinations from MKE can stop at the presecurity Summerfest Marketplace shop in the main terminal (by the information desk) to check their winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves before flying off to warmer climes. The service should continue through at least April 1.
As part of the program, each coat is placed in a dry-cleaning bag and then organized by the date of the passenger's return flight.
MKE coat check service is offered seven days a week, and coat pickups are available until the final flight of each day. "Even if there's a [flight] delay," MKE promises.
Not only is MKE's coat check service convenient, but it's also reasonably priced. The cost for coat storage at MKE is $2 per day, with a maximum charge of $10 per trip.
It means there will be fewer bulky coats filling up coveted overhead bins on the airplane, and fewer people will wear (or sit on) their coats on their plane. It also means there's no need to lug winter coats to beach hotels, timeshares or Airbnbs — and no chance of leaving those coats behind in hotel closets.
MKE has been offering this convenient service since 2020, checking about 500 coats each winter. To date, only one coat has gone unclaimed. That situation was because "the elderly customer who left it did not return to Wisconsin, but decided to stay in Florida with his son," Christie Green, MKE's marketing coordinator, said.
A few international airports offer a winter coat check as part of their baggage storage services. For example, Germany's Frankfurt Airport (FRA) offers winter coat storage for 2 euros (about $2) per day as part of its bag storage services; it has one location that's open 24 hours.
In the U.S., MKE is the only airport to offer a coat check service, but there may soon be more. At least five airports have contacted the manager of MKE's Summerfest Marketplace to inquire about the program, Green said.
Other helpful amenities at MKE
In addition to its coat check service, MKE has a wide range of other welcome, helpful and unusual amenities.
On its website, the airport offers a downloadable booklet for a self-guided airport tour (PDF link) that includes fun facts about its history and facilities.
The presecurity area of the MKE terminal is home to Renaissance Books, a large and unusual-for-an-airport shop offering new, used and rare books. The presecurity area is also home to an aviation museum, the Mitchell Gallery of Flight. The museum is open whenever the airport is open, and admission is free.
The family-friendly airport offers children's play areas, breastfeeding and lactation suites, and family restrooms with child-size toilets and sinks.
As we head into the busy holiday travel season, it's good to know that there's a designated "Recombobulation Area" with tables and chairs just past the security checkpoint. Passengers can stop here to put their shoes back on and their belongings back together without feeling rushed.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.