Airports bring back Valentine’s Day freebies and shortcuts to love
Like so many things, last year the pandemic put airport celebrations in honor of Valentine’s Day on hold. But hearts will soar this year when passengers encounter fun freebies and heartwarming perks that these airports and others have planned.
Pop-Up Marriage License Bureau at the Las Vegas Airport
In Las Vegas, the “Marriage Capital of the World,” Nevada’s Clark County clerk’s office is bringing back its pop-up marriage license bureau to the airport now known as Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).
The pop-up will be open from Thursday, Feb. 10 to Tuesday, Feb. 22, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily, in the Terminal 1 baggage claim area by Carousel 5.
The airport Clerk’s temporary office will be issuing marriage licenses only. An officiant will have to perform a wedding ceremony, sign the paperwork and file it with the County for the marriage to be official. But getting a license at the airport means couples can skip the trip to the Marriage License Bureau in downtown Las Vegas. Lovebirds can also speed up the process by filling out the marriage license application online before they arrive.
Marriage licenses cost $105.29 (credit/debit cards only), and $50 from every marriage license in Nevada goes toward funding to support victims of domestic violence.
As a nice bonus, this month Clark County expects to issue its 5 millionth marriage license and has proclaimed Feb. Wedding Month. To celebrate, there will be a wide variety of special promotions for newlyweds ranging from complimentary champagne toasts to specialty desserts, wedding discounts, and shout-outs from their favorite entertainers for those who sign up for a free pass, which is a collection of attractions, retailers and restaurants offering discounts.
Music, treats and free flowers for travelers in Philly
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), in the "City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection," will kick off Valentine’s Day celebrations early on Friday, Feb. 11 by handing out 800 red, pink and white carnations to passengers from five airport information counters starting at 10 a.m.
Philadelphia artist Carole Loeffler also be on-site to hand out 200 of her "Heartfelt Messages of Love." The red hearts are made of hand-cut felt and bear one of 3 different messages handwritten on pink paper including:
You are loved
Your story matters
You've got this
Look for Loeffler on the stage between Terminals B and C from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Love is in the air in Tampa, Jacksonville and Chicago
On Valentine’s Day, Monday, Feb. 14, a live duo will be serenading travelers with love songs at Tampa International Airport (TPA) from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Main Terminal, and 200 roses will be handed out to passengers between airside A and C.
Florida’s Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is also bringing back its Valentine’s Day tradition of handing out 1,000 red, white and pink carnations to passengers. The airport started this tradition in 2009, but had to skip it last year due to the pandemic.
The “Random Acts of Love” events returns to Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) this year as well. “We’ve put together an activity book for children. We'll be giving away some chocolate. And we will have performances on the Live at Love Stage,” says airport spokesman Christopher Perry. “Lovey, our heart mascot, might even make an appearance.”
O’Hare and Midway Airports in Chicago (ORD) will host their annual "Love is in the Air" events to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
On Friday Feb. 11, at Midway Airport, the CoverGirls Violin Show will perform in the Central Market (post-security) at Midway Airport from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Midway will also host a Valentine’s Day-themed gift pop-up and selfie wall in the Central Market that day and welcome a performance by Return2Soul on Feb. 14 from noon to 3 p.m.
At O’Hare, violinist Windy Indie will perform in the Terminal 3 Rotunda on Feb. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon, and there will be various Valentine’s Day-themed merchandise pop-ups at participating shops from Feb. 7 - 14.
Reno revs up for v-day
The Kindness Take Flight team at Reno Airport, which recently charmed passengers with its free compliments kiosk, is ready to double down on the love for Valentine’s Day with a Valentine-decorated treat table.
Between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Valentine’s gifts for passengers, visitors and staff will include paper airplanes and chocolate hearts as well as hand sanitizers with attached Valentines that say “Spread LOVE, not Germs” or “Hands Down You’re the Best.” Red masks with sayings such as “We can’t MASK how much we appreciate you” will also be available. For those traveling with dogs or on their way to home to a pup, the Paws 4 Passengers volunteers will be handing out doggie packets of dog treats with sayings such as “My Valentine has Paws.”
Phoenix hearts February
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) plans to distribute chocolate treats to customers starting on Valentine’s Day and continuing through the week. In honor of both Valentine’s Day and Heart Month, the airport’s 24th Street Sky Train station and Rental Car Center station will be illuminated red.
Valentine's Day in style at the TWA Hotel at JFK
And if you happen to be catching a late night flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Valentine’s Day, make your way to the TWA Hotel, where The Paris Café by Jean-Georges (open until 10 p.m.) will have a special prix fixe menu for Valentine's Day. If you need a last-minute gift, the TWA Hotel store, which is filled with red-colored travel gifts, is offering "Sweetheart Deals" for the holiday.
Airlines will spread some love too
Fun-loving employees of Southwest Airlines (stock ticker symbol: LUV) will celebrate Valentine’s Day by decorating gate areas. But because Southwest is not restoring alcohol drink service until Feb. 16, the tradition of offering passengers a free drink on Valentine’s Day will be skipped this year.
And through Feb. 13, Virgin Atlantic is hosting a “Tickets to Love” sweepstakes to give eight single Americans the chance to find love in London with a weekend stay in London.
To enter the contest, you’ll need to pitch your case to the airline and explain why you deserve a trip to the U.K. to find love. The eight winners will fly from New York to London in Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class cabin on March 11 after hanging out in the carrier’s Clubhouse at JFK airport and getting a love reading from a psychic on-site who, we predict, will predict romance ahead.
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Rewards
| 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. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
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. (Partner offer)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.
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. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
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
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
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. (Partner offer)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.