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.
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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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Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip.Pros
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- Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
- The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
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- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
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- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back each year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
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Rewards Rate
| 5X | Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. |
| 5X | Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. |
Intro Offer
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.Earn 80,000 PointsAnnual Fee
$695Recommended 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.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip.Pros
- The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
- This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. (Enrollment required for select benefits.)
- The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.
Cons
- The high annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
- Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
- The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and other participating providers. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back each year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
- $189 CLEAR® Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees