Starbucks bringing its mobile-only concept to more airports in 2024
Two major New York-area airports are set to be the second and third with Starbucks locations exclusively designed for mobile orders and pickups.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) will both get new Starbucks Pickup locations at some point in 2024, airport concessionaire OTG says.
The concept allows customers to place an order solely via the Starbucks mobile app and then take their coffee (or food) to go.
This expansion is the latest step by the coffee giant to beef up its mobile ordering capability at airports, less than three years after Starbucks stores first began offering the option at airport concourses. It's a change customers are likely to notice at more airports in the future.
Starbucks Pickup concept at airports
Launched in recent years, the mobile-only Starbucks Pickup locations represent just a tiny fraction of the coffee chain's stores — only 1% of its U.S. portfolio, in fact.
At airports, the list is even shorter: Only one has debuted the concept so far.
OTG opened the first Starbucks Pickup airport location earlier this fall inside Terminal E at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH); it plans to open two additional locations at the airport next fall.
Unlike a more traditional Starbucks, your only option is to place an order on your smartphone.
Once inside the terminal, you'll want to open your Starbucks mobile app and enable location services or manually choose your location. Then, place your order.
When you arrive at the Starbucks Pickup location, watch the status board for your order. Once it shows "ready," your order should be done — and you can grab your drink or food.
It's a similar process to what you'll find at Starbucks' 87 other pickup locations across the U.S. It's a concept Starbucks and OTG leaders see as a fitting option for airports, even though the concept has graced just one terminal so far.
"This innovative, mobile-only ordering experience is already an incredibly fitting format for an airport environment, where customers value efficiency, seamlessness, and dependability above all else," OTG CEO Rick Blatstein said in a statement.
Pickup locations are planned for Terminal C at LaGuardia and Terminal C at Newark in 2024, OTG officials tell TPG.
Mobile ordering expansion
Even before it started opening these mobile-only locations, Starbucks had been dramatically scaling up mobile ordering capability for airport customers.
In 2021, Dulles International Airport (IAD) outside Washington, D.C., became the first airport location to allow customers to order on their mobile app.
Today, a company spokesperson tells TPG "nearly all" of its airport locations offer this option — often a line-skipping, time-saving tool when the wait times are long during those busy morning hours.
You can now also do this at Starbucks' thousands of other licensed locations run by third-party companies at hospitals, colleges, grocery stores, retailers ... and, indeed, airports.
As of November, about 31% of Starbucks orders came via the mobile app — up by more than 30% from a year ago, company executives revealed on a recent call with analysts.
Bottom line
Between new pickup-only locations planned in the coming years and vastly scaled-up mobile ordering capability, Starbucks customers will have more options when grabbing coffee at an airport concourse in the near future. It'll provide a convenient way to skip the line (while also earning Delta SkyMiles) in the process.
Related reading:
- Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a first-time or frequent traveler
- Best travel credit cards
- Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
- 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees