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.
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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.