Airport Check-in: Atlanta shows off upcoming rental car center
— -- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson offered the public its first peek of the new rental car center that opens in November, becoming the latest location to embrace a growing airport design trend.
When it opens, all rental car counters in the passenger terminal will move to the new location, which will have about 8,700 parking spaces. The 125 rental agency shuttle buses that now circle the airport will be put out of service.
In their place, the airport will launch ATL SkyTrain, an elevated train that connects the passenger terminal to the rental car center in about five minutes. More than 2 million people rent cars at Atlanta Hartsfield, the world's busiest airport, each year.
•Miami International has opened a new business center at its South Terminal. It offers fax and photocopy services, cellphone rentals, five computers with Internet access, and small meeting rooms. Travelers can also exchange money and buy international calling cards and travel insurance. It's located between concourses H and J beyond security.
•Toronto Pearson: Travelers arriving at the airport can now buy ground transportation vouchers prior to landing. Vouchers, good for bus rides provided by Toronto Airport Express, will be sold on participating flights via a handheld device on board. The buses leave for downtown every 20 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on time of day.
•Akron-Canton Airport is looking for fans. The airport is offering a $25 discount on flights for people joining its Facebook fan page. The discount is effective until the end of September. The airport says it has registered 20% more fans so far due to the promotion.
The page offers information on fare sales, contests and airport news. The offer is also good for people who've already joined the page.
Pulling planes for charity
Washington Dulles will raise money for the Virginia Special Olympics by offering people a chance to pull a FedEx jet.
Teams of 25 people that raise at least $1,000 can play tug-of-war with a jet on the airport's annual Dulles Day Family Festival and Plane Pull on Oct. 3. The team that can pull the aircraft 12 feet the fastest wins, and prizes are also awarded to the teams with the lightest group weight.
