Holy moley! Have you been to LaGuardia Airport lately? From the title, “LaGuardia Airport Gets a Glow Up” you either already agree, or you think this is a joke. If you’ve been an Arner Adventures follower for a while, you know that we have not been fans of LaGuardia airport, and despite it being super convenient and often more affordable to fly into, we have often referred to it as the armpit of airports, a necessary evil in flying.
Why? Well, it may have something to do with the ceiling tiles falling onto your head as you walk through the terminal. The mold that grows on the walls in the gates doesn’t help. God forbid, do not ever make the terrible decision to use a restroom or even sit down somewhere other than a chair that you can sanitize before deciding to do so. Yes, I (Shannon) am quite the germaphobe, but I am not the only one who feels this way. Back in 2014, Joe Biden was interviewed about a recent flight into the airport and he said, “If I took you and blindfolded you and took you to LaGuardia Airport in New York, you’d think, ‘I must be in some third-world country.”
Well, friends, this recently changed. LaGuardia Airport just got a glow up! I recently visited New York City on a post-covid trip with my mom. We, of course, flew into LaGuardia due to the unbelievable price. I was dreading the arrival. You can imagine my surprise when we got off the jet bridge from the plane, arriving into the gate, to not be greeted by a pungent smell, nor the view of mold nor deterioration. No, it was a pleasant aesthetic that shined upon our faces. So much so that I turned around to make sure that we got off at the right airport, gate, anything to visually connect the dots with my brain that we were indeed, at LaGuardia Airport.
It was very early, I had a large cup of coffee on the flight over, but maybe it wasn’t enough. Was I seeing things? No. It was indeed true. A welcome sign said, “Welcome to the NEW LaGuardia Airport.”
Apparently, those harsh words from Joe Biden back in 2014 spawned some heads to roll and cash to burn because an $8 billion renovation has taken place. The glow-up not only included construction of the terminals, bringing them up to a wonderful standard you would actually enjoy, but beautiful halls of artwork and decor. There is an indoor fountain with a light show, comfortable seating, tons of glass opening up to gleams of light throughout the passenger halls, and murals connecting LaGuardia’s past and present history.
Indoor greenery, plants, water, and so many healthy food options were all around us. You can grab an option of your choice, then go sit somewhere that most definitely makes you feel you are in an outdoor courtyard, plug your phone at a charging station, and actually enjoy your time in the airport. Yes, you are reading this correctly. Folks, I actually enjoyed my time at LaGuardia airport. I am giggling as I am typing this. It’s really hard to believe. I mean, I’ve seen glow-ups before, but this is a GLOW UP!
Let’s talk about the restrooms. A breath of fresh air, literally. Not kidding. Not only was it clean, but it was beautiful. Each door had graphic art of an icon of New York City. As you exit, there is a touch screen asking you how your experience was, rating it with a happy face, sad face, or neutral face. I cannot make this up, folks.
Apparently there are plans to put in a rail link to help reduce traffic congestion to the city, which will of course aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. I also read a press release that stated that the infrastructure of roads surrounding the airport were also included in the improvement budget to aid in ease of traffic to and from the airport. Win-win for all around!
We will not only be looking for the best deal the next time we fly into New York City, but we will be looking forward to entering and exiting through LaGuardia Airport, and we encourage you to do the same. It will be a pleasant experience for you. Promise! Hey, if you need a recommendation of a great place to stay in NYC- be sure to check THIS out.
It is TRULY ahhh-mazing!
Wow