Swank Accommodations Coming to an Airport Near You

More Than 7 Billion People will Use World's Airports by 2020, Experts Predict

Is it just me, or do we seem to be spending a lot more time in airports these days? Check in three hours before an international flight; two hours for domestic. And those layovers seem to be getting longer and longer too. Which means one thing; lots of people with nothing to do...but wait.

Accommodating and entertaining this growing number of in-transit passengers is one of the biggest challenges facing airports these days. The industry predicts that more than seven billion people will use the world's airports by 2020, according to Robert Aaronson of the Airports Council International. That's 26 times the number of people who visited the world's 75 largest theme parks last year.

"In other words, more passengers checking more bags and waiting longer means a need for more luggage storage, more seating, better food and better entertainment and retail," according to Business Week's Helen Walters.

Indeed, while some airports are banking on flashy new terminals designed by master architects such as Frank Gehry, weary passengers seem to want more simple pleasures: convenience and relaxation. In 2006, USA Today identified some airport amenities that make all the difference for travelers who want to kick back before they fly off, including comfortable seating, day spas, and even art galleries and museums.

Here's the lowdown on some of the ways airports are trying to help you to relax before you squeeze into that coach seat.

Rocking Chairs

Ever notice that there are plenty of newsstands and bookstores in airports, but no where to kick back and read? One of the simplest and least costly amenities airports can offer is comfortable seating. So when I noticed a while back that an increasing number of airports were offering passengers the sublime sanctuary of rocking chairs for a relaxing read or mid-day nap, I knew a trend was underway.