The first thing I learned about air travel as a military spouse was this: don’t fly through any airport that does not have a USO lounge. And this is why …
Air travel is probably part of your military life whether you like it or not. Unless you never want to see your family again (or get lucky enough to be stationed near them), you’re going to have to get their somehow … and flying is probably your best option.
The very idea of flying with my children does a number on my blood pressure. Racing to the airport at zero-dark-thirty. Going through security with a stroller, car seat, computer, baby food and, oh yeah, babies. Transforming into the Hulk as I somehow, all by myself, move a 3-year-old, an infant, my computer bag, an over-stuffed diaper bag and a car seat down the center aisle of an airplane. Deplaning at the layover. Getting my baggage without losing my children. Renting a car.
Vacation? Hardly.
But there is one – ONE – bright spot in the midst of all this.
The USO lounge.
Available at many airports nationwide, USO lounges come in all shapes and sizes. Some are located before the security checkpoint. Some are located after it in the terminal. Some are spacious, recently remodeled and luxurious. Some are small and homey.
But all are run by helpful volunteers who want to set you up with a much needed Diet Coke, feed you snacks, help you secure your stuff in a locker and then set you up with their wifi, children’s area, ridiculously comfortable lounge chairs, movie room or, really, whatever you need.
Simply put: I LOVE the USO. I love the snacks. I love the helper people. I love the chance to walk around for 30 minutes without hauling bags or children. I love the relief.
I find it so valuable that I now ONLY book flights that connect through airports with a USO lounge. Even if my layover isn’t long enough to visit, the security of having a place to crash with my kids at the off-chance that our flight is very delayed or canceled is well worth it.
Back when I had extra time on my hands and did a lot of traveling (read: before I had kids), this USO ignorance so bothered me and my friend that we created a BlogSpot based site so that we could review all the lounges we visited. The project never got off the ground, but the question remained:
Why do so few military spouses know about this great benefit?!
The best in-terminal USO lounges that I’ve visited are in Philadelphia, Denver and Houston — and the best I’ve seen located per-security are in Baltimore, Phoenix and Atlanta.
But I also tend to travel through the same airports over and over again. If you have USO experience tell us — where is your favorite lounge?
About Amy Bushatz
Comments
I've written a guest post about it before! http://www.guidetomilitarytravel.com/Blog.html?en…
I've gotten really good at navigating USOs. I've been to Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Charlotte, Dallas, and St. Louis. I may have missed one. My biggest recommendation is to only hit it if you have an hour or more to kill. Also, I like to research the location prior to travel, so that when we get arrival gate information, I know immediately where I'm going. Knowing whether it's in terminal or outside of security is also a big one.
I haven't been to the Phoenix one since it became a "real" USO – it used to just be a military lounge run by volunteers – same concept, different organization running it.
Los Angeles and St. Louis were the most comprehensive/accommodating in terms of 24/7 hours and arrangements for sleeping/showering (if you're caught there overnight). I want to like Atlanta more – I feel that as a hub and in a major metropolitan area (access to volunteers), they should be able to staff the place 24/7. I'm not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth, as I appreciate everything they do for us, but I've seen plenty of uniformed military personnel getting stuck in the Atlanta airport for long/late hours with nowhere to go.
Thanks for the link Erin! Now that you mention it I think I remember reading your post. The PHX one is SUPER nice. They could hang a sign that says "brought to you by IKEA!" — super sleek and IKEA-ey. I decided to write this post while sitting in there with my kids feasting on diet coke and snacks. "I love the USO," I thought. "I DEFINITELY need to write about that."
Re: Atlanta — I know it can be hard to come up with volunteers for ANYTHING, much less for night shift in an airport. But I know what you mean.
Guess no military should be using the Pitsburgh, PA Air terminal anytime soon….If any USO is on that grounds it's the best kept secrete ever….My lst visit to Phila. Air Terminal was vacant of any USO activity as well….So I guess you may as well skip that Terminal too???
Kat….tiny might even be "invisable"…Nice to hear you think it is nice…Do they hae a light on at the entrance???
I highly recommend the Philly USO: Occupying 5,000 square feet on the tarmac level of Terminal A the Liberty USO Center at Philadelphia International Airport is open 24/7/365. There members of our armed forces and their families have access to complimentary meals, internet, showers, laundry, bunks, a library, game room and a home theater. (Overnight accommodations are available for active duty military and their dependents only.) Liberty USO there also supports outreach to military units in Philadelphia, Delaware and Chester counties.
Philadelphia International Airport
8500 Essington Avenue
Terminal A-East (Adjacent to Gate A-6 a)
Philadelphia, PA 19153
215-365-8889
Liberty USO Center Manager: Mike Schultz
mschultz@libertyuso.org or 215.365.8868
Thanks Jim, very happy and glad Philly is well represented….I'm proud of all of you, for your efforts to help the military personnel of today….
During my tours in Vietnam, I became intimately acquainted with the USO lounges in KSFO, KDEN, KGTF, and KPNS. They are indeed staffed with wonderful people who gave us their undivided attention.
I hope they still do.
I love the Philly USO…the Charlotte NC USO is also awesome…Atlanta and Dallas…not so much, not their faults though, as these are the places where CONUS LEAVE is terminated as warriors get ready to head back to the sandbox…
My favorite USO was in Seattle. It was the absolute largest USO I have ever seen until they rebuilt it. Now is a a third of the size and can take in far less Military members. Now it is just like the rest of the USO's across the Country, small. Do not get me wrong it is a nice place to stay but it see's a lot of Soldiers coming and going. I would say two nights a week the USO at Seattle is just as busy as Atlanta was at the height of the Iraq war. The people that work there are the most helpful I have seen at any USO around the Country. I have been to USO's at Baltimore, St Louis, San Diego, Germany, Atlanta, Philly, Dallas, and Chicago.
You're right — the one in Seattle IS cramped. But I still love it!
Mnay mil spouses don't know about the USOs b/c they used to not let Mil Spouse in to the lounges unless they are accompanied by the active duty member. I recall getting turned away from the USO lounge with my 4 kids b/c we were travelling w/o hubby.
I'm not sure when the policy shifted, but I've been using them for five years and never had a problem :-)
I definitely recommend the small, yet comfortable, USO at Charlotte-Douglas. My family and I make it a point to stop in there…even if we are only there to pick-up/drop-off a family member.
The volunteers are BEYOND helpful and courteous…and definitely make your stay there so comfortable, you wish you didn't have to leave!
My dependent wife was "non-reving" during a busy time (Spring break, March, 2010) and got stuck at SFO for 28 hours. USO lounge there is awesome. LAX and DFW (great romper room for little kids at DFW) are both quite elaborate and nice. Too bad they aren't all inside the security wire.
i recently visited the USO in Indianapolis, it was fantastic! The Miami and Chicago ones are great too.
I can only compare the two I have been to…Charlotte NC and Denver. Charlotte was bigger and had more provisions but both were extremely well staffed and comfortable. My son, who is 9, LOVES checking out the USOs at the airports now that we are aware of them. It is a wonderful perk for sure.
Charlotte was bigger than Denver?! I'm definitely going to have to check it out!
My husband had already been a Marine for four years when I first learned about the USO. Many years ago I got stuck at an overseas airport in Japan with my then three year old daughter. The USO and its volunteers were truly heaven sent. They made sure we were fed, rested, and that we made our flight with plenty of time. Since our son joined the Marine Corps we have used the USO at the Raleigh-Durham airport. They truly spoil you! Wonderful people! My son has also used USOs in Japan, Bob Hope and Palm Springs airports in California. Thanks for the article and spreading the word.
The one in Charlotte is great! We make a point of stopping in every time we go through there.
I've also used one in Las Vegas which was very nice too. The volunteers there have set up collection baskets at security for folks to donate those items they didn't know they couldn't carry on with them. [water bottles, liquids in containers too large] Anything worth using is sorted and made available for anyone passing through the USO there. What a great idea!
There is also one in Norfolk's airport. The folks there were very helpful with providing directions.
Remember a lot of these places can only stay open now if people continue to use them. They really want folks to come and check in even for a few moments maybe for a soda or snack.
A new USO will be opening at the Nashville, TN airport in May.
I know! And I am SO EXCITED. Our home (for now) airport :-)
Put lounges INSIDE the security zone already.
My understanding is that the USO puts the lounge where the airport donates space. So …