How Volunteer Programs Transform Traveler Experiences
Air travel can often be the most stressful part of any journey. The bustling environment of an airport – with its constant stream of announcements, the hustle of the crowds, and the anxiety of clearing security – can be overwhelming for many. However, some airports, like Phoenix's Sky Harbor, are changing the narrative by introducing innovative programs to help passengers navigate the airport with less stress and more joy.
Key Takeaways:
- Friendly Navigators: Volunteer programs, like Sky Harbor International Airport's Navigator Program, offer passengers assistance, making the airport experience more pleasant and humane.
- Empowering Passengers: Proper planning and utilization of airport resources can significantly reduce stress for passengers and the airport staff.
Beyond Transportation: Airports can be places of interest, offering visitors art exhibits, live music, play areas, and more if they arrive with ample time to explore.
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Volunteer Assistance Programs Uplifting Airport Experiences
One of the most significant takeaways from the discussion is the importance of the human touch in the form of volunteer programs to ease the travel experience. Sky Harbor's Navigator Program, led by Misty Cisneros Contreras, engages volunteers from various professional backgrounds to assist travelers. They offer directions, answer questions, and cultivate a friendlier airport environment.
"We provide opportunities for volunteers to provide directions, answer questions, greet people, send them farewell on their trips..." – Misty Cisneros Contreras.
The program, which started in 2000, has had volunteers, ranging from retired professionals to active workers, commit to weekly four-hour shifts, benefiting travelers and allowing volunteers to give back to their community meaningfully. Volunteers serve as the first and last impression tourists get of their Arizona travels, aligning with the airport's goal of being "America's friendliest airport."
Planning and Utilizing Airport Resources Reduces Travel Stress
Another focal point of the conversation revolves around the power of planning and using available resources to diminish the inherent stress of air travel. Misty advises travelers to be proactive by checking wait times online and even scheduling their security checkpoint times.
"You can book a time to go through a checkpoint ... You don't wait but a few minutes to get through the checkpoint." – Misty Cisneros Contreras.
Alongside this innovative option, the airport provides a plethora of information on its website. This includes alternatives for dropping off passengers, sustainability tours, and even the acknowledgment of special programs for groups with additional stress factors, such as those traveling with dementia.
Airports as Destinations: Embracing the Wider Airport Experience
Beyond mere portals to another location, airports can enrich the travel experience if given a chance. Sky Harbor takes pride in its museum, music performances, play areas, and guided tours, highlighting the airport's multifaceted nature.
"We have an art incorporated into the floor, into the ceilings all around you ... There are sustainability tours to learn about all the things we're doing to make our planet a little bit greener." – Misty Cisneros Contreras.
Jan Dougherty, a navigator volunteer and nurse specializing in dementia care, reiterates the joy found in airports by reflecting on touching family reunions she witnessed while volunteering at Sky Harbor.
An airport community is mindful of its visitors' experiences, striving to transform the mundane into the delightful. From airport choir performances to volunteer programs like Sky Harbor's navigators, the travel industry recognizes that contented travelers are not just those who reach their destinations but those who enjoy the journey there – starting in the very hallways of the airport. Once daunting mazes filled with travel-weary passengers, airports can become hubs of anticipation and adventure that speak volumes about the places and people they serve.
If you or a loved one has dementia, is a caregiver, or has mobility issues, please listen to our podcast interview of Dr Carol Sargent, and view our YouTube on Dementia Travel. Contact us for free copy of our upcoming eBook, Caregiver Travel. Above all join our Facebook Salon and ger support for your travel needs. If you are ready to travel and have mobility of cognitive issues, please take advantage of the services of our Advisory Board members Dr Carol Sargent. Never stop traveling.
