Airport services

During a five-hour layover in the Houston airport on the way home Costa Rica, I began to wonder why airports offer some things, but not others.

First, I walked past Best Buy vending machines selling everything from Playstations to iPhones (are these really the kind of thing people will buy on a whim, in an airport?) and ProActiv vending machines peddling skincare products.

On my way out of a restroom, I overheard a girl asking her traveling companion why airports didn't have hair salons in them. She thought there would be plenty of people willing to pay someone to get their hair back in order after hours on a plane.

It got me thinking: Wouldn't a five-hour layover be the perfect time to finally get the haircut you've been meaning to make an appointment for? Or grab a manicure or massage to make all that travel stress melt away?

Apparently, they do have such things. Now that I'm back home and looking into such things (see Things to Google), I discovered XpresSpa has plenty of airport locations, including one at the Houston airport.

What have you been surprised to see in an airport? What's missing? Have you ever used an airport vending machine to buy electronics? Gotten a pampering service an an airport spa or salon? Post a comment and share your experience.