What I Love About CVG

Two girls look at the Mastodon bones in Terminal B.

I went from being “airport rich” to being comparatively airport poorer. Access to Dulles, Reagan, and BWI gave me a variety of flexible choices, but none are really great airports.

Sure, Reagan is beautiful and flying in and out of there is fun and convenient. Dulles is far from everything and slow, and BWI, while further from the Virginia side, is a perfectly fine airport.

To get discounted parking and rewards at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Airports, you had to pre-register your parking more than 24 hours before your flight. And their lots are not cheap. BWI has nice private options that give you cold water and a newspaper if you want it.

Curious about CVG’s situations anticipating the work trip I am currently on, I went to go register for parking rewards. Check the mail they told me.

I forgot about it until yesterday, perfect timing, a brochure comes with an HID swipe pass in it. I went back to my account and now it all made sense: this was like an Exxon Speedpass for parking. Charged to my account automatically, no fumbling, and rewards and debiting my card all happen automatically. Very cool.

I had a little trouble finding a good spot in the main terminal garage but the system worked out great. 25 minutes to the airport with no traffic. It was a breeze.

CVG is an International Airport, and more so than perhaps even Reagan is, but it is not known for its international travel. It’s mostly a domestic airport.

About a year ago, a Frisch’s Big Boy opened up in the airport, and I can report to you that, while it has a diminished menu—as one would expect—it is great. I know there are hot local opinions since the corporate takeover. I’m sympathetic, too: private equity’s track record with these sorts of acquisitions is a mixed bag. I got a Big Boy combo for $12.75 (with fries and a drink). So far as airport food goes, that’s a stellar deal, and you get free refills.

And there’s also a Graeter’s.

Of course there’s a Skyline in Terminal B, and you can buy Grippo’s, Skyline, GoldStar, etc. to bring to people, but my favorite feature is the library the airport has.

It’s done in collaboration with the local libraries and they bring books being rotated out of circulation and donated books there. No card is needed, and the selection is great and there are places to sit. Returns are optional, and additions are encouraged.

Due to a weather delay the last time we flew back to Virginia before the move, it was a welcome respite for me and the girls. 5/3 Bank, has a cool lounge that you don’t even need to be a customer to use.

Sure, I might have to get a connection more often than I would when living in Virginia, but connections aren’t so bad.

BONUS CONTENT: A tornado siren test greeted me as I walked to get into the airport.