You may think you spend too much time in airports. Most frequent fliers do.
But the growing list of airports offering visitor passes to ticketless passengers is a sure sign that there’s plenty of fun to be had on the other side of the security checkpoint, especially if you don’t have to deal with carry-on luggage and a flight to catch.
Currently, there are about a dozen airports you can fly into without a plane ticket. The list includes Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County International Airport (DTW), Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Passengers without tickets can also apply for a visitor card at Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), Tulsa International Airport (TUL), John Wayne Airport (SNA), Ontario International Airport (ONT), Tri-Cities Airport (PSC), Capital Region International Airport (LAN), and Bishop International Airport (FNT).
On July 1, Nashville International Airport (BNA) became the latest airport to launch a travel pass program.
Music City Airport has multiple live music venues. Additionally, in 2013, it became the first airport in the country to be granted a beer and wine license, allowing passengers to walk through the airport’s security area with purchased drinks. More recently, the airport spent $1.7 billion to upgrade and expand its terminals and celebrated the opening of an aviation-themed Hilton hotel on site with a rooftop pool and bar.
I have airline credit expiring soon and an important anniversary on my calendar, so it seemed like the perfect time to plan a vacation. The trip included a stay at a new hotel. Hilton BNA Nashville Airport Terminal and one day at Nashville Airport, courtesy of the new BNA Passport Guest Card Program.
Hilton BNA Nashville Airport Terminal Hotel
Our flight from Seattle landed us in Nashville late in the afternoon. It took just five minutes to exit the terminal, walk across a covered pedestrian bridge, and arrive at the lobby of the Hilton BNA Nashville Airport Terminal.
Our corner room on the eighth floor of the hotel overlooked the ram area and the steep terminal building. We had great views of planes taking off and landing. The ninth floor fitness center had views of both the airport and downtown Nashville.
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From the 10th floor rooftop pool, fire pit, and bar, we had views of the airport runway, Nashville skyline, and surrounding landscape. We even saw fireworks in the distance while having evening cocktails.
Get BNA passport
The BNA Passport program is limited to 75 non-ticketed visitors per day. You must apply online seven days to 24 hours before your scheduled visit.
The form asks you to provide your name as it appears on your TSA-approved photo ID, your date of birth, your gender, your email address, and your intended arrival date. A drop-down menu asks for your reason for arrival. There are two options: “Greet Family/Friends at Gate” and “Shop/Dining at Airport.”
We applied right after booking our flights to Nashville and headed there. Just after midnight the night we arrived, we received an approval email allowing us to go to the airport.
We showed our email and ID at the airport information desk in the morning and got a card (our BNA Passport) to show at the TSA checkpoint. You can’t use TSA PreCheck with your airport visitor pass, so we made sure to arrive with easy-to-remove shoes and just a small bag with our essentials for the day.
The person who checked our IDs and issued our cards said we were lucky to get them; apparently the new BNA Passport program has been so popular that 75 cards are issued each day. Almost everyone who gets a card has come to use it.
What to do on your vacation day at BNA
After passing through security, we walked through the terminal to find all the live music stages, stopping to listen to a song or three at each. We looked through menus and noted how many places served barbecue and Nashville’s signature spicy chicken (as in “spicy”). While we didn’t come across any free tastings, we were surprised to see how many stores sold bottles of fine Tennessee whiskey.
Along the way, we discovered some of the remains of the BNA’s great tapestry and viewed works of art, including terrazzo floor medallions, elaborate murals, hanging sculptures and more.
We stopped at shops selling Tennessee-made Moon Pies and Goo Goo Cluster candies as well as souvenirs from the Country Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Grand Ole Opry House.
BNA is one of the few remaining airports with indoor smoking areas, so we checked out the small smoking room, which requires a fee to enter. Since BNA is the first “cocktail to go” airport, we bought drinks to take with us while we walked back to the airport and listened to live music.
Bonus: Meet comic artist Jim Henson
At BNA’s Central Marketplace, we stopped by the Nashville Jam Session store, which sells music-themed memorabilia, musical instruments, Elvis-branded whiskey, and other fun items — many of which are locally made.
The store also features a variety of artwork by Guy Gilchrist, a famous illustrator, cartoonist, and musician better known as cartoonist Jim Henson. When Gilchrist is in town, he spends time in the store making art and signing prints, posters, ukuleles, guitars, and other items featuring his drawings of the Muppets, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Disney characters.
While wandering around the store, we met some customers who were very fond of the cartoons. Visitor Stephen Speelman declared himself “lucky” to have Gilchrist add a personal message to a print of “The Muppet Christmas Carol” for his son, Austin, a huge fan.
As several other visitors—Gregory Manning and his 9-year-old daughter, Katharine—picked up paintings to get autographed (“Muppets” for him, “Alice in Wonderland” for her), it was hard to tell who was more excited.
Last line
The on-site Hilton hotel and BNA Passport guest card program make it easy and fun to plan a quick stay at the Nashville airport. This could be your introduction to Music City.
Even if you don’t have a flight, you can still use the guest pass program to meet a friend or family member at the boarding gate, spend more time with someone before they board their flight, or simply enjoy shopping, dining, and plane-watching.
