Comments on: “Wow, that was cool!”: A trip through Detroit’s cosmic airport tunnel

By: Dr. J.

Dr. J. — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:44:29 +0000

It’s not in the same league as a neon tunnel, but a cool thing I’ve seen in an airport is Citi’s “umbrella” ads at Bradley airport in Hartford. At first glance, they just look like a poster of Citi’s (formerly Traveler’s) big red umbrella logo. But on closer inspection, the big umbrella is made up of many tiny umbrellas, but if you walk close enough so that your shadow hits it (or wave your arm in front of it intentionally), the little umbrellas momentarily scatter, and then re-assemble.

My daughter and I had fun scattering the umbrellas on several walks past.

By: Carrie Charney

Carrie Charney — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:13:34 +0000

Thanks for the heads up. I am going to Detroit in May and will definitely experience this tunnel. I thought the O’Hare tunnel pretty “cool” when I first had to traverse it a couple of decades ago.

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:33:28 +0000

We usually fly Northwest to Orlando, and traveling through that tunnel has always put us in a Disney mood if we’re on our way there (reminds us of being at Epcot), and gives us one last memory if we’re on our way home. Even if I’m traveling for business elsewhere, it makes me smile because of that Disney connection in my mind.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:16:43 +0000

You could have substituted the word “Detroit” for “Chicago” and the article would have almost described the tunnel between United’s Concourse B and C at O’Hare.

There are a few differences, of course. The motorized walkways are in the middle and the walkays on the side. The curved walls do not have paintings on them but are glass. The music is not the sounds of nature, but “Rhapsody in Blue” (aka United’s theme song), and O’Hare’s tunnel was built in the 80’s — so this concept had been around for some time.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:46:22 +0000

I have been through this tunnel many times and it always makes me dizzy and nauseous. I understand what they are trying to do, but for me it makes me more stressed because I feel yucky afterwards! I have heard kids make comments and they seem to really like it.

By: John Frenaye

John Frenaye — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:53:22 +0000

O’Hare has a tunnel too!