✈ Airport Virtual Food Hall, East Coast Casino Boom and More Daily News From TPG ✈

Also: Review of the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal [The Points Guy]( WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY Aug 3, 2022 CREATIVE AIRPORT STAFFING SOLUTIONS There's no denying that airports have been a mess this summer. [Cancellations and delays]( are becoming the rule rather than the exception, airline routes are [dropping like flies]( and [staffing shortages]( have led to [schedule disruptions]( [long food lines]( and [lost luggage](. Dealing with these hiccups can be frustrating, but as we are rounding the bases into year three of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's hard not to sympathize with the plight air travel is dealing with right now. The devastation of the pandemic is far-reaching and has touched all of us, including airlines and airports, in one way or another. We've all had to get creative in an attempt to "get back to normal," and I, for one, have been blown away by the efforts I've seen across the travel industry. One that impressed me this week was the addition of a "[virtual food hall]( in Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina. The concept reminds me of the automats of the early 1900s. These grab-and-go vending machines would give you a hot meal after you inserted a few coins, twisted the knob and opened a small cubby. This 2022 version allows you to order food from one of the airport's participating restaurants via a touchscreen or your phone and then pick it up from a numbered locker when your order is complete. The concept allows multiple restaurants to share a kitchen, thereby reducing the number of employees needed to cook and serve your meal. While the concept is no doubt interesting, it's not the only way airports are improving the process of delivering preflight meals to travelers. To learn about other efforts being taken by airports to streamline and simplify food services, check out: - [Airports of the future: Your firsthand look at robot mobile food ordering and gate delivery]( - [Your wait for coffee or food at some airports could finally get shorter]( - [Skip another line: Starbucks continues rollout of mobile ordering at US airports]( Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy. Tarah Chieffi, Family Travel Writer Posts in this newsletter contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, [visit this page](. TODAY'S TOP STORIES [A perfect piece of paradise: 2 nights at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal]( You've probably seen photos of this hotel's gorgeous restaurant on Instagram. [Read more]( [Global Entry flyers will speed through some airports even faster now]( Global Entry goes paperless. [Read more]( [Cards on the table: Fear of East Coast casino overbuilding might be overblown]( Casinos are going all-in on New York City-area locations. [Read more]( [JetBlue flyers, you now have lounge access — with the right credit card]( A must-read for Admirals Club members. [Read more]( [Eligible Chase cardholders can get up to $15 in Instacart statement credits]( This new deal is in addition to a complimentary Instacart+ membership. [Read more]( THE LATEST 1 [Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean: Compare two popular big-ship cruise lines]( 2 [Racing to the capital: What's the fastest way to get from New York to Washington, DC?]( 3 [How Delta SkyMiles fit into my points and miles strategy]( 4 [Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is extending its passenger cap through October]( 5 [Travel may be disrupted in Europe this summer on these dates, so plan accordingly]( 6 [France drops all COVID-19 restrictions for international travelers]( 7 [JetBlue's 2-day sale: Save $25 each way on flights this fall]( 8 [Amex cardholders get these 6 perks at the US Open Tennis Championships]( 9 [Why I don’t need daily housekeeping — and maybe you don’t either]( 10 [Earn points on rent: Your complete guide to the Bilt Rewards program]( [fb]( [insta]( [yt]( [tw]( [in](#) [mail](mailto:tpg@thepointsguy.com) You are receiving this because you opted in at [thepointsguy.com](. Where to find us: The Points Guy 100 5th Ave., 16th Floor New York, NY 10011 USA0 USA Changed your mind? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe]( at any time. Advertiser Disclosure: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which [ThePointsGuy.com]( receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our [advertising policy page]( for more information. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. THE POINTS GUY © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2022