Introduction
Information at the airport is important not only to travelers but also to others who require it in order to discharge their duties accordingly or to schedule their work. Most airports have an information desk which acts to service airport travelers with the required information.
Information Desk Services
Most of these service airport desk have the following information:
Luggage handling- Most first-time travelers may not be aware of the requirements about the luggage they are carrying. Hence, they need to contact the information desk which provides the service airport with the necessary information about such issues. At the service airport information desk, travelers are advised ob how to go handle their luggage in order to prevent against loss of their items.
Flight info- Flights, destinations, facilities and schedules can be acquired at the service airport desk. Travelers get information about their departure and arrival as well as information about facilities in the airport.
Ticket information- Travel agencies at times entrust your ticket to the service airport information desk operators which is located at departures.
Lost and found items- In case you lose something at the airport or forget it on the plane, it's possible to get information about lost and found property at the service airport information desk.
Features
Apart from the information desk, there are other services that are required by the airport in order to function accordingly. Such information helps to direct and coordinate air traffic control before, during and after flights. At times these are referred to as Flight Service Station (FSS), though particular countries have a variety of names for such facilities.
Service airport facilities with FSS services are often manned by specialists who give briefing about the weather conditions as well as providing notices to airmen. The specialists also assist in opening and closing of flight plans, monitor navigational aids and provide advisories to aircraft during flights or on the ground.
Most service airport FSS can be reached through radio especially by pilots in flights or through telephone from the ground. In many countries, FSS operate mandatory frequency to help coordinate air traffic should the air controllers be unavailable. These service airport personnel come in handy incase the air traffic control tower is closed.
Tips and comments
Airports can never do without the use of information provided and disseminated at different levels ranging from the information desk where travelers and relatives can enquire about relevant information on departures and arrivals to air traffic control towers which provides information to pilots in flights about their positions, among other important data.
Service airport in the U.S. is divided in to several factions such as FSS and air traffic control. The FSS national toll free number is 800-WX BRIEF (+1-800-992-7433). This service airport line can be accessed free of charge from both the ground and from the air. The commonly used radio frequency is 122.2 MHz, however, at times the coverage of the frequency may not be available at certain heights. The recommendation is that incase one is not able to access the frequency they should consult directories, databases and charts so as to find the position of the nearest FSS and the frequency the facility uses to communicate.
