Microwaves At Airports: What You Need To Know

Microwaves are a common household appliance, but their presence in public spaces is less certain. This is especially true for security-conscious areas like airports. While some airports, like San Francisco International Airport, do provide microwaves for passengers, others, like Denver International Airport, do not. This inconsistency leaves travellers wondering if they can count on having access to a microwave during their journey. The availability of microwaves varies depending on the airport and even specific terminals, making it challenging for those who wish to bring their own food or require specific dietary accommodations, such as heating baby food.

Microwaves for baby food at Brussels airport

Brussels Airport has excellent facilities for parents and children, including dedicated play areas and baby-changing facilities. The airport also provides a range of options for heating baby food.

Play & Care Zones

The Play & Care zones at Gates A and B offer a quiet space for parents to feed their babies. These areas are equipped with microwaves, high chairs, and changing tables.

Restaurants

Most restaurants at Brussels Airport are happy to heat baby food for you. Microwaves are available in most airport eateries, and staff will assist you with warming up your baby's meal. Some parents may prefer this option to using a public microwave.

Self-Service Restaurants

If you prefer to heat the food yourself, the self-service restaurants Belgorama and Bistrot have microwaves available for customer use.

Alternative Methods

Some restaurants may be reluctant to heat baby food in a microwave due to concerns about legal liability. In such cases, you can request a cup of boiled water and place the food container in it to warm it up gently.

Public microwaves at Pearson Airport

Pearson Airport does not have any public microwaves available for passengers in any of its terminals. While some restaurants and food shops may have microwaves, these are not accessible to customers due to health and safety reasons.

If you are an employee at the airport, there is a microwave in the employee break room that you can use. This break room is intended for all airport employees and does not have formal access controls, but security does patrol regularly and will question people without airport ID cards or uniforms.

If you are looking to save money on food at the airport, you can bring in your own food as long as it is not a liquid or gel. Frozen items are also allowed, but if the volume of liquid exceeds 100ml, it will be taken away.

Microwaves at Atlanta Airport

Microwaves are a handy appliance for travellers passing through Atlanta Airport who want to heat up their own food before boarding their flight. While some airports, such as Brussels Airport, offer microwaves in their restaurants for heating up baby food, it is unclear whether microwaves are available for public use at Atlanta Airport.

One source suggests that there are no public microwaves at Atlanta Airport. However, another source indicates that there are microwaves in some of the airport's restaurants, which may be used to heat up food.

If you are travelling through Atlanta Airport and need to heat up food, it is worth asking in the airport's restaurants, as staff are often happy to assist. Alternatively, you could consider purchasing hot food at the airport or bringing food that does not need to be heated.

Microwaves at Vancouver Airport

Vancouver Airport, also known as YVR, does not have any public microwaves available for customer use. Travellers passing through the airport are not permitted to use the microwaves in any of the retail outlets or restaurants, either. This is due to the risk of cross-contamination, which could affect the sanitary conditions of the food prepared on-site.

If you are travelling through Vancouver Airport and need to heat up food, your best option is to purchase something from one of the airport's eateries. The food offerings at Vancouver Airport are considered reasonable, and there is a 7-11 store located outside of the security area. While this particular 7-11 might not have a microwave, many other 7-11 stores do have microwaves available for customer use.

It is worth noting that bringing food that needs to be 'cooked' or heated during a transit stop is not a common practice. Most people opt for either cold meals or buying food at the airport. Additionally, it is important to be mindful of the restrictions on liquids when bringing food through airport security.

Microwaving food at airports: Pros and cons

Pros

It can be a convenient and cost-effective option for travellers to heat up their food at airports, especially for those with dietary restrictions or preferences. This can be a good way to save money and avoid the taste of airplane food. Additionally, it can be a good option for parents travelling with babies, as baby food can be heated up at most airport restaurants.

Cons

Microwaving food at airports may not always be feasible, as there is limited availability of public microwaves. Some airports may not have any at all, and even if they do, they may be located in employee break rooms or in restaurants, which are not accessible to passengers. Additionally, cross-contamination and the smell of microwaved food can be a concern for other travellers.

Furthermore, bringing food that needs to be cooked or heated during a transit stop can be impractical, especially if it requires additional containers or preparation. It may also be challenging to find a place to purchase or heat up food before boarding, depending on the airport's layout and the time available.

In conclusion, while microwaving food at airports can be a convenient option for some travellers, it may not always be feasible or practical. It is important to consider the availability of microwaves, potential inconveniences to other travellers, and the time constraints of travelling when deciding whether to bring food that requires heating.

Frequently asked questions