Many airports have banned smoking entirely, but now Detroit may go in the opposite direction with a new cigar lounge under consideration—and I think that’s a positive step.
Here’s the thing: I don’t smoke. I’ve written previously that I mourn the loss of airport smoking lounges and that we need more airport smoking lounges, not fewer. I stand by that and I believe this proposal at DTW doesn’t set us two steps backward, but rather creates a thoughtful alternative which can be safely managed.
The airport authority responded by saying that the bidding process for the lounge will require state-of-the-art ventilation and negative-pressure rooms to capture smoke before it escapes. That kind of infrastructure is not new: it exists at airports around the world (for example at Zürich Airport and Hong Kong International Airport). The question isn’t whether a cigar lounge can be built safely, it’s whether U.S. airports are willing to build it safely with transparent standards.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
