What is that smell at the airport?

[c073186]

Okay I'm pretty sure anyone who visits an airport frequently knows what I am talking about: there is a distinctive smell to an airport. But I'm wondering... what is it that makes airports / airplanes smell like that?

[iJohnHenry]

It's the smell of money being consumed.

Better get used to it.

[adk]

Off the top of my head, the two most common airport/airplane smells are:

1. Burnt Jet Fuel
2. The mixture of bad coffee and lavatory kool-aid that is stuck in airplane upholstery

[Xircom]

kerosene

[sammy2066]

It's the smell of air conditioning and the conveyor belts ...

[c073186]

Off the top of my head, the two most common airport/airplane smells are:

1. Burnt Jet Fuel
2. The mixture of bad coffee and lavatory kool-aid that is stuck in airplane upholstery

In my mind I was actually thinking this same thing of jet fuel and stale coffee. But I wasn't sure if there was a more accurate description.

[brian9271]

The carpet, a refreshing smell in the toilets, food and the seats of the plane as you get on, or the pilot greeting you when you enter the plane.

[Gray-Wolf]

Jet fuel is my favorite. It makes me dream of days gone by, long before security was ever an issue. :p

[BlakTornado]

the seats of the plane as you get on

You smell those!?

[pseudobrit]

LAS smells like the race track. Stale cigarettes, cheap beer and cheap beer that's been pissed out on the carpet.

Sanford Orlando smelled like a nursing home.

Other than that, most airports just smell like people, carpet and junk food.

Fly enough and the only thing you smell is the whiff of another delay.

[akonradi]

Hmmm... I've been in a lot of airports, but have never smelled anything strange. Maybe that's because I spend so much time in them. Bah, I need a new job so that I can recognize this smell.

[Sun Baked]

The industrial lubricant used by the TSA. :p

[yg17]

LAS smells like the race track. Stale cigarettes, cheap beer and cheap beer that's been pissed out on the carpet.


So it smells like the rest of Las Vegas then, right? :D

[Abstract]

Does this smell disappear immediately after you take a shower?

[raggedjimmi]

I loves the smell. Also think I just like airports. I don't plane-spot or anything, just enjoy being there.

[brian9271]

You smell those!?

Yea of course, infact I end up smelling people's feet sometimes ha ha lol :p

[iJohnHenry]

... and the seats of the plane as you get on ...

Do you get a cabin picture of the previous load from a flight attendant??

At least you could be selective then, depending on your proclivity. :p

[AlphaBob]

Can't resist....

Smells like teen spirit to me!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPQR-OsH0RQ) :)

[arkitect]

Smell of fear…

;)

[Sesshi]

Expanding on the above, it's the smell of fear, desperation, hopes yet to be dashed, loves yet to be lost.

Happy now? :p

[alexlovesmacs]

Probably the smell of thousands of people all in one place?

[steveza]

Most of the smell outside an airport is made up of burnt Jet A-1/AvGas/Jet Fuel.

Landvetter Airport outside Gothenburg, Sweden smells like the forest around it because the jets are not allowed to have their engines running while on stand.

[Gray-Wolf]

Did someone forget to shower again? :rolleyes:

[yancey47]

Chik - Fil - A

[iGary]

I always smell jet fuel.

[alphaod]

It's you.

[dmr727]

Smells like furlough to me. :(