Airport Fitness Centers Let You Work Out on the Fly

Airline travelers stranded on a long layover who yearn for a little stress-relieving exercise usually have to improvise: Dig out the running shoes and jog on the moving walkway. Or just hike the terminal corridors.

They might also find a quiet corner and work on their abs--if being stared at is no problem.

But it’s getting easier to get in a workout on the fly. Fitness centers are setting up shop in some major U.S. airport terminals, and gyms at nearby hotels often offer day passes to airport passengers, even if they aren’t hotel guests.

Both the hotel facilities and the airport centers cater to travelers by staying open long hours, usually seven days a week. Some have trainers on staff. Others offer post-workout amenities such as full-body massages for an extra fee. One even rents workout gear if you’ve left your tennies home.

Here’s a sampling of airports where working out is easy.

* Baltimore: Baltimore/Washington International Airport doesn’t have a fitness center on the premises, but passengers can walk or take a short cab ride the half-mile to the BWI Marriott Hotel’s Health Club, 1743 W. Nursery Road. The $5 day pass gives exercisers access to cardio equipment (treadmills, stair-climbing and rowing machines), along with free weights and the pool.

Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends. Telephone (410) 859-8300, ext. 211.

* Chicago: Hilton Chicago O’Hare Athletic Club is in the hotel adjacent to Terminal 2. Its $9 one-day guest pass includes access to the pool, weight room and cardio equipment (treadmills, exercise bikes, stair climbers, elliptical trainer), fresh towel, shower, steam and sauna. Massage therapy is offered for $40 per half-hour, $70 per hour; appointments preferred.

Open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends. Tel. (773) 601-1723.

* Los Angeles: There is a 24-Hour Fitness center at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton; take the Hilton shuttle from terminals. Guest passes are available to airport passengers and hotel guests for $10 a day and include access to the cardio equipment (treadmills, bikes, stair-climbing machines, elliptical trainer) and free weights.

Open 24 hours daily. Tel. (310) 410-9909.

* Miami: The Miami International Airport Hotel, in Concourse E, has a health club that offers day passes for $8. The club has an outdoor pool, a jogging track, cardio equipment (treadmills, stair-climbing machines and exercise bicycles), weight machines and a sauna. Racquetball is $8 an hour.

Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Tel. (305) 871-4100.

* Dallas: Take the Hilton shuttle from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to the DFW Lakes Hilton. The hotel’s Athletic and Tennis Club offers a day pass for $15, which includes access to the pool, cardio equipment (treadmills and stair-climbing machines), free weights and weight machines. Tennis is extra, with fees depending on whether equipment is needed. Massage is available by appointment for $60 an hour.

Open 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends. Tel. (817) 481-6647.

* Pittsburgh: Airport Fitness Pittsburgh, next to international arrivals in Pittsburgh International Airport, leaves no excuse for laziness. Drop-ins can rent a whole outfit--shoes, shirt, shorts and socks--for $4. The $9.99 day pass covers use of cardio equipment (treadmills, climbers, rowing machines, exercise bikes), weight machines, dumbbells, sauna and shower. Frequent fliers can buy a punch card good for 10 workouts for $50.

Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Tel. (412) 472-5231. (Owner Michael Michno plans to open a similar center at the Philadelphia airport this fall.)

Healthy Traveler appears on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Kathleen Doheny can be reached at kdoheny@compuserve.com.