PIT Says Thank You to Airport Ambassadors
By Gina Mastrangelo
Published September 18, 2023
Read Time: 4 mins
There’s nothing quite like stepping off a plane and arriving in a new city. But it can be daunting as well, with the bustling crowds and seas of luggage.
Luckily, airports across the U.S. have a friendly face waiting to help.
Airport ambassadors, stationed at airports across the country, are volunteers who meet and greet passengers, assist travelers with special needs, direct new arrivals in the right direction and so much more.
Pittsburgh International Airport has about 80 ambassadors, including 26 therapy dogs who roam the terminals as part of the airport’s PIT Paws program.
While Pittsburgh natives might know the city backwards and forwards, navigating the city’s dozens of four-lane bridges and finding hidden gems between the three rivers is no easy feat for newcomers.
That’s where the ambassadors come in. They have to be ready to answer any questions that come up and help travelers make the most of their time in the Steel City. To help the ambassadors stay current, the airport hosts an immersive event for them each year: an invitation to leave the airport campus and explore the city.
“Our volunteers not only represent our airport but also our beautiful city of Pittsburgh,” said Elise Gomez, PIT’s manager of Customer Experience. “These types of immersive experiences give them the o