Re “Live music while waiting for your luggage at Logan? Pass.” (Sunday Travel, July 6): I enthusiastically agree with Christopher Muther’s assessment of the pilot program to bring live music to baggage claim areas at Logan Airport’s Terminals B and C. As Muther argues, the Massachusetts Port Authority needs to find ways to reduce the din rather than add to the already stressful situation of this captive audience.
If the airport truly wants to innovate, it should eliminate the current background music and encourage passengers to use headphones with their personal devices. No one wants to listen to someone else’s conversation, music, or video.
Other international airports, such as Schiphol in Amsterdam, have embraced the “silent airport” approach, and I hope Logan can do the same.
Jim Farrell
Harvard
Christopher Muther’s commentary set off a spirited debate among BostonGlobe.com readers. Following is an edited sampling of their comments:
What a grump! Boston has always been known as a big music city, so why not show it off? In New Orleans, jazz musicians often play in the airport there to welcome passengers. It gives off the vibe of the city, so why not try it in Boston? (What_Cheer)
If you can’t deal with 5 minutes of music while waiting for your luggage, you’ve got problems. Deal with it. (MyThoughtsExactly)
As long as they play “Sweet Caroline” … at least twice. (timfromvt)
If they tapped a keg at baggage claim, they’d really be on to something. (Burncoatgirl)
Muther is absolutely correct. Travel is stressful and tiring, and the last thing we need is loud music while we are on our cellphones setting up our rides home and waiting endlessly for the bags to arrive. (Richard D)
Who doesn’t love “foreground” music? 🙂 (JAGjr)
Flew into Colorado Springs a few months ago and they had two therapy dogs at baggage claim. People could pet them. There were a ton of smiles in the crowd. Now that’s a way to lighten things up! (10KWords)
When will the loud-music-restaurant trend be done? Not any time soon, it seems, with Massport piling on. I love music, but not every kind of music. When you don’t give us a choice, it’s just another overload the nervous system has to manage in an increasingly noisy, overstimulated world. (BostheBest)
Serious overload to anyone with hearing issues who is straining to hear the garbled announcements. I’m thinking of submitting a reasonable accommodations request to Massport to have my luggage delivered to a noise-free carousel. (Threedecker)
I have not heard this at Logan yet, but I have passed through Nashville and they have bands spread out over the airport, and I think it works very well. I am not a country and western fan, but I would have to say I love the environment. I hope it can work as well here. (user_4413090)
Nashville and Austin have musicians at departure concourses, where travelers are killing time waiting to board their flights. Much different experience than baggage claim. (localjake)
Live music seems like the wrong vibe for Logan Airport. No one is expecting warm hospitality from strangers in Boston (not the Boston way). (aksynth)
What Logan needs is cats. (GrayAlleyCat)
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