My plan was to visit the city of Birmingham which is located at a distance of 8 kilometres towards the northeast of downtown Birmingham in United States and to explore some of the major attractions of it before I went back to my nation. Though I came to Birmingham for some work but traveling was my second priority which I love a lot. Birmingham International Airport (BHM) was earlier named as Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport which was officially changed to the current name in the year 2008 after Fred Shuttlesworth. This is the major airport serving the cities of Birmingham, Alabama and Central Alabama in the US.
The airport serves more than 3,222,689 passengers every year and became the largest and busiest airport in the state of Alabama. Today, this airport offers some 87 daily departures to 28 cities continuously and also direct flights to 35 cities. The Southern Museum of Flight also lies at this airport. It is capable of handling all the types of aircraft. The length of main runway is 12,002 feet and the length of secondary runway is 7,100 feet. The airport is under construction to increase its capacity including a $20 million Air Cargo Complex expansion and also resurfacing the Air Carrier Apron area. The renovation programme is expected to start from 2011.
I got an official website where I logged on and searched for the information and the site is www.bhamintlairport.com. The airport also has only one terminal. When I reach to the airport I thought to travel to the city of Birmingham and take a glance at various key attractions. So first I went to hire a car from the counters that are situated on the ground level of the terminal close to the baggage claim area and concourse B. I hired a car that represented the airport like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National. I would have traveled by shuttle or taxis but I thought that hiring a car from the company with take me wherever I want to.
To get some information related to tourist places and about the city of Birmingham I went to the information desk which is situated on the ground level. But after reaching here I got to know that paging and lost and found services are also being provided by this desk. While roaming around I also explored the car parking spaces of the airport. There are 5,600 spaces are available for short and long term car parking which lies in the parking deck. Short term car parking is situated on level 3 whereas, long term could be found on levels 2 and 4 through 7. The remote parking lot has total 900 spaces which are linked by a complementary shuttle. 40 cars are housed by the cell phone lot.
And of course, when I go to any airport I never fail to experience all of the facilities that the airport provides. First of all I went to check out the money and communications facilities so that I can take out some cash and change it. There are two ATMs on the upper level between the concourses B and C. Facilities like Wi-Fi Internet access could be found throughout the terminal. After taking out money I went to cool down my burning stomach. And I got a food court on the upper level itself in the area between concourses B and C and tasted the delighted breakfast. It’s great that the airport has fast food outlets, restaurants, a deli and a snack bar. So I went to buy some snack that will make me feel good.
And when there are gift shops available at the airport then how can I stay without buying some for my loved ones. I bought few of the gift items for my family which I am sure they will love a lot. These shops are located in concourses B and C. I saw that a man lost his luggage and he was unaware of what exactly to do now. So I suggested him to head towards the information desk where lost and found services are available. Few other facilities that the airport provides are skycap service and could be found outside the upper level to assist the departing passengers with their luggage. The services could be found at the baggage claim area also.
Well, I haven’t encountered any hotels or places that provide conference and business facilities but the airport provides self service business centre on the upper level of the terminal building. It could be found between the concourses B and C that offers services like six laptop ready work stations with wired high speed Internet connections, overnight FedEx package drop and also coin operated copy, stamp and fax machines. When the airport is providing so much of facilities to the passengers then how it will not provide facilities to the disabled travellers. I was impressed as the airport is completely accessible for the disabled passengers. They have been offered facilities like lifts, ramps and toilets. Wheelchairs, special assistance are available after request. They are also provided with parking spaces.
Well, 
I though to stay at hotel which is located at the airport so that I can get all the facilities as well as my traveling time and expenses will be reduced. So I made my accommodation at Holiday Inn. Besides this, there are Embassy Suites Hotel Birmingham, Four Points by Sheraton Birmingham Airport and Comfort Inn Airport. Some of the airlines that are operated by the airport are American Airlines, American Eagle, Continental Express which are operated by ExpressJet Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Delta Connection operated by 
Comair, Delta Connection operated by Pinnacle Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines, United Express operated by Mesa Airlines, United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines, US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin and US Airways Express operated by PSA Airlines.
Birmingham has many attractions to explore so finally I went to explore few of them which is close to the airport like Birmingham Zoo, Oak Mountain, Barber Vintage Motor Sports Museum, and many other attractions of the city in North America that will always be a part of my life forever. Contact the nearest Embassy to get the updated information about the visa procedures. Might you will not require any visa and just a valid passport is enough. I went back to my state but still the memories are alive. So if you get time to explore some, just go for it and enjoy the realm of life entirely.
