Most people probably don’t associate airport waiting area benches with comfort or luxury.
But one Portland, Oregon company is seeking to change that. The company lovingly restores and sells airport waiting benches that went out of production in the 1990s.
You won’t believe how much they cost!
Benches are Back
PDX Originals, a furniture company in Portland, advertises Chromcraft airport benches among their products.
These vinyl benches are a staple of airport waiting areas.
Durable and functional—with enough room to stretch out, or perhaps even take a highly uncomfortable nap—they’re ubiquitous enough that you’ve almost certainly sat on one if you’ve traveled in the last few decades.
Modern airport benches often mimic the design of these originals. But now, PDX Originals is offering the real thing; airport benches that have been lovingly selected and restored, and are sold “without the gum and tears,” in the company’s words.
The Remarkable Price
So how much does it cost to own a bench that most travelers probably plop their bag down on and promptly overlook?
PDX Originals’ restored airport benches cost between $1000 and $1200.
Adding a table will cost you an extra $400.
PDX Originals recommends using the benches in waiting rooms or offices. They even offer a sofa version. Because, who wouldn’t want to make their guests feel like they’re stuck waiting at an airport?
Overall, that’s quite a hefty price to pay for a bit of nostalgia. But for the aviation enthusiast who has it all, maybe an airport bench that costs more than a round-trip plane ticket to Australia is actually the perfect gift.
