Milwaukee's Recombobulation Area: Airport Humor That Took Off
2025-02-09
Air travel stress? Milwaukee's Mitchell Airport found a unique solution. Former director Barry Bateman coined the term 'recombobulation' and created designated 'Recombobulation Areas' after security checkpoints. These areas, complete with signage, offer travelers a space to recover from the security process. The word itself became a viral sensation, even winning the American Dialect Society's award for most creative word of the year in 2009. Now a cultural icon in Milwaukee, 'Recombobulation Area' appears on merchandise, in local events, and even in a Jeopardy question, proving that a little humor can go a long way in easing airport anxiety.