The Palm Springs International Airport recently posted an “apology” on its social-media channels. It reads:
After an internal review, PSP leadership has identified a series of recurring issues creating unintended outcomes for our guests. In the interest of transparency, we believe it’s time to formally acknowledge what’s been happening.
Please accept our sincerest apologies for:
• Security lines that barely exist. We know inching forward in a never-ending line is a cherished airport pastime, and by screening you in minutes, we’ve deprived you of this ritual.
• Views that ruin other airports for you. Sunshine, mountains, and open air concourses have consequences, and we’re sorry that not every terminal can feel like a resort.
• Accidentally creating airport snobs. Once you park steps from the terminal and are greeted with genuine hospitality, it’s only natural to judge … everything else. We accept responsibility for setting the standard you may never to recover from.
We understand this may make flying from anywhere else a challenge, but we remain committed to keeping PSP easy, friendly, and unforgettable—no matter the consequences.
Thanks for continuing to choose your favorite airport, the one that’s just a little too easy.
For various reasons—the primary one being that we just published our Best of Coachella Valley issue—I’ve been thinking a lot about how lucky we all are to live here.
Yes, the Coachella Valley is flawed—deeply flawed, even, in some ways. Our economy is way too dependent on tourism. The wealth inequity within our nine valley cities and our unincorporated areas is horrifying. While the expanding College of the Desert and the two university satellite campuses in Palm Desert are great, the area suffers from the lack of a full four-year college. We have serious pollution concerns (hello, Salton Sea!). The food scene could use more diversity—and, of course, the summer heat is absolutely brutal.
That said … there’s not a place on Earth that is perfect. Every city/town/community has both flaws and positives—and here in the Coachella Valley, we’re fortunate to enjoy a whole lot of positives beyond our convenient, adorable airport.
Just a few examples: the mountains and other natural beauty that are all around us. Cultural offerings—shows, entertainment, arts, a theater scene, etc.—that are great and keep getting better. Myriad nonprofits all working to make the community a better place. All sorts of amazing people—and, of course, beyond-compare non-summer weather.
There are a lot of bad things in the country and the world right now. There is much to be worried about, and there’s a lot of work that needs to be done. That needs to be acknowledged.
But there are also many, many reasons to be thankful, and a lot of us who call the Coachella Valley home have more to be thankful for than most, in my humble opinion.
If you disagree, flip through the pages of our Best of Coachella Valley issue, and see if that changes your tune.
Note: This is a slightly edited version of the editor’s note that appeared in the December 2025 print edition. Portions of this were originally published online in the Nov. 20 Indy Digest.