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One Year Ago

December 26th, 2005

One year ago, nearly 200,000 people in 14 countries were killed by a tsunami in the Indian Ocean. There are many articles today about what has changed, what has stayed the same and how tourism is helping affected nations rebuild. But to understand the depth of this tradgedy, read what should be Pulitzer-prize winning journalism: Barry Bearak’s article originally published in the New York Times Magazine.

Thanks go to Rachel Sklar who won’t let people forget the power of Bearak’s story.

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Wave (Portal) of the Future

December 26th, 2005

TSA logo

USA Today reports on what could be a fantastic new technology: wave portal security. Travelers walk through GE’s new device at San Francisco International with their bags, their keys in their pockets, their shoes on and 20 seconds later, they’re on their way. (“Unless some potential threat is identified,” spokesman Steve Hill tells USA Today.) The system sounds fantastic, but as usual, details are scarce at this point. But Hill did have one important detail:

“Perhaps the sexiest part is the solution we put together will make the passenger experience less intrusive.”

Right on, Steve. Ain’t nothin’ sexier than airport security!

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Ode to the In-flight Magazine

December 26th, 2005

American Way Cover

After complaining about broke airlines and airports only minutes ago, we have to tell you that there is one airborne service that hasn’t gone down in flames: the in-flight magazine. Combining gadget reviews, destination info, personal finance articles and more ads for churrascarias than you can shake a skewer at, in-flight mags stave off the suicidal bordom that preys on international (and even domestic) travelers. We’ve actually gotten some good tips from the magazines, and the airlines (despite what most people assume) aren’t in a hurry to get rid of the expense of producing them. An in-depth look at the industry is here, and below we’ve rounded up some magazine websites.

American Way
Spirit
Carlos
Attache
Continental

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Life in the Fast Lane: Flying with Verified Identity Pass

December 26th, 2005

Steve Brill

Steve Brill’s Verified Identity Pass is back in the press, but we’re not sure exactly why. The system has been in place at Orlando International Airport since July, and Brill hopes to expand it, though only San Jose International Airport has announced any firm plans to introduce Brill’s branded registered traveler system. The current publicity blitz should help: Slate might as well get paid for its coverage. Budget Travel Editor Erik Torkells takes the opposite tack, complaining that a registered traveler program is

yet another case of the baseline service being lowered: The average leisure traveler can no longer reasonably expect the kind of service he used to–unless he pays for it.”

Come now, Erik, business travelers have been paying for (and getting free) swag for decades, and you can’t expect broke airlines (and airports) to shell out money they don’t have.

This media blitz might be orchestrated by Brill himself, a former magazine publisher. Despite his past in print, he runs with big shots in multiple industries, and his contacts have surely helped make VIP a robust company. But two issues remain: the cost of Brill’s program ($80 a year) and its universality (it’s only available in Orlando, but Brill says 30-40 airports are lined up to join). We’re waiting to see what happens next.

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TSA: Two-inch Scissors Allowed

December 20th, 2005

A pile of scissors

New rules governing what can and can’t be taken through airport security go into effect Thursday. Over at Tripso, Joel Widzer says it’s about time. Among the changes: scissors and other small, sharp objects will be allowed. Screeners–the TSA says–will spend more time looking for explosives and doing passenger screening, which should be easier, given that even US citizens are being monitored these days.

Overall, you should encounter a more efficient process that is quicker to navigate and more focused on explosives than on small items. You should also come across TSA agents (now called “Transportation Security Officers” — TSOs) who are more empowered to use their knowledge and training to detect and defeat terrorists by focusing on genuine security threats.

Photo via BBC.

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BREAKING: At Least 19 Dead in Plane Crash Near Miami

December 19th, 2005

AP photo of crash

The NY Times reports that at least 19 people have died after a seaplane crashed off the east coast of Florida. The Chalk’s Ocean Airlines flight left a seaport base around 2:30 this afternoon, and caught fire soon after, crashing into the sea near Miami Beach.

Image via the Associated Press.

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“Not all who wander are lost”

December 18th, 2005

The eTrex Venture

The NY Times Co. spends a lot of time thinking about GPS. To wit, Ted Conover chimes in with another article about the ultimate navigational technology:

The problem, to me, is that navigation by GPS changes the nature of car travel: It makes it seem all about numbers (distance to destination, time to destination) when I’m trying to preserve a sense that travel is also about something else.

Surprisingly esoteric stuff from a usually pragmatic paper.

Earlier: Rome-ing the streets.

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Near Fields, in far-away places

December 16th, 2005

Nokia 3220

Gridskipper opines on the Near-Field Communication Oyster card in London that could soon be used to pay for more than just Tube rides. The same technology, that Nokia recently put in a prototype 3220, recently made it into the pages of the Economist (sub. req.), appluaded as the way to a “wallet phone” future, in which your cell phone replaces that hunk of cow hide in your pocket:

This means that an NFC-capable mobile phone can potentially function as an Octopus card in Hong Kong, a Suica ticket in Japan, and an Oyster card in London. Not many people would require such flexibility, admittedly.

Yeah, but we would.

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Back from Venice

December 16th, 2005

Gondola

After a week in Italy, we’re back with some recommendations for you–and plenty of other travel news that we missed covering:

Despite mixed reviews about its food, Venice’s “Mexican” restaurant, Iguana, kept us happily enjoying La Serenissima with a superb happy hour. A Spritz, Venice’s magical anytime mix of wine, bitters, and seltzer goes for only a euro from 6-8 every night.

The TSA will change its screening procedures, allowing some sharp items but increasing patdowns and tests for traces of explosives.

After getting international attention, air marshalls get sent to other transportation systems–maybe.

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Crappy Flights

December 7th, 2005

Aircraft Lav

And you thought your last flight stunk…

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