Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The TSA wants to remind you that pies are OK, cranberry sauce is not]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/22/the-tsa-wants-to-remind-you-that-pies-are-ok-cranberry-sauce-is/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/22/the-tsa-wants-to-remind-you-that-pies-are-ok-cranberry-sauce-is/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/22/the-tsa-wants-to-remind-you-that-pies-are-ok-cranberry-sauce-is/#commentsFiled under:

Despite all the mocking of the TSA, I do need to compliment them on how they try and educate the traveling public on how to deal with their (often silly) rules.

As we approach the busiest travel season of the year, the TSA has taken the time to once again remind people what you need to know about traveling with food or gifts.

The basic rules still apply - liquids are not allowed through the checkpoint unless they are in a "one quart baggie" and under 3 ounces each. Exceptions are made for medication, baby formula and breast milk.

These rules obviously mean that gravy, maple syrup, wine and anything else not on their exceptions list must be placed in a checked bag, or sent ahead in the mail.

The good news is that anything solid is permitted - this includes pies, cakes and that leftover turkey. I'm not entirely sure why jellies and jams are not allowed, but pies are. Bottom line; if you want to carry jam or jelly, put it in a pie.

A special reminder for snow globes - nobody wants to pack those in checked luggage, but the checkpoint will not allow them to pass, so either leave them at home, or send them with FedEx.

As a final reminder, always keep Christmas gifts unwrapped until you arrive at your destination. It sucks to have a TSA agent unwrap all your gifts just to be sure that Zhu Zhu pet isn't actually a bomb. Once again - shipping gifts is best done by mail, UPS or FedEx. If you ship ahead of time, you'll be able to send a large box from coast to coast for about $20, which is well worth it, considering how much hassle you'll prevent.

The TSA wants to remind you that pies are OK, cranberry sauce is not originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>checkpointtsatsa approvedTSA regulationsTsaAgentTsaApprovedTsaRegulationsSun, 22 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New airport tug puts the pilot in charge, reduces emissions]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/22/new-airport-tug-puts-the-pilot-in-charge-reduces-emissions/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/22/new-airport-tug-puts-the-pilot-in-charge-reduces-emissions/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/22/new-airport-tug-puts-the-pilot-in-charge-reduces-emissions/#commentsFiled under: ,



Our friends at Autoblog discovered a pretty neat airport tug under development by auto parts maker Ricardo. Airplane tugs are normally only used to push a plane back from its gate, or when they need to tow the plane from a hangar to the gate.

In this new tug design, the plane is clamped to the truck, and then puts the pilot in charge of driving it to the gate. In a normal taxi situation, planes keep their engines on until they reach their parking spot. Of course, anyone who has flown will know that the destination gate is almost always occupied, forcing the plane to sit and wait for up to an hour.

All this time, the engines are still running, spitting out tons of emissions. With this new design, as soon as the plane is clamped to the tug, the main engines can be turned off. The new TaxiBot could save millions of dollars in fuel costs, while reducing emissions.

(Via: Autoblog)

New airport tug puts the pilot in charge, reduces emissions originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airplaneairplane tugAirplaneTugricardotaxibotTugSun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The scale doesn't lie, at least not in New York]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/21/the-scale-doesn-t-lie-at-least-not-in-new-york/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/21/the-scale-doesn-t-lie-at-least-not-in-new-york/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/21/the-scale-doesn-t-lie-at-least-not-in-new-york/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and we're all dreading the thought of stepping on the scale the next day ... and making all kinds of empty promises about jogging and losing weight and not eating like that again next year. Some of us we'll even unleash a stream of profanities and accuse the device of lying. Out in Queens, however, a few scales have been tested, and they won't be fooling anyone at turkey-time.

Inspectors from the Department of Consumer Affairs have verified that the 741 luggage scales at New York's JFK and LaGuardia airports. On the first run, 92 percent were found to be in compliance, and following repairs, a re-inspection showed a 98 percent success rate. The remaining 2 percent? Don't worry: they won't be used until they've been repaired.

With the extra fees that can be triggered by hefty bags, this is a pretty serious issues, especially in a market where airlines are trying to pick up a little extra revenue and consumers have become sensitive to additional charges.

The scale doesn't lie, at least not in New York originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baggagejfkjfk airportJfkAirportlaguardiaLaGuardia International AirportLaGuardiaAirportLaguardiaInternationalAirportluggageluggage scalesLuggageScalesnew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCitythanksgivingthanksgiving travelThanksgivingTravelSat, 21 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Feds are tired of making you wait in security line]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/21/feds-are-tired-of-making-you-wait-in-security-line/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/21/feds-are-tired-of-making-you-wait-in-security-line/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/21/feds-are-tired-of-making-you-wait-in-security-line/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The government doesn't want to make you miserable! Seriously. The Department of Homeland Security wants faster airport screening just as much as you do. That's why it supports a program for screening approved, low-risk travelers coming to the United States to most international airports. The new approach has been tested for more than a year at seven airports, and screening time dropped from 10 minutes to only three.

To participate in this program, you need to be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident -- and more than 14 years old. There's a $100 fee (which is probably worth it), and you have to submit to a background check. If you're accepted, the customs process when you get back to the United States won't be so bad. If all goes well, the program will eventually be open to foreigners who come from countries that have a sufficiently solid screening process.

Now, DHS, is there anything you can do to speed up all those logjams at domestic security checkpoints!

Feds are tired of making you wait in security line originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airport securityAirportSecurityDepartment of Homeland SecurityDepartmentOfHomelandSecurityHomeland SecurityHomeland Security DepartmentHomelandSecurityHomelandSecurityDepartmentsecuritysecurity checkpointSecurityCheckpointSat, 21 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How did international visitors enter the U.S. this year?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/21/how-did-international-visitors-enter-the-u-s-this-year/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/21/how-did-international-visitors-enter-the-u-s-this-year/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/21/how-did-international-visitors-enter-the-u-s-this-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you visited the United States from overseas, you probably hit the ground in one of 15 ports of entry. These top first stops accounted for 84 percent of all entries from overseas in the first eight months of 2009-- up almost 2 percentage points from the same period in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Traffic through the major ports is becoming slightly more concentrated. This doesn't include visits from Canada and Mexico.

New York JFK, Miami and Los Angeles continue to be the top three ports of entry for overseas visitors. Through August, these locations accounted for 39% of all arrivals from overseas, an increase of a percentage point from last year. Miami was the only one of these three to post a year-over-year increase, and it was joined only by Orlando MCO, Philadelphia and Fort Lauderdale. Meanwhile, 11 of the top 15 ports of entry posted decreases in arrivals. This is hardly surprising, given that visits to the Untied States from overseas are down 9 percent so far this year.

Chicago was hit particularly hard, losing 18 percent of its entry traffic and moving into #7 on the list, behind Honolulu. Detroit lost 36 percent of its inbound visitor share, falling to #16 -- after Boston, Philadelphia and Fort Lauderdale.

How did international visitors enter the U.S. this year? originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bostonboston massachusettsBostonMassachusettscaliforniachicagochicago illinoisChicagoIllinoisDepartment of CommerceDepartmentOfCommerceDetroitdetroit michiganDetroitMichiganfloridafort lauderdaleFortLauderdalehawaiihonoluluillinoisjfkjfk airportJfkAirportlos angelesLos Angeles CaliforniaLosAngelesLosAngelesCaliforniaMassachusettsmiamimiami floridaMiamiFloridamichigannew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCityorlandopennsylvaniaphiladelphiaPhiladelphia PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaSat, 21 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another plane mishap in Africa. This time lava is the problem]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/plane-misses-runway-and-hits-lava-instead/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/plane-misses-runway-and-hits-lava-instead/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/19/plane-misses-runway-and-hits-lava-instead/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you've ever seen a lava flow, you know that once the stuff cools and hardens, it's hard to move. In the Congo, this has created a big problem at the airport in Goma. Back in 2002, when the Nyiragongo Volcano erupted, lava flowed onto the runway, thus shortening it. A shorter runway does not sound good. It's not.

Today, this was proved true once more when an airplane flying from Kinshasa to Goma overshot the runway and landed on the lava instead. Ouch! According to the report, 20 people out of the 117 on board were injured.

This is not the first time that lava has created issues at the Goma airport. The last time was in 2007 when a cargo plane caught on fire after it hit the lava. This incidence caused 7 deaths.

As unusual as it is to hit lava on a runway, it's probably more unusual for a plane to hit a bush pig. The plane hits a bush pig incident happened a week ago on in Zimbabwe. When this pig made it's last oink, high drama ensued which included a couple of injuries that were caused when passengers fell into a ditch at the side of the runway.

As for the lava on the runway woes, hopefully this latest incident in Goma will help provide incentive to remove the rest of it.

When it comes to bush pigs on runways, pilots in Zimbabwe--and I guess elsewhere where bush pigs roam--are probably keeping their eyes on the lookout.

The photo taken by Julien Harneis from a helicopter shows the lava flow around Goma.

Another plane mishap in Africa. This time lava is the problem originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airplane crashAirplaneCrashbush pigBushPigGomainjurieslavaNyiragongo VolcanoNyiragongoVolcanorunwayvolcanovolcanoeszimbabweThu, 19 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tips for tippers: it isn't what you expect]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/18/tips-for-tippers-it-isn-t-what-you-expect/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/18/tips-for-tippers-it-isn-t-what-you-expect/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/18/tips-for-tippers-it-isn-t-what-you-expect/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tipping's a tough nut to crack. Should you tip a housekeeper? Back in the day, the rule was leaving some cash only if your stay was 30 days or longer. Since then, however, it seems to have changed. And, what's appropriate for a valet? Bellman? Skycap? Travel means tipping, and there are plenty of points at which you can expect to do this. If you go to the same hotel or use the same car service frequently, you may want to adjust your tipping habits, as well.

If these questions make you feel ignorant, you're not alone. Michael Lynn, a prof at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, has conducted to nationwide tipping surveys and has found that a third of the respondents don't know to leave 15 percent to 20 percent of the tab at a restaurant. Throw hotels and drivers into the mix, and it's unsurprising that the rules aren't understood as clearly as they could be.

So, USA Today and I are helping you know what to tip and when. A recent article by Gary Stoller provides some good ideas, and I've tossed in a few of my own.

Continue reading Tips for tippers: it isn't what you expect

Tips for tippers: it isn't what you expect originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conciergeconciergesCurtainBluffEden Roc hoteleden rockEdenRocHotelEdenRocketiquettefinancial crisisFinancialCrisisholiday innHolidayInnhotelshousekeeperHousekeepersHousekeeperTipshousekeepingrecessionritz-carltonslumptiptippingtipsvaletvalet parkingvalet parking guideValetParkingValetParkingGuidevaletsWed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Galley Gossip: 5 tips for getting through airport security quickly]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/17/galley-gossip-5-tips-for-getting-through-airport-security-quic/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/17/galley-gossip-5-tips-for-getting-through-airport-security-quic/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/17/galley-gossip-5-tips-for-getting-through-airport-security-quic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With Thanksgiving fast approaching and Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's following right behind it, more people than ever will be flying in the upcoming weeks. That means only one thing. Holiday travelers will soon be taking over the airports. It won't be pretty. Long lines will form at security, the kind made even longer by passengers who have yet to master the techniques needed to pass through airport security swiftly and smoothly. That's why it's so important to get to the airport early.

As a working flight attendant I'm able to flash my crew ID and bypass the line - one of the few remaining perks of working for an airline. Hey, don't get mad at me. Because the last time a passenger threw a fit, pushing me out of the way while screaming about his flight that was about to depart in five minutes, he not only wound up on my flight, forty five mintues later, but on my side of the business class cabin. It was an awkward flight for both of us.

When I'm not traveling in uniform, I always pick the line that has the most business travelers in it, regardless of how long it may be. Frequent fliers know the drill. They're quick, they're fast, and they're always ready to go. As the mother of a three year-old, I know what's it's like traveling with kids. It ain't easy. But by the time the family of four realizes that the stroller needs to be placed on the belt along with the car seat, and that little Johnny's shoes must come off - even if he is only six months old - I'll be long gone, on my way to the gate. I'm not just a flight attendant, I'm a commuting flight attendant, so if there's one thing I know besides uncomfortable seats and bad food, it's how to pass through airport security quickly.

Here are five tips to get you through security faster...

Continue reading Galley Gossip: 5 tips for getting through airport security quickly

Galley Gossip: 5 tips for getting through airport security quickly originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Airlines not taking any swine flu risks - bumping sick passengers]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/airlines-not-taking-any-swine-flu-risks-bumping-sick-passenger/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/airlines-not-taking-any-swine-flu-risks-bumping-sick-passenger/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/airlines-not-taking-any-swine-flu-risks-bumping-sick-passenger/#commentsFiled under: ,

It was only a matter of time, but H1N1 fear has finally spread to the airlines.

Yesterday, United Airlines passenger Mitra Mostoufi was kicked off her plane when the flight crew suspected she may have swine flu.

The 50 year old from Hawaii was questioned in front of her fellow passengers, and pulled from the plane.

United Airlines said that they do allow their staff to determine whether someone is too ill to fly, and this is obviously done to protect the other passengers and crew on the plane. Especially on a plane, the air circulation system can spread germs to everyone on board in a matter of minutes.

According to Mostoufi, she had thrown up in the airplane bathroom due to a reaction to a restless leg syndrome medication. When she asked for an air sickness bag, a United Airlines staffer ordered her to gather her belongings and leave the plane.

Even though the airline bumped her, they refused to rebook her on a different flight that day, so she had to spend the night with relatives.

I'm torn on this issue - obviously, airline staff are not trained physicians, so they have no way of making a 100% accurate judgment on our health. However, if they notice someone with flu-like symptoms, I'd be quite happy if they asked that passenger some more questions. Throwing someone off a flight just because they are puking does not seem very fair though.

What do you think? Should airlines abandon passengers with (swine) flu like symptoms?

View Poll

Airlines not taking any swine flu risks - bumping sick passengers originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fluH1N1H1N1 fluH1N1 Swine Fluh1N1 vaccineh1n1 virusH1n1FluH1n1SwineFluH1n1VaccineH1n1VirusinfluenzaWed, 11 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Talking Travel with Step Back from the Baggage Claim, Jason Barger]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/talking-travel-with-step-back-from-the-baggage-claim-jason-barg/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/talking-travel-with-step-back-from-the-baggage-claim-jason-barg/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/talking-travel-with-step-back-from-the-baggage-claim-jason-barg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Jason Barger already knew a fair amount about people before he headed off his 7-day, 7-airport travel spree to do nothing but watch them interact. He'd spent many a spring break leading adolescents and adults on house-building ventures in Mexico, a trip that took him through various airports with a band of travelers of all ages, for example.

Wanting more fodder to further develop his ideas about airport behavior and what it says about humanity, he decided to airport hop logging thousands of miles and observations as he zig zagged across the U.S. While he watched people either shine with behavior that would make Mom proud --or in such a way that if they were a piece of luggage no one would claim them, Barger honed his ideas about how the airport is a perfect metaphor for modern day life.

The result was Step Back from the Baggage Claim, a book that Barger hopes people will leave on a bench somewhere for someone else to pick up once they're done reading it. The result of passing the book along will be that people will think about how they interact as they move through their day.

Ever since I read Barger's book, I've made my own observations about airport interactions. It does seem he's onto something. Over the past months since his book came out, gaining steam through venues like the Washington Post and ABC News, I've kept up with Barger's efforts. Yesterday, there was a post on his new video.

Today is a Talking Travel interview with questions Barger answered through e-mail in between a trip to the Dominican Republic to help with a house-building effort there. If you are looking for a tasty bite to eat that's not expensive while passing through an airport, Barger has a suggestion.

With Thanksgiving travel rapidly approaching, listening to Barger's advice to step back from the baggage claim is not a bad idea.


Continue reading Talking Travel with Step Back from the Baggage Claim, Jason Barger

Talking Travel with Step Back from the Baggage Claim, Jason Barger originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Detroithuman behaviorHumanBehaviorhumanityinspirationJason BargerJasonBargerMiami International AirportMiamiInternationalAirportpsychologySeattleStep Back from the Baggage ClaimStepBackFromTheBaggageClaimTalking TravelTalkingTraveltravel booksTravelBooksWashington PostWashingtonPostWed, 11 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Plane hits pig on runway and passengers panic]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/plane-hits-pig-on-runway-and-passengers-panic/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/plane-hits-pig-on-runway-and-passengers-panic/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/11/plane-hits-pig-on-runway-and-passengers-panic/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It wasn't a wolf's huffing and puffing that led to the demise of a pig on the runway at the Harare International Airport in Zimbabwe last Tuesday. Nope, it was a MA60 60-seater attempting to take off. The wild bush pig may or may not have seen the Air Zimbabwe plane coming. But, come it did.

Poor pig. Poor plane. Poor passengers--and poor flight attendant who had to yell, "'Evacuate!'" after the damaged plane ended up off the runway with dust and smoke filling the cabin.

That's not the worst of it.

Continue reading Plane hits pig on runway and passengers panic

Plane hits pig on runway and passengers panic originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal storiesAnimalStoriesbizarrebush pigBushPigHarare InternationalHarareInternationalplane crashesPlaneCrashesweirdwild animalsWildAnimalsZimbabweWed, 11 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Drunk United Airlines pilot pulled off plane minutes before departure]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/drunk-united-airlines-pilot-pulled-off-plane-minutes-before-depa/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/drunk-united-airlines-pilot-pulled-off-plane-minutes-before-depa/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/drunk-united-airlines-pilot-pulled-off-plane-minutes-before-depa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A United Airlines pilot was pulled from his plane yesterday on charges that he was about to fly to Chicago while drunk.

After he failed a breathalyzer test, he was arrested and subsequently released on bond. United did not release the name of the pilot, but did confirm an employee was "removed from service".

The flight in question was United 949, scheduled to depart London Heathrow at 12:05pm All 124 passengers had to be moved to other flights as no replacement pilot was available. The passengers were told that the pilot was "sick".

The airline did not release any more information about the incident. The British press reported his age as 51.

Sadly, drunk pilots are not all that uncommon. When we recently compiled some of the worst incidents involving the flight crew, four of the ten involved booze in the flight deck.

Drunk United Airlines pilot pulled off plane minutes before departure originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drunkdrunk flyingdrunk pilotDrunkFlyingDrunkPilotUnited AirlinesUnitedAirlinesTue, 10 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Good airport behavior could change the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/step-back-from-the-baggage-claim-good-airport-behavior-could-ch/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/step-back-from-the-baggage-claim-good-airport-behavior-could-ch/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/step-back-from-the-baggage-claim-good-airport-behavior-could-ch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Back in April, Gadling reviewed Step Back from the Baggage Claim, a book Jason Barger wrote about human behavior based on a seven- day trip he took to seven airports without leaving any of them.

For the entire week he observed how people conduct themselves in airports and on planes--places he sees as metaphors for life.

This video, just released yesterday, encapsulates what Barger was looking for when he went airport hopping and what he hopes might occur because of his experiences and the book he wrote as a result of them.

Yes, dear Gadling readers, according to Barger, if we learn to behave at the airport, we might change the world.

Along with Barger's message, this video captures airport bustle and interactions in a nutshell.

Stay tuned tomorrow for an interview with Barger. All airports are not created equal.

Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Good airport behavior could change the world originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>book reviewsBookReviewshuman behaviorhuman psychologyHumanBehaviorHumanPsychologyJason BargerJasonBargermetaphorStep Back from the Baggage ClaimStepBackFromTheBaggageClaimstresstravelTue, 10 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free airport WiFi this holiday season - courtesy of Google]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/free-airport-wifi-this-holiday-season-courtesy-of-google/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/free-airport-wifi-this-holiday-season-courtesy-of-google/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/free-airport-wifi-this-holiday-season-courtesy-of-google/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Starting November 10, 2009 , and ending January 15, 2010, Google is giving holiday travelers free WiFi access at 45 airports.

The list includes major airports like Las Vegas, Seattle, Boston and Orlando, but sadly does not include some of the largest in the country, like Chicago, New York or Atlanta.

Still, saving $10 on airport WiFi is a jolly nice gesture, and one that is greatly appreciated. Google has added a charity aspect to the promotion, by asking WiFi users to donate to one of three specially selected charities.

This is the second WiFi promotion Google is offering this season - previously, they announced that they would pay for your WiFi access on board Virgin America flights.

To get your free airport access, you don't need to do anything special - just turn on your device, connect to the airport network and follow the instructions. No credit card will be required.

To learn more about the free in-flight or airport WiFi promotion, head on over to the Google "Freeholidaywifi" site.

Free airport WiFi this holiday season - courtesy of Google originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Two oddball tips for making a long-haul flight more comfortable]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/two-oddball-tips-for-making-a-long-haul-flight-more-comfortable/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/two-oddball-tips-for-making-a-long-haul-flight-more-comfortable/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/two-oddball-tips-for-making-a-long-haul-flight-more-comfortable/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I'm schooled in squirming and shifting, shoving my toes in-between the seats in front of me, and generally attempting insane yoga positions in order to get some shut-eye on an overseas flight. As such, I've discovered two techniques that have helped ease my international plane travel pain.

1. Use a water bottle as a foot rest. I know it sounds strange, but it really works! A 2-liter bottle gives your feet some elevation and is easy to maneuver, but even the smallest 16-oz bottle will massage your feet and offer some comfort. I discovered this technique by accident on a flight that didn't have footrests.

2. Stick a pillow under your chin when you sleep. Yes, it is odd, but I'm a stereotypical head loll-er, and my neck is too tight to do the sideways thing. I stuff a pillow under my chin (occasionally folding it in half), and my head and neck get great support while allowing me to breathe comfortably. Plus, it keeps my mouth from flopping open. Try it!

On a side note, I recommend you try to get two pillows, if possible. One goes against your lower back; I always have a pillow there. If I can only score one pillow, I stuff a sweatshirt under my chin.

Happy travels.

Two oddball tips for making a long-haul flight more comfortable originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>international flightsInternationalFlightstipsTue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Six ways to make waiting in line better (and shorter)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/six-ways-to-make-waiting-in-line-better-and-shorter/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/six-ways-to-make-waiting-in-line-better-and-shorter/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/10/six-ways-to-make-waiting-in-line-better-and-shorter/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The holidays are coming, and if your plans involve travel, expect to lose large chunks of your youth to the painful ritual of waiting in line. Aside from the occasional ascetic masochist, nobody digs the ol' "hurry up and wait" game. Yet, you'll be doing plenty of standing in line at airports, hotels and retail establishments. Last year, I wrote about what you can do to make this easier. Now, let's turn our attention to the queue-masters - the people and organizations responsible for creating and managing what become monstrosities from late November through the end of the year.

Below, I'll kick this off with six suggestions to airlines, airports, hotels and others in the business of making you wait in line. But, treat this as my opening offer - I'd love to get your ideas on this.

To start, here's what I suggest:

1. Ban parallel lines: think of most grocery stores. If there are five cash registers, there are five lines. A super-efficient employee can make people in one line happy while pissing off the rest. Instead, use a single line in which the person at the front goes to the next available teller/agent/representative. This approach is gaining popularity, but some places (mostly retailers) are still living in the past.

Continue reading Six ways to make waiting in line better (and shorter)

Six ways to make waiting in line better (and shorter) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christmasholiday travelHolidayTravelthanksgivingthanksgiving travelThanksgivingTravelwaitingwaiting in lineWaitingInLineTue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hijack scare blamed on TSA screwup at Florida airport]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/08/hijack-scare-blamed-on-tsa-screwup-at-florida-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/08/hijack-scare-blamed-on-tsa-screwup-at-florida-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/08/hijack-scare-blamed-on-tsa-screwup-at-florida-airport/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It may appear that we tend to pick on the TSA a lot here on Gadling, but the agency is just a never ending source of stuff for us to write about. The latest incident involving the people that run airport security comes from Northwest Florida Regional Airport.

Several minutes after a Delta Airlines jet departed from the airport, TSA officials made a call to have the plane turn around and head back.

Unfortunately, they failed to notify the local Air Force base. When the base noticed the plane taking a different course than they had filed, a call went out to local law enforcement. The call history showed that the security staff at Eglin Air Force Base advised of a possible hijack attempt. The request asked for "anyone available, including a SWAT team".

It took 20 minutes for dispatchers to confirm that there was no hijack attempt, and that the plane had been asked to return so they could screen a TSA staff member. According to TSA officials, there had been "some discrepancies" in the way they screened their own employee.

As is often the case, the TSA is "reviewing the incident" and will take "appropriate action if necessary". I'm sure that makes us all feel much safer.

Continue reading Hijack scare blamed on TSA screwup at Florida airport

Hijack scare blamed on TSA screwup at Florida airport originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>floridageo:30.537222+-86.474167northwest florida regional airportNorthwestFloridaRegionalAirportoskaloosaWhere:okaloosa-FLSun, 08 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Why the TSA insists on screening wheelchairs]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/why-the-tsa-insists-on-screening-wheelchairs/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/why-the-tsa-insists-on-screening-wheelchairs/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/why-the-tsa-insists-on-screening-wheelchairs/#commentsFiled under:

Screening airline passengers in a wheelchair has often been a bit of a hot topic. For some reason, people get wound up when they see the TSA searching every corner of a wheelchair, as if disabled people should automatically be trusted and allowed to pass through without a search of their chair.

The TSA understood this criticism, and decided to do a little research. As it turns out, people in a wheelchair are just as much of a threat as the rest of us, and screeners regularly find items hidden in a wheelchair.

Earlier this year, a passenger in wheelchair was arrested when agents found packages of cocaine. And just a month ago, agents found not one, but two loaded guns under the cushion of a wheelchair in Milwaukee. In this case, the gentleman had simply "forgotten" he still had them there, but this does show how easy it is to hide items like guns in a wheelchair.

So, next time you see the TSA give a disabled passenger in a wheelchair an enhanced search, just remember that anyone can attempt to bring unwelcome items on a plane, disabled or not.

Why the TSA insists on screening wheelchairs originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>tsatsa approvedTSA regulationsTsaAgentTsaApprovedTsaRegulationswheelchairwheelchair accessibleWheelchairAccessiblewheelchairsSat, 07 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Man accidently ejects himself from plane]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/man-accidently-ejects-himself-from-plane/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/man-accidently-ejects-himself-from-plane/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/07/man-accidently-ejects-himself-from-plane/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This is a what NOT to do story if you're ever in a Pilatus PC-7 Mk II. Do not, I repeat, do not, use the black and yellow handle located between your legs to steady yourself. Not even if you're pretending to be Tom Cruise in the movie Top Gun. Pull on that handle and you'll find yourself out of the plane before you can say, "Ooops, I shouldn't have done that."

That handle is what the pilots and passengers can use to activate the ejector seat in order to shoot out from the plane in case of an emergency.

In the case of this recent mishap, the passenger was on a joy ride with an expert pilot of South Africa's Silver Falcons air display team when he pulled the lever during one of the maneuvers.

And whoosh!, there he went--the two rockets attached to the back of his chair catapulting him right out of the plane 100m up into the wide open sky.

Luckily, the ejector seat is designed to release a parachute so the man safely floated back to solid ground near the Langebaanweg airfield not far from Cape Town, South Africa.

If one could be assured that you'd land as safely as this guy did, you have to admit this does sound like it would be a blast in more ways than one.

I wonder if pilots will now post a sign in front of the passenger seat saying, "DO NOT pull the yellow and black lever. DON"T EVEN TOUCH IT. Ever." [news.com.au]

*The Pilatus PC-7 in the photo is from the Royal Netherlands Air Force

Man accidently ejects himself from plane originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airplane mishapsAirplaneMishapsbizarreCape TownCapeTownejectLangebaanweg airfieldLangebaanwegAirfieldSouth AfricaSouth Africas Silver FalconsSouthAfricaSouthAfricasSilverFalconsTom CruiseTomCruiseTop GunTopGunweirdSat, 07 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Want to ignore airport security rules? Become a celebrity!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/want-to-ignore-airport-security-rules-become-a-celebrity/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/want-to-ignore-airport-security-rules-become-a-celebrity/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/06/want-to-ignore-airport-security-rules-become-a-celebrity/#commentsFiled under:



Airport security took a bit of blow this week when Britney Spears passed through LAX security carrying... a Big Gulp! I'm not a big fan of paparazzi (or Britney Spears for that matter), but the underlying story is interesting enough to deserve a closer look.

When Britney passed through the checkpoint, she was carrying her Big Gulp, something you and I would be told to throw away. Apparently being a famous singer gets you a special waiver, because none of the TSA staff told her to dump it.

Initially, there was some outrage from TSA opponents, as a drink like that is not permitted. TSA blogger "Bob" was quick to defend the TSA agents by pointing out that there were only ice chips in the cup, and that as long as the cup is put through the x-ray, ice chips are permitted.

As far as the TSA was concerned, that was end of the story. This is where the paparazzi come in handy, because they filmed Britney clearly carrying the cup through the checkpoint, without it ever passing through the x-ray equipment.

So, next time you don't want to spend $6 on an airport drink, just put on a Britney Spears mask or find yourself a career in entertainment, it'll make your trips to the airport so much easier.

Want to ignore airport security rules? Become a celebrity! originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britneybritney spearsbritney-spearsBritneySpearstsatsa approvedTSA regulationsTsaAgentTsaApprovedTsaRegulationsFri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST