Posts Tagged ‘airport’
Bring Snacks
Few magical places in this life offer us the opportunity to pay two
to three times as much for ordinary items such as snacks and
batteries. The movie theater, the zoo, and the airport. Yes that’s
right this bag of Skittles is going to cost you $2.50 plus tax. Why?
Well, we know you have the munchies and we also know that you
are not going anywhere else anytime soon to find an alternative
price range. So, go ahead just turn your wallet upside down and
shake it out into our greedy little hands. You can have the lint
back.
This like so much else we discuss when preparing for travel can be
avoided with a little planning. While your out buying your travel
size tooth paste and shampoo grab some low fat granola and
maybe a banana or two . . . yeah right, go ahead grab the king
size Reeses, Jelly Bellies, and other sugary salty indulgences.
Don’t wait and do it at the gas station on the way in or really why
bother, that is almost as bad. Unfortunately, they are more than
likely gonna get you with your liquid caffeine fixes. Security as you
know, does not allow liquids or gels through, sorry. But, even this
can be gotten around if you don’t need Starbucks. Bring an empty
water bottle and those individual packets they sell for Kool-Aid,
tea, or Propel. Then once you are past security you can fill up at a
water fountain and mix.
One last thing for you coffee drinkers . . . DO NOT DRINK THE
COFFEE SERVED IN FLIGHT. Just trust me on this one. Seriously.
You are better off paying what they’re charging in the airport for a
Scooters coffee or whatever brand they’re pedaling for five bucks
a cup.
Tags: airport, COFFEE, IN FLIGHT, Kool-Aid, preparing for travel, Propel, Snacks, Starbucks, travel, travel size
Online Check In
Many of us waste precious time waiting in line at ticket counters
for check-in at the airport. Most all major airlines now offer
virtual check-in online at their websites. With this, if you choose
to only carry-on and not check any bags, you can bypass the ticket
counter completely and head straight for the gate once you get to
the airport.
Let’s face it, there is no joy to stand in a long line just to deal with
a possibly very cranky or flat out rude airline representative. (a
note to you airline reps. I know this not all of you out there but,
research shows that most of you really lack the customer service
skills you should have.) If you don’t have to waste time with
standing in line to use a kiosk and you can check -in online at
home, then why not do this? Not to mention, if you are running a
little behind or get caught in traffic this will help you make it on
your flight.
Now for you bag checkers out there, some airlines have an online
option to check bags while you virtual check-in. So, when you get
to the airport you just head to kiosk or counter with your bags, id,
and boarding passes. However, be prepared most airlines out
there now charge for any checked bags at all. If they do, there
should be an option to pay for these fees in advance on-line during
check-in. Good luck!
Tags: airline representative, airlines, airport, carry-on, check bags, check in, check-in online, Online Check In, ticket counter, virtual check-in
De-Icing Run Off an Environmental Problem
The EPA is proposing regulations that would require airports to capture some of the de-icing fluid used during the winter. Every year, airlines spray millions of gallons of propylene glycol and ethylene glycol to clear their aircraft of snow, ice, and frost. To properly clear the critical surfaces of a jet from this debris, enough glycol must be sprayed that there is run off. This typically sits on the tarmac afterward and can get into nearby streams or other bodies of water.
What is being noticed is that these waterways are turning orange, the color of de-icing fluid, and the streams or other bodies of water are no longer able to support life. It is usually the residents of that area that take notice of the effects first and call it to the attention of the officials. When Des Moines was ordered by the state Department of Natural Resources to fix the run off problem, it cost them $10 million on a containment system. They noticed an immediate result to the problem.
The changes the regulations are calling for those is that for those airports without de-icing pads, containment units will need to be installed. Then they would be responsible for catching a percentage of the excess fluid and treatment of it. This of course is causing friction with airport officials. Dean Schultz, a spokesman for the American Association of Airport Executives, says: “It’s a bit of a shotgun approach to solving the problem when there’s already a mechanism in place to deal with it in a more case-by-case basis.”
What do you think? Is the system that was set up back in the 90’s sufficient, or have airports been the source of unchecked pollution for too long? Is it time for new regulations? I’m inclined to say yes, it is time for new regulations even though it will mean more cost for the airports. The cost will undoubtedly be passed onto the passengers in the form of airport fees, but there is a greater good to be served than the almighty dollar. Leave us a comment and voice your opinion.
Tags: aircraft, airlines, airport, De-Icing, Department of Natural Resources, egulations, Environmental Problem, EPA, frost, glycol, ice, jet, pollution, Run Off, snow, tarmac
God Hijacks Plane: Preacher in Custody
Jose Flores, a 44-year-old Bolivian preacher and resident of Mexico, is in custody for hijacking an Aeromexico Flight allegedly under the orders of God Almighty himself. At 1pm on September 9th 2009 the pilot from Aeromexico Flight 576 radioed in that a passenger onboard had an explosive device and was demanding to speak with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. The explosive, he told flight attendants he had, was a can of juice with little lights attached. The man on board, Flores, demanded the flight circle Mexico City seven times before landing. The Boeing 737 did not have sufficient fuel to do this and had to land at the Mexico City Airport.
Once they landed and the SWAT team had arrived negotiations through the flight crew began. Flores, the hijacker, was demanding to speak with Mexican President Calderon and that Televisa television network send female reporters to speak with him as well. As part of those negotiations he allowed the release of all women and children aboard the flight. After the women and children had vacated the jet, the SWAT team stormed the plane and took Flores and several men from the plane in handcuffs. The other men were later cleared and released as they had nothing to do with the hijacking. Flores had indicated to the flight crew that he had accomplices as part of his ruse. Flores later admitted his only companions aboard the flight were the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
So, why had this preacher taken the flight hostage. Flores claims God had entrusted him with informing the Mexican President of impending doom. The date of the hijacking was 09-09-09 and upside down that was the satanic number of 666. He was privy of knowledge via a higher source that this date was to be harbinger of a great natural disaster unlike any other before in the form of an earthquake. It was his duty to warn the president of the eminent danger. He had received this revelation months ago but was unable to get his message to President Calderon. He felt God had given him a sign to hijack the flight as means to convey the message.
Passengers for the most part had been unaware of the situation believing the delay was due to the need for an additional security check. Once they landed and saw the police standing by armed and ready to go, the passengers became aware of the danger they were in. The situation went smoothly all things considered and passengers were left shaken but otherwise unharmed. Today is Sept.10th and the supposedly “accursed day” day has passed with no great disaster. If anything, through God’s grace the dangerous situation came to peaceful end. One passenger, Pamela Cheatham, said that she was particularly cautious about flying on possibly dangerous dates, and was avoiding flying on 09-11. The possibility of the 09-09-09 having any significance had escaped her until after this incident.
As long as there are crazy people walking the face of this Earth there will be those who carry out things in the name of God unjustly. It would be nice to see these disturbed people do things this like this in their own names. I suppose, that as far as hostage situations go aboard flights that to have such a peaceful resolutions would be the ideal.
Tags: 09-09-09, Aeromexico, Aeromexico Flight 576, airport, explosive, flight, God, hijacker, Hijacks Plane, hostage, hostage situations, Jose Flores, Mexico City, passengers, President Felipe Calderon, September 9th 2009, SWAT team, Televisa
Love is in the Air?
Is the sky a good place to find a date? According to The Courier Mail of Brisbane it may be. In an article they say: “one in 10 Australian men say they have had a relationship or romance with someone they sat next to on an airline flight, a survey on inflight preferences has found. Women were half as likely to admit to a high-altitude fling.” People who are searching for love may just want to consider a flight to Australia.
We find this interesting and would like to conduct our own poll of how many in the US and other places have found love on a jet plane. If this is you or someone you know, please leave a comment or email us. We will post results when we have signifigant amount of responses. We would welcome any unusual or funny related stories you might have. Were you married on a plane or in an airport? We look foward to hearing from you.
Tags: airport, Australia, flight, jet plane, love, Love is in the Air, relationship, romance
Want to Work in Hawaii?
Hawaiian Airlines has hired one hundred workers and is looking to hire over a hundred and seventy more before years end. This comes as a bit of bright lining to the grim state of the airline industry as of late. Many airlines are scaling back and laying off workers due to a slump in demand for flights. Hawaiian Airlines says that demand is up and they need the workers to keep up with it.
In April the airline will be getting it’s first wide body Airbus A330. These aircraft can hold nearly 300 passengers and travel nonstop from Hawaii to North America or to Asia. Among those they will be looking to hire are pilots, mechanics, ramp agents, service representatives, and more.
If you are a laid off airline employee, I could think of worse job opportunities than working in Hawaii. Something to think about!
www.captainnowhere.com
Tags: airbus, airline, airport, employment, flights, Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, hire, jobs, nonstop, passengers, work
Eat, Shop, Live, Fly “Air City”
One of the world’s largest airports, Seoul’s Incheon International, has plans to become a city. The grounds are already just about the size of Manhattan. About twenty thousand people already live in apartments on the site. MGM is partnering with the effort and will be installing an amusement park within this new “Air City”. Aside from the amusement park there will be construction on more apartments, shopping centers, businesses, recreation centers, and a hospital. Everything you would expect to see in a city and then some. Needless to say this would be a tourist attraction adding to the local economy. The airport is located off of the Yellow Sea and there are plans to include a marina for those who fancy sailing.
Would you want to live at the airport? It may be a convenience for airline workers but, I suspect the novelty would wear off eventually. The constant noise off takeoff and landing. The smell of jet fuel in the morning? It would be a cool place to see but, despite my love for air travel, I don’t think I would like to permanently check my bags at the airport.
www.captainnowhere.com
Tags: Air City, air travel, airline, airport, construction, news, Seoul's Incheon International
Paperless Boarding Passes
Are you ready to say Goodbye to paper boarding passes? Soon you will, airlines are pushing for more and more for virtual options for their passengers. From electronic tickets to online check-in airlines are keeping up with technology. Soon you will be able to pass security and board a flight with a virtual boarding pass sent to your “smart phone”. So, with your phone, an ID, and your smiling face (optional) you can head straight to the gate. Security and the gate agents simply scan a barcode off you phone and you are set. You can board a flight without ever having to stop at a ticket counter again. At least if you have no bags to check. The method was tested this summer at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Is it a good thing? Less paper makes it greener, the electronic aspect makes it more convenient, and it definitely streamlines the process. But, will you miss the personal interaction in your flying experience as technology takes over? First you book online, then you get your pass from your phone, that leaves the security screen and a brief “have a nice flight”, from your gate agent as the sum of human interaction at the airport. Personally I wish that the methods that airlines are using were more like extra options. Try and check-in with a person at ticket counter and you are redirected to a self check kiosk. Don’t check your bag online and you are hit with an extra charge. While they are supposed to be for our convenience, it seems more like the airlines are saying “don’t bother us “. It shouldn’t be a hassle or a fee to check-in or make a reservation with a real person. Where has the customer service gone? But, to each his own. This is the trend of the future, I just wish it wasn’t an abandonment of the past.
www.captainnowhere.com
Tags: airline, airport, boarding pass, check in, flight, security, smart phone, virtual pass