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News and Tips For Your Trips

New facial scans of air travelers trigger controversy

Here’s a look at Delta’s facial recognition scanners at gates (Image: Delta)

As the Department of Homeland Security continues to expand the use of facial recognition cameras at U.S. airports, and as more airlines test the technology at boarding gates, a new report has cast doubt on the effectiveness and legitimacy of the entire project.

DHS is already using biometric facial scanning of some travelers departing the U.S. at several airports, including Boston, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Miami, New York JFK, Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare, and Houston’s two airports. The agency has been planning to expand it to all major U.S. international gateway airports this year. The scans verify the identity of departing travelers by comparing facial images to a DHS biometric database.

But a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has asked DHS to stop expanding the program after a new report from the Georgetown University Law School questions the accuracy of the scans, and notes that Congress has never authorized the collection of facial scans from U.S. citizens by DHS.

The Georgetown University Law School’s Center on Privacy and Technology issued the report, which says that the so-called “biometric exit” project could end up costing taxpayers $1 billion. “Yet, curiously, neither Congress nor DHS has ever justified the need for the program,” the report said.

Tech vendors like NEC specialize in facial recognition systems. (Image: NEC)

It also charged that the facial scanning program “stands on shaky legal ground.” Although Congress has given DHS a green light to collect biometric data from foreign nationals at U.S. entry and exit points, it has “never clearly authorized the border collection of biometrics from American citizens using face recognition technology,” the report said. “Without explicit authorization, DHS should not be scanning the faces of Americans as they depart on international flights – but DHS is doing it anyway.”

The Georgetown study also charged that the DHS facial recognition program has a relatively high error rate, misidentifying as many as one out of every 25 travelers. “At this high rate, DHS’ error-prone face scanning system could cause 1,632 passengers to be wrongfully delayed or denied boarding every day at New York’s JFK International Airport alone,” the study said. You can see the full report here.

British Airways self-service boarding gates include facial scans. (Image: British Airways)

After the report came out, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators wrote to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen asking the agency to stop expanding the program at U.S. airports, “and provide Congress with its explicit statutory authority to use and expand a biometric exit program on U.S. citizens.” They also cited the Georgetown Law report’s figures about the program’s error rate in verifying identities.

Last month, Delta started working with DHS to begin facial scans of passengers departing Atlanta as they board flights to Paris out of Gates E10 and E12 at ATL, allowing travelers to decide whether or not they want to participate. And British Airways recently announced it is incorporating facial scanning technology into tests of “self-service biometric boarding gates” at Los Angeles International, similar to technology the airline already uses at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

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Which airline has the best inflight wi-fi?

A new study ranks JetBlue’s inflight wi-fi as the best in the industry. (Image: JetBlue)

How do the major U.S. airlines compare in their in-flight Internet service? That’s what the folks at HighSpeedInternet.com were wondering, so they studied Wi-Fi availability, speed and cost for the seven largest carriers to find out.

Capturing first place in their overall rankings was JetBlue, partly for its speed, but mainly for its cost: There is none.

“JetBlue is the only airline in America that offers free in-flight Wi-Fi,” HighSpeedInternet.com said. “Along with being the most affordable, JetBlue’s in-flight Wi-Fi is also among the fastest; it’s tied with Delta and Virgin America at 15 Mbps.”

Ranking second overall was Southwest, with a cost of just $8 a day for in-flight Internet and a speed of 10 Mbps. (Cheap, yes, but I hear that you get what you pay for with Southwest inflight wi-fi. I don’t fly SWA enough to know…do you? Comment below, please.)

Source: HighSpeedInternet.com

As for availability, Virgin America was tops, with Wi-Fi offered on 100 percent of its available seat-miles. Delta was second at 98 percent availability, followed by Southwest at 90 percent. Virgin America also had a speed of 15 Mbps, but its superior Wi-Fi comes at a high price — $25 a day, the most expensive in the industry, the study noted.

Keep in mind that the cheapest way to buy Gogo is to purchase hourly ($7) or day ($19) passes ahead of time. When you purchase on the plane, the cost can soar to as high as $50.

Virgin’s owner, Alaska Airlines, didn’t fare as well, with Wi-Fi available on just 75 percent of its capacity – the lowest of the seven airlines – and speed well behind Virgin America at 9.8 Mbps.

(We should note that as Alaska continues to integrate its operations with Virgin’s, it recently decided to overhaul their Wi-Fi products. Alaska said a few months ago that it plans to install Gogo’s 2Ku satellite-based broadband Wi-Fi in both its Boeing aircraft and its Airbus fleet — i.e., Virgin’s planes. Installations will start next year on Alaska 737s, and the whole job should be finished by 2020. Alaska also recently extended its free in-flight texting to Virgin’s aircraft as well.)

At the bottom of the company’s overall rankings was United, with availability of 85 percent, speed of 9.8 Mbps, and a cost of $20. United was just below American, which had similar numbers. HighSpeedInternet.com noted that Hawaiian, Spirit and Frontier Airlines don’t have in-flight Wi-Fi. As a frequent United flier, this finding surprised me— When the system is actually working, United’s inflight wi-fi is relatively fast and stable. But the problem is reliability– over the last year, I would estimate that United’s inflight wi-fi system was down on about 40% of my flights.

Also, with Gogo-equipped planes, speed varies based on the type of system installed on the plane. For example, 3,000 planes now have Gogo wi-fi, but only 500 of them have the speediest satellite-based product. (More on that here.)

Source: HighSpeedInternet.com

The rankings changed significantly in looking at the best Wi-Fi service for business travelers, with the assumption that the cost is irrelevant because the traveler’s employer will cover it. If that’s the case, HighSpeedInternet.com gives top honors to Virgin America for its top speed and 100 percent availability, followed by Delta and JetBlue.

In conducting their research, HighSpeedInternet.com staffers discovered that some of this information wasn’t as easy to find as they had thought.

“Some airlines don’t publish their in-flight Wi-Fi information. So, to get it, our team spent days contacting various departments at some of these airlines—hounding them via email, phone, and social media,” the company said. “We think airlines could go a long way to reduce consumer frustration by making this information more readily available.”

Any report on airline Wi-Fi quality and cost should also note that this is all subject to change in the months and years ahead as carriers continue to upgrade their products due to consumer demand. For instance, we just reported on how Gogo is shifting much of its in-flight Wi-Fi service from ground-based to satellite-based links, which will greatly increase speed and data capacity. And we also reported that Air Canada will soon make inflight wi-fi free for its elite level members.

Do you use inflight wi-fi much? How is the service on the airline you fly most? Does it align with these findings? 

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Gogo accelerates shift to higher-speed Wi-Fi

The external antennas for Gogo’s 2Ku satellite Wi-Fi should reduce drag on the aircraft. (Image: Gogo)

As passengers demand more broadband capacity and faster in-fight Internet service, Gogo is moving as fast as it can to change its airline Wi-Fi service from ground-based to satellite-based links.

The company said this week that the number of commercial aircraft equipped with its 2Ku broadband satellite technology has just passed the 500 mark, up from 100 at the beginning of this year. That’s out of a total of 3,000 Gogo-equipped planes. Orders for 2Ku installations now exceed 2,000 aircraft, the company said.

Where is 2Ku being installed, and how do you know if your aircraft has it?

“In the US, most of these are with Delta, and they inform passengers before boarding through their app and email notifications,” a spokesman tells Travelskills. “They also have ‘high speed Internet’ signs at the boarding door, as well as branding on their portal. With other airline partners like GOL, 2Ku is the only technology offered.”

Gogo

On Delta jets, you’ll know you have a satellite based connection when you see this sign by the boarding door (Photo: Gogo)

Gogo said it takes about 30 hours to install the satellite-based technology on an aircraft – less than half the time it normally takes to install a broadband link.

In recent months, the company installed 2Ku on Delta’s first new Airbus A350; won regulatory approval to install 2Ku technology on Boeing 777s; signed a deal with Alaska Airlines to put 2Ku on all of the airline’s Airbus and Boeing aircraft; won a contract from LATAM Airlines Brazil to put satellite connections on 100 of its A320s; finished installing satellite Wi-Fi links on all of Virgin Atlantic’s A330s, A340s and 747s; and finalized an agreement with Cathay Pacific Group to put the technology on Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon wide-bodies, including A330s and 777s.

 

The dome atop this Delta A350 means it has 2Ku satellite Wi-Fi. (Image: Jujug Spotting/Gogo)

By the way, there’s one other way to tell if your aircraft has Gogo 2Ku Wi-Fi: There’s a distinctive little dome on top of the plane.

“2Ku is the best performing connectivity solution in the market and that performance has resulted in the technology becoming the most rapidly adopted broadband satellite connectivity solution in the history of commercial aviation,” said Michael Small, Gogo’s president and CEO. “While we continue to grow our backlog of 2Ku aircraft, we are also focused operationally on making sure 2Ku also becomes the most rapidly deployed technology in commercial aviation history.”

Has your inflight wi-fi experience improved in recent months? Please leave your comments below. 

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Japan Airlines eyes 5-1/2 hour San Francisco-Tokyo flights

Boom’s SST design would be smaller than Concorde. (Image: Boom)

We’ve reported before about a Colorado-based aircraft manufacturer called Boom, which is developing a next-generation supersonic passenger plane. In 2016, it got a big boost from Sir Richard Branson, and now Japan Airlines is officially joining the supersonic party.

Branson’s involvement with Boom included an option to purchase the first 10 airframes it produces, followed late last year by the creation of a technical partnership between Boom and Branson’s Virgin Galactic spaceflight company, committing the two firms to work together on engineering, manufacturing and flight tests.

Now Japan Airlines says it has made a strategic $10 million investment in Boom, and has taken a pre-order option to buy up to 20 supersonic aircraft from the manufacturer. JAL added that it will be working with Boom “to refine the aircraft design and help define the passenger experience for supersonic travel.” In fact, Boom CEO Blake Scholl said his company has been working “behind the scenes” with JAL for more than a year.

Rendering of a passenger seat on the planned SST. (Image: Boom)

Boom’s initial design specs envision an aircraft with 45-55 business class-type seats (about half the size of the late Concorde), a cruising speed of Mach 2.2 (2.2 times the speed of sound, or 1,415 mph – a little faster than Concorde’s Mach 2), a cruising altitude of 60,000 feet, and the beginning of commercial service by the “mid-2020s,” assuming all goes well.

Scholl said last year that the plane could operate profitably on as many as 500 international routes with sufficient demand for a supersonic product, like Tokyo-San Francisco, New York-London and Los Angeles-Sydney.

JAL currently uses a 777-300 on the SFO-Tokyo route. (Image: Japan Airlines)

Sir Richard Branson has estimated that the new SST could make the New York-London trip in three and a half hours, and operate profitably at fares of about $5,000 roundtrip. The aircraft would have a range of 8,334 kilometers, or 4,500 nautical miles, enough to fly non-stop from Beijing to London — or from San Francisco to Tokyo in five and a half hours.

Bloomberg News said Boom now has commitments for 75 aircraft from five airlines, with some customers already paying significant deposits, and it reported that Boom just hired a former Airbus executive as its new vice president of production.

Readers: How much of a premium over business class fares would you be willing to pay for a supersonic flight that cuts your travel time in half or better?

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Some elite flyers to get free wi-fi

Air Canada is adding free Wi-Fi as a perk for its elites. (Image: Air Canada)

Is this becoming a trend? Another big North American carrier said it will offer free in-flight Wi-Fi service as a perk for its most frequent customers.

Air Canada and Gogo announced that free Internet is being added as one of the privileges that can be selected by the airline’s Altitude Elite 75K and Super Elite 100K elite members – the top two levels of the airline’s five-tier elite structure.

The Elite 75Ks can get six-month unlimited use passes for Wi-Fi, and the Super Elite 100Ks can select a 12-month free pass. The passes are good on mainline Air Canada flights in North America as well as Air Canada Express and Air Canada Rouge.

And soon, the benefit is coming to international flights as well.

“Air Canada’s new Altitude WiFi select privilege is available for use on all Air Canada equipped flights, all over the world, regardless of systems provider. This also includes Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express operated flights,” Mark Nasr, Vice President Loyalty & eCommerce for Air Canada told TravelSkills.
He added, “Currently all of our Airbus 320 family, Embraer E175/E190, and Boeing 737MAX aircraft offer connectivity, using a mix of GoGo and Thales solutions—that’s about 160 planes. We began installations of the latest generation high-speed connectivity on our wide-body fleet this quarter; we’ll start rolling-out those planes by January at the rate of one aircraft everyone one to two weeks, until the fleet is complete. We expect to have a 10 long-haul aircraft complete before year’s end; this time next year, we expect to offer connectivity on around 248 aircraft, including 80 (or most of) the long-haul fleet.”

For now, Air Canada charges US$16 for a Gogo one-way pass if purchased online before flying. A monthly pass is US$52.

Qualifying members will be able to pick the free Wi-Fi as a Select Privilege benefit for 2018. Other selectable privileges include things like mileage bonuses, upgrade credits, airport club membership discounts and guest passes, elite status for a friend, and so on.

Air Canada is not the first North American airline to offer free Wi-Fi. Southwest Airlines offers it as a perk for top-level A-List Preferred members of its Rapid Rewards program. JetBlue has long been offering free Wi-Fi (which it calls Fly-Fi) to all passengers.

But Air Canada may be the first to offer free Gogo Wi-Fi. JetBlue developed its proprietary satellite-based Wi-Fi technology with Viasat, and Southwest’s Internet provider is Global Eagle Entertainment – although it is using Panasonic Avionics to install Wi-Fi on newly delivered aircraft, including its new 737MAX planes.

Here’s hoping that other North American carriers consider a similar move. Will they? Leave your comments below. 

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Pushing the Peninsula’s buttons

Peninsula Hong Kong

View of Victoria Harbour from my room on the 22nd floor at the Peninsula Hong Kong, a hotel that pushed all my buttons (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Last week I took a two-day trip on Cathay Pacific’s new A350 between San Francisco and Hong Kong. While the airline has had the plane for two years, the SFO-HKG flight is the first A350 nonstop to/from the US. (Stay tuned for my Trip Report about that flight.)

One of the nice things about jumping on one of these inaugural flights is that the airline usually teams up with a local hotel to accommodate media guests– and show off their properties.

In this case, the hotel partner was the renowned Peninsula Hong Kong, the hotel in which I stayed on my first trip to Asia in 1992.

While it’s the oldest hotel in town, it has definitely kept up with the times. For example, this ever-evolving grande dame added a brand new tower with a hip club in the penthouse and a helipad on the roof back in 1994. It had to in order to keep up with the frenetic pace of the city’s luxury hotel market.

This Peninsula has also kept up with in room technology– so much so that I’m going to devote a whole post to all the buttons I pushed in my room on the 22nd floor overlooking Victoria Harbour. Rooms at the Peninsula typically go for about $500 per night, but I was a guest of the house there for two nights.

I’m a lifelong button pusher. Just ask my parents. I was the kid who could not get in the car without pushing all the buttons or turning all the dials just to see what happened. In electronics stores, I poked and pulled every button I could find. And at the grocery store, the button on top of a can of shaving foam was irresistible.

So I was immediately hooked as I walked into my room at the Peninsula this time and counted about 20 buttons to push.  Seriously. All of them quietly, elegantly beckoning me. Here’s a rundown– and a look at my plush room:

Entry with key

A big round button read my room key (Chris McGinnis)

Light switch at entry

Right by the door is the button for the foyer light, the master switch for the entire room, plus buttons for housekeeping, messages, do not disturb, a service call, and even a quick check of the weather as you head out the door. (Chris McGinnis)

Shoe bin

Peninsula Hong Kong

Next to the door is a bin where guests place their shoes to be shined. Attendants access the bin from a separate door in the hallway when you press this button to alert them (Chris McGinnis)

Bathroom light switch.

Peninsula Hong Kong

What’s nice about this switch is its simplicity– just what you need when waking up in the middle of the night. Even better is that the switch is a rheostat- lights turn on dim, and the longer you hold the button down, the brighter it gets (Chris McGinnis)

The Bathroom

Peninsula Hong Kong

The Peninsula’s luscious all-marble bathroom has two sinks, an oval tub, separate shower & toilet, lots of mirrors and buttons, too! (Chris McGinnis)

Sink switches

Peninsula Hong Kong

Mounted on the mirror next to the sink is a control panel that does all kinds of things for you like brightening the light, turning off the bathroom TV or radio, adjusting volume. You can turn off the phone if you’d like and turn on do not disturb if you can’t answer the door. Time and date, too for early jetlagged risers who can’t remember what day it is 🙂 (Chris McGinnis)

Hands free phone

Above the sinkside control panel is this hands free phone just in case that call to close the deal comes in while you are brushing your teeth (Chris McGinnis)

Bathtub video– watch and listen to what happens when I push the SPA button

Bathtub buttons

Bathtub Peninsula Hong Kong

Endless array of buttons next to the bathtub, including time/date, privacy, a full suite of music selections, a dimmer, the all important SPA button and an emergency call button (Chris McGinnis)

 

I could have had room service delivered at the touch of a button but opted instead for a mango parfait by the dramatic pool deck (Chris McGinnis)

Vanity/magnifying mirror button for day and night

The button on the vanity mirror switches between daylight and evening light settings (Chris McGinnis)

Toilet buttons

While it does not come close to the number of buttons on a Japanese toilet, you can control phone, room privacy and make an emergency call (Chris McGinnis)

Safe buttons

Room Safe Peninsula

Nothing special about the safe, but it’s more buttons to push! (Chris McGinnis)

Room main switch

Peninsula Hong Kong

Enter the bedroom, and there’s a simple switch by the door for room lights, air conditioning fan and temperature controls. Again, what I like here is that it’s easy to understand- no electrical engineering degree required (Chris McGinnis)

The room

Peninsula Hong Kong Room

A cushy king bed with the softest pillows ever. Each room has a delicate laser cut bronze peach blossom work in the wall – each one is different (Chris McGinnis)

Bedside tablet- there are two of these tablets in the room- one by the bed, the other on the desk. Both can be removed from their docks to be used anywhere.

tablet phone penisula

This bedside tablet controls everything in the room accessed by menu buttons at the top. It can open and close curtains, operate the 46-inch flat screen TV, set wake up calls, moderate temperature, call the valet, check the weather and choose from a broad in-room music menu. It can be customized into 11 languages. It’s also the bedside clock. Next to that is the cordless phone. (Chris McGinnis)

Bedside light switch

A switch like this on both sides of the bed controls reading lights and overhead lights (Chris McGinnis)

 

TV remote Peninsula

A nice, easy to understand TV remote is nice, but duplicative since the tablet controls the TV, too (Chris McGinnis)

Make up mirror up and down on and off.

Peninsula Mirror

Across from the bed a shiny wooden vanity has a pop-top button- push it and a mirror pops up. Push it again and it goes back down (Chris McGinnis)

Nail dryer buttons!

Nail dryer peninsula

Tucked into a drawer in the vanity is this portable nail dryer. Push the button on the top, slip your fingers underneath and you’ll feel a nice gentle breeze. (Chris McGinnis)

Coffee maker

Nespresso

Push this button for a quick cup of espresso to beat back the jet lag! (Chris McGinnis)

Desk power

Power outlet

This power and data bar pops up and retracts into the desktop when you push the button on the top (Chris McGinnis)

Curtains sheers/black outs

There are two of these curtain buttons- one opens and closes the sheers, the other opens and closes a black out screen that rolls down from the ceiling (Chris McGinnis)

 

curtains

Two buttons for two functions: sheers and black out both show here (Chris McGinnis)

Phew! That’s a lot of buttons. And a very nice stay. Thank you, Peninsula Hong Kong!

Peninsula Hong Kong Exterior

Looking up at old and new at the Peninsula Hong Kong, overlooking Victoria Harbour on the Kowloon side (Chris McGinnis)

What’s the most high-tech hotel you’ve ever stayed at? Your favorite Hong Kong hotel? Please leave your comments below. 

Disclosure: I was a guest of the house at the Peninsula Hong Kong for two nights.


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Most Instagram -able airports, airlines

United and SFO both rank third in popularity among Instagram users- click to go to my Instagram!

Are you a big Instagram user? Plenty of travelers are these days (especially younger or younger-at-heart ones like me), and they often post pictures before, during and after their trips. But which airports and airlines are most popular among them?

That’s what TravelBank – an automated expense reporting specialist – wondered, so it reviewed Instagram data to find out, basically by looking at the number of followers each airport and airline have on their accounts.


Los Angeles International grabbed the number one spot in airport popularity, perhaps because a paparazzi mindset permeates the passenger terminals. (Ever try to grab a selfie with a passing celebrity?) TravelBank writes: “Currently in the middle of a $1.6 billion renovation, LAX will not only continue to be the place where people snap pics with the rich and famous, but it’s bound to keep flyers happy with its endless amenities and its Instaworthy locale.”

Ranking second was Chicago O’Hare (maybe just by virtue of its size). In addition to its colorful underground passageways, TravelBank says O’Hare’s public art collection and multiple restaurants that overlook the runways make for shareable moments on Instagram.

Terminal 3, Hall of Flags. (?: @ashleythepetite ) #chooseohare

A post shared by O’Hare International Airport (@flyohare) on

Coming in third place was my very own San Francisco International. TravelBank says “SFO is a major travel hub for the app-loving millennials of tech-savvy San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Add in a selection of Instagrammable dining options serving local favorites (we’re looking at you Napa Farms Market) and a $2.6 billion expansion, and it’s easy to see why SFO comes in at #3.” My favorite spot for plane spotting and then post pics on Instagram is out at gate 66 in United’s new(ish) T3E terminal. Plus the airport regularly posts some great archival photography from its outstanding SFO Museum.

#tbt (1962) @united Douglas DC -8 jets

A post shared by SFO International Airport (@flysfo) on

While flying through Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International which ranks #9, I snagged this Instagrammable moment on the stairs to Delta’s new Sky Club in Concourse B.

Remember when bag tags were pretty? #travel #delta #skyclub #atl #avgeek

A post shared by Chris McGinnis (@chrisjmcginnis) on

Here’s a look at the top 10 most popular U.S. airports on Instagram:

Source: TravelBank

As for airlines, there were no big surprises, with American, Delta and United ranking first through third, and the number of their Instagram followers reflecting their total passenger numbers:

At the top of the heap with nearly 650,000 followers is American Airlines— as the largest US carrier, sheer size is in its favor here. TravelBank adds:  AA has raised the bar and reaffirmed its commitment to passenger satisfaction with its investment in new aircraft, improvements to its business class product, the overhaul of its hub airport lounges and much more. It’s no wonder that American passengers have been eager to follow along with the company’s Instagram journey more than any other airline on our list!

Here’s a nice Instagrammable moment with #2 Delta showing off it’s popular outdoor deck at JFK. TravelBank adds: Delta’s onboard product is regarded as the best among the big 3 airlines, and upgrades to its fleet — like serving award-winning food options and craft beer — along with tech-friendly improvements like in app luggage tracking and auto check in make Delta a favorite among the Instagram crowd.

Last year #3 ranked United had some fun with with rainbow colors to celebrate National Coming Out Day in October and Gay Pride Month in June.

Today and every day, show your true colors. #NationalComingOutDay

A post shared by United (@united) on

Last Spring Delta invited me to Atlanta for the launch of its new 747 Experience at the Delta Museum by the airport. I scrambled all over the vintage 747 and snagged a bunch of snaps like this which I posted on Instagram. Are you following me? Why not! Get cracking!

Northwest Airlines flight attendant hat by Yves St Laurent circa 1973 #travel #avgeek #delta #747 #atl

A post shared by Chris McGinnis (@chrisjmcginnis) on

Source: TravelBank

I saw this spooky sight out my window flying over Dallas, Texas at night– it’s been one of my post popular window seat posts.

Dallas thru winter clouds #dfw #dallas #windowseat #clouds @united #ATL > #SFO #travel #avgeek #texas

A post shared by Chris McGinnis (@chrisjmcginnis) on

See TravelBank’s full report on this here

Are you on Instagram? Why or why not? Leave your comments below. I find it fun and a nice way to pass time when stuck in a line, riding in an Uber and at other slow moments in my crazy busy life.

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United app gets an upgrade

United’s app can now add electronic boarding passes from partner airlines. (Image: United)

With travelers becoming more reliant on their smartphones for all kinds of chores, the United app got several enhancements this week to increase its functionality.

For one thing, the airline now allows users to receive boarding passes via the app for onward connecting flights on 19 partner airlines. In talking with users, “we found that simply allowing our customers to access boarding passes for their entire itinerary within the same app made a big difference,” said Kate Gebo, chief customer officer at United. Participating carriers range from big ones like Lufthansa to small ones like Aegean Airlines. You can see a full list here.

Users can also turn to their United app now to make changes in their reservations, or to cancel them. Users will see these new options under Reservations Details, where they can follow the indicated steps to get a confirmation of their action. “As this new feature debuts, certain reservations, such as reservations purchased through third parties, will continue to United.com to allow customers to make changes,” the company said.

Don’t miss! United squeezes more seats into its long-haul 777-200s

United’s app has added several new features. (Image: United)

For iOS users, customers’ United Club and MileagePlus cards can now be stored in the Apple Wallet for easy access, United said. Users should log into their MileagePlus account in the app, select United Clubs and/or MileagePlus, and then hit the “add to Apple Wallet” icon under the digital card. “United Club members will still scan their boarding passes to access United Club locations before their flight,” United said. “Members who do not have their MileagePlus number tied to their boarding pass will be able to show their electronic card, along with a same-day boarding pass for United Club access.”

Another recent enhancement to the app is the addition of a beta “Track my bags” function, which will give users real-time updates of when their bag goes onto the aircraft, when it is unloaded, and when it reaches baggage claim. (Delta added a baggage tracker to its app in 2016.) United said it is also adding a 3D touch capability for Apple iPhone users whose devices support that feature. They can use it “to instantly navigate from their iPhone’s home screen to book a flight, check in, and view their flight status in the app,” United said.

Readers: What other features or capabilities would you like to see on United’s app? How does it compare to other airline apps?

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Trying out the new Wall Street Journal travel service

If you don’t have a corporate travel department behind you, this could help snag discounts and perks.  (Image: Jim Glab)

Now this is interesting. The Wall Street Journal has teamed with Upside Travel and launched “The Wall Street Journal Business Travel Service” which it says is designed “exclusively for the 200 million do-it-yourself business travelers.” Primarily, these are travelers who don’t work for large corporations with tight travel policies and entire departments or agencies set up to enforce them, and reap the savings of bulk buying. They are also known as unmanaged travelers or rogue travelers.

We’ve written about Upside Travel before (see post). It’s the new service started by Jay Walker (the guy who invented Priceline) that works like this: Instead of booking your usual first-choice airline, flight time and hotel, you let the Upside website put together an air-hotel package for you. Once you decide if the alternatives work, and if the discounts and gift cards offers are enticing enough, you book the trip. Gift cards come from 50 different retailers, including Amazon.com and Whole Foods, so they are pretty much as good as cash rebates.

Unlike traditional travel agencies, neither Upside or the WSJ Business Travel Service charge fees. Users earn frequent flyer miles for bookings, but do not earn the all-important elite qualifying miles. Delta and Southwest are not participants in the program. Users do not always earn hotel program points. A customer service rep I spoke with said that they will take your program number and call the hotel and try to get the points, but that does not always happen. Also, these bookings do earn points with credits cards and are coded as travel-related purchases for bonuses.

Front page of the new WSJ Business Travel Service site

While Upside has pushed the discounts and gift card aspect of the service, the WSJ seems more focused on the service aspect. It says,  “With this new service, any business traveler now has the level of comprehensive service and access previously only available to employees of the very largest companies, with no fees, commitments or corporate approvals required. Business travelers can connect with travel experts for instant service via phone, chat or email.”

Since anyone can use the Wall Street Journal Travel Service (no membership, subscription or other fees required) I’m wondering if there’s any difference in using it or the Upside site. Customers booking through the WSJ service get day passes to airport lounges via a deal it has with LoungeBuddy. A spokesperson added that Wall Street Journal subscribers ($400-$500 per year) who use the service get a set of Bose QuietComfort II headphones ($350) after their first trip

I put the new WSJ service to the test and it did produce some substantial savings for a two day trip to New York City from San Francisco in mid November. Here’s what I found.

When I fly to New York, I usually like to fly Delta (for the service, the miles and elite perks) and stay at at Marriott branded hotel for the points and the recognition my elite status brings.

When I enter my dates on the WSJ site, it comes back with flights on American, Alaska/Virgin, JetBlue, United. It also offers up the Marriott Courtyard on Fifth Avenue (rated 4.0 on TripAdvisor). Total package price: $786.78.

If I accepted the site’s first offer of a United roundtrip and stay at Marriott Courtyard, my company would save $15, and I’d get a gift card worth $30. Not bad!

But here’s where this service is different. It also offered me three other alternatives for hotel stays in NYC. If I chose to stay at the NH Jolly Madison hotel (rated 3.5 on TripAdvisor and only a few blocks away) instead, my company would save $42 and I would get a gift certificate of $130. Hmmm. Now that seems worth the switch to me, even with the loss of my Marriott points.

First offer is a United flight and a Marriott Courtyard stay for $786.78

The most valuable alternative is a combo of the same United flights and a stay at the Jolly Madison hotel for $758.99, plus I get a $130 gift card to use at Amazon or Whole Foods or other retailers.

Have you or would you try The Wall Street Journal Business Travel Service? Have you tried Upside? Please leave your comments below. 


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Are TSA’s new “automated” security checkpoints really better?

TSA screening security checkpoint

Screening lane like this one have rolled out in airports across the country. Are they better? (Image: United)

We’ve been getting a lot of pitches from airlines and the TSA bragging about the new “automated” security checkpoints popping up at airports across the country since last year. You know, the ones with the conveyor belts that deliver bins underneath a steel counter. Some refer to them as “smart lanes.”

In theory they should work well, but in practice, it sounds like it might be another story. We’ve heard from many readers (and friends) who question whether or not the automated lanes are an actual improvement.

Here’s one email from TravelSkills reader FF:

Chris, do you have any opinion on the new Delta initiated TSA “automated” checkpoints in ATL? In my experience (I go thru 2x / week), they are an unmitigated disaster. Even the TSA agents are disgusted with it.

I was told by an agent a few weeks ago, it was a UK-devised system (RED FLAG!!) that was being pushed by Delta. He also said that it required two extra agents per line to facilitate getting the passengers through due to the confusion/awkwardness created by the system. I heard another agent on Monday night saying that it takes so much longer than the old way.

In the past, I would ask an agent when the TSA was going to phase out the boondoggle, but I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the system is now being installed at MSP. I told an agent there to get ready, because it was a real cluster**** and she said she’d heard the same from several passengers. I wonder if Delta even beta tested it before rolling out?

Here’s a video United created to help roll out the new lanes at Newark Liberty airport.

The idea for the new lanes is that the TSA can process multiple people at one time. It’s designed so that experienced, streamlined passengers can easily get around slower passengers by just walking up to another slot. But it does not always work that way. From what I’ve seen, people feel like they are “breaking” in line if they choose a slot closer to the screening machine. So they wait. And then the TSA agent overseeing the operation shouts at them to go ahead and take the empty lane.

The lanes most recently went into operation at Minneapolis St Paul airport, and the TSA sent out a press release extolling the following virtues:

The automated screening lanes offer several new features designed to improve the screening process for travelers going through the security checkpoint including:

  • Stainless steel countertops designed specifically to enable several passengers to place their items in bins simultaneously;
     
  • Automated conveyor belts that move bins into the X-ray machine tunnel and return the bins to the front of the security checkpoint;
     
  • Automatic diversion of any carry-on bag that may contain a prohibited item; this diversion to a separate location allows other bins containing other travelers’ belongings to continue through the screening process uninterrupted;
     
  • Bins that are 25 percent larger than a typical bin and are able to hold a roll-aboard bag;
     
  • Unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags that are attached to each bin, allowing for additional accountability of a traveler’s carry-on property as they move throughout the security screening process;
     
  • Cameras that capture photographic images of the contents of each bin and are linked side-by-side to the X-ray image of a carry-on bag’s contents.

It sounds good in theory, but in practice, we are not so sure.

So the question is…is this just a learning curve thing, or a failure in design? What do you think? Please leave your comments below.

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The newest Embraer jet you may never fly

Embraer Legacy 500

Chris McGinnis checking out the new Embraer Legacy 500 business jet at San Jose Airport

You probably know Embraer by its line of smaller so-called “regional” jets that typically fly short distances and feed into major airline hubs. These are the popular E175s and E195s that have displaced the cramped CRJs in the regional jet space.

But did you know Embraer is also in the business of building private or “business” jets for companies or high net worth individuals?

In October, the Brazilian aerospace company  jetted its executives into Mineta San Jose Airport to show off its new private jet, the Legacy 500, which seats 8-12 passengers, and costs around $20 million. It’s considered a “midsize” private jet, falling between the smaller Phenom (which it also makes) and the better known larger models like Gulfstreams and Learjets. (Scroll down for slide show)

Built in Melbourne, Florida, the Legacy 500 is considered a “stand up” jet, which means it has a flat floor and passengers can stand up in the aisle- I could do that when onboard, but at 6 feet, my hair grazed the ceiling. The jet’s flight range is about 3,000 miles, which means it can make nonstop cross-country and Hawaii trips, but can’t cross oceans.

In addition to showing the Legacy 500 off to Silicon Valley tech companies (or their billionaire owners or investors) Embraer invited a few media types down for a look and a quick spin out over the Pacific Ocean at sunset.

Come along with me and take a peek at how the other half of business travelers live!

At SJC, business and private jets are handled on the west side of the runways. In this case, Embraer used Atlantic Aviation.

Atlantic Aviation

When flying private, the airport concourse looks like this- your car drops you off and you walk to your plane- no security, no hassles, muss or fuss. This is smooth as silk! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Inside the Atlantic Aviation Terminal on the west side of San Jose International, passengers and pilots walk through this well-appointed terminal, check in and then walk out to the tarmac. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

As we boarded the plane, you could look east and see the Mineta San Jose International terminals across the runways (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Embraer Legacy 500

This brand new $20 million plane’s curves and shine are hard to resist. I want one! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

There are plenty of luxury touches on this bird, like gorgeous wood veneer, leather and even lightweight marble floors in the galley area which I noticed as soon as we boarded (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Embraer design executive Jay Beever was onboard to show us around and explain how his masterpiece works (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Passengers can control cabin temperature, music and dim lights from an iPad (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

I walked to the back of the plane for a look at the semi-private lavatory, which includes this nice sink area on one side, and the loo on the other (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Embraer 500 toilet

The lavatory is separated from the cabin by a sliding door. A nice leather cover hides the toilet- if you did not lift it up, you’d think it was just another seat (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Embraer 500

Here’s the toilet with the cover down. Note that it has a seatbelt, so it could serve as a passenger seat if needed (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Once we boarded and doors closed, we taxied for about two minutes and took off into the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. The G-force of the plane taking off felt exhilarating- and so quiet. Flying on this smooth and quiet jet felt “like buttah!” I could so easily get used to this!

Embraer 500 inflight map

Monitors at the front and rear of the cabin had a fantastic, frequently updated image of the plane’s position. It’s a spectacularly crisp and colorful show, almost as good as what you can see out the window! (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Gorgeous view of the Pacific coastline of central California out the window during our 45 minute ride (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Embraer Chris McGinnis champagne

Editor Chris McGinnis enjoying his 45 minutes of feeling like a billionaire- Embraer served passengers Veuve Clicquot during the ride

 

Embraer 500 window

Looking out Embraer’s trademark square windows reminded me of my many rides on its E175 or E195 regional jets (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

As we made our way back to SJC, I took a walk up to the cockpit for a chat with pilots– who clearly love flying this plane. On the Embraer, like the Airbus, there is no “yoke” or steering wheel. Pilots use small sticks– almost like video games– to guide the plane when autopilot is off.

 

Embraer 500 cockpit

Another benefit of flying private- the cockpit door is wide open and passengers can go take in the view. The Embraer 500 glass cockpit is gorgeous (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Embraer 500 cockpit

Looking out at the California Coast from the cockpit (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Embraer Legacy 500 cockpit

Note the small stick on the right which pilots used to guide the Embraer 500 versus the “yoke” you’ll find on Boeing jets (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Embraer Legacy 500

Wow! What a ride. It was tough to leave this beautiful jet behind (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

 

Atlantic Aviation San Jose

Once we deboarded our sleek little bird, we walked across the ramp to the Atlantic Aviation terminal, jumped in an Uber, and went home. What a way to fly! (Photo: Chris McGinnis

Have you ever been lucky enough to fly on a private or business jet? What do you think about the Embraer planes you’ve flown on? Please leave your comments below.

 


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Virgin’s version of hyperloop high-speed travel

Sir Richard Branson inspects a Hyperloop One tunnel. (Image: Virgin Hyperloop One)

Now that he has finished selling off most of his various airline investments, Sir Richard Branson is burnishing his reputation as a transportation maverick by betting on hyperloop travel as the next big thing.

Branson said his Virgin Group has made an investment in fast-travel startup Hyperloop One. He didn’t say how much he invested, but it was enough to secure a change in the Los Angeles-based company’s name to Virgin Hyperloop One.

What’s a hyperloop? It’s a transportation system that sends passenger (or cargo) pods through a low-pressure tube, using magnetic levitation to accelerate the pods to airline-like speeds. Virgin already has a test track outside of Las Vegas, and it estimates its pods will eventually zip along at speeds of up to 670 mph, or two to three times faster than existing high-speed or magnetic levitation trains.


Virgin’s company is not to be confused with a competing technology effort launched by futurist Elon Musk, the developer of Tesla electric cars and SpaceX rocket launching systems (similar to Branson’s Virgin Galactic company). Musk recently launched a venture called The Boring Company to dig low-cost tunnels that could reduce traffic congestion in urban areas. Such tunnels “would also make Hyperloop adoption viable and enable rapid transit across densely populated regions, enabling travel from New York to Washington DC in less than 30 minutes,” The Boring Company says on its website.

Branson concedes on the Virgin Group website that this technology is still “in the early stages of the commercialization phase,” but noted that the company is “working on exciting projects in the Middle East, Europe, India, Canada and the U.S.”  He seems to have his eye on the U.K., predicting that the technology could mean a 50-minute trip from London to Edinburgh.

Related: New York to California in 45 minutes? Maybe 

Virgin Hyperloop One recently held a competition to determine the best places to build its first commercial tracks, and narrowed down the entries to 10 finalists. The 10 included U.S. routes linking Miami-Orlando; a Colorado system from Cheyenne, Wyo, to Pueblo, Co. via Denver with a side track from Denver to Vail; a Dallas-Laredo-Houston route; and Chicago-Columbus-Pittsburgh. Finalist routes outside the U.S. include Bengaluru-Chennai and Mumbai-Chennai in India; Toronto-Montreal in Canada; Glasgow-Liverpool and Edinburgh-London in the U.K.; and Mexico City-Guadalajara in Mexico.

A passenger/cargo pod. (Image: Virgin Hyperloop One)

Hyperloop One says its goal  is to have “operational systems by 2021.”

What will the Hyperloop One experience be like for passengers? “About the same as riding in an elevator or a passenger plane,” the company says. “Although Hyperloop will be fast, the systems we are building will accelerate with the same tolerable G forces as that of taking off in a Boeing 747. With Hyperloop you will be accelerating and decelerating gradually and, depending on the route, we will incorporate banking into our designs to eliminate G forces even more. And there’s no turbulence.”

How likely do you think travel by hyperloop will be in our lifetime? What do you think of Virgin’s involvement? Please leave your comments below. 

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Delta app eliminates flight check-in

Delta passengers with iPhones no longer have to check in. (Image: Delta)

The newest version of Delta’s iPhone app has added a handy new feature that ends the need to check in for your flight.

The airline said that with the new version 4.6 of its iOS app, “We’ve eliminated the check-in process. Your boarding pass will automatically appear 24 hours before your flight.”

Other enhancements to the app include the ability for the user to toggle between trips when he has several of them on the same day, and the ability to join SkyMiles from the app. The latest enhancements aren’t available for Android devices yet.

What’s unclear is how long Delta will tell its gate agents to wait for a no-show passenger who has been automatically checked in before releasing that seat to someone else, assuming there are stand-bys.

Earlier this year, Lufthansa developed a new website  at AirlineCheckins.com that also provides automatic check-in – not just for Lufthansa, but for any airline that offers online check-in. Users who register with the website, providing personal details (including seating preference) and loyalty program information, will get a special email address to use when they book a flight. They will then be automatically checked in when the airline opens the flight for check-ins, with the boarding pass sent via email or SMS.

LOT Polish also has automated check-in. (Image: LOT Polish)

LOT Polish Airlines has an automated system that checks passengers in 36 hours before their scheduled departure time, sending the boarding pass to their phone or email address. It’s available to passengers who register at least 37 hours before departure, or with no registration required for business class and premium economy passengers as well as Star Alliance Gold and Silver members.

What do you think about not having to check in for flights? Does that make you happy or nervous? Please leave your comments below. 

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Airbnb’s newest lure for business travelers

WeWork rents out desks and other office services in cities worldwide. (Image: WeWorks)

Alternative lodging company Airbnb has taken several steps in the past couple of years to make its rental accommodations more attractive to business travelers – creating filtered searches  for member properties that have business amenities, building links to corporate expense reporting systems, and so on.

Now the company is testing the addition of one more service that many business travelers require but Airbnb properties can’t provide on-site: A way to reserve professional office space and/or a meeting room at the destination.

The company has targeted six major cities – New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Sydney and London – for a test program that will let Airbnb guests reserve those kinds of facilities at a location close to their lodging.

This Airbnb guest house in Santa Monica lists for $160 a night. (Image: Airbnb)

The program involves a partnership with WeWork Companies, which operates rental space worldwide for business travelers who need a desk, high-speed Wi-Fi, printers, and meeting rooms, according to a report in Bloomberg News.

WeWork is one of the world’s largest providers of such services, claiming 228 buildings in 53 cities and metro areas, including 23 in the U.S.  Its customers include not only business travelers but also companies looking for temporary quarters and the growing number of local freelancers and other self-employed workers looking for desk space in a professional environment.

The partnership has not yet been formally announced, so there was no immediate information on the kinds of rates WeWork might be offering Airbnb guests for its office space, Bloomberg said.

Other recent initiatives from Airbnb to pry business travelers away from traditional full-service hotels include earning opportunities in some frequent traveler programs, and the creation of a luxury category of Airbnb member properties.

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Delta debuts free in-flight text messaging

Delta is launching free in-flight texting service. (Image: Delta)

Delta is rolling out a nice new benefit for travelers next month: free in-flight text messaging service on all its aircraft equipped with Gogo Internet.

The only other U.S. carrier that currently offers this handy freebie is Alaska Airlines, which introduced it last winter.

Although Alaska has exclusively offered the free texting for almost nine months now, Delta’s decision to match that amenity could put big pressure on United and American to do the same. It’s ideal for passengers who need to send a quick message to someone on the ground but don’t want to sign up for a paid Wi-Fi session.

Delta’s free texting service, which begins October 1, is available for users of iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Gogo-equipped Delta aircraft include all those with at least two cabins. To access the free texting, passengers should use Delta’s Wi-Fi portal at airborne.gogoinflight.com. It’s for sending and receiving text only – no photo or video files. In the past, this benefit was reserved for T-Mobile customers— now all passengers will enjoy it.

Delta is upgrading its Gogo Wi-Fi to faster satellite-based technology. (Image: SES/Airbus Defence & Space)

Delta’s offer is basically the same as Alaska’s Free Chat service, which also works with iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger via Gogo Internet. The free texting offer should help Delta in its ongoing market share battle for customers at Alaska’s Seattle hub.

The airline is gradually upgrading its inflight Wi-Fi service to Gogo’s high-speed 2Ku satellite-based technology. Over the next two years, Delta said, the faster Wi-Fi will be installed on more than 600 of its domestic and international aircraft. About 200 planes already have it.

Will you use the new feature? Please leave your comments below.

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5 ways to prevent “shoulder surfing”

3m Shoulder Surfing

Worried about wandering eyes when you travel? Here’s some help (Photo: 3M)

Whether sitting in a cramped middle seat at the back of the plane or on a comfortable aisle in first class, you’ve undoubtedly noticed nosy neighbors staring at your laptop screen. As a matter of fact, 87 percent of mobile workers have experienced the intrusive glances of “shoulder surfers” according to a 2017 study by the Ponemon Institute[1]. Perhaps they look out of idle curiosity or maybe it’s the natural lure of bright or colorful screens. But have you ever considered that those looky-loos could be competitors or thieves capturing sensitive information without your approval?

We all have data stored on our devices that we don’t want anyone else to see. It could be sensitive financial information, competitive R&D reports, top-secret marketing plans or legally protected emails. Companies spend millions of dollars each year on cybersecurity software, services, and hardware to prevent the theft of sensitive data. But these costly technological efforts prove useless if someone can quickly and surreptitiously snap a photo of your sensitive screen.

At minimum, shoulder surfers are annoying, but they can also lead to more serious repercussions, depending on the data they capture. For example, under new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) in the European Union, a company could be fined for exposing the personal data of E.U. citizens. In the U.S., exposure of personal medical records by health care executives or physicians could be considered a violation of HIPAA regulations.

You never know who is looking over your shoulder (Image: 3M)

There are a few ways to prevent the low-tech threat of visual hacking. Some tips:

  • Tilt your screen away from the person next to you
  • Use a privacy screen on your computing devices
  • Create a physical barrier between your screen and prying eyes – using a pillow, your notebook or whatever else you have at your disposal
  • Stop working in crowded airplanes, trains, airports, cafes, hotel lobbies and other public spaces
  • Work with your back to a wall preventing others from getting behind you and looking over your shoulder

One of the best first lines of defense against this type of data breach is a privacy screen, which helps prevent side views. Similar to the way vertical blinds work, 3M Privacy Filters use “black out” technology that darkens side views, so that the screen appears black when viewed at an angle. So, if you’re sitting in the middle seat on an airplane, in an Internet café or even working in a hotel lobby, your laptop will look like it’s off to the people on either side of you.

3M Side view

3M Privacy filters block side views of your laptop screen (Image: 3M)

The filters fit directly over laptop screens and are easily removed for collaboration — when you actually want others to view your work from the side. They come in a variety of sizes to fit nearly every laptop.

If your company has numerous employees who travel frequently, consider packages you can find on Amazon, such as 3M’s Traveler 2-pack for 14” laptops or 15” Apple MacBook Pro; and the Business 5-packs for 14” laptops or 15.6” laptops.

How do YOU handle (or avoid) shoulder surfers? Please leave your comments below! 

Disclosure: Thank you for reading TravelSkills! This post is sponsored by 3M. We will periodically send out messages like this one from commercial partners about topics relevant to frequent travel. Our sponsors’ support, and yours, help us keep TravelSkills a free publication. 

[1] Ponemon Institute, “Public Spaces Interview Survey,” 2017. Sponsored by 3M. Study based on responses from 46 professional mobile workers.


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Hurry up & wait at airport immigration lines this summer

International passengers arriving at SFO can now use faster Mobile Passport kiosks at customs (Photo: SFO)

We are in the midst of an international travel boom this summer. And that means one thing is certain: much longer lines at airport customs and immigration on both ends of your trip. Are you prepared? Have you built the possibility of immigration delays into your schedule?

By now, every frequent international traveler should have Global Entry which helps speed you through immigration via a kiosk instead of an agent. It’s cheap ($100), many high end credit cards will reimburse that fee, it includes PreCheck and it’s good for five years. And as we reported last month, it’s now easier than ever to get your Global Entry appointment, too. So what are you waiting for?

Still, some of you may not get Global Entry in time for your international trip this summer. In that case,  take advantage of Mobile Passport,  a handy smartphone app to speed up Customs and Border Protection processing. The app is FREE, available from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store, and is almost as good as Global Entry. Currently, it is only available to U.S. and Canadian passport holders. Download the app before you take off on your trip!

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is using technology to reduce lines. (Image: CBP)

Despite all that preparation, you can still run into hassles at immigration. Sometimes the kiosks go on the fritz. Many times there are staffing issues. And the sheer volume of travelers is bound to slow things down during peak summer season.

If you are worried about the possibility of immigration delays, you can try to avoid arriving at peak times. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) tracks wait times and posts the data on this website— but it’s a LOT of data, and not very helpful.  CBP does not track Oakland or San Jose lines, so we relied on advice from airport PR folks for those airports below.

Keep in mind that immigration lines are subject to irregular/off schedule airline operations, and it’s always possible that four or five jumbos could unload at the same time.

Here’s our post with a list of airports that experienced the longest immigration lines last summer. Below is a listing of peak times at Bay Area airports.

San Francisco International: 

SFO has two different customs halls, one in International Terminal A (primarily SkyTeam & Oneworld airlines) and one in International Terminal G (primarily United and Star Alliance).

Terminal A peaks from 10:00 am -1:00 pm and then 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on weekdays when maximum wait times regularly exceed 45 minutes. On weekends, the peak lasts longer– until about 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

Terminal G peaks from 6:00 am – 10:00 am on weekdays, but on weekends, the peak shifts to 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm.

kiosks

16 kiosks help speed up lines at Oakland’s expanded international arrivals building (Photo: Keonnis Taylor)

Oakland International:

Last month Oakland expanded its International Arrivals Building adding 13,000 sq. ft. of additional space incorporating a new baggage carousel and an expanded passenger primary processing room. Before the expansion, international arrival operations had been limited to approximately 300 passengers per hour, the equivalent of one widebody aircraft. However, with the expanded facility, approximately 600 passengers per hour can be accommodated, meaning two widebody aircraft can be processed simultaneously. Additionally, the new space accommodates 16 automated passport control kiosks, doubling availability from eight previously. That’s great news considering OAK’s international arrivals are up 106% over last summer.

Since many of Oakland’s international flights are not daily, peak times can vary from day to day.

Mondays & Tuesdays: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Wednesdays: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Thursdays: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Fridays: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Saturdays & Sundays: 5:00 pm – 7 pm

SJC San Jose International

San Jose’s slick new international arrivals facility opened in early 2017. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

San Jose Mineta International:

Last spring, SJC finished a renovation of its International Arrivals Building adding 5,600 square feet along with a second baggage carousel and an enclosed waiting area.

Similarly, many international flights at SJC are not daily so wait times vary.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm and 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 pm

Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9:00 am – noon, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

What’s the longest you’ve ever had to wait in a customs or immigration line? Please leave your experiences and advice below. 

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Delta tests speedier boarding tactics

A gate agent uses a handheld device to assist a passenger. (Image: Delta)

Delta Air Lines is using three gates at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson to try out a multi-faceted program aimed at moving passengers onto the aircraft more quickly.

The company said passengers who use gates T1, T2 and T3 at ATL will be the test subjects .

Among the changes:

  • Gate agents will be equipped with handheld devices they can use to handle routine tasks like making seat assignment changes, checking bag status and so on without having to use a computer terminal.
  • Employees will also be using “mobile agent pods” – small podiums that can move around instead of large fixed podiums, creating more space at the gate for passengers.

Pillars will organize passengers into four lines as they wait to board. (Image: Delta)

  • Passengers waiting to board will be organized into four parallel lines by “boarding pillars” that show boarding group numbers – similar to a concept Southwest has been using for years. Delta started deploying the pillars last spring at some ATL B Concourse gates.
  • As they proceed onto the aircraft, passengers will use new e-gates to self-board. Instead of giving a boarding pass to an agent, they simply scan their own boarding pass, whether it’s a paper one or on their smart phone.

Southwest has used numbered pillars in boarding areas for years. (Image: Jim Glab)

“Later this year, phase two of testing will focus on increased agent mobility, the customer’s digital experience at the gate and how to integrate biometric boarding based on testing under way at Reagan Washington International Airport,” Delta said.

That biometric test at DCA lets passengers use a fingerprint instead of a boarding pass to board domestic Delta flights. It is available to persons enrolled in the CLEAR trusted traveler program, which uses fingerprint and iris scan biometrics to let members go directly to security screening. Delta is a part owner of CLEAR.

Delta said the new procedures and equipment in the three-month test are expected to “accelerate the culture of hospitality by minimizing barriers between agents and customers.”

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Giving airlines the fingerprint

Delta’s biometric test at Washington Reagan National uses fingerprints. (Image: CLEAR)

You can now use your fingerprints instead of your boarding pass to access Delta flights at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Soon, you’ll be able to use fingerprints to board any domestic Delta flight. And if other airlines continue to copy Delta’s moves, we’ll likely see fingerprints-as-boarding-passes become commonplace.

Back in May Delta launched a test at DCA’s Sky Club where passengers could use their fingerprints to get into the lounge. Today it expanded the option to gates where those enrolled in CLEAR can forego a boarding pass and use their fingerprints as proof of identity to board. Later this summer passengers will be able to use their fingerprints to check bags.

For now, this is just a pilot test (and is optional), but Delta says, “customers throughout our domestic network could start seeing this capability in a matter of months – not years.”

Delta fingerprint kiosk

A Delta fingerprint-reading kiosk at the gate (Image: Delta)

During the pilot, SkyMiles members who are also enrolled in CLEAR are eligible for the biometric boarding pass experience. CLEAR will capture and use both biometric and SkyMiles information to identify customers at bag drop, Delta Sky Club entry and boarding.

If you were wondering why Delta made an investment in CLEAR last year, you now have an answer. If you’ve not signed up for CLEAR, what are you waiting for? CLEAR membership discounts are now offered to Delta SkyMiles members, based on their status. Standard membership in CLEAR is $179 per year. Delta Diamond Medallion members get complimentary CLEAR enrollment, while Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion members it for just $79. Even general members get a nice discount: annual membership for just $99. Interested? You can sign up with your Delta SkyMiles status here.

“We’re rapidly moving toward a day when your fingerprint, iris or face will become the only ID you’ll need for any number of transactions throughout a given day,” said Gil West, Delta’s chief operating officer.

Thoughts?

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Kayak: please return what you took away

Why is Kayak making it more difficult to search for cheap fares? (Image: Pixabay)

Over many years of researching and making my own reservations for business and family air travel (1.5 million miles), Kayak has become the most useful, flexible, powerful and money saving website for domestic air travel for me (although I make reservations directly on the airlines’ websites). Kayak’s user interface set the standard for excellence.

But in early June, Kayak removed or modified some of its most outstanding and useful tools: Flex-month search, Flex-weekend search, and nearby cities search.

(This is a guest post by travel expert and friend of TravelSkills, Bob Cowen)

Its flex-month search was great for vacationers, seniors and those with flexible schedules. It searched a 30-day period for a trip that could be from 1 to 30 days; users refined the results with extreme flexibility (price, duration, schedule, etc.). It was powerful and very easy to use. Kayak’s flex-weekend search was equally great. It allowed searches of multiple weekends for price comparison with similarly powerful abilities to refine the results.

Searching Kayak for lower prices or better schedules by using its nearby cities option saved my employer and my family thousands of dollars. I live near Detroit and rather than depart from DTW, I have often flown from Flint. Kayak still provides default nearby cities (up to 50 miles away) but has removed the flexibility to add your own nearby cities (up to 200 miles away).

Hong Kong for free for 2! Here’s how. 

But Kayak’s default nearby cities don’t make much sense. For example, for Detroit it suggests Flint, Toledo, Ann Arbor and Windsor, Ontario. Toledo is too far away and Ann Arbor has no commercial air service. And it’s not just Detroit… Kayak’s default near-by cities for Cleveland include Youngstown and Burke Lakefront airports, but neither have commercial air service. Go figure!

It made more sense when you could select your own nearby cities instead of relying on Kayak’s nonsensical default cities.

Here’s what I mean: Last year a friend wanted to take their family of four from Detroit to Ft. Myers for spring break on very short notice but prices were astronomical. Using Kayak’s nearby city search, I found much cheaper option for them departing from Detroit  to Ft Myers, and returning from Ft Myers to Canton, OH. From there, they could rent a car one-way for the 3-hour drive back to Detroit. I found this option because Canton was in Kayak’s list of user selectable near-by cities for Detroit. Without it, they would have stayed home.

Like other travelers, I’ve used Kayak’s flex-month, flex-weekend and individually selected nearby cities to find lower prices and the best flights for years; these tools set Kayak apart from all the other search sites. But now they are gone. By comparison, other search sites are primitive, lacking the flexibility and ease of use pioneered by Kayak and remain unmatched elsewhere. ITASoftware is a great site but it’s not as easy to use or as flexible as Kayak. GoogleFlights is fine but lacks Kayak’s flexibility.

I have no idea why Kayak would remove functionality. It’s not logical but they did it. When I contacted Kayak about this, they said that it would be “reviewed by relevant teams,” so we’ll see.

If you feel that these tools were useful and should be returned, I urge you to contact Kayak directly, post your thoughts on their Facebook page or their support site. 

Bob Cowen lives near Detroit and has been a very frequent traveler for more than 30 years.

Which fare search site do you favor? Why? Please leave your comments below. 

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Uber app adds a tipping option

Image: Uber

Faced with growing pressure from its drivers and from some regulators to add a tipping function to its app, Uber this week caved in and said it will.

A year ago, Uber agreed to let its drivers solicit cash tips from riders. More recently, regulators ranging from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to the California legislature started to take steps that could make a tipping app mandatory.

Image: Uber

Uber said this week that it just updated its app for riders in Seattle, Minneapolis and Houston so they can add a tip to their fare. “We’ll be adding more cities over the next few weeks and making tips available to all U.S. drivers and delivery partners by the end of July 2017,” the company  said on its website.

When the customer’s ride is finished, he will see the usual option to rate the trip/driver, and a new prompt to click through to add a tip.  The app will suggest preset tips of $1, $2 or $5, or will allow the user to enter a specific tip amount of his preference.

And there’s no rush – Uber will give riders up to 30 days after a trip to add a tip.

In April, we reported on the growing pressures on Uber to add a tip function to its app. We also polled our readers on whether they would be inclined to tip their Uber driver if they had an option to do so on the app. Readers were evenly divided, with half saying they would and half saying they wouldn’t.

Drivers with whom I’ve discussed Uber’s resistance to allowing tipping frequently pointed to CEO Travis Kalanick for the hard line against it. With Kalanick on indefinite leave, it now sounds like cooler, fairer heads are making decisions.

How do you feel about tipping your ride-sharing drivers? Please leave your comments below. 

 

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Delta, TSA test fingerprints as boarding passes

TSA is testing fingerprint ID verification for PreCheck members at Denver and Atlanta. (Image: TSA)

In the latest efforts to test biometric identifiers for airline passengers, the Transportation Security Administration this week started using fingerprint scanners to verify identities at the Atlanta and Denver airports, and Delta said it will work with Customs and Border Protection on a test of facial recognition technology at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson and New York JFK.

TSA said its tests will be conducted at one PreCheck lane at Atlanta and one at Denver. TSA already has electronic fingerprints of persons who joined PreCheck, and it will match those records with a fingerprint scan taken at the checkpoint to verify identity. The technology also precludes the need for a boarding pass.

“Once the technology finds a fingerprint match, it is able to obtain the passenger’s boarding pass information through Secure Flight,” TSA said. “Participation is voluntary and all passengers who choose to participate will then be subject to the standard ticket document checking process of showing their boarding pass and identification document.” The technology ultimately could automate the document checking process by eliminating the need for an ID check and a boarding pass, TSA noted.

Delta said its facial recognition testing with CBP will be used this summer for passengers departing on international flights. Passengers at the test gates will have an image of their face captured by a camera at the same time they self-scan their boarding pass. The technology will compare the individual’s identity as verified by the facial scan with itinerary information in Delta’s ticketing database.

Here’s a look at Delta’s facial recognition gates at JFK’s Terminal 4 (Image: Delta)

“Upon successful screening at JFK, the eGate will open for individual customers to pass into the boarding area,” Delta said. “In Atlanta, a self-contained unit will capture and verify customer’s identity before the customer continues on to boarding. All customer data is securely managed by CBP.”

The JFK test started this week at Delta’s Gate B24, and will be deployed at Atlanta’s gates E10 and E12 later this summer.

JetBlue recently announced similar testing of facial recognition technology for its flights from Boston to Aruba starting this month, and Delta is testing fingerprint scans for entry to its Sky Club at Washington Reagan National for SkyMiles members who also participate in the CLEAR trusted traveler program.

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Using your face or finger as a boarding pass

Here’s how JetBlue’s facial recognition system will work. (Image: JetBlue)

Two months ago, we reported on the first deployments of biometric technologies for passenger processing at some European airports and airlines. And now JetBlue and Delta are trying out similar methods in the U.S.

JetBlue said it will team up with airport technology specialist SITA and with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) beginning in June to test a “paperless and deviceless self-boarding process” for international flights from Boston to Aruba.

No enrollment or preregistration is required. Passengers who want to try the new facial recognition process for boarding without a boarding pass or a passport check will simply step up to a camera near the boarding gate and have their image captured.

“The custom-designed camera station will connect to CBP to instantly match the image to passport, visa or immigration photos in the CBP database and verify flight details,” JetBlue said. “The customer will be notified on an integrated screen above the camera when they are cleared to proceed to the jet bridge.”

Delta’s biometric test at Washington Reagan National uses fingerprints.(Image: CLEAR)

Delta’s test at Washington Reagan National involves stored biometric fingerprints instead of facial recognition. Participation is limited to SkyMiles members who are enrolled in the CLEAR trusted traveler program, in which Delta holds an equity stake. CLEAR members already have their digitized fingerprints stored in the system.

In the first phase of Delta’s test at DCA, already underway, participants can use fingerprints as a proof of identity at the Delta Sky Club instead of showing a boarding pass or ID. In the next phase, the fingerprint scan could also be used to check a bag and board a flight. The DCA test will help Delta fine-tune the integration of its own passenger database with CLEAR’s member records and biometrics.

Delta is testing facial recognition with new self-service bag drops at Minneapolis-St. Paul. (Image: Delta)

And this summer, Delta plans to use facial recognition technology  at one of four self-service bag-drop stations it is installing at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. That device will provide identification verification by matching customers’ digital images with their passport photos.

“We’re rapidly moving toward a day when your fingerprint, iris or face will become the only ID you’ll need for any number of transactions throughout a given day,” said Gil West, Delta’s chief operating officer.

How do you feel about this new tech? A great convenience, or an invasion of privacy? Please leave your comments below. 

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Testing Gogo

Gogo’s Boeing 737 flight lab named Jimmy Ray (Photo: Ian Livingston)

Tuesday afternoon, at Newark Liberty International Airport, I boarded a plane, took off, watched Planet Earth live on Netflix for 90 minutes. I then landed at Newark Liberty International Airport—a few hundred feet from where I’d taken off.

I ended the day where I started it, and that was the point. So was the Netflix. On this day, Gogo, the world’s leading provider of in-flight wi-fi, was sampling what is says is its newest, fastest, most reliable wi-fi product yet for aviation and travel journalists. Aboard Gogo’s white-and-sky-blue 737—the Jimmy Ray “flight lab,” named for Gogo’s founder—I joined about 20 others in testing “the next generation of 2Ku” Wi-Fi.

NYC-based travel writer Ian Livingston penned this post about his EWR-EWR roundtrip

Takeaway: Gogo’s in-flight Wi-Fi, powered by new modems and Intelsat IS32E satellites, is about to get much, much better.

Gogo says that right now only one Aeromexico jet is flying with the newest next-gen 2Ku system that we sampled. However, the company has aggressive plans for installation and says that 1,600 planes will have it by the end of 2018. Currently, about 170 planes worldwide are flying with its first generation 2Ku system—and 100 of those are Delta’s. Planes that are already equipped with first-gen 2Ku will, at the end of this cycle, be retrofitted with the new modems to bring their wi-fi up to what will soon be the new standard.

On Tuesday’s flight, my “gogoinflight” signal floated between 35Mbs and 64Mbs—stronger than what I’m writing with at home (37Mbs). And that was gate to gate, through takeoff and landing, nearly without interruption. For reference, you need about 4Mbs to watch Netflix programming. For general browsing and email, which require only periodic requests to servers, you need much less than that. I streamed Planet Earth episodes and VICE YouTube videos at the same time, while using email, with no discernible issue.

According to Gogo, the Wi-Fi at 30,000 feet on this day peaked at a blistering 93Mbs, though I did not measure that myself. Uploads peaked at just 8Mbs, but for me averaged around 4Mbs. All this, despite 20-some journalists on 53 devices trying their hardest to consume bandwidth.

(Photo: Ian Livingston)

That said, my VPN (iVPN) brought my internet bacchanal to a temporary halt. I was told by CTO Anand Chari that initially the new 2Ku technology is not yet optimized for all VPNs (which carry server requests indirectly, via multiple stops) for reasons related to latency. My attempts to FaceTime were also largely unsuccessful, though a few flying beside me managed better. Ed Baig of USA Today even Facebook Live’d for a while.

American Airlines, which not long ago nearly took Gogo to court, has signed on for 2Ku installation on 140 planes. Among the other airlines that will soon offer up to 100Mbs wi-fi in the air are Aer Lingus, Air France, Air Canada, British Airways, GOL, Iberia, Japan Transoceanic Air, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Australia.

Pricing for now will remain the same, though Gogo expects to reevaluate as passengers familiarize themselves with the new tech. As I understand it, Gogo’s current price structure is designed to limit the number of passengers consuming bandwidth (cheap/free access would mean more people clogging it up). With much more bandwidth soon available, and passenger expectations of Gogo set to change, it remains possible that more passengers will price into Gogo’s user base.

Until then, know what airplane you’re flying on. Your Gogo dollars may already take you further than they used to.

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Finally: Easier, cheaper roaming options for U.S. travelers

phone selfie

Will your cell phone work in Cannes? How much will it cost to send a selfie? (Photo: Whitey Bluestein)

“What is the cheapest way to connect overseas?” a friend recently asked. “You’re in luck,” I told her, “International roaming just got much better for US mobile customers who travel.”

If you’re one of the 67 million Americans who travel globally, changes in international roaming plans mean you no longer need to “turn off data roaming” outside the U.S. and search for Wi-Fi hotspots. In 2013, T-Mobile disrupted the international roaming market with the launch of “unlimited international data and text services.” Since then, other U.S. mobile operators began offering improved, lower-cost international roaming plans, for the first time allowing full use of your smartphone outside the U.S. Global travelers who rely on mapping, social media, travel, booking, or ride sites don’t have to wait to get to their hotel wi-fi network to check email, upload pictures or plan the next leg of your trip.

This is a guest post by TravelSkills reader and telecom expert Whitey Bluestein

Americans are traveling more than ever. Last year, nearly 67 million traveled to international destinations, an overall increase of 8 percent over the previous year. While more than half traveled to Mexico or Canada, Europe was the most popular destination outside North America, with nearly 12 million Americans traveling “over the Pond.” Europe was followed by the Caribbean (6.6 million) and Asia (4.4 million), according to data from the National Travel and Tourism Office. For mobile operators, these travelers are typically high-value customers whom carriers don’t like to tell “don’t use your phone or a feature” when traveling, and don’t want to receive angry calls over roaming charge “bill shock.”

I put one of the plans to the test just last week, and for the first time ever, I used my smartphone in Europe, including my favorite apps, without fear of roaming charge shock. Google Maps, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Twitter, Email, TripAdvisor, Booking, Uber and OpenTable all worked great in Europe, wherever I was. It’s a great time to travel!

How do these international plans stack up? Here’s how each of the mobile operators describe their international roaming plans.

Verizon TravelPass

Verizon’s TravelPass allows use of your domestic talk, text and data allowances while traveling outside the U.S. for a flat daily rate. Instead of paying per minute, per message, or per MB, Verizon customers traveling to any of 100+ countries covered are charged a flat daily rate with TravelPass. For Mexico and Canada, the daily rate is $5/day, unless you have Verizon Plan Unlimited, which includes North America. In all other countries where TravelPass is available, the daily rate is $10. A “day” is 24-hours from when you arrive, turn your phone on, and use your phone; it then renews every 24 hours you use your phone. TravelPass is available on 4G LTE “World Devices” with GSM SIM, including smartphones, tablets, and mobile hotspots, among others. Note that 4G data speeds apply for the first 512 MB/day with reduced speeds thereafter, so make sure you do not have notifications or apps running in the background that consume data. (I exceeded this allowance on several days, and found that “reduced speed” was a crawl at best but more often, the spinning circle of death.)

You should enable International Services on your account, and there are other rules, so talk to a Verizon representative to make sure you’re on the right plan before you leave.

AT&T International Day Pass

With AT&T’s International Day Pass, subscribers can use their Mobile Share or AT&T Unlimited Plan for a flat daily fee while traveling in more than 100 countries covered. Instead of being charged per minute, message, or MB, subscribers pay a daily flat rate of $10/day per device for each 24-hour period. AT&T customers get unlimited talk within and between International Day Pass countries and back to the U.S., unlimited text, and use of the data plan that you use here in the U.S. Unlike other roaming plans, AT&T did not appear to have a daily limit on data, and subscribers get unlimited Wi-Fi access at participating hotspots in select countries via the AT&T Global Wi-Fi app. Although charges won’t be incurred until you use your phone abroad, you should add International Day Pass to each device prior to traveling abroad. Once you add International Day Pass, it remains active for future travel outside the US. Again, talk to your AT&T representative before you leave to make sure you’re on the right plan.

T-Mobile Simple Choice and T-Mobile ONE Unlimited 

T-Mobile offers unlimited data and texting in more than 140 “countries and destinations” at no extra charge for customers enrolled in Simple Choice or T-Mobile ONE unlimited plans. Note that unlike the AT&T and Verizon plans, international talk is extra, and this is not high-speed LTE but 128kbps, which is not recommended for streaming music or video. For higher data speeds, customers can add ONE Plus International for $25/month to get up to 256kbps speeds and other features. T-Mobile’s New Classic and Select Choice plans also provide unlimited text and data. There are no day passes or enrollment requirements, provided only that you are a T-Mobile subscriber on either Simple Choice or T-Mobile ONE. Unlike other plans, higher speed data is not necessarily included. “Free” roaming on T-Mo still has limitations. For example, you may need to add an On Demand Data Pass to get higher speed data, which has a daily rate like the other carriers’ plans. Voice calls are still rated and charged; only data and texts are free. Talk to a T-Mo representative to make sure you’re on the best plan available to meet your needs.

Sprint Global Roaming and High-Speed Data Roaming Pass

Sprint Global Roaming includes low-speed data and 20 cents/minute international calling, and is available at no extra cost if you have an LTE/GSM capable smartphone. If you want LTE data speeds, you will need a High-Speed Data Roaming Pass for single day and weeklong high-speed service, for $2/day or $10/week in Canada and Mexico, $10/day or $50/week in China, and $5/day or $25/week in Europe and “most other destinations.” Customers enroll by clicking a confirmation to the “Welcome SMS” travelers receive when they reach their destination outside the U.S. Sprint requires customers to remove all other international roaming add-ons (including Sprint Global Roaming), some of which may not be available when you return.

Venice

Venice (Photo: Whitey Bluestein)

How Do the Plans Compare?

AT&T International Day Pass has a slight edge because unlike Verizon, there is no “throttling” when data usage exceeds 512 MB/day, virtually all AT&T devices are compatible and global Wi-Fi access is available via the AT&T app. At a cost, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint offer higher data speeds than T-Mobile, which includes lower data speeds for free or very little by comparison. In fact, T-Mobile has the lowest cost data roaming and messaging costs if you don’t need fast data speeds. Sprint’s daily and weekly rates, especially for Europe, are lower than AT&T’s or Verizon’s daily rates, and like AT&T, don’t include daily usage restrictions. The U.S. market is highly competitive, and rates (and promotions) change frequently, so the best strategy is talk to your carrier representative before you embark.

Will my smartphone work where I’m traveling? Most recent smartphones are quad-band, which mean they should support the frequencies in most travel destinations. For Verizon and Sprint, it must be a world phone with LTE/GSM, available on most newer high-end smartphones. If you have a flip phone or older (3+ years old) smartphone, it might be time to upgrade before your trip. And don’t forget your charger and conversion plugs.

Make sure you’re on the right plan, and then don’t touch that Data Roaming switch. Enjoy your trip, your smartphone and your favorite apps!

NOTE: The above is based on plan descriptions on the carriers’ websites. It is difficult to make “apples to apples” comparisons of plans, which may include “promotions” that may not be available when you call. Talk to a carrier representative well before your trip to confirm that you are on the right plan, have a compatible device, and know what your data speeds, availability and costs will be.

Whitey Bluestein, a 35-year telecom veteran, is a strategic advisor and corporate development executive focused on connected cars/devices, M2M, mobile applications, payments, roaming and voice recognition. He is a CNBC mobile industry expert and 2013 Mobile Power Player.

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DHS: Prepare for laptop ban on Europe flights

Middle Eastern carriers are offering loaner laptops to premium passengers. (Image: Qatar Airways)

Reports are spreading on the Internet that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security could be on the verge of announcing a broad expansion of its so-called “laptop ban,” extending it to U.S.-Europe routes. Meanwhile, another airline affected by the ban has started loaning laptops to its business class flyers.

The ban was introduced in late March, prohibiting U.S.-bound travelers on flights out of 10 Middle Eastern and African airports from bringing laptops and tablets into the passenger cabin. The U.K. adopted a similar ban shortly thereafter.

UPDATE: Thursday> US Airlines meeting with DHS about expanding the ban. (Reuters)

UPDATE: Tuesday> U.S. officials have told airlines to “be prepared” for an expanded ban on carry-on electronic devices allowed on airplanes (Fox News, Bloomberg)

According to CBS News, the U.S. is said to be considering an expansion of the ban to include flights coming to the U.S. from continental Europe and possibly the U.K. Not good news as we enter the peak season for transatlantic flying. 

“Government officials have been meeting with U.S. airlines on a nearly weekly basis and intend to do so again later this week. Officials say a decision could come in the next few weeks,” CBS said. CBS got a non-answer from the Transportation Security Administration saying that it has made no decisions on extending the ban, but adding that it is “continuously reassessing security directives based on intelligence” and will make changes if it considers them necessary.

If a ban is indeed coming, perhaps the DHS is giving airlines some time to prepare for such a hit to their operations.

A laptop ban on flights from Europe would obviously pose a major problem for the business travel community, since laptops and tablets – anything larger than a smartphone – would have to be stowed in the hold with the passenger’s luggage (if he or she checked any).

Middle Eastern carriers affected by the initial ban have struggled to keep U.S.-bound business travelers by introducing new services like the option of gate-checking your laptop and picking it up at the destination. They have also started offering loaner devices to business and first class travelers for use during their flight; Qatar Airways, Etihad and Emirates all started doing so more than a month ago.

This week Turkish Airlines has started a similar loaner program for U.S.-bound business class flyers; it will extend the offer to U.K.-bound flights on May 12.

Maybe you don’t want to be traveling internationally with electronic devices these days anyway– read this post to find out why

Despite those programs, Middle Eastern airlines are taking a hit in bookings. Emirates announced a few weeks ago that it is cutting flight frequencies on five U.S. routes.

If many travelers are booking themselves from the Middle East to the U.S. via connections in Europe to avoid the laptop ban, what will they do if it is expanded? Canada does not currently impose a laptop ban… would it make sense for Americans to travel to/from Europe via Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal?

Readers: What would you do if the U.S. bans laptops and tablets from the passenger cabins of U.S.-bound flights from Europe?

Interesting: Here’s what started these rumors flying– a tweet from a brainy 20-year-old aviation enthusiast from the UK. In comments he states that the announcement could come from the White House by this Friday.

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Airbnb business travel ready rooms now easier to find

Airbnb searches offer a new filter for business travelers. (Image: Airbnb)

First Airbnb teamed up with Delta, Virgin America and Qantas to help its renters earn airline miles or points for their stays. It has also been increasing the number of “business travel ready” rental accommodations in its database. An now the room-sharing giant is making it easier for road warriors to find them.

The company said it has developed a new filter for property searches so that only the business-travel-ready listings appear in the results. Those are accommodations that feature Wi-Fi, self-check-in, and “laptop friendly workspaces,” for instance. The new feature also permits instant bookings for listed properties – i.e., the user doesn’t have to wait for the host to get back to them.

The new search capability is available for both desktop and mobile searches. To access it, users must link their work email address to their account. Users can register as business travelers and find out more the company’s business-ready properties at www.airbnb.com/business-travel.

Airbnb said that although it started out as a service for leisure travelers, it has been making significant inroads into the business travel market, which now accounts for almost 10 percent of its bookings. The number of “business travel ready” accommodations in its database is now more than 150,000 worldwide.

An Airbnb “business travel ready” rental in San Francisco (Image: Airbnb)

Last year, the company came out with a third-party booking tool so that company travel departments can book and change reservations for employees and contact the property host for details. It also took steps to integrate its systems with travel management companies, and introduced “business friendly receipts” to streamline expensing of trips.

Delta SkyMiles members earn one mile per dollar spent on qualifying stays (not counting taxes and fees) when they book Airbnb accommodations through a link on the Delta website. The new Delta connection came just a few weeks after Airbnb forged a similar link with Qantas’ loyalty program. That one also earns one point per dollar spent, and also requires booking through the Qantas website. Virgin America has had a similar loyalty program link with Airbnb (but the fine print says that it’s only good through June 30 of this year. United added it to its MileagePlus X smartphone app last year, but regrettably disabled it in November.

American Express Membership Rewards members can also redeem points for Airbnb stays. 

“Stay on the lookout for more from us in 2017 – from integrating with corporate travel booking tools, making it easier to rebook the business travel ready listing you absolutely loved, to offering easier access to amenities like gyms and co-working spaces,” the company said.

Does this new search feature make it more likely that you’ll try Airbnb for business travel… or if you are already a regular user, will you use it more? What’s your overall experience or impression of it? 

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Uber could make tipping easier – but would you? POLL

Uber may have to alter its app to allow tipping. (Image: Uber)

Even though its competitor Lyft has always allowed customers to tip drivers through its app, ride-sharing giant Uber has firmly resisted that option – although it might soon be forced to change its policy.

New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission this week said it will take up a proposal that would require car services that rely on app-based credit card transactions to include a way for customers to tip drivers through the app. If the commission ultimately decides to adopt the rule, a process that could take several months, other cities might follow suit.

>>SEE POLL BELOW!>>

The New York proposal is backed by a petition effort signed by thousands of drivers.  Two months ago, a bill was introduced in the California legislature that would impose a similar requirement on Uber.

A year ago, as part of a settlement with drivers in California and Massachusetts, the company agreed that it’s OK for drivers to solicit cash tips by posting signs in their cars, or simply by asking customers.

Uber drivers want an easier way to collect gratuities. (Image: Uber)

On its website, Uber informs customers who look for guidance that its app does not include a tip in the trip fare. “In most cities, Uber is a cashless experience,” the website says. “Tipping is voluntary. As a rider, you are not obligated to offer your driver a gratuity in cash. If you decide you would like to tip your driver is welcome to accept.” That verbiage was recently changed from the previous version: “You don’t need cash when you ride with Uber. Once you arrive at your destination, your fare is automatically charged to your credit card on file — there’s no need to tip.”

After the company changed its policy on tipping last year, an article in the Harvard Business Review was highly critical of the company’s decision not to allow gratuities to be paid through its app, instead requiring a separate transaction between passenger and driver.

“While this tipping procedure sounds harmless, it puts Uber at a significant competitive disadvantage,” the article said. “In addition to the inconvenience of the extra step, which will require business travelers to collect multiple receipts for expense account reimbursements, many riders will feel pressured to be overly generous in the amount they tip.” It noted that customers might also feel pressure to cough up a bigger tip if they want a good rating from the driver. “Customers never enjoy being strong-armed over a gratuity,” the article said.

When we polled our readers in February 2016, we found that by a two-to-one margin, they do not regularly tip Uber (or Lyft) drivers. Would that change if you could tip through the Uber app?

POLL: 

If Uber adds a tipping feature to its app, would you be more likely to tip your driver?

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Next wave of airport technology: facial recognition

British Airways has opened self-service boarding gates at London Heathrow. (Image: British Airways)

Three of Europe’s largest airports – London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris CDG —have started testing or using facial recognition technology as a way of speeding up passenger processing and boarding.

British Airways said this week that it has opened three self-service boarding gates at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, relying on digital facial scans as part of the process. The three domestic gates allow passengers to scan their own boarding passes at the gate and just walk onto the aircraft without the intervention of human gate agents.

BA said the process involves taking a digital facial scan of the passenger when he or she travels through the security checkpoint; when the traveler arrives at the departure gate, another digital image of their face taken there is checked against the earlier one. If the two match, the passenger is allowed through the gate and onto the aircraft.

The airline said it will extend the technology to three more domestic gates at LHR by mid-June, “with a view to rollout the scheme on international flights in the future.”

A facial recognition kiosk at an Amsterdam Schiphol boarding gate. (Image: KLM)

At Amsterdam Schiphol, the airport and KLM are conducting a three-month test of similar technology at one departure gate. Passengers who have registered in advance go to a special kiosk near the gate where they scan their boarding passes, passports and faces as part of the boarding process. Participants then board the aircraft through a special door that uses digital technology to recognize their faces.

“Schiphol and KLM want to study the technology of facial recognition – the system’s speed, reliability, and user-friendliness,” the airline said. “They will also examine the boarding process and the passenger experience. The ultimate aim is to make the boarding process as quick and easy as possible for our passengers.” The airline said that all data and images collected from passengers will be quickly erased.

At Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, the airports authority has started testing facial recognition software as a way to speed up passenger processing after terrorist attacks in the past two years prompted the French government to tighten security requirements for travelers. The tougher requirements led to big increases in waiting time at border control, with many travelers waiting an extra hour to get through.

The CDG test involves the use of new software from a vendor called Vision-Box, and is used for clearing immigration rather than for aircraft boarding. The software compares passengers’ passport photos with their faces, and it can be used for travelers from the 28 European Union member nations. If the tests work well and the government gives a nod to the technology, it could be used to speed up clearance for up to 20 percent of the airport’s passengers.

In the U.S., the CLEAR trusted traveler program uses biometrics but not facial recognition. (Image: CLEAR)

In the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security a few months ago issued a solicitation for vendors who can provide mounted facial recognition cameras to be used in airports. However, the purpose of that project is not to speed up boarding or passenger processing, but rather to help Customs and Border Protection catch persons who are not in the U.S. legally.

 Currently, the biggest user of biometric technology in U.S. airports is probably Clear, which relies on iris and fingerprint scans rather than facial recognition to speed its members into the security checkpoints.

Readers: Would you trust facial recognition technology if it is used to speed up the boarding process? How about if it is collected by government authorities for immigration and security purposes?

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JetBlue-backed startup eyes short-haul aircraft revolution

A start-up is working on 10- to 50-passenger hybrid electric aircraft. (Image: Zunum Aero)

There are hybrid electric cars, so why not hybrid electric passenger aircraft? A start-up company backed by JetBlue says new technology could revolutionize travel to smaller airports.

The company is Zunum Aero, which has funding from both Boeing and JetBlue Technology Ventures, the airline’s subsidiary that invests in travel-related innovation. The company is working on new 10- to 50-passenger aircraft using hybrid electric technology that could have planes in the sky within a few years, serving routes of up to 700 miles.

“These aircraft, as part of new regional electric air networks, will offer a fast, flexible and affordable alternative to highways and high-speed rail, operating point-to-point and as feeders to hub airports,” the company said.

Zunum envisions an air travel system that shifts traffic from the bottlenecks of giant hubs to one that takes advantage of under-utilized regional airports, eliminating the need for connections and/or long drives for many travelers. The company said the aircraft it is developing could serve markets of up to 700 miles by the early 2020s, and more than 1,000 miles by 2030.

Zunum says its planes could be flying by the early 2020s. (Image: Zunum Aero)

“Designing aircraft for walk-on, walk-off travel from nearby airports addresses the major pain points of modern air transit while filling a vast regional transport gap,” Zunum said. “For example, passengers can expect to travel from regional airports in the Boston area to Washington, DC for half the fare and in half the time it takes today door-to-door. For those on the West Coast, Silicon Valley to the LA area drops to two and a half hours door-to-door, from over five hours today, or to Lake Tahoe in just two hours at a fraction of today’s cost.”

Besides cutting door-to-door travel times by 40 to 80 percent, the company said, its technology would reduce operating costs enough to permit a 40 to 80 percent cut in fares. It would also greatly reduce aircraft emissions and noise.

“As a company that is also deeply committed to innovation in sustainable travel, we believe that Zunum and its quiet, environmentally-friendly aircraft will light up a vast network of underutilized airports and reinvent regional travel,” said Bonny Simi, president of JetBlue Technology Ventures.

Wright Electric and EasyJet are considering a 150-passenger electric-powered plane. (Image: Wright Electric)

Zunum and JetBlue aren’t the only ones exploring new ways to power aircraft. Another U.S. start-up, Wright Electric, is in discussions with U.K.-based low-cost carrier EasyJet about the development of a battery-powered or hybrid plane that could carry 150 passengers on flights of up to 300 miles.

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Working around the laptop ban

Qatar Airways is offering loaner laptops to premium passengers. (Image: Qatar Airways)

If you can’t bring your own laptop or tablet into the cabin for a very long flight, would you accept a loaner?

That’s the strategy some carriers are adopting in the wake of the so-called “laptop ban” imposed by the U.S. and U.K. governments on non-stop flights from several airports in the Middle East and Africa. The ban bars passengers from carrying any electronic device larger than a smartphone into the passenger cabin.

First, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad decided to offer loaner iPads and free Wi-Fi starting April 2 for first class and business class passengers on flights to its six U.S. gateways.

Qatar Airways then went a step further, buying up a supply of loaner laptops that will be made available on the aircraft to U.S.-bound business class passengers starting next week. “Customers will be able to download their work on to a USB before stepping on board to pick up where they left off,” the airline said. Qatar is also offering all passengers one hour of free in-flight Wi-Fi on U.S.-bound flights, or a special rate of $5 for a connection for the full duration of the flight.

Emirates’ president said that his carrier is also considering the use of loaner laptops for premium passengers.

Turkish Airlines and others will let customers check devices at the gate. (Photo: San Francisco International Airport)

Both Qatar and Emirates are letting U.S.-bound passengers keep using their tablets and laptops right up to boarding, so they don’t have to pack them in their checked luggage. Devices will be collected at the gate, flown in the hold, and returned at the destination. Turkish Airlines has also adopted procedures for checking electronic devices at the gate.

The affected airlines are not alone in worrying about the impact that the ban could have on their business. The International Air Transport Association – the leading trade organization for the world’s airlines – called on governments “to urgently find alternatives” to the device ban. The group said the ban seemed misguided and poorly conceived.

“The current measures are not an acceptable long-term solution to whatever threat they are trying to mitigate. Even in the short term it is difficult to understand their effectiveness. And the commercial distortions they create are severe,” said IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac.

“With the measures now in place, our passengers and member airlines are asking valid questions. Why don’t the US and the UK have a common list of airports? How can laptops be secure in the cabin on some flights and not others, including flights departing from the same airport? And surely there must be a way to screen electronic equipment effectively? The current situation is not acceptable and will not maintain the all-important confidence of the industry or of travelers. We must find a better way. And Governments must act quickly,” said de Juniac.

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Alexa! I need more towels!

An Amazon Echo digital assistant in a hotel room. (Image: Wynn Resorts)

Have you bought an Amazon Echo voice recognition device for your home yet? If not, you’ve probably talked to Siri on your iPhone. Google is also in the game with its Google Assistant. In any case, you might be talking to one of them in your hotel room soon.

Voice recognition capability for personal devices is key to the deployment of so-called “smart home” technology that lets you control heating, lighting, appliances and other things without getting out of your recliner. And hotels want to bring that same convenience to their guests.

Some higher-end hotels have already deployed tablet computers in their rooms that let the guest control the TV, sound, lighting, temperature and other things via touch-screen icons or keyboards. And according to Bloomberg Technology, hotel rooms are the obvious next frontier for voice recognition assistants.

Bloomberg said Amazon and Apple are the primary competitors in this nascent field, and that the first installations are already happening. Most of the initial devices are Amazon Echoes, which use a digital assistant called Alexa. Hotels with Apple iPads in guest rooms may already have the digital assistant Siri in place, but they still need to be integrated with in-room systems and devices. The Siri app on guests’ iPhones might also be brought into the mix. After mastering the link with “smart” guest room functions, the technology might be extended to other hotel services like the concierge desk, restaurant reservations and so on.

Apple’s Siri app is already in place on millions of iPhones and iPads. {Image: Apple)

Hotels installing Echo in some rooms and suites include the Wynn Las Vegas, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in Texas, and the Four Seasons in Washington D.C. Marriott is understood to be evaluating a broader distribution of voice recognition technology for one of its chains later this year, Bloomberg said.

Still to be determined is exactly how far the voice recognition systems will go in meeting guests’ demands.  “A key question is whether the interaction will be personalized, allowing guests familiar with the devices to log into their own accounts, or instead use a standard set of skills relevant to a hotel stay, like getting news reports, checking weather forecasts or calling for an Uber — commands more appropriate for those unfamiliar with the technology,” Bloomberg said.

Readers: Are you comfortable with voice recognition assistants? Do you have an Amazon Echo in your home, or do you often use an assistant on your phone? Please leave your answers in the comments! 

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LOL: The lighter side the electronics ban

A nice meal and my laptop in business class (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The electronics ban imposed this week is serious business and bound to have a painful impact on inflight productivity as well as airline profits. But you can always count on social media to find humor in the serious.

Below are some clever examples of how airlines and travelers trying to put a smile on this grimacing situation.

First off, we have Royal Jordanian’s list of things to do when you don’t have a tablet or laptop. Clever! But I’d add: Book a window seat to ponder clouds and the geography below!

Here’s one way a traveler can pass time… sketching about his or her experience

Does anyone know if typewriters will be allowed in flight? At least it will give us something to do. But imagine the noise factor.


LG has found a way to use the ban to sell its products:


Turkish Airways video focuses on its elaborate meal service and robust inflight entertainment as a diversion from the boredom of a long flight without a laptop.

That Etch-a-Sketch looks too much like a fat tablet to pass muster… would probably have to pack that, too.


Chicago reporter Miriam Sobh explores 5 ways the electronics ban is a good thing, starting out with fewer kids onboard flights and ending with cheaper flights:

Emirates has quickly responded to the ban with a new service that allows travelers to work on laptops up until boarding time, then packs them up and stows them at the gate. Smart move!

Emirates was the first out with a clever response– it repurposed an old Jennifer Aniston ad asking “Who needs laptops anyway?” Makes me wonder if Aniston had a clause in her contract for the repurposing of the original ad… probably not!

Clever use of cartooning. Looks like me trying to write and post a Trip Report before I jump onboard.


It’s probably unintentional, but Kuwait Airways’ new ad campaign focuses on packing your bags for summer trips. They can tweak it to add “pack your electronics,” too!


This Etihad tweet is a double entendre:

Have you found any good examples? Or have one of your own? Please share them below. Also go search social media using the #electronicsban hashtag.

 

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Are airport lounges getting too crowded?

Waiting in line at the entry to United’s new Club at SFO Terminal 3 (Chris McGinnis)

Frequent travelers love airport lounges, but do we love them too much? Maybe.

Overcrowding is becoming a serious issue in airline clubs- so much so that members are rethinking annual memberships, or considering newer options.

During busy morning hours, the United Clubs and the American Express Centurion Lounge my home airport (SFO) are frequently more crowded than airport terminals. Club staff have difficulty keeping buffets stocked and tables cleaned.

Last time I was in New York-JFK, I had to squeeze onto a stool between two other travelers and peer out at the tarmac to mentally escape from the crazy-crowded Delta Sky Club where I’d just waited two-deep for a glass of chardonnay at the bar. In Istanbul last May I saw business class passengers wait in bathroom lines for 10-20 minutes at Turkish Airlines’ massive (but crowded) business class lounge.

When American Express announced that it was raising its annual fee for the Platinum Card from $450 to $550, I thought, “hmmm could Amex be taking a page from airline play books and jacking up fees to reduce crowding at Centurion Lounges?” Maybe. UPDATE: Amex has restricted the number of family members to two only.

And then yesterday, I heard from a reader reporting that Alaska Airlines clubs at Sea-Tac were turning away Priority Pass cardholders due to capacity issues.

Delta Sky Club San Francisco

Watching the sun and the planes from a pretty perch at Delta’s exceptional Sky Club at SFO (Chris McGinnis)

At one time, high fees and lack of publicity kept most airline clubs cozy, quiet and comfortable refuges from crowded airport concourses. But that started to change a few years ago, when airlines began offering one-time passes for $50. Then credit card companies got in on the act, offering membership or day passes to card holders. That started to swell the ranks of club visitors.

Then American Express saw a need for better airport lounges for its top tier Platinum and Centurion card members, and started to build lounges of its own. These Centurion lounges wowed members with chef-prepared meals, top-shelf bars, wine tastings, sophisticated design, and showers. The travel media fawned. But then Centurion lounges became overcrowded, too.

Club at SJC

The main room of The Club at SJC (Photo: Scott Hintz)

One solution to overcrowding has been the growth of airline agonistic lounges like The Club, which charges $40 per visit and has locations at 9 airports  in the US. In my experience, these lounges are rarely crowded, and relatively nice. There are also Escape Lounges in the U.S. and the U.K.

Technology can also help. For example, the LoungeBuddy app helps travelers determine which lounges have availability, how much they cost and if they have a “pay as you go” option for as little as $25. Founder Tyler Dikman credits much of his company’s recent growth to travelers frustration with with crowding, which he says has become worse in the last three years.

I don’t know about you, but with the help of PreCheck and Clear, I now feel that I’ve honed my travel skills 🙂 so well that I usually get to the airport without ample time to fully enjoy the airport club experience, so the perk is less valuable to me. Plus, many airports terminals are as nice as airport clubs these days (hello SFO T3E or T2 or Newark Terminal C, Los Angeles TBIT or Delta’s new C gates at LGA)

What about you? Have crowded conditions forced you to reconsider club memberships or credit cards offering lounge access as a perk? Please leave your comments below.

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Heads up: Trying out Navdy in my car

The Navdy device provides an augmented driving experience (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

In addition to flying, I spend a lot of time behind the wheel of my scuba blue Audi station wagon. With California’s tough new laws that forbid even holding your mobile phone while driving (for any reason), I was psyched to see the recent rollout of Navdy, a new device makes it possible to handle communications and directions while you are staring straight ahead at the road. This new category of automotive device is called a “HUD” which is short for “heads up display.”

Navdy calls itself “the world’s first augmented driving device.” It links up with iOS and Android smartphones and projects information onto a small transparent screen that sits directly in front of the driver. So it really does augment your driving experience.

“Navdy lets you make and receive calls, listen to messages, control music, receive calendar reminders and stay connected to the apps on your phone,” the company says. “Navdy also connects to your car with Navdy Dash to show your speed, RPM and automatically recommend nearby gas stations when your fuel level is low.”

This video gives you an idea of how it works:

Last month Navdy shipped me one of its devices to try and write about for TravelSkills. Here’s what happened…

Opening the box- Navdy costs $599 and with a price like that, I have high expectations for everything, including packaging. The device is shipped in a slick, square black box, inside of which are four stacked trays of various components. Impressive and intuitive. I thought I might be able to hook it up without even reading directions.

Installing it- I deferred to the quick start instructions, and getting it all hooked up took me 30-40 minutes. First I unloaded everything in the box and laid it out in the passenger seat.  Next I cleaned the dash (with a special wipe in the box) and placed the sticky side of the rubber mount directly in front of the steering wheel, then snapped in the Navdy unit, flipped up the clear screen and removed its protective sleeve. Then I took the cord and ran it down the left side of the dash and under it where it plugs into the car’s onboard diagnostics (OBD) port– that’s for power and also to let Navdy know what’s going on under the hood, like when the car is low on gas. I also wrapped its small rubber control dial to the steering wheel, which is used to scroll through menus on the screen.

Downloading the app to smart phone- Navdy works in tandem with your smart phone, so you need to download an app to synch everything. Once connected and enabled, Navdy allows you to answer calls using a swipe of your hand, and then talk via your car’s Bluetooth system. It will read texts to you. This is how it keeps your hands off your phone when you are driving, but also allows you to remain completely connected. The dial mounted to the steering wheel allows you to scroll through menus, or even access Siri.

Feels like a jet fighter with bright and clear maps and menus — even in sun (Image: Navdy)

Trying it out for the first time- It felt like something out of Star Wars or a fighter jet, looking out the windshield and simultaneously looking through a moving map of my car on the grid of San Francisco. I was able to easily adjust the lens to my eye level. The map was bright and crystal clear. Using “glances” I can see heavy traffic ahead, fuel, who is calling me, and what’s playing on the stereo. If I wanted it to, it would even show my calendar, my Twitter and Facebook alerts and Gmail headers, but I feel like that’s just a bit too much info, so I did not enable those functions. When driving, the device uses its own maps, which is fine, but I have grown accustomed to using Waze, which is currently not available on Navdy– so there will be a bit of a learning curve.

Using hand gestures- The Navdy device has a motion sensor, so I’m able to accept calls by swiping my hand right over the steering wheel. Swiping left hangs up. Pretty cool!

Parking- Living in San Francisco, I have it constantly drilled into my head never to leave anything of value (or perceived value) in sight in a parked car to avoid theft. The Navdy device is discreet, but it’s right there on the dash– however it’s not all that difficult to remove (it’s magnetically attached to the mount) and stash under the seat.

Overall, I really liked it. If I had a job that required frequent car travel, it would be a dream come true… almost like sitting at my desk while behind the wheel, fully connected, but hands-free and compliant with increasingly stringent driving laws.

For a limited time, Navdy costs $599. If you don’t like it, you can return the unit within 30 days for a refund. For details, go to www.navdy.com.

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Why SFO suffers so during rainy weather

Rain

A week of steady rain has caused a steady stream of delays at SFO (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Flight delays at San Francisco International Airport regularly exceed two hours when it’s rainy, windy or foggy, while airports in San Jose and Oakland report few if any delays. On Thursday (Feb 9) the FAA is reporting delays averaging a painful three hours at SFO. According to FlightStats.com operations are normal at nearby Oakland and San Jose.

Here’s why:

As most frequent travelers know, delays mount at SFO almost every time a storm blows in off the Pacific. Just look at these soggy numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics: SFO ranked 28th out of 29 major airports in on-time arrivals in the first 10 months of 2016. It ranked 22nd out of 29 in on-time departures.

Why does SFO seem to suffer so many more weather-related delays than other airports in the Bay Area?

Of course, the answer is endlessly complicated, but for the most part, the main reason is capacity. SFO’s runways are too close together to allow simultaneous operations during wet weather. Due to environmental concerns, there are no current plans to further separate the runways, which would require expansion into the Bay.

Check this: Nearly 3,000 cancellations tomorrow due to NE snowstorm

SFO Plan West

The West Plan at SFO allows up to 60 aircraft arrivals per hour (Illustration provided by SFO. Yes, we know about the “SJO” mistake designers made on this image.)

SFO runways are designed to handle up to 60 aircraft arrivals per hour in dry weather. That’s because the airport operates two sets of parallel runways– one set for takeoffs, the other for landings. These parallel runways intersect at their midpoint forming a giant “X.” (See figure) During dry weather, two streams of planes can land and take off from these parallel runways.

The problem is that planes are only allowed to take off and land simultaneously on these parallel runways during clear, dry weather.

When storms blow in, air traffic control changes up the formation in which planes land, from the dry weather “West Plan” (with aircraft arriving on runways 28L or 28R and departing on runways 01L or 01R– see above) to the stormy weather “Southeast” plan (when aircraft arrive on 19L & 19R and depart on 10L & 10R– see below).

When air traffic controllers switch to the Southeast plan, simultaneous operations on parallel runways is forbidden, which cuts the airport’s arrivals capacity in half– from 60 down to 30 or 38 per hour, depending on the severity of conditions. All planes must land in single file, which causes delays when there are 60 planes scheduled to land, but air traffic control only allows 35. And when planes arrive late, it’s likely that they will also depart late.

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During rainy weather, SFO switches to the Southeast plan, which slows down operations

During rainy weather, SFO switches to the Southeast plan, which slows down operations (Illustration provided by SFO. Yes, we know about the “SJO” mistake designers on this image )

If you live in San Francisco, you can tell when planes switch to the Southeast Plan because some arriving aircraft whistle and moan as they descend through the clouds over the city as they approach SFO.

What can you do to avoid this? Fly early during storm season. Before 9 a.m., arrival volume at SFO is below 30 per hour. But after 9 a.m., just over 30 aircraft are scheduled to land. The arrivals rate peaks between 12 noon and 2 pm when 40+ aircraft per hour are scheduled to land at SFO. The situation usually does not improve until later in the afternoon when arrival volume falls below 30 per hour.

The main reason that airports in Oakland and San Jose don’t face such on-time performance issues– even when it’s raining—  is because their volume is low. They rarely exceed their capacity for arrivals in good or bad weather. (For example, neither airport is included in the BTS’s top 29 airports cited above.)

Last week reported on just how big that difference in volume really is: Last year, SFO handled a record 53 million passengers while Oakland had about 12 million and San Jose reported about 11 million.

In 2014, SFO announced that new landing procedures could help reduce delays– but those new procedures only apply during periods of low ceilings (fog) but not rain.

Have you or would you consider switching your flying to Oakland or San Jose due to delays at SFO? Why or why not? Please leave your comments below. 

— Chris McGinnis

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Room upgrades, late check-out, more via Marriott app

Marriott has an iOS version of its redesigned app. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott has released an iOS version of its redesigned app. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott Rewards members will see upgraded functions and personalized features in the hotel giant’s redesigned mobile app, available now for iOS users through the Apple App Store.

The company said the upgraded Marriott Mobile app will be ready for Android users later this year.

Among the changes:

  • The app has offered mobile check-in/check-out and room-ready alerts for three years, but now members who check in with the app will be able to request room upgrades and find out before they arrive whether the request was approved.
  • Users will also be able to ask for a late check-out via the app instead of calling the front desk (late check-out is guaranteed for Marriott Rewards Gold and Platinum members).
  • With the improved Mobile Requests feature, users can chat directly with hotel staff before, during or after their stay for requests that need personal attention; they can also select from a drop-down menu listing the most common requests (e.g., more towels).
  • The app’s Mobile Key function, which lets users unlock their room from their phone, is gaining more widespread applicability, coming to another 500 hotels worldwide this year.
  • The app will let users peruse destination content for their upcoming trips, culled from Marriott’s digital magazine and provided by local experts.
  • A new user interface uses a one-button design that provides “simple thumb-tap access to everything the app has to offer,” Marriott said.

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Marriott offers two all-suite brands in San Diego's Bayfront. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott offers two all-suite brands in San Diego’s Bayfront. (Image: Marriott)

The app’s functionality will get even more personalized later this year, Marriott said, when it rolls out a real-time messaging service called mPlaces. That will provide users with “travel and hotel information, recognition and offers at the right time and place for Marriott Rewards members throughout their stays,” the company said.

“Over time, Marriott will add more personalized and informative content based on data and driven by beacons now installed at over 500 hotels,” Marriott noted. “For example, members who typically work out while they travel would receive information about the location, hours and services of the hotel fitness facility. Other future app features will enable members to order restaurant and room service menu items delivered wherever they are, such as lounging by the pool.”

Do you use hotel apps? Which ones, and which features, work best for you? Please leave your comments below.

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Watch this: PBS series takes inside look at aviation

Composite of airliner take-offs at Dubai's airport. (Image: BBC)

Composite of airliner take-offs at Dubai’s airport. (Image: BBC)

PBS and the BBC have teamed up to produce an in-depth look at the inner workings of passenger air travel.

The new three-part documentary series “City in the  Sky” will debut on Wednesday, February 8; check your local listings for broadcast times.

“Anyone who flies, from annual vacationers to daily business travelers, will be amazed what it really takes to get them from place to place safely and efficiently,” said PBS chief programming executive Beth Hoppe. “This is an extraordinary series that jet-sets around the world to show the inner-workings of a fascinating global industry many of us take for granted.”

Here’s a trailer for the series:

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The first episode, called “Departure,” focuses on airports and getting passengers off the ground; the second, “Airborne,” examines safety issues and what goes on while the plane is in the air; the third, “Arrival,” looks at the “complex global networks” and “astonishing technology” that bring flights safely to the ground, PBS said.

Among the locations featured in the documentary series are Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, one of the world’s busiest; Seattle’s Boeing plant; the airport at Bangor, Maine, where transatlantic airliners in trouble find a safe haven; and MedAire, Inc. in Phoenix, where doctors are on call around the clock the help cabin crews deal with in-fight medical emergencies.

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Are seatback screens becoming obsolete?

Seatback screens are still staying on American wide-bodies like this 787 -- for now. (Image: American)

Seatback screens are still staying on American Airlines wide-bodies like this 787 — for now. (Image: American)

American Airlines has decided to do without seatback video screens in its newest single-aisle planes, and it is betting that passengers won’t care.

The carrier is due to take delivery of its first four next-generation 737 MAX aircraft this year – it has ordered a total of 100 – and they will come without the traditional seatback screens. American will still offer the screens on wide-bodies used for international routes, for its three-class A321Ts used on lucrative transcontinental routes, and on some other single-aisle aircraft, including 40 A321s and other 737 models due for delivery this year.

Instead of using seatback screens, passengers on the new 737 MAX planes will be able to see entertainment programming on their personal electronic devices, the airline said in a memo to employees.

The carrier said more than 90 percent of AA passengers now bring along their own tablet, laptop or smartphone, and that passengers prefer to use those devices. The airline will allow passengers to access its collection of movies, TV programs and live TV at no charge.

Satellite-based Wi-Fi links will be available for a fee, so that passengers can stream on-demand video entertainment from other providers. All of American’s new 737 MAX aircraft, and several hundred of its other domestic planes, will be getting new satellite-based Wi-Fi technology from ViaSat, the same vendor used by JetBlue.

Direct streaming to tablets and laptops will preclude the need for seatback video screens in the future. Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Direct streaming to tablets and laptops will likely preclude the need for seatback video screens in the future. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The new technology will permit much faster Wi-Fi for easy video streaming from sources like Netflix and Amazon. The ViaSat Wi-Fi should be on about half of AA’s single-aisle fleet by mid-2018.

American hasn’t decided yet whether it will extend the “no screens” policy to other aircraft types in the future.  But its memo to employees did say that the company expects seatback monitors to be “obsolete within a few years.”

Other carriers seem to be taking the same approach; United’s new 737-900s rely on entertainment streaming without video screens, and Alaska also uses streaming-only in-flight entertainment, although on longer flights it offers rental tablets that are preloaded with movie and TV programming.

Readers: Do you care if your domestic flight has a seatback screen as long as you can stream entertainment directly to your laptop or tablet at a reasonable speed?

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CLEAR adds 5 big Delta airports

CLEAR will soon be available in 22 airports. (Image: CLEAR)

CLEAR lanes will soon be available in 22 U.S. airports. (Image: CLEAR)

The CLEAR trusted traveler program, which provides members with expedited access to TSA security checkpoints, is embarking on a big national expansion.

CLEAR said it added a presence at New York JFK a few weeks ago, and will do the same at New York LaGuardia today (January 25). It will then add lanes at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson later this month, followed by Minneapolis-St. Paul and Los Angeles International later in the first quarter.

Are you noticing a pattern here? Last year Delta made an investment in the company, which refocused expansion efforts at Delta hubs. See CLEAR gets second wind.

At New York JFK, special lane are now available in Delta’s  Terminal 2, and at LaGuardia in Delta’s Terminal D, with more locations coming at both airports, the company said. At Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, the lane will be in Delta’s South Terminal. It will also be in MSP’s South Terminal, and locations at LAX will be announced soon– but at least one (if not the only) location will be Delta’s Terminal 5.

The new airport locations will give the company a presence in 22 airports around the country, “covering the majority of flights in the U.S.,” the company noted. In the past year, it added locations at Detroit Metro, Seattle-Tacoma, Washington Dulles and Washington Reagan National. 

But it’s important to note that while CLEAR is available at 22 airports, it’s NOT available at all entry points at those airports. And CLEAR lanes are not always open. So even if you are flying Delta, you should probably check to find out exactly where the lanes are located and when they are open.

CLEAR members with biometric IDs can bypass security lines. (Image: CLEAR)

CLEAR members with biometric IDs can bypass security lines. (Image: CLEAR)

CLEAR uses kiosks with biometric technology – fingerprint and iris scans — to verify the identity of its members at airport security checkpoints, and allows them to bypass the long lines that other travelers often encounter. (This is separate from TSA’s PreCheck program, and does not provide access to PreCheck lanes unless the member is also a participant in PreCheck.)

Membership costs $179 a year, although discounts are available to members of Delta’s SkyMiles program, varying by elite levels. Delta last year acquired a minority stake in the company and has supported its expansion to airports where the carrier has a hub or a major presence. New members who sign up at the airport will get a one-month free trial and can start using it right away. Read: How to get the Delta Discount at CLEAR

In addition to the airports mentioned above, lanes are also available at San Francisco, San Jose, Denver, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston Bush Intercontinental, Houston Hobby, San Antonio, Austin, Orlando, Miami, Las Vegas, Baltimore-Washington, Seattle and New York’s Westchester County Airport.

More information is available at www.clearme.com.

Are you a CLEAR member? What do you think about the service? Are you more likely to get it based on this expansion? Please leave your comments below. 

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Cheaper new AT&T international plan mimics Verizon, T-Mobile

phone iphone map

Using phones in other countries getting cheaper, easier (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

It’s getting cheaper and cheaper to use our mobile phones in other countries. Today, AT&T said that starting Friday, its customers can opt for the AT&T International Day Pass.

Day Pass allows you to talk, text and access data all you want (within the bounds of your current plan) in more than 100 countries. You’ll pay a $10 flat fee per day instead of the previously confusing and onerous per minute, message or megabyte fees.

Here’s how AT&T describes Day Pass benefits:

  • Add to each device one time and it’s available whenever you travel within the 100+ countries until you remove the feature.
  • Use in our most popular destinations in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean – like the U.K., France, Italy, China, India, Jamaica and the Bahamas – as well as all of Central and South America.
  • Access your plan data and get unlimited calls within International Day Pass countries and back to the U.S., as well as unlimited texts to the world at no additional charge.
  • Simply add AT&T International Day Pass to your devices on myAT&T.

This comes on the heels of Verizon’s late 2015 introduction of the helpful, cheaper TravelPass plan.  And it all started with T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plan, offering free data and texting and 20-cent calls in 140+ countries.

Verizon

This is how Verizon lets me know that I’ll be charged again using TravelPass

Verizon:

Verizon TravelPass is priced at $2 a day per line in Mexico and Canada and $10 a day in 100+ other countries— the plan lets you “take your domestic talk, text and data allowances with you,” Verizon says. Once you sign up for TravelPass, the fee kicks in when you receive a call, connect to a data service, or send a text inside one of the countries where it works. Once that 24 hours is up, the daily fee won’t kick in again until you receive a call, connect to a data service, or send a text – at which point another TravelPass day will begin.

I’m a Verizon guy, and have been very pleased with TravelPass, which removes the uncertainty and fear of outrageous bills for using your phone in other countries.

To sign up go to MyVerizon.com and select “manage international services” or use the MyVerizon app on your phone to activate it before embarking on a trip. Once at your destination, you’ll receive a text message welcoming you to the country and reminding you of the service and the daily fee.

T-Mobile:

T-Mobile has the most economical plan for international travelers– unlimited calling, data and texting in the U.S., Mexico, & Canada is automatically included with its Simple Choice plans.

The Simple Choice Plan also offers unlimited data and texting in what it says are “95% of the places Americans travel most” That is currently 140+ countries and destinations. Details on using T-Mobile overseas.

Here’s a link to Sprint’s international roaming plan.

Which plan do you use for overseas calling? How do you save money on international call? VOIP? Something else? Please leave your comments and tips below. 

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In-flight wi-fi makes small but steady gains

Gogo says new technology will increase Wi-Fi speeds tenfold. (Image: Delta)

Gogo says new technology will increase Wi-Fi speeds tenfold. (Image: Delta)

A new report finds that U.S. airlines remain way ahead of their foreign counterparts in the availability of in-flight Wi-Fi.

However, the Routehappy.com report also notes that the world’s airlines have quite a ways to go in offering what it calls the “best” Wi-Fi – i.e., “comparable to a home connection” in that it offers the highest speeds available and permits advanced media streaming.

“U.S. airlines continue to get closer to offering Wi-Fi on nearly every flight, a benefit of having started Wi-Fi rollouts earlier than airlines in most other regions,” Routehappy said. “Delta and United now have it installed on every single aircraft larger than 50-seat regional jets, while American is also closing in on this milestone. This is the result of multi-year installation programs, which are finally wrapping up.”

Airlines are shifting to Wi-Fi systems that communicate via satellites like this one.. (Image: SES/Airbus Defence & Space)

Airlines are shifting to systems that communicate via satellites like this one.. (Image: SES/Airbus Defence & Space)

The company said that for U.S. airlines, 80 percent of available seat miles (ASMs) are now flown on Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft, compared with just 18.5 percent of ASMs on foreign airlines worldwide.  (U.S. airlines that offer none at all include ultra-low-cost carriers like Frontier and Spirit, “which have no intention of rolling it out in the near future,” Routehappy said.)

In terms of quality, the company found that of equipped aircraft worldwide, only 7.2 percent offer the “best” product – an increase of just 1.2 points in the past year. Most aircraft (61 percent) provide what Routehappy calls “better” quality – i.e., capable of full web browsing and limited media streaming, while the rest have just basic service.

However, that should change fast. “While the overwhelming majority of flights operating with Best Wi-Fi today are found on JetBlue and some United flights, next-generation systems are now rapidly coming online, with major airline commitments announced more regularly than in prior years,” Routehappy said.

Source: Routehappy.com

Source: Routehappy.com

“Gogo’s 2Ku system (i.e., an advanced satellite-based network) has recently launched with multiple major global airlines such as Delta, Aeromexico, and Virgin Atlantic. Inmarsat’s GX for Aviation is also in the beginning stages of going live to passengers. Deutsche Telekom’s high-speed air-to-ground network is being built throughout the European Union and UK, and British Airways will use this network starting in mid-2017; SAS and Finnair have also tapped Viasat for European Wi-Fi. All these systems are pending installation in thousands of aircraft. While equipment installation will take years to complete, by the end of 2017 flyers will see a big increase of Best Wi-Fi available to them.”

The deployment of these newer technologies means that in-fight Wi-Fi speed and quality “will dramatically improve” in the months and years ahead, the company said, and the cost to passengers should come down as well.

Looking just at long-haul flights – which Routehappy defines as more than 2,800 miles – the report says that only seven airlines now offer Wi-Fi on 100 percent of their flights: United, Delta, Iberia, Etihad, Icelandaor, Lufthansa and Singapore’s Scoot.

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United passengers test a new way of looking at things

United passengers test the Glyph headset. (Image: Avegant)

United passengers test the Glyph headset. (Image: Avegant)

Passengers on a few United Airlines flights this week were the first to try out a new wraparound headset that provides a more immersive multimedia experience for in-flight streaming entertainment.

A company called Avegant produces the Glyph headsets, which can integrate seamlessly with streaming Wi-Fi programming. The testing took place to see exactly how the devices worked in-flight with United’s entertainment technology, and to gather feedback from passengers about the experience.

The company promises “an immersive 360-degree experience and side-by-side 3D in amazing detail,” along with superior audio quality through the headset’s padded earphones.

Headsets were handed out at the boarding gate. (Image: Avegant)

Headsets were handed out at the boarding gate. (Image: Avegant)

But it also stops short of what can be the disorienting view presented total virtual reality headsets. “The Avegant Glyph lets you see above and below the visual field, so you can easily orient yourself to your surroundings and not give up spatial awareness,” the company noted.

And it’s not just for in-flight use. The headset can plug into any HDMI-supported device for movies, gaming and other content, the company said.

Avegant is offering United travelers a 20 percent discount on the $549 headset if they order online by January 15.

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Is a boom in supersonic travel coming?

Boom's SST design would be smaller than Concorde. (Image: Boom)

Boom’s SST design would be smaller than Concorde. (Image: Boom)

An executive at a company developing the next generation of SST airliners says more orders are coming in, and sees 500 global routes where the service could work.

Colorado-based Boom, which is developing a 45-seat supersonic passenger plane, already has a commitment from Virgin Group chief Sir Richard Branson for 10 aircraft, and last fall Virgin agreed to work with the manufacturer on technical aspects and flight testing of the plane.

And now an “unnamed European carrier” has optioned 15 aircraft from the manufacturer, Boom CEO Blake Scholl said in an interview with Routesonline.com.

Scholl said the initial interest in the new aircraft is likely to keep building among international carriers. He cited a recent independent analysis by The Boyd Group that projects a global demand for more than 1,300 passenger SSTs from 2023 to 2032.

He also said that more than 500 routes worldwide have the traffic potential to support faster-than-sound air travel and the time savings it brings.

The prototype of Boom’s XB-1, a smaller aircraft designed to test the company’s technology, is expected to make its first flight later this year.

Rendering of a passenger seat on the planned SST. (Image: Boom)

Rendering of a passenger seat on the planned SST. (Image: Boom)

The difference between Boom and the discontinued Concorde technology, he said, is that the new plane’s fuel economy is substantially better – allowing it to operate profitably at much lower fares. Boom is projecting a business class type of experience, both in the cabin and the fares that will be possible.

As for the time savings, he noted that Boom’s projected airspeed is 10 percent faster than Concorde’s Mach 2.0, making it possible to fly from San Francisco to Tokyo in 5.5 hours instead of 11, or from Los Angeles to Sydney in 6 hours and 45 minutes instead of 15 hours.

Readers: How much of a premium over business class fares would you be willing to pay for a supersonic flight that cuts your travel time in half or better?

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Southwest plans big boost for in-flight Wi-Fi

Southwest travelers will see faster Wi-Fi in the months ahead.. (Image: Southwest Airlines)

Southwest travelers will see faster Wi-Fi in the months ahead.. (Image: Southwest Airlines)

Travelers on Southwest Airlines should see an improvement in Wi-Fi capabilities in the months ahead.

The airline said it has signed new connectivity agreements with Panasonic Avionics and Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE) to enhance the in-flight experience for customers across its fleet.

“Both of the agreements support Southwest’s focus on yielding greater Wi-Fi bandwidth available to Customers on Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft,” Southwest said.

The agreement with Global Eagle extends the airline’s current use of that vendor’s Airconnect connectivity system, and the deal with Panasonic will provide that firm’s Wi-Fi and live TV products on a portion of the Southwest fleet.

“Southwest’s agreements with Panasonic and GEE align with next year’s planned retirement of the carrier’s non-Wi-Fi-equipped 737-300 Classic aircraft and the introduction of the new Boeing 737-8 (MAX),” a spokesman said. “By the end of 2017, Southwest Airlines is targeting to operate a 100 percent Wi-Fi-equipped fleet of more than 700 aircraft.”

By the middle of next year, Southwest said, passengers should be able to surf the Internet faster due to a Wi-Fi bandwidth increase of at least three times the current levels. That bandwidth will increase even more over the following 12 months.

“Connectivity speeds are expected to increase, and Southwest plans to develop relationships with content providers to bring even more exclusive content to its customers while on flights,” the company said. It added that it expects to continue offering live TV at no cost to customers, and maintaining an $8 fee per day per device for Wi-Fi connectivity.

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Uber’s driverless car test in San Francisco hits a snag

A driverless UberX Volvo near San Francisco's ferry terminal. (Image: Uber)

A driverless UberX Volvo near San Francisco’s ferry terminal. (Image: Uber)

Uber’s driverless car test in San Francisco is getting off to a shaky start.

No sooner had Uber started testing the use of driverless cars in San Francisco this week than the state stepped in to block it – and an incriminating video didn’t help Uber’s case.

The ride-sharing giant, which started using driverless vehicles in Pittsburgh in September, expanded the service to the streets of San Francisco this week with some UberX automated Volvo XC90s. The company said customers could request a self-driving car for their local rides based on availability.

But California’s Department of Motor Vehicles quickly intervened by telling Uber it needs a permit to use the driverless technology – something that 20 other companies already have, the DMV noted.

Uber is challenging the DMV’s warning, however. “We understand that there is a debate over whether or not we need a testing permit to launch self-driving Ubers in San Francisco,” the company said. “We have looked at this issue carefully and we don’t believe we do…First, we are not planning to operate any differently than in Pittsburgh, where our pilot has been running successfully for several months. Second, the rules apply to cars that can drive without someone controlling or monitoring them. For us, it’s still early days and our cars are not yet ready to drive without a person monitoring them.”

As soon as the UberX Volvos hit the street, they started having problems, according to local media, with the cars running red lights on at least two occasions. Uber called it “human error,” blaming the problems on the engineers who were in the driver’s seat of the driverless cars, supposedly ready to handle any emergency or sticky situation.  It said both employees had been suspended while it investigates.

One of those incidents was caught on video from the dash cam of a local taxi:

Readers: Would you ride in a driverless car as long as there was an Uber engineer keeping an eye on things? What if there wasn’t? Post comments below.

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Shut up! No YOU shut up! Inflight phone debate is back

13 million flyers used OnAir's mobile phone service from planes last year (Photo: SITA OnAir)

Millions of flyers on foreign airlines have used OnAir’s mobile phone service from planes. (Photo: SITA OnAir)

Changing technology that enables travelers to make voice calls over in-flight Wi-Fi systems has led the Transportation Department to take another look and reignite the debate about voice calls in the air.

Inflight cell phone for voice calls use is already permitted by many airlines around the world.  Even highly regulated Europe relaxed its ban on flight calls way back in 2008. None have reported any of the mayhem predicted by pundits and politicians.

The current ban on in-flight phone calls was issued by the Federal Communications Commission, not DOT – and that decision was based on issues of interference with navigation systems and ground-based cell phone networks. Today, most aircraft have Wi-Fi technology that is increasingly switching from ground-based to satellite-based communication, and it permits flyers to make calls through Wi-Fi – and that is not covered by the FCC ban.

DOT said it has started a rulemaking proceeding that would not only require airlines to inform customers “from the beginning of the process” (i.e. at the time of booking) when voice calls are permitted on their flights, but also seeks to determine whether the agency should simply ban voice calls outright.

Emirates Airline does not have a problem with passengers using their mobile phones in flight (Photo: OnAir)

Emirates Airline does not have a problem with passengers using their mobile phones in flight (Photo: OnAir)

And this rulemaking has nothing to do with safety issues – it’s all about consumer protection.

“DOT believes that allowing voice calls, without providing adequate notice, would be an unfair and deceptive practice,” the agency said. “As technologies advance, the cost of making voice calls may decrease and the quality of voice call service may increase, leading to a higher prevalence of voice calls and a greater risk of passenger harm… The Department believes that consumers would be unfairly surprised and harmed if they learned only after the purchase of a ticket (or, worse, after boarding the aircraft) that the carrier permits voice calls on its flights.”

Passenger harm? DOT doesn’t explain that concern. Is it suggesting that voice calls in-flight would lead to physical fights between the caller and a seatmate who doesn’t want to hear it?

The agency noted that when it looked into allowing voice calls on flights back in 2014, “a substantial majority of individual commenters expressed opposition to voice calls on the grounds that they are disturbing, particularly in the confined space of an aircraft cabin.” The airlines’ trade group thinks airlines should be allowed to decide for themselves whether to allow phone calls, but flight attendants’ unions are opposed to the practice.

Still, several foreign airlines permit voice calls on their flights, and there is little if any evidence that the practice led to fisticuffs or boycotts.

Gogo’s popular inflight wi-fi system has the capability to handle voice calls, but for now, the VOIP calls are blocked on commercial flights. But the ability to use inflight wi-fi for voice calls is a very popular feature on Gogo-equipped private jets. Gogo currently offers free texting (only) on commercial flights for T-Mobile customers.

Elsewhere, airlines that have adopted the onboard technology have the ability to turn voice calling on or off– and some, like Lufthansa, have decided to keep it off. Ryanair, Europe’s largest carrier,  experimented with allowing cell phone use on its planes in 2009 and dumped the idea due to lack of interest.

Screen Shot 2015-09-02 at 9.20.13 AM

Some of the airlines that offer Aeromobile’s inflight SMS or phone service

Here are lists of airlines that offer inflight mobile phone or SMS service via Aeromobile or OnAir.

Why don’t people in these other countries yack endlessly on their cell phones on planes if they can? Because using a mobile phone on a plane is not the same as using it on the ground. It’s very expensive... calls cost about $3-$4 per minute– and charges appear on your mobile phone bill.

What’s not clear now is how inflight wi-fi (or VOIP) calling can be regulated onboard, and how it may be priced. In any case, you can bet that it will not be free. And if inflight wi-fi usage (which runs at about 7%) is any indicator, inflight calling will likely not be widespread. 

While airlines are said to be studying the issue, most are standing by previous decisions to ban inflight calls.

In any case, if you’d like to share an opinion with them on the subject, go to www.regulations.gov and file comments on docket number DOT-OST-2014-0002.

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This airline wants to get deep inside your body

British Airways Champagne

Do you need a drink? British Airways wants to know without being told. (Image: Scott Hintz)

Would you mind if your airline tried to anticipate your in-flight needs by using a variety of sensors to monitor just how you’re feeling – including, possibly, a “digital pill” that you swallow?

That’s apparently what British Airways sees for the future of travel. According to MediaPost.com, the airline has applied for a patent on new technology that would let it control the travel environment in response to very personal passenger data.

That data would be gathered by sensors that measure various physiological factors in passengers – including “digital pills or other ingestible sensors that detect internal temperature, stomach acidity and other internal properties and wirelessly relay this information outside the passenger’s body,” according to the patent application.

The application apparently did not indicate how large such a pill might be.

Other sensors could be worn by a passenger, included on his mobile device, or positioned nearby. These could include body movement sensors, sleep phase or biorhythm sensors, eye movement trackers and heartrate or blood pressure monitors, the patent application said.

All this data could theoretically be analyzed to determine if passengers are awake or asleep, hungry, and hot or cold, for instance, “for use in determining and scheduling events associated with the journey segments,” the application said – i.e., so crew could adjust in-flight service and environmental controls to keep passengers at maximum comfort levels.

What do you think, readers? Would you swallow a digital pill or strap on a wearable so flight attendants could know when to serve you dinner? Or is this whole notion just off-the-charts science fiction?

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Supersonic: 3.5 hour JFK-London flights for $2,500

Boom's SST design would be smaller than Concorde. (Image: Boom)

Boom’s SST design would be smaller than Concorde. (Image: Boom)

Roundtrip from New York to London for $5,000, with a 3-1/2 hour flight time in each direction? That’s the goal Sir Richard Branson has in mind for his new partnership with a U.S.-based company working on a supersonic passenger jet.

Branson, the founder of Virgin Group and Virgin Atlantic Airways, this week said his Virgin Galactic subsidiary —which hopes to sell space flights – is entering into a partnership with the Colorado start-up Boom to bring about the next generation of SSTs.

He said the Spaceship Company – the technical division of Virgin Galactic – will work with Boom by providing help with engineering, manufacturing expertise and flight tests. Branson and Boom CEO Blake Scholl said they hope to launch commercial flights with the new aircraft by 2023.

Don’t miss! Chris’s Trip Report from BA Concorde JFK-LHR

Rendering of a passenger seat on the planned SST. (Image: Boom)

Rendering of a passenger seat on the planned SST. (Image: Boom)

The proposed new aircraft would have only 45 to 50 seats – about half as many as the Concorde, which stopped flying 20 years ago. Scholl said the aircraft could be economical on hundreds of routes, but would initially focus on New York-London, Tokyo-San Francisco and Los Angeles-Sydney.

The new partnership between Virgin Galactic and Boom represents an increased commitment to the project from Branson, who earlier this year signed an option to buy the first 10 airframes produced by the manufacturer. Branson cast his lot with Boom rather than Boeing or Lockheed-Martin, which are also working on SST prototypes, because Boom plans to use existing technology that won’t require any additional regulatory approval and thus could start operating sooner.

The proposed aircraft would reach a velocity of 2.2 times the speed of sound and would cruise at 60,000 feet – high enough to see the curvature of the planet.

Would you fly it? Please leave your comments below. 

Don’t miss! Chris’s Trip Report from BA Concorde JFK-LHR

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CLEAR lanes coming to ATL, LAX, NYC

The CLEAR trusted traveler program is expanding to four more airports. (Image: CLEAR)

The CLEAR trusted traveler program is expanding to four more airports. (Image: CLEAR)

CLEAR, the members-only organization that lets you bypass those long security lines and go right into screening, will soon be available in four more major airports.

In an email to members,  company said that it plans to open new CLEAR lanes at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, Los Angeles International, New York LaGuardia and New York JFK. It did not say exactly when it would appear in those airports – just that “We will be sharing launch dates in the coming weeks.” What’s also not clear (couldn’t help myself!) is whether CLEAR will only operate at Delta terminals at LAX and NYC or if it will be in multiple terminals as at SFO.

CLEAR already has airport lanes at Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston Bush Intercontinental, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, San Antonio, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, and both Washington D.C. airports. You can look up exact CLEAR locations here.

CLEAR's new logo

CLEAR’s new logo

Earlier this year, Delta acquired an equity stake in CLEAR, and since then the company has been expected to open new facilities at the carrier’s primary airports – and the four new ones certainly fill that bill.

Standard membership in CLEAR costs $179 a year, but Delta’s involvement in the company has brought discounts for SkyMiles members based on their elite status. Membership is free for Diamond Medallions, and just $79 a year for Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallions. Non-elite SkyMiles members are eligible for a $99 CLEAR annual membership.

CLEAR gives members biometric-based IDs that let them access priority lanes for security screening. That gets them quickly into the regular screening process — or even into PreCheck for eligible flights, if they are a member of that TSA trusted traveler program. With regular PreCheck lines getting longer at some airports as TSA continues to push for greatly expanded traveler participation in that program, CLEAR might be a better way to go if it’s available at your preferred airports. (It’s definitely save me a few hundred dollars in flight change fees when I’ve been late to the airport, or been surprised by super-long lines.)

Have you used CLEAR or do you plan to now that it’s hitting critical mass in terms of key airports? Please leave your comments below. 

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Faster, cheaper inflight wi-fi is going to take a while

Inflight wi-fi on American Airlines is changing (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Inflight wi-fi on American Airlines is changing (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

>American Airlines switches up wi-fi providers, Gogo pushes new satellite service and raises prices

In the latest airline effort to bring faster in-flight Wi-Fi to customers, American Airlines plans to move away from Gogo as the supplier for much of its domestic fleet, shifting that business to ViaSat instead.

According to the travel industry news site Skift.com, AA plans to make the switch to ViaSat on more than 500 domestic aircraft – although the changeover is expected to take several years.

Early this year, Gogo agreed to release American from an exclusivity clause in its Wi-Fi contract after the carrier had sued the provider for that relief so that it could look for a higher-speed alternative.

As a result, in June of this year American signed a deal with ViaSat to bring that firm’s satellite-based Wi-Fi technology to the 100 new Boeing 737 Max aircraft that it has ordered. And now AA is extending that embrace of ViaSat to hundreds more of its planes.

Airlines are shifting to Wi-Fi systems that communicate via satellites like this one.. (Image: SES/Airbus Defence & Space)

Airlines are shifting to Wi-Fi systems that communicate via satellites like this one.. (Image: SES/Airbus Defence & Space)

Although American had been one of Gogo’s first airline customers – a relationship going back to 2008 – it became troubled by the provider’s reliance on ground-based cell towers for aircraft communication as other suppliers developed faster satellite-based links. Gogo has since caught up with the trend by rolling out its own next-generation 2Ku satellite-based technology, and American will still go ahead with plans to install that on 140 of its aircraft.

Meanwhile, AA is using yet another supplier – Panasonic – to provide Wi-Fi on its long-haul international fleet. ViaSat has been moving quickly into the U.S. airline market; it also has deals with JetBlue, United and Virgin America.

gogo logo

Gogo continues to accumulate new business from its 2Ku satellite system. It recently signed on Air France-KLM, which plans to install it on 120 planes. In its recent earnings report, Gogo said it now has contracts for 2Ku Wi-Fi service on 1,500 aircraft of 13 airlines.

And Gogo continues to seek revenue boosts by raising its prices for passengers. Last month, the company raised the price from $16 to $19 for a full-day Wi-Fi pass purchased in advance in the Gogo website– although that is still a much better deal than the $50 or more you’ll pay in flight.

What’s been your recent experience using inflight wi-fi? Is it getting better or worse? On my Virgin America flight to/from DC last week, I was pleasantly surprised at the speed and reliability of the connection, but that’s not always the case! 

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New device offers drivers a heads-up, hands-free display

The smartphone-linked Navdy device gives drivers a heads-up display. (Image: Navdy)

The smartphone-linked Navdy device gives drivers a heads-up display. (Image: Navdy)

Do you spend a lot of time driving for business, but don’t like the thought of constantly looking at your smartphone as you try to stay in touch on the road? A new device makes it possible to handle communications and directions while you continue staring straight ahead at the road.

The new Navdy calls itself “the world’s first augmented driving device.” It links up with iOS and Android smartphones and projects information onto a small transparent screen that sits directly in front of the driver.

“Navdy lets you make and receive calls, listen to messages, control music, receive calendar reminders and stay connected to the apps on your phone,” the company said. “Navdy also connects to your car with Navdy Dash to show your speed, RPM and automatically recommend nearby gas stations when your fuel level is low.”

This video gives you an idea of how it works:

The Navdy device is fully portable, using a magnetic mounting system, and comes with a small dial that lets drivers scroll, zoom and navigate menus, and access Siri and Google Now. Drivers also have the option of using hand gestures to accept a call or message. Its navigation system is based on Google Maps, and directions are projected as a transparent image in front of the driver. “With its own high precision GPS chip and local storage of maps drivers don’t have to worry about losing navigation if they are out of network coverage,” the company noted.

The product is currently priced from $71 a month, or $799 as a one-time purchase with no monthly fees. If you don’t like it, you can return the unit within 30 days for a refund. For details, go to www.navdy.com.

The company said it will offer free same-day delivery at setup service for customers in the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles, Chicago, Manhattan, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Miami.

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An answer to filthy airplane drinking water?

Delta bottled water

Bottled water is expensive, heavy, and empty bottles are not very eco-friendly- but there might be a solution (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

One of the basic warnings about air travel is this: Don’t drink the water from the plane! While there are few if any reports of anyone actually getting sick from drinking airplane water, it’s been widely reported that onboard water tanks are difficult to clean. You’d be hard pressed to find a flight attendant who would touch the stuff, let alone drink it, even if it is in the plane’s hot coffee. Many airlines post signs in lavatories discouraging passengers from drinking from the faucet.

The smartest way to drink water is to get a bottle or a glass of it from a flight attendant.

And these days, that bottle of water may or may not be free. On low-cost airlines, you might have to ante up a couple of bucks for a small bottle. Don’t miss: Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for bottle of water

But now a Kentucky-based water disinfection company called AquiSense Technologies has come up with a method that it says could allow air travelers to drink from the airplane tap without worry.

The company says airlines are quite correct to keep passengers from drinking tap water, citing an EPA study which found that “water tanks in commercial flights had consistent bacteria and debris issues,” according to AquiSense’s Mitch Hansen.

Here's how the Dept of Health describes coliform bacteria

Here’s how the Dept of Health describes coliform bacteria, consistently found in airplane water tanks

“The study concluded that these tanks have residual bacteria and sediment even after the system is flushed with disinfection chemicals. Once a small amount of bacteria is present in the system it can easily grow and spread,” he said. “When a system is flushed it is common for small pathogen-harboring particulates and sediment to remain.” And some 15 percent of aircraft water tanks tested positive for Coliform bacteria.

Attempts with various methods to eliminate the problem – carbon or ceramic filters, treatment with chemicals like chlorine, and ultraviolet lighting systems based on mercury-vapor lamps – all have problems that make them impractical or ineffective for treating aircraft water tanks, the company said. Conventional UV sterilization is dangerous because the fragile UV lights contain mercury, which if damaged, could contaminate drinking water.

A small Aquisense sterilization unit can fit under the sink (Image: Aquisense)

A small Aquisense sterilization unit can fit under the sink (Image: Aquisense web site)

Aquisense touting a new technique it developed that relies on ultraviolet light produced by sturdier LEDs (light emitting diodes) that meet the space and weight constraints of airlines and can handle the shocks of hard landings. “The small size and instant on/off capabilities mean this [LED] technology can be placed near the water dispensing point, such as a sink or galley faucet, and switched-on only when water is flowing,” AquiSense said. “Disinfecting the water right before it reaches a user blocks contamination coming from the piping and diminishes the need for residual disinfection chemicals.”

AquiSense said its method is currently being tested for use on the International Space Station. Its next big challenge could be convincing airlines that it works and that passengers will agree to drink from the tap instead of the bottle– it’s estimated that each water treatment unit built to airline specs is $2,000-$3,000. And if they’re making money peddling bottled water on the plane, that could be a hard sell.

Nonetheless, a company spokesperson tells TravelSkills that the company is currently working with “aerospace industry solution providers” and that test units will be in the air in 2017.

Do you drink airplane water? Feel bad about all those plastic bottles you leave behind? Leave your comments below. 

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts:

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Really bad news for Samsung smartphone owners

Samsung's Galaxy Note7 is formally banned from U.S. aircraft. (Image: Samsung)

Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 is formally banned from U.S. aircraft. (Image: Samsung)

Are you still holding onto a Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone that you haven’t returned yet despite Samsung’s recent request that you do so?

If you plan to keep using it because you think the odds of it catching fire are too small to worry about, don’t plan on taking it on an airplane.

Earlier, the FAA had advised flyers not to put those phones into checked luggage, or to power them up or charge them during flight. But given the continuing problems with the device, the government has now issued an unprecedented, full-fledged ban– now you cannot even bring it on the plane. 

The Transportation Department said Friday that effective at midday on Saturday (October 15), the Galaxy Note7 is banned from all U.S. aircraft, even if it is turned off. Anyone found with one could have it confiscated and could be fined, DOT said. If you try to hide it in checked luggage, you could face criminal prosecution, DOT noted.

If airline staff see a passenger carrying a Galaxy Note7 before boarding, they are required to keep that person off the plane.

“Passengers currently traveling with Samsung Galaxy Note7 phones should contact Samsung or their wireless carrier immediately to obtain information about how to return their phones and arrange for a refund or a replacement phone,” DOT said. “Samsung has provided guidance for customers about refund and replacement options, as well as how to contact wireless carriers, at http://www.samsung.com/us/note7recall. Samsung is also answering customers’ questions at 1-844-365-6197.”

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts:

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LAX gets faster security screening lanes

The new lanes, like this one at Atlanta, let five travelers load bins at once. (Image: Delta)

The new lanes, like this one at Atlanta, let five travelers load bins at once. (Image: Delta)

The deployment of a new design for TSA security screening lanes takes another step forward this week as the faster processing comes to Los Angeles International Airport.

In a joint effort by United Airlines and TSA, the new “innovation lanes” are due to go into use this week in United’s Terminal 7 at LAX.  The new design permits up to five passengers at once to load their personal items into bins on conveyor belts, instead of doing so one at a time.

The lanes also feature “return” belts that bring empty bins back to the start of the process, sparing TSA workers the chore of doing that manually. And bags that are determined to need more detailed inspection after being x-rayed are shunted off the main conveyor so they don’t slow down the line.  The new lanes were first introduced earlier this year by Delta and TSA at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International.

The two United lanes in T7 are expected to be joined by at least nine more in other LAX terminals by the end of 2017. In Atlanta, use of the new lanes has reportedly reduced waiting times in security screening lines by 30 percent.

TSA said it has reduced long waiting lines to manageable levels. (Image: Jim Glab)

TSA said it has succeeded in reducing long waiting lines to manageable levels. (Image: Jim Glab)

United has said it is also bringing the new lane design to its hubs at Chicago O’Hare and Newark Liberty International. At the latter airport, United plans to combine four existing security checkpoints into one central facility with 17 lanes.

American Airlines is also on board with the new lanes, planning to bring them to its Phoenix Sky Harbor hub by the end of this year, followed by installations at Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Ft. Worth, LAX and Miami.

TSA and the airlines put the “innovation lanes” on a fast track this year after the agency started facing extra-long wait times for security screening at the beginning of the busy summer travel season. The agency also budgeted more for overtime, urged more travelers to join its PreCheck program, and started hiring more screeners to deal with the problem, and officials said last month that it all worked. They said their efforts reduced waiting time to 30 minutes or less for 98 percent of travelers, and to 15 minutes or less for 92 percent. PreCheck members typically wait five minutes or less, TSA said.

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts:

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SFO flips switch on shapely new control tower

SFO's new 221-foot air traffic control tower will open next summer (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

SFO’s new 221-foot air traffic control tower operational this week (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

After more than a year of preparation, air traffic controllers will be working in San Francisco International Airport’s gorgeous new control tower this weekend. 

Rising up in a graceful flare, the new tower is 221 feet tall.  The 650 square-foot controller work area gives air traffic controllers unobstructed 235-degree views of SFO’s runways and taxiways. It replaces the current tower on top of Terminal 2, which will be dismantled quickly beginning in January because it obstructs runway views from the new one.

To celebrate, let’s revisit the behind-the-scenes tour TravelSkills took in 2015 when the airport turned the tower over to the FAA, which spent the last year outfitting the voluptuous, flared cylinder with its systems, testing them and training controllers.

Ready to take a tour? Let’s start at the bottom and move to the top.

Inside the new corridor connecting SFO’s T1 and T2. View from T2 entry. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Part of the tower project was to create a bright new land side corridor (along the roadway) connecting Terminal 1 with Terminal 2. What’s amazing about the corridor is that it has a glass roof so you can stop and peer up at the new tower. Handrails are needed to keep folks from falling over as they crane their necks to view the beautiful new metallic cone. It’s gorgeous, almost hypnotic, and vertigo-inducing to look up at it as the clouds roll by.

The view looking up from the new glass-roofed corridor between SFO T1 and T2 (Chris McGinnis)

The view looking up from the new glass-roofed corridor between T1 and T2- note the waterfall of lights panels facing west (Chris McGinnis)

A new computer controlled display now lights up the tower in a variety of colors, which can be seen from miles away after dusk. Like the Empire State Building or San Francisco City Hall, the new “waterfall of lights” is used for special occasions– orange when the Giants win, or red and green for Christmas, etc.

Inch thick blast-proof glass across the front of the building under the tower (Chris McGinnis)

Inch-thick, blast-proof glass across the front of the building under the tower (Chris McGinnis)

The FAA has offices in a three-story building at the base of the tower, where the exterior and glass walls have been thickened and hardened to prevent damage from truck bombs on the nearby roadway.

The structure is built on “bay mud” according to project manager Tony Kingsman who said that the tower is supported in bedrock 140 below ground, and is designed to withstand an 8.0 earthquake and still be operational.

This is SFO’s fourth control tower. The current one was built in 1981 atop the current Terminal 2, deemed seismically unstable, so construction began on the new tower three years ago.

It cost about $120 million to build the tower, FAA office building and corridor. The FAA kicked in about 70 million of that– enough for a basic, utilitarian structure, but SFO wanted it to be an iconic, torch-like symbol of the gateway to the Pacific, so it contributed an additional $50 million for aesthetics, as well as additional airport space like the new corridor.

HNTB provided the conceptual design of the new structure and it was designed and built by Hensel Phelps and Fentress Architects.

With the new tower open, the old tower will be dismantled quickly so as not to obstruct runway views from the new one. There is talk of the airport adding a outdoor viewing platform, open the the public, in the old tower’s footprint atop T2, but for now, that’s just talk.

Okay then.  Let’s crawl up inside this spectacular structure! Watch this video and scroll through the images and video below.

(NOTE: This video was shot last year before the FAA moved its equipment into the tower.)

Aside from the stunning view, note that US Airways/American is now operating out of Delta's Boarding Area C (Chris McGinnis)

Aside from the stunning view, note that US Airways/American is now operating out of Delta’s Boarding Area C (Chris McGinnis)

First taking an elevator up about 10 floors and then walking up a spiral staircase, you enter a wonderland of planespotting— a full 270 degrees of unobstructed airport views through 24 giant panes of 1-1/2 inch-thick glass. On the western side of the 650-square-foot “cab” there are a few pillars that hold up the roof. I’ve never seen a view like this one.

Looking out from 221 feet over Terminal 2, home of Virgin America and American (Chris McGinnis)

Looking out from 221 feet over Terminal 2, home of Virgin America and American (Chris McGinnis)

 

The tower complex is covered in at least 100 lightening rods grounded by shiny metal cables. Look closely and you'll see them (Chris McGinnis)

The tower complex is covered in at least 100 lightning rods grounded by shiny woven metal cables. Look closely and you’ll see them (Chris McGinnis)

 

Looking out over T3 and the current control tower (Chris McGinnis)

Looking out at the United hangar and (oddly) looking down on the current control tower, which will soon disappear (Chris McGinnis)

 

Installation of air traffic controller stations- there is room for 13 up here, but usually only 6-8 on the job. (Chris McGinnis)

Installation of air traffic controller stations- there is room for 13 controllers up here, but usually only 6-8 on the job. (Chris McGinnis)

 

Looking out at one of two cranes used to clean and maintain the tower exterior (Chris McGinnis)

Looking out at one of two cranes used to clean and maintain the tower exterior (Chris McGinnis)

 

Looking over the parking lot and international terminal (Chris McGinnis)

Looking over the parking lot and international terminal (Chris McGinnis)

 

Air traffic controllers break room is one level below the cab- talk about a room with a view! (Chris McGinnis)

Air traffic controllers’ break room is one level below the cab- talk about a room with a view! (Chris McGinnis)

 

Here's the view from the air traffic controllers break room. Nice! (Chris McGinnis)

Here’s the view from the air traffic controllers break room. Nice! (Chris McGinnis)

 

Your excited TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis pondering a lightening rod on the top of SFO control tower (Doug Yakel)

Your excited TravelSkills editor Chris McGinnis pondering a lightning rod on the top of SFO control tower (Doug Yakel)

Here’s a video watching an Air China 747-8 take off from outside the cab.

Take a 360 degree tour from inside the newly outfitted tower here:

Post from RICOH THETA. – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

-Chris McGinnis

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How social media channels are empowering passengers

Airlines are beefing up social media staffs to handle traveler issues via smartphone apps.(Image: Jim Glab)

Airlines are beefing up social media staffs to handle traveler issues via smartphone apps. (Image: Jim Glab)

When you have a problem with your airline over the course of your trip, how do you deal with it? Talk to an airline employee, if you can find one? Call customer service? Or just sit back and take it? Those reactions are so yesterday.

According to a new study from Conversocial, the biggest trend in airline customer service is the use of social media – both public networks and private messaging – over the traveler’s smartphone. And some airlines are a lot more responsive to their customers than others, the study found.

“Armed with their smartphones, social channels ablaze, the empowered customer has more voice and choice than ever,” the company observed. “Now customers live out loud, they live tweet if their flight is delayed or post photos on Instagram of shoddy inflight conditions (especially if you have GoGo at your fingertips). The result being a truly ‘always on’ social mobile flyer pre, post and inflight.”

Conversocial tracked the Twitter activity of the 20 leading airlines in North America and Europe and measured the volume of messaging, how responsive the airlines were to customer tweets, how long it took them to respond, and whether the airline tried to resolve the customer’s concern “in-channel” on the spot.

Source: Conversocial

Source: Conversocial

Among North American airlines, Southwest was found to be the most responsive to direct “@” mentions, with a 38 percent response rate. The fastest average response time was recorded by the social media team at Alaska Airlines, at 2 minutes and 34 seconds.

For all North American airlines, the average response rate was 24 percent, and the average response time 1 hour and 5 minutes. European airlines lagged behind their North American competitors, with a response rate of 19 percent and average response time of 3 hours 40 minutes.

Most North American carriers logged average response times via social media of less than 30 minutes, with JetBlue in second place at 5 minutes 3 seconds, Delta at 8 minutes 45 seconds, Southwest at 10 minutes 2 seconds, Virgin America at 16 minutes 21 seconds, and American at 25 minutes 5 seconds. However, United lagged way behind its competitors with an average response time of 2 hours 10 minutes — even though (or perhaps because) it had the highest rate of mentions per hour, and Spirit Airlines was the worst of all at 5 hours 48 minutes.

Source: Conversocial

Source: Conversocial

“Speed of response is…a key driver of customer satisfaction,” the company said. “Even when an issue cannot be resolved immediately, it’s important that a service representative show the customer – and everyone who might see the interaction – that the company has heard the message and is working on a solution.”

The report noted that customer preference for interaction with airlines via social media is shifting from public postings to private messaging, like via Facebook Messenger, which combines live chat with smartphone notifications.

“The most sophisticated channel in the social media customer service segment is messaging applications, which are encroaching quickly on email and live chat channels,” Conversocial said. “This not only reflects the more personal approach customers seem to prefer, but the growing importance played by mobile in social media use. The advancement of messaging has created a live-chat experience, built for mobile…In general, social media user behavior has changed as well. Private messaging is the new public posting.”

Although travelers are shifting from public to private messaging, “This doesn’t let airlines off the hook for authentic, human service,” Conversocial told its airline customers. “The social customer will keep one finger on the escalation button and one eye on the prize when dealing with you. If you will not resolve in-channel or respond quickly, those public takedowns of your brand are still on the table.”

Readers: Have you used social media postings or messaging to report or resolve issues with your airline during a trip? What kind of response did you get?

 

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Kicking support animals off planes | Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | Marriott-Starwood: Higher prices, better rewards | The 10,000 points question! | Eye-catching maps explain state of the world | Test your planespotting skills! )

DONT MISS! The 100,000 points question!

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5 airports with best/worst cell phone reception

Southwest at Oakland

A study finds Oakland International has the nation’s best cell phone service. (Image: Oakland Airport)

Although Los Angeles International is one of the busiest airports in the nation, a new study of cell phone service quality at the 50 top U.S. airports in passenger volume finds that LAX ranks dead last. By contrast, Oakland International ranked number one. (See rankings below)

When it comes to carriers, Verizon ranked highest, AT&T came in second. T-Mobile ranked third and Sprint came in last place.

RootMetrics collected data on data speeds and connection reliability for the four major network carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint) by sending testers equipped with off-the-shelf smartphones to all 50 airports. Results vary not only by airport, but by carrier as well, so the company compiles overall composite scores for each facility.

The company carries out these surveys twice a year, and the results show significant changes. For instance, in the second half of 2015, Oakland ranked 33rd overall and now ranks first. Milwaukee’s General Mitchell Airport jumped from 16th place last year to second place today, and California’s Orange County Airport rose from 35th to fourth place in the rankings.

BEST

Cell phone reception

And Los Angeles? “Due to very slow speeds and shaky reliability, LAX has routinely appeared in the bottom five. This time, LAX placed dead last for the same reasons. It’s not necessarily a surprise, though, given the fastest median download speed we recorded at LAX was 88.0 Mbps slower than that of our #1 finisher,” RootMetrics said.

What does that difference mean in practical terms? Say you want to download an HD episode of a 45-minute TV program, which takes up 600 MB. RootMetrics said that if you were at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson (which ranked sixth overall) and used AT&T (with a median download speed of 40.4 Mbps at that airport), it would take 2.0 minutes. By contrast, a Verizon user at LAX (median download speed 0.5 Mbps) would take more than two and a half hours to do the same thing.

You can read the full report here, including a comparison of the overall performance of the four network carriers; the full rankings of all 50 airports; and an interactive feature that lets you compare median download speeds and connectivity rates for the four carriers at Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Ft. Worth and New York JFK.

Airports in the top 10 in addition to those mentioned above include Southwest Florida International in Ft. Myers (3rd), Boston Logan (5th), Indianapolis (7th), Sacramento (8th), Dallas Love Field (9th) and Chicago Midway (10th).  Among very large airports, Newark was in 11th place, O’Hare 14th, San Francisco 19th, Miami 24th, DFW 25th, JFK 29th, and LaGuardia 40th.

Worst

screen-shot-2016-09-22-at-10-17-30-am

 Readers: Do you run into issues with cell phone reception at airports? Which carrier do you use and why? 

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | More Delta SkyMiles for Asian trips | Tips from a Hawaiian Vacation | JetBlue-Delta slugfest means lower fares | Test your planespotting skills! )

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Hotel wi-fi satisfaction surprise

blogger, typing, laptop

Hotel wi-fi usage is up, way up, and we like it more than you’d think! (Image: Pixabay)

It’s pretty well known that business travelers are adamant about having good Wi-Fi in their hotel rooms. And now a new survey shows that despite the complaints, they spend a LOT of time using it.

The poll found that 55 percent of business travelers spend at least an hour a day using their hotel room Wi-Fi for business purposes; and 48 percent also use it at least an hour a day for personal/leisure purposes.

The survey of 831 U.S. and Canadian business travelers, conducted for the Global Business Travel Association, contradicts the notion that most road warriors are fed up with slow or inconsistent in-room Wi-Fi. “Satisfaction with in-room internet access is generally high with 75 percent or higher satisfaction rates for speed and connectivity, but slightly lower levels (62 percent) for security,” GBTA said.

As if spending a couple of hours a day on their in-room Wi-Fi wasn’t enough, the survey found that 73 percent of its respondents have also used Wi-Fi in hotel public areas in the past year.

Three-fifths of those polled said they normally use the regular free in-room Wi-Fi offered to all guests, while 16 percent said they got free or higher-speed Internet service by booking direct and/or by being a member of the hotel’s loyalty program.

Source: Global Business Travel Association

Source: Global Business Travel Association

“In the future, a majority of respondents say they are ‘more likely’ or ‘much more likely’ to book directly in exchange for free Wi-Fi or high speed internet; however, the reality is most can obtain free basic Wi-Fi by simply being part of a loyalty program regardless of booking channel,” GBTA noted.

The poll also found that in spite of hotels’ rush to add more guest-oriented technology to their rooms in recent years, business travelers still want more. Asked what they’d like to see more of in terms of hotel technology, the three items most cited by survey respondents were more power and USB outlets in their rooms (35 percent); streaming services like Netflix and HBO Go on guestroom TVs (34 percent); and in-room chargers for laptops and phones (32 percent).

The survey found that more than 60 percent of those polled have downloaded at least one major hotel chain’s smartphone apps within the past year, while one-quarter of them have downloaded three or more. The most frequent uses of the apps are to check reservation status, manage rewards accounts, and book rooms.

Readers: How much time do you spend on Wi-Fi in your hotel? Be honest! What do you mostly use it for?

Don’t miss out on these popular TravelSkills posts! Shocked passenger refuses to pay $3 for water | More Delta SkyMiles for Asian trips | Tips from a Hawaiian Vacation | JetBlue-Delta slugfest means lower fares | Test your planespotting skills! )

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Burning question re: Virgin America’s new app

"Flights with Benefits" is the racy name for one of Virgin America's new A320 ETOPS jets (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Virgin America launches new app with Alaska takeover looming (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

At long last Virgin America is poised to join most major airlines with a new app which it says will launch later this summer.

The new app looks slick and has that fun/mod/funky Virgin feel- not unlike its current website. I’m very excited to give it a try and will definitely sign up to test the beta.

Now that's unusual!

Now that’s unusual!

But I have a burning question: Why? Why is Virgin America going to the trouble to create, launch and promote a new app when its takeover by Alaska Airlines is looming? Didn’t Virgin shareholders just this week approve the plan to merge?

Here’s what a Virgin spokesperson told TravelSkills when we asked that very question:

In answer to your Alaska question – airline mergers can take up to 1-2 years to complete, and our merger with Alaska hasn’t even closed yet, so you’re going to see Virgin America around – and be able to continue using the app for future travel – for a long time to come. So for now, it’s business as usual, and we will be encouraging all our guests to download this app and use it for their flights with Virgin America. Guests can also sign-up today to be the first to take the beta version for a test-drive.

The Virgin America app, which along with virginamerica.com was co-designed by Brooklyn-based Digital Product Design and Development shop Work + Co, is launching in beta in the coming weeks and to the world later this summer.  Virgin says, “The new mobile app will build on our site by offering an engaging and personalized experience for flyers that we hope you’ll agree was worth the wait.”

In the coming weeks, select Elevate members and other top customers – including a team at one of Virgin’s kep partners, Google – are participating in the beta test for the new app.  If you’d like to take the beta version for a test drive and didn’t yet receive an invite, you can register your interest by signing up here.

Below is a quick video walk-through of the app:

Now here’s an interesting and unique feature: The new app will use Spotify to help create a destination-specific soundtrack for your trips.

The Virgin Blog states: Virgin America has always been about more than just getting you from Point A to B. So, we’re furthering our relationship with Spotify for a first-of-its kind trip soundtrack mobile feature on an airline app. Guests can get inspired for their trip by streaming one of the city “Mood Lists” via Spotify. Simply click the Spotify button after you check-in to hear some tunes that will put you in a state-of-mind inspired by your destination.

Thoughts? What’s your favorite airline app? Will you give Virgin’s new app a go? 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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A new way to monetize your flexibility

Upside offers gift cards to business travelers who can be flexible in their trip arrangements. (Image: jim Glab)

Upside offers gift cards to business travelers who can be flexible in their trip arrangements. (Image: jim Glab)

Do you have the freedom to select your own travel suppliers on business trips – and are you flexible when it comes to your airline and hotel arrangements? Would like like an Amazon or Best Buy gift card with your next travel booking? If so, you’re the target for a new travel booking and rewards company.

It’s called Upside , and it was put together by a small group of former Priceline executives, including Priceline founder Jay Walker. It is planning to launch a Beta version sometime in September. Walker told TravelSkills: “Most business travelers have a valuable, hidden asset that’s worth a small fortune on every trip they take. The asset? Flexibility. Specifically, small amounts of flexibility on the flights and hotels that a business traveler is willing to use on any given trip.”

Sign up for Upside here

Here’s how it works: Instead of booking your usual first-choice airline, flight time and hotel, you let the Upside app or website put together an air-hotel package using suppliers that you have pre-approved. If the alternatives it shows are suitable to your schedule and if the discounts and gift cards offers are enticing enough, you’ll then pay a $35 fee to book the trip. (Upside says that users will typically see gift card amounts of $100 to $200, and savings of 5 to 15 percent in travel costs, and enough to make the $35 fee a wash.)

A early look at the Upside app

A early look at the Upside app

The electronic gift cards are good at major stores or online retailers (such as Best Buy or Amazon), and they will be delivered to your mobile phone shortly after you buy the trip arrangements. Upside says that those who take just five or six trips a year through Upside can rack up easily $1,000 in gift cards – or more, if they travel internationally in business class.

Users will be able to book their arrangements through the Upside app or its website; round-the-clock phone support is also available. There’s no requirement to buy the package Upside suggests, and once you do, it can be cancelled or changed quickly if circumstances warrant. Also, Upside says that users will still earn airline frequent flyer points or miles for the flights it selects (but not hotel program points).

Sign up for Upside here

Travelers simply specify the time windows for their flights, and pre-approve the airlines and hotel companies they prefer. “Upside supports all of the leading brands,” the company said. Then Upside’s “Flexibility Engine” software builds the package.

So how will Upside  make money? “We buy travel from suppliers at very advantageous rates– rates so low that we can pass along a substantial discount, take our cut and provide gift cards to travelers,” said a company spokesperson. In addition, Upside makes money on the $35 fee it charges per booking.

Would you pay a $35 fee for a chance to earn potentially hundreds in gift cards and score travel discounts not found elsewhere?  

That’s the question Upside is waiting for you to answer.

Earn $150: Upside has partnered TravelSkills to help it find business travelers who want to sign up early and are willing to test pre-release versions of the service. All you have to do is supply your email address, phone and answer a few general questions about your travel habits. Upside guarantees that these VIPs will will get $150 minimum in free gift cards for every package they purchase this year. Want to give it a try? Then request a VIP invitation via our referral link by July 30.

Sign up for Upside here

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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Gimme better wi-fi…or else!

Passengers are getting more demanding about Wi-Fi quality. (Image: Virgin America)

Passengers are getting more demanding about Wi-Fi quality. (Image: Virgin America)

Have you ever moved your business away from one airline to another that had better in-flight Wi-Fi service? According to a new survey, an increasing number of travelers are doing just that.

The poll of more than 1,000 U.S. air travelers, conducted by Honeywell, uncovered a growing dissatisfaction with current Wi-Fi service, and rising expectations for faster, more reliable in-flight Internet connections.

“Passengers are serious about getting the best in-flight Wi-Fi experience possible. To avoid losing passengers and revenue, airlines need a connectivity service that is reliable all the time, no matter where they fly,” said Carl Esposito, vice president, Marketing and Product Management, Honeywell Aerospace, which supplies airlines with wi-fi systems.

Among the findings:

  • Almost three out of four passengers said they would switch airlines to get a better Wi-Fi link – and 21 percent said they have already done so, giving up on their preferred carrier for another with better service (up from 17 percent in a similar 2014 poll).
  • Only 22 percent said their in-flight Wi-Fi was “extremely reliable” over the past year, compared with 27 percent who said so in 2014.
  • What kind of quality are travelers looking for? Eighty-three percent said in-flight Wi-Fi should be fast enough to stream video content from sites like Youtube and Netflix; 90 percent feel they should be able to get a reliable Internet link throughout their flight anywhere in the world; and 84 percent said they want a Wi-Fi signal that is as good as what they have at home or in their office.

As you might expect, in-flight Wi-Fi quality is more important to Millennial travelers (born between 1982-1998) than their older counterparts, with a larger percentage of Millennials (27 percent, vs. 15 percent of older flyers) reporting that they have switched carriers for a better experience, and requiring speeds fast enough for content streaming (89 percent vs. 77 percent).

honeywell

Readers: Rate your overall inflight wi-fi experiences over the last year in the comments! 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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News briefs: New Avis app, PreCheck sign-ups, biz travel spend

Avis Now users can change car assignments based on real time availability. (Image: Avis)

Avis Now users can change car assignments based on real time availability. (Image: Avis)

Business travel news this week includes an announcement from Avis about some customer-friendly enhancements to its mobile app; a summer expansion of enrollment centers for TSA PreCheck membership; and the outlook for business travel volume this year and next – and who has overtaken the U.S. as the busiest business travel market.

Members of the Avis Preferred loyalty program (which is free to join) can now take advantage of new customer features on the company’s mobile app, which is available to them for iOS and Android devices. The bundle of new features, called Avis Now, includes the ability to review and change the user’s assigned vehicle at any time, based on real-time car availability; extend, cancel or confirm a reservation; flash the assigned car’s headlights to help find it on the lot, and lock or unlock its doors from the app; and return the vehicle without help from an agent. Users can also see their rental agreement, confirm fuel or mileage and get assistance on demand. The app is currently available for use at more than 50 U.S. locations, and will be expanded to some international markets in the months ahead, Avis said. (See video here)

TSA is adding some temporary PreCheck enrollment centers this summer. (Image: TSA)

TSA is adding some temporary PreCheck enrollment centers this summer. (Image: TSA)

Faced with a growing backlog of applications for its PreCheck trusted traveler program, the Transportation Security Administration and the outside vendor that operates PreCheck enrollment centers are opening up a number of new, temporary opportunities for applicants this summer, from now through late August. The temporary enrollment centers will be at 14 locations in 13 major markets, and will mostly be open for only a few days at each one. You can see the full schedule of locations and dates here, along with a link to a site for applying online and getting an appointment for a personal visit.

Spending by U.S. business travelers is expected to grow significantly next year. (Image: Jim Glab)

Spending by U.S. business travelers is expected to grow significantly next year. (Image: Jim Glab)

Is business travel in a slump? The Global Business Travel Association says it expects U.S. business travel spending to increase by a mere 0.9 percent this year, to $292.5 billion – but it foresees a big rebound in 2017, with a spending increase of 4.2 percent, to $304.9 billion. “When growth does re-accelerate, companies must be ready with the newest technologies, the most productive workforce and the critical customer relationships necessary to take full advantage,” said GBTA Executive Director Michael McCormick. The U.S. has been lagging behind worldwide growth levels, which posted a 5 percent spending gain in 2015, GBTA said; worldwide, global business travel spending is expected to increase by 5.8 percent annually for the next five years, to a total of $1.6 trillion in 2020. Last year, GBTA said, China surpassed the U.S. in the rankings, with business travel spending of $291.2 billion vs. $289.8 billion for the U.S.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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How to get the Delta discount from CLEAR

CLEAR announces new airport fast lanes at DCA and IAD (Image: CLEAR)

CLEAR announces new airport fast lanes at DCA and IAD (Image: CLEAR)

Today I received my annual renewal notice from CLEAR, and once again the decision wheel began to roll in my head. Should I? Or shouldn’t I? $179 is a lot, but think about the few times when CLEAR has come to the rescue when an unexpected line popped up at airport security. I’ve had good success with PreCheck this year, so is it worth it?

When I wrote about this in 2014, asking readers if I should renew, the answer in blog comments was a pretty emphatic YES. At the time, CLEAR seemed seems stagnant, and not in a lot of airports.

But now CLEAR is now in 12 airports, and just today, it announced that it will soon be in both Washington, DC airports, National and Dulles. Plus last week it said it was moving into Seattle-Tacoma. (We’re  still waiting to hear how Delta will deploy CLEAR at its hubs) 

Renewal email from CLEAR

Renewal email from CLEAR- but wait, do I really have to pay $179? 

And then I remembered that Delta now offers membership discounts to its SkyMiles members: Delta Diamond Medallion members get complimentary CLEAR enrollment, while Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion members it for just $79. Even general members get a nice discount: annual membership for just $99.

So I replied to CLEAR with this query: Hello: Now that Delta is offering discounts for SkyMiles members, I’d like to continue my CLEAR subscription with them at the lower annual price. How do I go about doing that?

Promptly, CLEAR member services replied with a YES! Dear Christopher, Thank you for contacting CLEAR. To add your Delta Skymiles to your CLEAR account, you will need to send us your Skymiles number. We will check the rate, then add that to your account.

Sweet! With a $100 discount, ($79/year vs $179) the decision is made and I’ll renew my CLEAR membership for another year. What about you? 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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New tech speeds up airport security screening

Phoenix Airport will be the test site for new security screening technology by American Airlines and TSA. (Image: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport)

Phoenix Airport will be the test site for new security screening technology by American Airlines and TSA. (Image: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport)

American Airlines, which recently complained to Congress that thousands of its passengers were missing flights due to long airport security screening lines, is the latest company to look to new technology to speed up the process. American joins Delta, which recently installed a pair of innovative checkpoint lanes at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson (and bought part of CLEAR).

American said it will cooperate with the Transportation Security Administration in trying out new technologies and procedures including automated screening lanes and computed tomography (CT) scanners at its hubs nationwide. The aim is to reduce the time customers spend in TSA lines by 30 percent, the company said.

The effort will begin with a pilot program at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, due to start by year’s end. The company anticipates expanding the enhancements to Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles and Miami.

Part of the program involves ”automating many of the functions currently conducted manually,” in order to speed up the process, American said. That includes automated belts that pull bags into the x-ray machine so customers don’t have to stand by to push them in; and other belts that return empty bins to the beginning of the checkpoint, so that TSA personnel don’t have to do that. New bins in the regular screening lanes will be 25 percent larger than the existing models so passengers won’t need as many of them.

Any passenger items believed to show a problem during x-ray can have their bins automatically shunted off the main belt for further checking without holding up the line. Bins will have radio frequency ID tags (RFID) “to allow for additional accountability of items as they transit throughout the system,” AA said; and cameras will grab a photo of the outside of the bag “which is linked to the x-ray image of the bag’s contents.”

Analogic Corp. says its CT scanners can process passengers twice as fast as x-ray machines. (Image: Analogic)

Analogic Corp. says its CT scanners can process passengers twice as fast as x-ray machines. (Image: Analogic)

Also to be tested at Phoenix is the latest CT scanning technology. It’s only used on checked bags today, but American said if it were used for carry-ons, that “could make it possible to allow passengers to leave liquids, gels and aerosols, as well as laptops, in their carry-on bags at all times” – he same kind of treatment that only PreCheck members get today.

The leader in CT security scanning is a firm called Analogic Corporation, which has been testing the latest scanning technology for the past two years at Amsterdam Schiphol and London’s Luton Airport, looking for explosives and other prohibited items without requiring travelers to remove laptops or liquids from their bags. The company said earlier this year that the tests have been a huge success, scanning more than a million bags so far. “The results were considered the best in class by airport security experts, with extremely low false alarms and increased throughput at the checkpoint,” a spokesman said. The company said the tests indicate CT scanning can handle up to 550 passengers per hour – twice the rate of traditional x-ray scanning.

American’s announcement comes just weeks after Delta teamed up with the TSA to install new security screening stations at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson that incorporate some of the same elements American will use at Phoenix – except for the CT scanning. They also have five stations where passengers can load up their bins simultaneously instead of doing it one at a time.

TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger said at a Senate hearing recently that the two new screening lanes at ATL have shown “dramatic improvements’ in speeding up the security process, improving efficiency by about 30 percent.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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Delta’s deep discounts for CLEAR membership

The Clear trusted traveler program could soon be in more airports. (Image: Chris McGinnis)

The Clear trusted traveler program now available at discount from Delta. Will you join? (Image: Chris McGinnis)

More details emerged today regarding Delta’s partnership (and partial ownership) of CLEAR, the company that offers expedited airport security service at 13 airports.

Most important are the discounts for CLEAR membership now offered to Delta SkyMiles members, based on their status. Standard membership in CLEAR is $179 per year. Delta Diamond Medallion members get complimentary CLEAR enrollment, while Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion members it for just $79. Even general members get a nice discount: annual membership for just $99.

Delta says that it will email members in coming weeks about the discounts. (More from the Delta News Hub here)

Our biggest question however, is if Delta is going to add CLEAR to all its key airports, most importantly, those in New York City, like La Guardia and Kennedy. We also expected to see CLEAR lanes in Delta’s recently reconfigured (and faster) security lanes at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport’s south terminal entrypoint– but so far, they’ve not made an appearance. Delta has not confirmed any new CLEAR locations, and when we last asked, told TravelSkills: “We don’t have any additional location detail for today but hope to later this summer.”

Until CLEAR is available at your hometown airport, or one where you travel to frequently, we’d suggest holding off on paying for the service, even at a discount. This is especially true if you already enjoy PreCheck.

Don’t miss! Worst airports for customs/immigration lines this summer

CLEAR

Airports that currently have CLEAR lanes (Image: CLEAR)

CLEAR currently operates at San Francisco, San Jose, Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth,Houston Bush, Houston Hobby, San Antonio, Austin, Orlando, Miami, Las Vegas, Baltimore-Washington, and Westchester County Airport in New York. Seattle-Tacoma is next up, but there’s not a firm launch date yet. Additionally, its biometric service can be found at Yankee Stadium in New York, Coors Field in Denver, Marlins Park in Miami and AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Interested? You can sign up with your Delta SkyMiles status here.

Since I live in San Francisco, and use SFO as my primary airport, and it has CLEAR, I have maintained my membership over the years. I don’t need to use it that often (and I hate the “walk of shame” to the front of the line. But the few times it has saved me from missing flights makes it worth the $179 fee. (When it comes time for renewal, I’ll take Delta up on the discount!)

What about you? Have you or do you plan to use CLEAR now that Delta is offering these discounts? Please leave your comments below. 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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Worst airports for customs/immigration lines

Customs lines are a lot longer at some airports than others, a study finds. (Image: Customs & Border Protection)

Customs lines are a lot longer at some airports than others, a study finds. (Image: Customs & Border Protection)

If you’re traveling abroad this summer, the time you’ll spend waiting in line to get through Customs & Border Protection (CBP) on your return could be torturous – or it could be pleasantly brief. It all depends on the airport you come back through.

And whether you belong to CBP’s Global Entry or not, of course.

A new study from MileCards.com warns that the longest CBP lines will be encountered during July and August, averaging 21 to 22 minutes. And the worst waiting times will be at California airports. The top 10 worst airports for CBP line times out of the 41 that have international arrivals facilities include five in the Golden State, the study found: Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Fresno and Los Angeles.

Considering only the nation’s busiest airports, MileCards.com determined that the longest waiting times are at Miami, with an average of 27 minutes, but maximum line time that ranges up to 55 minutes. In second place was San Francisco International, with a 24-minute average and maximum line time of 48 minutes; New York JFK also posted average waits of 24 minutes.

customswait1

By contrast, the shortest lines among the busiest international airports were at Phoenix, averaging 10 minutes; close behind Phoenix were Charlotte, Washington Dulles and Atlanta, all with average waiting times of 12 minutes or less.

customswait2

MileCards.com noted that 13 of the busiest airports (including San Francisco and San Jose) now offer the free Mobile Passport Control app (www.MobilePassport.us) that can handle arrival formalities and gives users access to an expedited CBP lane as well as priority lanes for Customs declarations. Other advice from the company: Try to schedule a return flight that doesn’t arrive very early in the morning, as many flights from Asia and Latin America do. For returns from Europe, try to avoid mid-afternoon arrivals.

At San Francisco International, a spokesman confirmed to TravelSkills that the airport had the highest growth rate for international arrivals of any U.S. airport last year. He said that it is trying to reduce line times by installing more self-service Automated Passport Control kiosks (increasing their number last month from 40 to 64, with another 16 coming this fall), and that SFO is currently “pilot testing the first 24/7 Global Entry enrollment office in the U.S.,” as we reported a few weeks ago.

Global Entry

Plenty of kiosks, but few travelers at SFO’s Global Entry queue (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

The study suggests that travelers coming back from Europe should arrive through Atlanta or Washington Dulles instead of JFK or Newark, while Asia travelers should look to a Seattle return instead of California airports.

It also suggests enrolling in CBP’s Global Entry trusted traveler program ($100 for five years) over the Mobile Passport Control app, especially for travelers with connections from their re-entry gateway. (Why? Because in addition to speeding members through the Customs checkpoint via self-service kiosks, Global Entry also provides TSA PreCheck privileges.) MileCards.com notes that several credit cards will reimburse holders for the cost of Global Entry membership.

MileCards.com this week also issued a comparison of the Mobile Passport Control app vs. the Global Entry program, with details about how and where they work, along with a list of credit cards that cover the cost of Global Entry.

Are customs and immigrations crowds affecting you? Please leave your comments and experiences below. 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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Uber scraps surge pricing – not!

Uber will start to build surge pricing into its up-front fare quotes. (Image: Uber app)

Uber will start to build surge pricing into its up-front fare quotes. (Image: Uber app)

Apparently Uber has determined that plenty of potential customers won’t follow through and summon a ride when their app indicates that surge pricing is in effect in their area. So the ride-sharing giant is changing the way it displays fares.

The company is calling them “upfront fares,” which basically means that any surge multiplier will be factored into the estimated fare that the app displays.

Uber said it started testing this approach a couple of months ago with its UberX service in select cities, and now more will be on the way.

“Upfront fares are calculated using the expected time and distance of the trip and local traffic, as well as how many riders and nearby drivers are using Uber at that moment,” the company said. “And when fares go up due to increased demand, instead of surge lightning bolts and pop-up screens, riders are given the actual fare before they request their ride.”

Uber Newark

Taking Uber from Manhattan to Newark Airport (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

This pricing model has been in use with the firm’s uberPOOL service when it launched two years ago. “Knowing how much a ride will cost in advance is clearly something riders appreciate,” Uber said.  ”Today, uberPOOL accounts for over 20 percent of all rides globally.”

Uber’s surge pricing has been controversial from the start. A federal court is currently considering a lawsuit that challenges the model as illegal price-fixing. And researchers at Northeastern University who conducted a study of Uber’s proprietary surge pricing algorithm last year suggested ways to beat the higher fares.

And then there’s the whole issue around whether or not (or how) to tip your Uber (or Lyft) driver, an issue that has resulted in some of TravelSkills’ most well-read posts over the last few months.

Thoughts please! 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: How to get the BEST summer fare deals | One airline fee fading fast | Trip Report: Aer Lingus Economy Class | 5 top jobs for frequent travelers  | First class phase out coming soon

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TSA PreCheck faces new strains

TSA's PreCheck program is getting a lot busier this summer. (Image: TSA)

TSA’s PreCheck program is getting a lot busier this summer. (Image: TSA)

Now that the Transportation Security Administration is trying mightily to convince more travelers to join its PreCheck program in order to cut down on overall waiting times at security checkpoints, that program is facing some new strains: Two more airlines will soon be participating in it, and a surge in PreCheck applications is slowing down processing.

The only two large U.S. airlines whose passengers cannot currently use PreCheck – even if they are members — are Spirit and Frontier. The reason is a problem with their operations software, which is unable to communicate passenger information to TSA.

But according to the travel industry news website Skift, those problems should be resolved within a matter of weeks, allowing the two carriers to fully participate in the expedited screening program and sending thousands of additional travelers into PreCheck lines. Skift said the two carriers could start PreCheck participation as soon as the end of July.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that persons who apply for PreCheck membership (or Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry, which includes PreCheck privileges) are facing long waits – not at the airport, but in getting their applications processed.

Both programs require a personal interview, and TSA is using an outside vendor to provide more than 300 locations nationwide for that purpose. But AP reported that at many enrollment centers located in big cities, appointment calendars are full up for the next month and a half – or in some cities, much longer.

The AP said that the number of PreCheck applicants has more than tripled over the past few months, rising to 16,000 a day in May.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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This airline fee is fading fast

Delta will offer free Delta Studio programming by July 1. (Image: Delta)

Delta will offer free Delta Studio programming by July 1. (Image: Delta)

After years of watching airlines pile on new fees for every imaginable service and amenity, it’s a little jarring to hear that they plan to start offering something for free. But that’s what’s happening with in-flight entertainment at Delta and United.

Delta said that by July 1, its Delta Studio selection of in-flight entertainment programming will be offered at no charge for all customers on its two-class aircraft, which includes 90 percent of its fleet.

The carrier said the Delta Studio selections – which provide up to 300 films, 750 TV shows, 100 foreign films, 2,400 music tracks, and live satellite TV on some planes – will be available via streaming to personal electronic devices on 1,000 aircraft, and through seat-back entertainment systems on 400 planes that have them. “Entertainment options will vary by aircraft type and route,” Delta said, with more details available at www.delta.com./studio.

Standard economy seats get 9 inch screens and 31 inches of pitch

Standard economy seats on some United jets get 9 inch screens- but most don’t have screens at all  (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Meanwhile, United is expanding free streaming entertainment to its newer 737s, a project that should be finished by the end of June. The service is already available on United’s A319s and A320s, and on many international aircraft.

United is moving away from seatback screen-based entertainment, although that will continue to be offered on older 737s, which also offer paid live DirecTV. United only offers free entertainment to those who have downloaded its app and watch on their own device. And in most cases, its aircraft do not offer in-seat power — and streaming drains batteries fast. This makes Delta’s free offering of seatback screens much better for everyone, especially those who don’t travel with appropriate devices…or extra batteries!

No word from American yet about similar moves toward free entertainment, although its new deals with competing Wi-Fi providers Gogo and ViaSat this month for satellite-based transmissions will bring high-speed streaming capabilities to its single-aisle domestic fleet in the years ahead.

And now we have learned that Gogo and Aeromexico have teamed up for a pilot program allowing free Netflix streaming onboard. 

What do you think about free inflight entertainment? Do you prefer seatback or BYO screens? Please leave your comments below.

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New: Global Entry enrollment office to open 24/7

Global Entry SFO

Global Entry members bypass regular immigration lines at SFO (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Nearly every truly frequent international traveler now enjoys the magic of the Global Entry program. Those who enroll submit to a background check, and once approved, can re-enter the U.S. via a special kiosk lane at customs & immigration that takes seconds instead of minutes (or in some cases, hours).

What makes Global Entry even better is that once approved, you automatically get into the TSA’s essential PreCheck program, which speeds you through airport security.

At $100 for five years, you get two proven line-busters at the airport. That’s just $20 per year. That’s a no-brainer, right?

Well, the problem with Global Entry is that it might have become TOO popular. Especially after all the recent falderal about long airport lines. That popularity means that the wait to get your Global Entry status has swollen to unacceptable levels.

Global Entry

Special lanes marked by floor signs at SFO (Photo Chris McGinnis)

For example here’s one of several emails we’ve received recently at TravelSkills:

Wondering if you can discuss the ridiculous long waits for the Global Entry appointments at SFO?  The wait is now six months!  Luckily I managed to get a cancelled time slot, so I only needed to wait two months. My “interview” took less than five minutes, even though each interview is allotted 15 minutes.  There were three agents there at the enrollment office.  So instead of handling just 12 people in that hour, they clearly could have handled 24-36 people in that one hour, at least halving the wait times.  

Well, that frustration might be ameliorated soon at San Francisco International and elsewhere. According to SFO, US Customs & Border Protection has announced a pilot program to expand the hours of the Global Entry enrollment office to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The pilot is set to begin on June 12 and run for 60 days, at which time the program will be evaluated.

“Due to the overwhelming success of the Global Entry program and the subsequent increase in applications, CBP clearly recognizes the need for additional interview opportunities,” said Brian J. Humphrey, CBP’s Director of Field Operations in San Francisco.

A CBP spokesperson told TravelSkills that currently the the 24/7 pilot program will be tested at SFO only. 

The Global Entry Enrollment Center at SFO is located pre-security on the arrivals level of the International Terminal. The facility already offers permanent hours of 7:00am-11:00pm, and will expand to 24/7 on June 12, 2016 for the 60-day pilot program. The expanded hours will offer an additional 826 appointment slots for travelers to enroll. For more information, visit: www.globalentry.gov.

Do you have Global Entry? Or are you in the queue waiting to get your membership? Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Ipad invasion at airports

OTG Philadelphia

Better food, design and more iPads coming to PHL’s Terminal B and elsewhere (Image: OTG)

I remember when Delta dolled up its food and beverage offerings at New York LaGuardia, adding a host of nice new restaurants and bars. In addition to the good grub was a new addition: hundreds of Apple iPads at nearly every table or bar in the airport to be used to order food or browse the web. It was quite a spectacle. Delta expanded the high-tech offering when it took over US Airways gates there at LGA last year.

Now the invasion of the iPad is spreading to other key airports.

Have you been through United’s newly Terminal C at Newark? The iPads are ubiquitous, as is the plethora of new dining and drinking options popping up in restaurant spaces and new cafe-style options smack in the middle of corridors, taking over areas once occupied by moving sidewalks. (see below)

United is busy glitzing up facilities at Newark for the arrival of p.s. flights in October (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

United adding new dining options in Newark Airport corridors (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Healthier food, better shopping, and of course, more iPads, will soon pop up near United gates Houston Intercontinental, and near American gates at Philadelphia International’s Terminal B. The company behind all these improvements is OTG, an award-winning restaurateur with 250 restaurants in 11 airports under its belt.

In Houston, OTG will oversee all food, beverage and retail operations in United’s Terminal B South, Terminal C (including the new C North Concourse coming in 2017) and Terminal E. OTG says that it plans to install a whopping 8,000 (!) iPads throughout the airport, from which customers will find news and info and be able to order food and drink. At some outlets they will have the option of paying for it with MileagePlus points.

OTG Houston

Big, bright dining and iPad ordering coming to Houston IAH (Image: OTG)

At American’s gate areas at Philadelphia’s Terminal B, OTG will phase in a few temporary “pop up” dining options to offer a taste of what’s to come as it builds out the full experience over the next two years. OTG will also introduce iPads at gate areas where passengers can order food and drink to be delivered from nearby airport restaurants. When complete, passengers will be able to use more than 1,000 iPads located at restaurants, lounges or gate areas.  In addition, OTG says that it will install about 1,000 sorely needed power outlets in gate areas.

Ipads are cool, but some travelers may miss the human touch. Scott Mackenzie over at TravelCodex told TravelSkills: “I hate that I can’t do something simple, like order a beer, without using a tablet. Last time it took 20 minutes for a server to receive my order and then tell me it was unavailable.”

Have you used an iPad to order food or drink at the airport recently? What did you think? Please leave your comments below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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International roaming with AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile

phone iphone map

Using phones in other countries getting cheaper, easier (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Remember when turning on your mobile phone while roaming in another country felt like opening up your wallet on a windy day? Thankfully, that ripped off feeling is on the wane.

Recently AT&T announced that it will add free roaming in Canada and Mexico. This comes on the heels of Verizon’s recent introduction of the helpful, cheaper TravelPass plan.  And it all started with T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plan, offering free data and texting and 20-cent calls in 140+ countries.

AT&T:

Starting this Friday, all AT&T customers on Mobile Share Value 15GB and higher plans will have unlimited calling, texting and use of their plan data in Mexico.  (Customers currently on one of these plans just have to call, use the MyAT&T app, go online to www.att.com to enroll.

Also starting this Friday, new and existing customers with AT&T’s new Unlimited Plan will have unlimited talk, text and data in both Mexico and Canada. To add the AT&T Roam North America feature on your phone or tablet, just go to www.att.com.  (AT&T plan details here)

Business customers on a MSV 15GB or higher plan can get the new features as well. Business customers who activate on new Mobile Select plans priced $20 per month or higher will automatically receive Mexico roaming benefits.

Image: Verizon

Image: Verizon

Verizon:

If Verizon is your smartphone carrier and you travel the world a lot, you have a new option called TravelPass. Priced at $2 a day per line in Mexico and Canada and $10 a day in 65 other countries, the new plan lets you “take your domestic talk, text and data allowances with you,” Verizon says.

The $2 per day deal is excellent for quick trips to Mexico and Canada. But that $10 daily fee

Verizon

Using TravelPass in Australia was easy…and much cheaper than last time I was there! (Chris McGinnis)

elsewhere still seems pretty high, even though it’s at least better than Verizon’s pricey monthly plans. 

Once you sign up for TravelPass, the fee kicks in when you receive a call, connect to a data service, or send a text inside one of the 100+ countries where it works. Once that 24 hours is up, the daily fee won’t kick in again until you receive a call, connect to a data service, or send a text – at which point another TravelPass day will begin.

To sign up go to MyVerizon.com and select “manage international services” or use the MyVerizon app on your phone to activate it before embarking on a trip. Once at your destination, you’ll receive a text message welcoming you to the country and reminding you of the service and the daily fee.

T-Mobile:

T-Mobile has the most economical plan for international travelers– unlimited calling, data and texting in the U.S., Mexico, & Canada is automatically included with its Simple Choice plans.

The Simple Choice Plan also offers unlimited data and texting in what it says are “95% of the places Americans travel most” That is currently 140+ countries and destinations. Details on using T-Mobile overseas.

I just wish T-Mobile worked better inside my house and around SF!

Which carrier do you use when traveling overseas? Do you instead rely on wi-fi connected apps like Viber? Are you happy with your current plan? Please leave your comments and tips for other readers below.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Translation apps make big advances

Screen Shot 2016-05-17 at 12.25.18 PMRemember those old Star Trek (the original version) episodes when Captain Kirk and company would encounter an alien race that didn’t speak English (although most of them did)? They would pull out a handheld device they called the Universal Translator that provided instant understanding, whatever the language.

It’s just one more example of how technology has caught up with science fiction. In fact, technology is starting to pull ahead. We just read about a nifty new system called the Pilot earpiece from Waverly Labs that lets two people communicate just by speaking their separate languages. They both wear wireless earbuds linked to a smartphone app that does the translating, but the voice output goes to the earbuds, not the phone’s speaker. Here’s a video demonstration. (See below)

Waverly Labs will start an Indiegogo campaign this month to help fund development, and the product is expected to be on the market this fall at a cost of $250-$300.

The granddaddy of translation apps is Google Translate, used by hundreds of millions of people. That product just announced some upgrades, including a feature called Tap to Translate, initially on the Android version. Instead of having to copy and paste a web page or email in a foreign language, users can now just tap a button that automatically calls up the translation app to present the words in English (or any of the 103 languages that Google Translate can handle).

Google Translate can handle 103 languages. (Image: Google)

Google Translate can handle 103 languages. (Image: Google)

In addition, Google now offers the Offline Mode of Google Translate for iOS devices as well as Android phones, and has shrunk the size of the offline package to take up less space on the phone. The company also expanded its Word Lens feature – which uses the phone’s camera to read and translate signs or menus in a foreign language – to include Chinese.

Google Translate has been able to handle bilingual spoken conversations since last year, translating voices between two languages. Here’s a guide to how that works.

And of course there are other similar products in the market, like the well-regarded iTranslate.

Here are some translation apps available on Google Play for Android, and a list of some of the best translation apps for the iPhone.

Readers: Have you used a translation app during your travels? Which one? Did it work well or present problems?

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Hyperloop approaching faster than expected

Rendering of passenger boarding a Hyperloop vehicle. (Image: Hyperloop Technologies)

Rendering of passengers boarding a Hyperloop vehicle. (Image: Hyperloop One)

The California Corridor is the staging ground for what could be a revolutionary leap forward in fast ground transportation, as tech companies move forward with ultra-high-speed magnetic levitation systems. And it sounds like the future is approaching faster than expected.

At least three companies are in the news this week with plans to develop “Hyperloop” systems that would use the technology to zip passenger pods or compartments along at speeds of up to 750 mph. The competitors are raising tens of millions of dollars in venture capital, and some are already working on small-scale test tracks.

One is a company called Hyperloop One, inspired by Tesla and SpaceX guru Elon Musk; it would shoot passenger capsules through a low-pressure tube on a cushion of air. (Magnetic levitation systems rely on magnetic forces to lift vehicles above their guide rails, eliminating all that friction that slows down regular trains.) Today, the company completed an initial “test run” in the Nevada desert– see below.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the company’s plan is to create a fully operational hyperloop system by 2020.

Another firm, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, has licensed Maglev technology developed by California’s renowned Lawrence Livermore Laboratories.  The third is a firm called SkyTran, which envisions Maglev vehicles traveling on elevated tracks and is working with NASA.

If the firms achieve the suggested goal of 750 mph, it could mean a San Francisco to L.A. trip in just 30 minutes – without the hassle of airports. Maglev technology is already operating in Japan and China. Last year, a Japan Railways Maglev train achieved a record speed of 374 mph, suggesting that the American developers still have a ways to go. In China, Maglev trains operate between Shanghai Pudong Airport and central Shanghai at speeds of about 268 mph.

Related: New California Corridor small jet service $109 each way

Rendeering of as Hyperloop vehicle in an elevated tube. (Image: Hyperloop Transportation Technologies)

Rendering of a Hyperloop vehicle in an elevated tube. (Image: Hyperloop Transportation Technologies)

Whoever comes out ahead with the technology, a working California Corridor Hyperloop line is many years away. First of all, there’s the cost, estimated at $6 billion. Then there are the logistical difficulties of building a safe and secure route through heavily populated and developed areas – not to mention that much of the corridor is an earthquake zone.

But it’s sure fun to dream about for now. And exciting to see tangible progress toward reality. In the meantime, we have the Sleepbus 🙂

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Briefs: Alaska/JAL, AA biz seats, BA Wi-Fi, Lufthansa in Silicon Valley

Japan Airlines has a new partnership with Alaska Airlines. (Image: JAL)

Japan Airlines has a new partnership with Alaska Airlines. (Image: JAL)

International carrier news briefs include a new transpacific partnership for Alaska Airlines, a look at American’s new long-haul business class seating, a Wi-Fi decision by British Airways and its siblings, and a move by Lufthansa to fund travel-related start-ups in Silicon Valley.

Starting this summer, members of Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan will be able to earn miles on Japan Airlines, thanks to a new partnership between the two carriers. The code-sharing and frequent flyer cooperation pact will mean seamless connections for travelers between Alaska’s flights and JAL’s transpacific services to Tokyo from San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Vancouver, as well as JAL’s LAX-Osaka service. While mileage-earning on JAL will begin this summer for Mileage Plan members, award travel redemptions on the Japanese carrier “will begin later in 2016,” Alaska said. Strategically, the tie-up with JAL is a logical step for Alaska; its merger partner Virgin America already has an interline partnership with JAL for connections at SFO and LAX, and Alaska recently started a big expansion of code-sharing with American Airlines, which has joint venture and Oneworld global alliance partnerships with the Japanese carrier.

Japan Airlines and Alaska will link up at four West Coast gateways. (Image: JAL)

Japan Airlines and Alaska will link up at four West Coast gateways. (Image: JAL)

American Airlines will turn to a next-generation “Super Diamond” business class seating configuration for its next-generation long-haul international aircraft, according to a report in Forbes. The new seats will all recline fully flat, will be enclosed in a kind of personal shell, and will offer aisle access from every seat. They’ll go into the new 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s that will be coming to American in the next few years, and will also be retrofitted onto some 777-200s. American recently broke off its ties to French-based seat manufacturer Zodiac and is turning to B/E Aerospace for the new business class seats.

American Airlines' new international business class seat. (Image: American)

American Airlines’ new international business class seat. (Image: American)

International Airlines Group, (IAG), the parent of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, has signed a deal with Wi-Fi vendor Gogo for installation of that firm’s next-generation 2Ku satellite-based Wi-Fi technology. Passengers should start to see the technology appearing on aircraft next year, and by 2019, IAG said, it should be on 90 percent of the airlines’ long-haul fleets. “In addition to providing faster access to web-based services, passengers will enjoy more entertainment options throughout their entire journey. In the future, inflight Wi-Fi will also transform the duty free experience, allowing travelers to order from their phones and tablets and arrange for items purchased on board to be delivered to their homes,” the company said. It will be installed in BA’s 747s, 777s, 787s and A380s as well as Iberia A330s and A340s and some Aer Lingus 757s.

Gogo will greatly increase broadband satellite Wi-Fi capacity in 2017. (Image: SES/Airbus Defence & Space)

Gogo will greatly increase broadband satellite Wi-Fi capacity in 2017. (Image: SES/Airbus Defence & Space)

Earlier this year, JetBlue announced the formation of a subsidiary that will invest in travel-related technology start-ups in Silicon Valley – and now Lufthansa is doing  the same. The airline said its Lufthansa Innovation Hub unit will team up with Plus and Play, a venture capital group in Silicon Valley. “The objective is to identify and promote innovative technologies and digital business ideas along the entire travel chain,” Lufthansa said. “Over the course of a twelve-week mentoring program, 20 to 30 selected start-ups will receive support for the further development of their business models. They will also make contact with companies in order to talk about partnerships and joint projects as well as investment.” The airline is backing up its interest in Silicon Valley with new San Jose-Frankfurt non-stops due to start July 1.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Uber’s getting headaches from Harvard Business School

Should Uber add a tipping option to its app? (Image: Uber)

Should Uber add a tipping option to its app? (Image: Uber)

Ride-hailing giant Uber is no stranger to controversy (just ask any licensed taxi driver) but now it is enduring a couple of new headaches courtesy of Harvard Business School – one in the form of an article blasting its new tipping confusion, and another in the form of a pricing comparison app created by students there.

As we reported a couple of weeks ago, in its recent settlement of a class action lawsuit filed by its drivers, Uber agreed to let riders know that tips are not included in the fare, and to let drivers solicit tips by putting up a sign in their car or just by asking for them. Uber maintains that this has always been its policy, and said it still will not include a tipping feature in its app.

But Uber is taking fire for that stance from an article in the latest issue of the Harvard Business Review, which carried the headline “Uber’s new tipping policy is a mistake.”

Author Rafi Mohammed, described as a pricing strategy consultant, said that Uber’s decision not to add a tipping feature to its app — instead requiring customers to use cash or a separate credit card transaction if they want to tip a driver – “puts Uber at a significant competitive disadvantage. In addition to the inconvenience of the extra step, which will require business travelers to collect multiple receipts for expense account reimbursements, many riders will feel pressured to be overly generous in the amount they tip.”

That pressure is created by Uber’s driver and passenger rating systems, because drivers will know before they rate a passenger whether and how much that person tipped them, Mohammed notes, adding: “Customers never enjoy being strong-armed over a gratuity.”

He said the “easiest remedy” is for Uber to follow Lyft’s example and allow tipping through its app. “However, if Uber is intent on maintaining its no-tipping policy, it should find another method to reward highly rated drivers,” he added.

Meanwhile, Uber is fighting to block a group of Harvard Business School students from displaying its prices in a new app they created. The app, called Urbanhail, lets users see and compare the price of a trip on different ride-sharing services and taxis before they request a ride. It’s currently available only for Boston, and the group is offering free downloads through the end of May.

Reporting on the spat, The Boston Globe noted that Uber’s terms of use bar app developers from displaying its rates alongside those of competitors, but the students said that their professors encouraged them to move ahead with their plan anyway – just as Uber has often started operating in cities that haven’t authorized it to do so.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Delta plans expansion of extra-fast Wi-Fi, liveTV

Delta is bringing faster Wi-Fi to its mainline fleet. (Image: Delta)

Delta is bringing faster Wi-Fi to its mainline fleet. (Image: Delta)

As customers demand big improvements in in-flight Wi-Fi service, Delta said this week it plans to more than double the number of aircraft in its fleet that are equipped with the latest generation of high-speed satellite links, and to bring live streaming TV to those aircraft as well.

The airline said it will extend Wi-Fi vendor Gogo’s new 2Ku satellite-based technology to an additional 350 aircraft, giving it a total of 600 planes with the fast connections. What’s more, “In late 2016, Delta will launch IPTV, giving customers the ability to watch live TV from their own devices on 2Ku-enabled aircraft,” Delta said.

Wi-Fi technology is moving faster than most airlines can keep up. Delta has almost finished installing the first-generation satellite-based Ku band technology on its international widebody fleet of 747s, 767s, 777s and A330s as well as long-haul 757s.

But that is being superseded by Gogo’s 2Ku system, which Delta says “will offer customers faster speeds and bandwidth more than 20 times that of Gogo’s ATG (air-to-ground) technology, allowing for video streaming functionality.” Gogo started out by offering only land-based ATG links, but has had to transition to satellites to keep up with the competition.

The airline said it has already started to install 2Ku systems on its 737-800 and A319 fleets, “and additional fleets will be retrofitted with the new system.” It expects to offer 2Ku on 35 planes by the end of this year. The 2Ku Wi-Fi will also be available on the new A330-900Neos and A350-900s that Delta has on order for delivery over the next few years, the company said.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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New Virgin America prices for faster wi-fi

Virgin America starts charging for fast satellite-based Wi-Fi this month. (Image: Virgin America)

Virgin America starts charging for fast satellite-based Wi-Fi this month. (Image: Virgin America)

For the past several months, Virgin America has been installing and testing a new satellite-based Wi-Fi system on 10 of its new A320s– and offering the service for free. Those tests have been successfully completed, and this month the airline will start charging for the faster in-flight Internet service, according to a Virgin America blog post.

Virgin said the tests of its new ViaSat satellite-based Wi-Fi found that it operates eight to 10 times faster than other in-flight systems, providing passengers with “speeds similar to what they have at home so they can stream everything from movies to TV shows, music and breaking news to their own devices.”

Effective this week, the Wi-Fi pricing on ViaSat-equipped A320s ranges from $4.99 for short flights (under two hours) to $17.99 for trips longer than five hours (e.g., transcontinental flights). Flights of two to three hours cost $7.99, three to four hours are $9.99 and four to five hour flights charge $13.99 for the fast Wi-Fi. For 5+ hour transcons, the fee will be $17.99. (That’s much cheaper than what you’ll pay for a standard buy-on-board Gogo pass for slower ground-based service, which now fetches over $50.)

Virgin America's new satellite based wi-fi is fast enough to stream movies (Image: Virgin America)

Virgin America’s new satellite based wi-fi is fast enough to stream movies (Image: Virgin America)

Virgin America said Elevate Gold members will get free ViaSat Wi-Fi through the end of the year, and will get emails with promo codes for access. Since Gogo and ViaSat are separate companies with different platforms, holders of monthly or annual passes for Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi – which is on the rest of Virgin’s fleet – can also access the ViaSat service for free, but will receive emails with access codes. An announcement at the beginning of a flight will tell passengers whether their aircraft has the ViaSat service. Virgin America does not currently offer Wi-Fi on its Hawaii routes, but it’s expected some time this summer.

The airline has teamed up with LinkedIn to offer free “professional development” video tutorials from Lynda.com to all passengers on the ViaSat-equipped planes.

The new service raises competitive questions on some routes – i.e., how will Virgin’s satellite service compete against the free Fly-Fi high-speed service that JetBlue offers on its fleet, especially as JetBlue appeals to more transcon business travelers with the expansion of its Mint premium cabins?

Last fall, JetBlue finished installing the satellite-based Fly-Fi service on its entire Airbus fleet, and it expects to have it on all its E190s by this fall. And so far, the service remains free.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about: United’s newest, longest flight + Tipping Uber drivers + Qantas 747 Trip Report + Confusion over PreCheck policies + No-fee earlier flights

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Untangling inflight entertainment overload

A new app will let Singapore Airlines passengers select in-flight entertainment options in advance. (Image: Singapore Airlines)

A new app will let Singapore Airlines passengers select in-flight entertainment options in advance. (Image: Singapore Airlines)

As airlines upgrade their in-flight entertainment systems passengers can face a bewildering array of choices, with listings of movies, TV programs, videos and music selections that number in the hundreds. So airlines are now developing technology to help customers manage that entertainment more effectively.

For example, Singapore Airlines is introducing what it calls the first “companion app” for its Krisworld in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. It’s currently available for Apple and Android tablets, and will be offered for iOS and Android phones in the second quarter. Its initial use will be limited to Singapore’s new A350-900s, with plans to expand it to 777-300ERs.

Customers can use the app before departure to explore all the video and audio content that will be available on their flight, and create a list of their preferred selections. Linking the app to the IFE system onboard enables the personal device to be used as a remote control, to pause, play, or skip through media content.

Singapore Airlines’ KrisWorld IFE system offers a whopping 295 movies, over 470 TV shows and more than 450 CD albums each month- so this new app should come in handy!

Related: Trip Report- Singapore Airlines B333 SFO-Hong Kong

Lufthansa's new web platform lets customers preview and select in-flight entertainment options before departure. (Image: Lufthansa)

Lufthansa’s new web platform lets customers preview and select in-flight entertainment options before departure. (Image: Lufthansa)

Lufthansa, meanwhile, worked with a content and media agency called Spafax to create a new website that customers can use to see and select in-flight entertainment.

The new site (http://lh.com/mediaworld-en) lets passengers check out all the movies, TV shows, music, games and other content available from Lufthansa’s IFE system, and an interactive feature will tell them which specific offerings are available on their upcoming flight when they enter the flight number.

Users can view trailers to preview film selections, and can find a program guide that will tell them which sporting events will be available via live TV feed on its intercontinental flights.

“Interesting features will be added over time for our guests to have an even more personalized entertainment experience,” a Lufthansa spokesman said. Spafax noted that future enhancements to the site will include “the ability to personalize content recommendations based on passenger preferences.”

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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Briefs: Best United clubs, Alaska PreCheck, Delta videos, Air Canada Wi-Fi

United's big bright new Club at London Heathrow Terminal 2. CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW

United’s big bright Club at London Heathrow Terminal 2. (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

In airline news this week, United’s customers rate the airline’s best airport lounges; Alaska Mileage Plan members can buy into PreCheck with miles; Delta is bringing new content from Bloomberg into its Delta Studio streaming in-flight entertainment; and Air Canada plans a big expansion of in-flight Wi-Fi.

Which United Clubs do the airline’s passengers like best? According to the Chicago Business Journal, data collected from passengers’ post-flight surveys indicate that they considered the best domestic United Clubs at the airline’s hubs to be at Houston Bush Intercontinental and Denver International. The United Club at Washington Dulles was rated “most improved,” and the best international clubs were at London Heathrow and Mexico City’s Benito Juarez Airport. What’s your favorite United Club? 

Delta is teaming up with Bloomberg to bring new 30-minute videos on business-related topics to the airline’s Delta Studio in-flight entertainment selections. The programming will include three different series of 30-minute videos licensed to Delta: With All Due Respect, about the business of politics; Studio 1.0, about women executives in the tech industry; and Good Fortunes, covering the business of philanthropy. Delta Studio content can be viewed for free on seatback screens or streamed to passengers’ devices.

Breaking: Will Delta buy Virgin America? JetBlue?

PreCheck at Honolulu International (Photo: Hawaiian Airlines / Flickr)

PreCheck at Honolulu International (Photo: Hawaiian Airlines / Flickr)

Through the end of April, Alaska Airlines is letting members of its Mileage Plan program redeem 10,000 miles to pay for the TSA PreCheck program’s application fee. The $85 fee covers a five-year membership in the program, which gives participants access to expedited security screening procedures. To take advantage of the offer, e-mail y0ur name and Mileage Plan number to TSAredemption@alaskaair.com by April 30. The airline will deduct the miles from your account and e-mail you an authorization code to use when applying for PreCheck.

Air Canada, which already offers in-flight Wi-Fi on all its North American single-aisle aircraft, said this week it plans to expand the amenity to its international flights. The company said it has signed a deal with Gogo to install that provider’s new 2Ku satellite-based Wi-Fi service on its international wide-bodies starting this fall. The airline’s 777s will be the first to add the new Wi-Fi.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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Looking to the sky to speed up inflight wi-fi

Gogo will greatly increase broadband satellite Wi-Fi capacity in 2017. (Image: SES/Airbus Defence & Space)

Gogo will greatly increase broadband satellite Wi-Fi capacity in 2017. (Image: SES/Airbus Defence & Space)

Everybody who uses in-flight Wi-Fi tends to complain about the slow speeds, lost signals and so on, but if travelers can hang on a bit longer, it looks like significant improvements are coming. Gogo, one of the leading providers of the service, just inked a big new satellite deal, and a European consultancy sees a bright future for the technology, which is spreading to more aircraft and more airlines.

Gogo said it has signed “one of the largest satellite capacity deals ever” in the commercial airline market with a satellite operator called SES, in order “to meet the growing demand for high-speed in-flight connectivity.”

The deal will give Gogo access to a pair of SES satellites due to be launched next year that will cover all of North America, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the North Atlantic. A third satellite, also due to launch in 2017, will expand Gogo’s coverage to flights over Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Russia.

“This deal will dramatically increase bandwidth and drive overall costs per bit down by orders of magnitude,” Gogo chief technology officer Anand Chariu said. The satellites will provide “high throughput spot beam and wide beam capacity,” the company said—in other words, much greater bandwidth and download speeds. And airlines already signed up for Gogo’s 2Ku technology will be able to transition to the newer satellite service “without any equipment modifications.” The new satellites will also increase capacity for Gogo’s live TV product, Gogo TV. Gogo has been gradually transitioning its service from ground-based to satellite-based technology.

Gogo’s news comes on the heels of a recent lawsuit filed against it by American Airlines, which sought to invoke an escape clause in its contract with Gogo so it could look for faster Wi-Fi service from other vendors. The suit was dropped this week after Gogo said it wouldn’t challenge American’s plans, and that it expected to give American a better proposal of its own.

Earlier this month, the global consulting firm Euroconsult issued a report predicting that revenues from passenger connectivity services on airlines will grow from $700 million last year to $5.4 billion within a decade. It said that the number of connected aircraft jumped by 21 percent just in the 12 months of 2015, and that the ongoing launch of “high throughput satellites” (HTS) including Ku- and Ka-band “is expected to be a game changer in the in-flight connectivity market.”

“HTS systems will not only tremendously increase data speeds to the plane compared to regular satellite systems, but will also significantly lower costs, thereby further driving the adoption of IFC (in-flight connectivity) services,” said Euroconsult’s Geoffrey Stern. “With more airlines opting for cabin connectivity, companies that have not yet made a decision will be increasingly pressured to offer such services to match their competitors.”

The company said it expects that over the next decade, the number of connected commercial aircraft will grow from 5,300 to 23,100, or 62 percent of the global fleet.

Some airlines are already feeling the pressure. Air France, which has long been a holdout against in-flight Wi-Fi, said last week that it has changed its tune, and will start putting the technology into its international fleet later this year. The French carrier is said to be looking into a model like that in the hotel industry, which would provide basic service free to its passengers, while charging a fee for higher download speeds.

Meanwhile, Qantas said this week that in 2017 it plans to deploy free Wi-Fi for passengers on its domestic Australian routes, thanks to a partnership with ViaSat that will offer “speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional on-board Wi-Fi, giving customers the ability to stream movies, TV shows, the latest news bulletins and live sports.”

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Should I tip my Uber driver? + Boeing 747 nearing its end? + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 + World’s best airline lounge? + Fares to Europe tumble 

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Delta nearly done with global wi-fi rollout; United, AA catching up

Delta now offers Wi-Fi on all of its transatlantic flights. (Image: Delta)

Delta now offers Wi-Fi on all of its transatlantic flights. (Image: Delta)

As in-flight Internet service provider Gogo continues to enhance its product with the addition of satellite networks for overseas flights, Delta has been  gradually equipping its international aircraft with that new technology. And now it has finished a major piece of that effort, offering high-speed Wi-Fi on all of its transatlantic flights.

Delta said this week that the Ku-band satellite service is now available on up to 83 daily roundtrip flights across the pond, including all its London Heathrow flights as well as service to 27 European cities, Tel Aviv, and the African destinations of Accra, Dakar and Lagos.

Besides the paid Wi-Fi service, Delta said customers who bring personal electronic devices on those routes can also get free access to its Delta Studio selection of streaming movies and TV programs.

After finishing the latest installations, Delta said that the addition of satellite Wi-Fi to its 767s, 747s, A330s and transoceanic 757s in addition to its domestic aircraft now gives it “the world’s largest Wi-Fi equipped fleet.”

gogo logo

Buy one, get one. Gogo is currently offering a special deal on Delta Wi-Fi; through February 29, Gogo said on its website, customers who buy one Delta Global Day Pass for $28 will get a second one for free — a savings of $60 over the in-flight purchase price. Each pass is good for 24 hours of access on any Gogo-equipped Delta flight, and they’re valid for a year.

United Airlines is also making considerable progress in equipping its long-haul fleet with satellite-based Wi-Fi. The airline says on its website that all 74 of its 777s now have Wi-Fi, as do all 22 of its 747-400s and 98 percent of its 767s. Installations on its 787 Dreamliners are 68 percent finished, covering 17 aircraft, United said, with completion of all the rest slated for June.

The cost of Internet access on United aircraft “will vary,” the airline says, although it gives no examples, and notes that it does not offer daily, weekly or monthly Wi-Fi passes, “but we may offer these options in the future.”

Related: How to save $$ on pricey inflight internet

“We are in the process of launching a newly designed portal with multiple payment options,” United notes. “With this new portal, on select aircraft, you will have additional Internet access options, such as time-based plans (e.g., 30 minutes, 1 hour) or full flight access, as well as the ability to purchase Internet with your MileagePlus award miles or a saved credit card in your MileagePlus account.”

American Airlines currently offers international Wi-Fi service on its 787s, 777-300ERs and “select” 777-200s (it doesn’t say how many), at rates ranging from $12 for two hours to $19 for the full flight.

What’s your experience been when using wi-fi on international flights? From my seat, I get better coverage over an ocean than I do over land, but maybe that’s just me? Comments, please!

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Boeing 747 nearing its end? + “Targeted” for an upgrade? + 5 newest biz class hotels in New York + TSA PreCheck is exploding + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 

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More TSA PreCheck love + Expense Reports + Longer trips

PreCheck makes life easier, a survey finds. (Image: TSA)

PreCheck makes life easier, a new survey finds. (Image: TSA)

A new survey of business travelers confirms what many already know: That enrolling in the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program makes life a lot easier.

That mirrors the results of our own recent reader survey, which gave positive marks to PreCheck from those who belong to it.

The new survey, from the Global Business Travel Association, finds that PreCheck membership impacts not only a road warrior’s satisfaction with the airport security experience, but also with his or her flight.

It found that fully two-thirds of travelers enrolled in PreCheck expressed satisfaction with the way they moved through airport security, vs. only 47 percent who do not belong to the expedited screening program. Two-thirds of PreCheck enrollees also expressed satisfaction with their flight experience, vs. 54 percent of non-members.

Of the surveyed business travelers who are already in PreCheck, those age 55-plus showed a much greater participation rate than others: 51 percent of those Boomer travelers are in PreCheck, compared with 37 percent of GenXers (age 35-54) and only 32 percent of Millennials (18-34).

On other subjects, the poll found that business travelers are increasingly satisfied with the formerly odious task of expense reporting, no doubt thanks to the adoption of digital tools for that task by their employers. Surprisingly, Boomers seem to be adapting to the new electronic expense reporting environment better than the supposedly tech-savvy younger crowd. Four-fifths of Boomer business travelers said they were very satisfied with the way they keep track of receipts, and 74 percent said the same about expense reporting; for Millennials, the comparable figures were 59 percent and 55 percent.

One thing the Millennial road warriors excel at is extending a business trip for leisure purposes: 43 percent of them said they had done so recently,. compared with about a third of Boomers and GenXers.

In other findings, GBTA said convenient scheduling continues to be the most important single factor in a business traveler’s selection and booking of flights, cited by 33 percent of those surveyed, with price in second place (27 percent) and frequent flyer program considerations in third (20 percent). And almost half said that their company requires them to follow its travel policy guidelines when booking trips.

gbtafeb1a

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8 fun facts about inflight wi-fi

IcelandAir says it has inflight wi-fi on 95% of its transatlantic flights

IcelandAir says it has inflight wi-fi on 95% of its transatlantic flights

A recent infographic about inflight wi-fi prepared by Icelandair caught our eye this month. It contains a mountain of info about one of our favorite subjects, and for your reading pleasure, we’ve excised some of the keenest facts, and then provided the entire graphic below. Enjoy!

1> Fifteen years ago, in 2000, only 4% of US households had broadband. Today it’s 87%. Remember this sound? 

2> Every month, two million airline passengers connect to inflight wi-fi, which has only been around since 2004.

3> The average American spends between eight and nine hours per week online—about 35 hours per month.

4> Only 18% of travelers travel with phone, tablet and laptop. (Wait, I thought everyone did that!)

5> In 2013 a whopping 84% of inflight wi-fi users used the Apple OS vs Android. Device type is nearly evenly split three ways between phones, tablets and laptops.

6> While it may not always feel like it, inflight wi-fi speeds are increasing rapidly. For example, Icelandair says that when inflight wi-fi was first introduced in 2004, speed was about 3 Mbps. The newest versions of air-to-ground systems (like Gogo’s) run at about 70 Mbps while satellite based systems (like United’s) run at about 50Mbps.

7> Each seatback entertainment system weighs 13 pounds. Removing those systems and having passengers access systems via their own devices would conserve 80 metric tons of fuel year on a single 260-seat Boeing 767. (In the US, United has tried this approach with mixed results.)

8> Outfitting a typical plane with seatback entertainment systems costs about $3 million per plane.

For all the fun facts, take a spin through the infographic below:

Related: Gogo prices up 50%- How to save?

Icelandair_In-Flight_WIFI

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New JetBlue seats: Less space, more tech

JetBlue's A320s (pictured) and some A321s will get new seating and tech improvements. (Image: JetBlue)

JetBlue’s A320s (pictured) and some A321s will get new seating and tech improvements. (Image: JetBlue)

Passengers on JetBlue’s Airbus A320s and some of its A321s can expect to see more seats in the future, along with a more connected tech experience.

The airline said this week that it plans to increase the seat count in 15 of its “all-core” A321s (not including those transcontinental A321s equipped with Mint service, which will remain unchanged) from the current 190 to 200, while JetBlue’s 130 A320s will go from the current 150 seats to 162.

According to JetBlue, the increases in seat count will be made possible by the installation of a new galley/lavatory module developed by Airbus called the Space-Flex v2. Those installations “will free additional space” in the cabins, “requiring a reconfiguration of seating,” JetBlue said.

The airline did not say how the reconfiguration might impact seat pitch — currently 34 inches on A320s and 33 on A321s, except for seven extra-legroom rows with more — but it did say that its cabins will still boast “the most legroom in coach” compared to other U.S. airlines.

The aircraft will get new Pinnacle seats from BE Aerospace with moveable headrests, AC outlets and USB ports at every seat, as well as new LED cabin lighting systems.

JetBlue

Economy class on a Mint configured A321 – all JetBlue seats will soon have 10 inch monitors like these (Chris McGinnis)

Work on the A321s will start in the second half of this year, while the A320 overhaul will take place from 2017 to 2019.

JetBlue said the A320s will also get a technology overhaul that links their seatback TVs to the in-flight Wi-Fi service, and new seatback screens that will be 10-inch, high-definition models, almost twice as large as the current screens.

Related: Trip Report- JetBlue Mint SFO-JFK

This will enable streaming TV entertainment through a system built on Google’s Android platform. JetBlue said the new system will mean “unlimited possibilities for custom app and widget development, live content streaming, audio-and-video-on-demand, and personal device pairing to offer more entertainment options than ever.” Besides the streaming content, JetBlue’s DirecTV service will increase from 36 to 100 channels, and its in-flight film library will be able to deliver 300 movies.

Passengers will have gate-to-gate access to JetBlue’s Fly-Fi high-speed wireless Internet service, offering speeds of 12 to 20 Mbps to each linked device, the airline noted.

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Boeing 747 nearing its end? + “Targeted” for an upgrade? + 5 newest biz class hotels in New York + TSA PreCheck is exploding + Bargain hunters travel guide for 2016 

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Airlines ranked on availability, speed of in-flight wi-fi

In-flight Wi-Fi is catching fire worldwide. (Image: Virgin America)

In-flight Wi-Fi is catching fire worldwide. (Image: Virgin America)

U.S. carriers still lead the world in the availability of in-flight Wi-Fi, but foreign airlines are starting to catch up. And the quality of Wi-Fi connections, while still rather basic, is on track toward significant improvement, according to the latest annual report on the state of in-flight Wi-Fi from Routehappy.

Virgin America still ranks in first place among U.S. carriers with Wi-Fi available on almost 100 percent of its available seat miles (ASMs), Routehappy said (the exception: a few Virgin flights to Hawaii). Following in order are Delta, Southwest and United, all of which have Wi-Fi on more than 80 percent of their ASMs, the company noted.

Actually, one foreign airline topped everyone, with Wi-Fi available on 100 percent of its ASMs: Scoot, the low-fare subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. And Icelandair was on a par with Virgin America, also close to the 100 percent mark.

routehappy1

Although Delta ranks ahead of United and American, “both competitors have nearly closed the gap,” Routehappy said. It noted that when American absorbed US Airways into its system, it picked up another 350 Wi-Fi enabled aircraft.

Overall, travelers on U.S. airlines systemwide have “at least a chance of Wi-Fi” 78 percent of the time, vs. a 24 percent chance on foreign carriers, according to Routehappy. But it noted that foreign carriers are picking up steam. Besides Scoot, it said that “substantial Wi-Fi offerings” can now be found on the flights of Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Etihad, Garuda, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Norwegian, and SAS.

On long-haul international routes, Routehappy said, Emirates and Lufthansa scored the best for Wi-Fi availability, “measured by number of ASMs and percentage of ASMs respectively.” The “most connected” long-haul route in the world is New York-Dubai, it said, while the least connected is London-Hong Kong.

routehappy2

The company also looked at the quality of in-flight Wi-Fi, which it ranks as “basic, better or best,” depending on the technology used. And that’s where there’s plenty of room for improvement. Routehappy said that in its previous annual report, issued in January 2015, it found Wi-Fi connectivity in the “best” category available on less than 1 percent of U.S. flights; today, that his risen to 6 percent of all flights worldwide.

And the company said it expects to see substantial gains in Wi-Fi quality in the months and years ahead, based on intense passenger demand for improvement.

“The mere availability of Wi-Fi is no longer enough,” Routehappy observed. “Passengers now demand a home broadband-like experience, and more airlines are now delivering this. JetBlue is nearing completion of a fleet-wide broadband rollout, allowing access to Netflix and other streaming services with no access charges; Virgin America has also recently introduced the same system. Additionally, airlines such as Delta, Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, and others are preparing to launch high-speed broadband solutions in the near future.”

 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  United packages Economy Plus with amenities + Ride-sharing firm goes out of business + Bucket list for air travelers + Useless travel gadgets + ‘Uber of the Skies’ dies 

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5 most useless travel gadgets

Does anyone really need a neck pillow? (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Does anyone really need a neck pillow? (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Travel gadgets. Some are truly useful, but most of the time, many so-called “must have” items get lost at the bottom of my carry-on, left in a drawer, or just tossed out.

Here are a few of our favorite, eye-rolling additions to travel gadget mania that seems to grip travelers (and those who love them) at this time of year. Do you agree?

Neck pillows. The paper-thin, questionably clean white rectangles that airlines pass off as pillows are not the greatest. But those cushy, or inflatable neck pillows you see stuffed into (or tied onto ) carry-on bags serve little purpose other than to identify the user as a novice traveler. Are you a neck pillow fan? Tell us why in the comments!

Passport covers. Oh the vanity. Passport covers serve no real purpose. Does a passport really need that much protection? The covers only delay you when approaching the airline check-in counter or immigration desk (or kiosk) since they must be removed for scanning. Please save yourself (and everyone in line behind you) a few minutes and leave the useless sleeves at home.

Big bulky headphones & frequent travel aren't a good mix (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Big bulky headphones & frequent travel aren’t a good mix (Photo: Chris McGinnis)

Bulky headphones. You won’t find too many truly frequent travelers toting, or worse, wearing, those oversized, bulky headphones that seem to be all the rage these days. Their biggest drawback is that they are so difficult to pack. And they get in the way and bang into things when wearing them in small enclosed spaces like airplane cabins. Noise canceling earbuds or slimline headphones are much better.

Seat back organizers. These carefully constructed organized pouches that strap to the seat in front of you are just plain annoying. Do you really need to bring that many gadgets, paperwork, and electronics to set up a full-on executive desk in an economy class seat? What happens when something mistakenly falls out when your seatmate escapes to the bathroom? Working on a plane is fine; setting up a C-level suite at 35,000 feet is not.

Camera. It used to be that a big bulky and expensive camera was a status symbol. Now it’s a relic. While it sounds surprising to even include this popular item in this list, most smartphones now provide excellent picture quality. So lugging along a separate camera is increasingly a waste of precious space. Sure, professional photographers can’t do without their full repertoire of equipment, but for the rest of us, why bulk up your bag?

This is by no means an exhaustive list… are their any gadgets you could live without? Or, what’s the most useful gadget in your bag? Please share them below! 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Delta free upgrades disappearing + Shipping vs. checking a bag +_San Francisco’s new long-haul routes + Is Newark our worst airport? + Delta, United forge new international partnerships

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‘Uber of the Skies’ shot down by regulators, court

An Uber-type flight-sharing service for private pilots has been grounded. (Image: Jim Glab)

An Uber-type flight-sharing service for private pilots has been grounded. (Image: Jim Glab)

There are hundreds of thousands of licensed private pilots in the U.S., so why not enlist them to create an on-call air travel ride-sharing service just like Uber does with cars?

Sounds like a great idea, and a Boston company called Flytenow decided to try it. And now it’s going out of business. The concept was blocked by the Federal Aviation Administration earlier this year, and that decision has now been upheld by a federal appeals court, effectively putting an end to the experiment.

The problem? The FAA said that because it solicits passengers from the public, such a company would be a common carrier, meaning that participating aviators would have to hold a commercial pilot’s license, just like airline pilots do.

Flytenow had argued that the individuals looking to book flights were “aviation enthusiasts,” and any transaction between them and the pilots would simply be a sharing of expenses, which is allowed for private pilots.

But the FAA and the court didn’t agree. “In the Opinion of the Court, Judge Pillard held that pilots sharing expenses on Flytenow were engaged in common carriage, making them the only common carriers (i.e., commercial airliners) in history to not seek a profit,” Flytenow said on a blog. The company’s website has been taken down.

The company said its lawyers are looking into possible avenues of appeal, but for now “we are left with no choice but to shut down Flytenow.”

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  Delta free upgrades disappearing + Shipping vs. checking a bag +_San Francisco’s new long-haul routes + Is Newark our worst airport? + Delta, United forge new international partnerships

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‘Don’t seat me next to Trump’ + United snacks + Gogo’s new $3 pass + Holiday travel forecast

Here are some newsy nuggets from other sources that we missed on TravelSkills this week:

What's a stroopwafel? Find out soon on United. (Image: United)

What’s a stroopwafel? Find out soon on United. (Image: United)

United will bring back free snacks for economy passengers in February.

Gogo introduces new “messaging only” Wi-Fi pass for just $3.

Legroom, disruptive travelers top “passenger peeves” poll.

Air New Zealand tries facial recognition technology for bag drops at Auckland.

Business traveler survey identifies Trump as “worst seatmate.”

Odd video of the week: Artist fashions miniature Singapore Airlines seats out of paper.

Congressman files legislation to protect airline passengers’ bathroom rights.

Japan Airlines introduces a new domestic air pass for foreign visitors.

Airline group issues traffic forecast for a busy holiday travel period.

Airbus creates a design for “stacked seats” in A350 economy cabin.

Boeing rolls out the newest version of its popular 737.

Kuala Lumpur Airport tries to locate owner of three abandoned 747s.

KLM will use a robot to guide passengers around Schiphol Airport.

Starwood adds some members of Design Hotels group as its newest brand.

 

NOTE: Be sure to click here to see all recent TravelSkills posts about:  New Oakland-London route + Big hotel acquisition + Uber at Las Vegas McCarran + American’s international Premium Economy service + Healthy eating for travelers

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