Someday there will be free wireless Internet access at all airports.

We’re getting there – slowly but surely…

Starting today (Friday, May 30) Mineta San José International Airport(SJC) in California begins offering free wireless Internet access. The secure service has 24-hour customer support and is available in most all public areas of Terminal A and Terminal C, except for the Terminal A baggage claim area.

Tags: Airport amenities, Mineta San Jose International Airport, Uncategorized, Wireless Internet
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US Airways just announced a new cost-saving measure: no more free snacks for coach passengers. Complimentary soft drinks are still on the menu, but probably not for long.

Now more than ever, travelers need a little relief.

In my Well-Mannered Traveler column today, I offer a round-up of some of the gas-rebate offers travelers can take advantage of out on the road this summer. The list includes everything from hotels offering gas rebate checks and free car washes to a car rental agency throwing in a free tank of gas.

One offer I didn’t list in today’s column is Kimpton’s “We Got Your Bag” offer. Through September 9^th, the hotel chain is offering travelers rebates of up to $25 to offset those new charges airlines are charging to check-in second bags. There are, of course, some restrictions, so be sure to read the fine print.

Tags: Airline amenities, US Airways
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According to this Newsday story, pieces of the iconic red, white and sapphire-blue stained glass window by Robert Sowers that once greeted travelers in Terminal 8 at New York’s JFK airport are not up for sale.

Sad.

Tags: Airport art, JFK Airport, Uncategorized
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The new Acropolis Museum in Athens isn’t expected to open to the public until the end of 2008, but anyone passing through Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” can now get a sneak preview of the project.

A new exhibition, accessible 24-hours in the public area of the airport, opened earlier this week and includes photos, a video about the construction of the new museum building and the transport of the Caryatids of the Erectheion, a cast copy of a section of the west frieze of the Parthenon (C. 440 BC.), and several other intriguing items.

The temporary exhibition is adjacent to a permanent installation that features treasures discovered when the airport was being built.

Tags: Airport art, Athens International Airport, Uncategorized
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In today’s Wall Street Journal there’s a review of a novel that will probably appeal to anyone who’s ever found themselves stuck at the airport. And these days, that’s a pretty big audience.

Here’s a link to the review about Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles. The book takes the form of a letter written to the airline after a flight cancellation leaves a man stranded at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Reviewer Scott Morris writes: “…Now, we’ve all come to expect being stuck in airports, and we’ve not come to like it. Not a bit. There is a certain rage that results from being treated like truant kindergartners, potential hijackers and dull herds of cattle. But most of us endure the indignities and swallow the rage. Not Benjamin R. Ford.”

I can’t wait to read it!

Tags: Uncategorized
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More than 2800 people have voted, so far, in the survey about in-flight cell-phone service that accompanies one of my recent Well-Mannered Traveler columns on MSNBC.

The results? 64% say “In-flight text and e-mail service is great, but please no phone calls!”

So I’m not that surprised at the results of a recent Harris survey conducted by Yahoo! on the same subject:

74% of the 2,000 consumers polled for that survey say “mobile phone usage on airplanes should be restricted to features that do not require talking.”

But never say never: The survey showed that “If usage of mobile phones was allowed while in-flight, more than two out of three (69 percent) consumers agreed that there should be a designated area of an airplane for passengers who want to talk on their mobile phones.”

For more numbers and details see the full Yahoo release.

Tags: Cell phones
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If you’re heading home by plane tomorrow from a Memorial Day weekend trip, perhaps you’ll enjoy these cartoons about the security checkpoint experience.

The folks who write the TSA’s blog – Evolution of Security – seem to!

Tags: TSA
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Now that American Airlines has announced that it will begin charging most domestic passengers $15 to check their first bag, it’s a fair bet other major airlines will do the same.

Travelers are pissed off about this move, but it just seems inevitable that everyone will soon pay to check their bags at the airport.

But maybe not. Consider this: Southwest Airlines, which allows travelers to check two items for free, sent out a press release Thursday reaffirming that the airline has no plans to change its checked baggage policy.

The release ends: “We look forward to seeing you on board very soon. (And bring your luggage!)”

Any bets on how long this will last?

Tags: Baggage, Uncategorized
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To mark the 21st birthday of its OnePass(R) frequent flyer program,Continental Airlines is holding a four-day Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament in Las Vegas.

The event begins August 6, 2008 and will take place the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino.

The entry fee is 50,000 OnePass miles and the grand prize is 21 million OnePass miles. Here’s more information about registration.

Not a Texas Hold’em fan? Don’t forget that McCarran International Airport has 1,300 slot machines.

Tags: Airport amenities, McCarran International Airport, Uncategorized
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A new exhibit at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport chronicles nearly 50 years of free summer music productions in Austin, Texas and includes photos, costumes, reviews and other items from Zilker Theater Productions.

Highlights include props such as bricks made of fabric, pie made of foam, and hats with mouse traps to secretly propel a bird into the sky.   There are also elaborate costumes designed by Susan Branch, including the “Dreamer Dress” (below) from the Secret Garden.

The Zilker Summer Musical exhibit is on display through August 12, 2008 in the Airside West Gallery located behind the BookPeople bookstore across from Gate 11.

Tags: Airport art, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Uncategorized
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