One – not so good – way to lighten your load at the airport
As you set out for weekend adventures…here’s a reminder to keep an eye on all your stuff at the airport. And another reason why carry-on only is a good option. From the Portland Business Journal: Two Northwest Airlines baggage handlers have been charged with stealing more than 200 items from passenger luggage at Portland International […]
How to complain to airlines and hotels
United Airlines is putting the kibosh on calling in with complaints. Last week the airline confirmed that, come April, it will disconnect the phone line to a foreign call center contracted to field customer compliments and complaints. Customers with issues to discuss will still be able to call the airline’s general 800-number but, as anyone […]
Tidbits for travelers: airfare refunds, prizes, free stuff and special deals
Here’s a quick round-up of recession specials for air travelers and other tidbits you might find useful: American Airlines has kicked off a Milestones contest: One first-place winner will receive 275,000 AAdvantage miles; 10 second-place winners will each get 1,000 AAdvantage miles. To enter: register and post an interesting tidbit about a cool place somewhere […]
Greetings from SFO…or maybe outer space
Sometimes three hours for a layover at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) isn’t quite enough. Especially when there are exhibits like Out of this World! The Twentieth-Century Space Invasion of American Pop Culture On display are more than 300 space-themed objects from the 1930s through the 1980s, from toys such as flying saucers, space guns, […]
A lounge within a lounge at SFO
Sunday mornings at SFO can be fairly quiet. Unless it’s a holiday weekend and rain and fog are causing flight delays. United’s Red Carpet Club on Sunday morning? Quiet as well. Not the usual zillion folks making cold calls, excuses, or dates from the cubicles in the business center. And plenty of bagels and bananas […]
So that’s where they went: Carbyé JFK murals moving to Miami
Maybe you remember the two giant murals by the Brazilian artist Carybé that used to be in the American Airlines terminal at JFK airport in New York. At 16.5 X by 53 feet they were hard to miss. The murals (below), titled Discovery and Settlement and Rejoicing and the Festivals of the Americas, were installed […]
Love the layover: eat sweets
If you were disappointed with your drugstore chocolates this Valentine’s weekend, then take a tour of the Sweet Travel Blog and find out where the really great treats are around the world. Julia, the person who maintains this blog, started researching sweets in Japan and has just kept going, sweetly, around the world. Read about […]
The TSA’s secret weapon
Last week I joined a group of Seattle airport TSA workers for a two-day class in what I thought was going to be all about patience. But patience was just a tiny part of it. Here’s a link to the Well Mannered Traveler column I wrote for MSNBC.com about the experience. In the meantime, here’s […]
Free yellow roses at San Antonio Int’l Airport
On Friday, February 13th, just to get folks in the mood for Valentine’s Day, San Antonio International Airport’s volunteer ambassadors will be handing out 4,000 yellow roses to arriving passengers in the baggage claim area. Passengers will also be serenaded by a mariachi band. The airport’s partner for this event is the local convention and […]