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[Updated 12/31: The Transportation Security Administration dropped the subpoenas! Good!  Read more here. ]

The past day or so has been rough on two bloggers – Steve Frischling (Flying with Fish) and Chris Elliott (Elliott.org).

Each posted a leaked copy of a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) memo about the new security rules rolled out in the wake of the botch Christmas Day airplane bombing.

You can read the Associated Press summary of what happened here, but the scary part is that last night, armed with subpoenas, special agents from the Department of Homeland Security visited each of these writers and demanded that they reveal who gave them the leaked security directive.

Tuesday night, while Frischling Tweeted messages to fellow bloggers about what was happening, two special agents were going through his home computer and his Blackberry looking for clues.  They came back Wednesday morning to get his laptop so they could take it off-site and copy files.  Read his detailed account of the visit here.

Here’s what Chris Elliott wrote on his blog about what happened at his house. We haven’t heard yet whether or not Elliott felt compelled to give over his computer, or his sources, but you can read the full text of the subpoena on his Web site.

What will come of this? Is someone going to jail? Will the “leaker” be unmasked? We’ll find out soon enough. In the meantime, the story has kicked off a serious discussion about the rights of bloggers vs. journalists; the appropriateness of posting leaked documents and, of course, the strong-armed actions the DHS is taking in order to smoke out the leaker.

Here are some links to some of the bloggers and Web sites that have written about many of the issues raised by this incident:

David Parker Brown (Airline Reporter) wrote about the incident early and has been updating as news breaks.

In Aviation Week, Chris Fotos wrote about why he’s not so sure Elliot and Frischling should have posted the security directive in the first place.

Chris Gray Faust (Chris Around the World) wrote of  her concerns about “who protects journalist bloggers”? And in her blog post titled “Paying a price for setting the record straight?” Mary Kirby (Runway Girl) shares a few late-breaking comments from the TSA and offers additional information about the leaked security directive saga.

Stay tuned.

Categories: Airline policies, TSA
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At least one of my New Year’s resolutions each year involves learning how to cook. It hasn’t worked quite yet, but as another fresh year rolls around, I’m willing to give it another try.

Maybe this will help.

More then 50 employees at San Diego International Airport (SAN) contributed around 125 recipes to the SAN Can Cook Cookbook.

The recipe list includes Pasta Sauce Fabulosa, Mum’s Old Fashioned Bread Pudding, and Green Chili Cheese Tamales, and reflects the diversity of the airport’s employees – Mexican, Indian, Italian, Filipino, and others.  There are even a few entries from celebrity chef Martin Yan (of Yan Can Cook fame), whose has a restaurant, Yan Can Asian Bistro & Bar, at the airport.

Even better, the proceeds from the cookbook go to the airport authority’s United Way Campaign.

Want your own copy? Drop a note to sancook@san.org for details.

Categories: Food, Souvenirs
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Here’s something we need more of at airports: dance numbers!

Imagine being at the Lisbon Airport during the Christmas rush when a voice on the public address system announces Flight 0000:  a special flight on which “No sad children or adults are permitted” and where “Only happiness is allowed on board.”

And then, all of sudden, TAP Air Portugal and Aeroports de Portugal employees rush from their posts to perform a spirited flashmob-style dance routine to a medley of songs ranging from the Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive to Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas is You.

Wild right?  There’s even a dancing Santa!

Categories: Air Travel, Entertainment, Events, Fun Stuff, Holidays
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Last week’s fizzled Christmas Day terrorist attack on Delta/NW Flight #253 from Amsterdam to Detroit ignited a wave of new security measures at airports and on airplanes.

Airport and airline spokespeople and TSA officials say domestic passengers will likely notice some heightened security procedures, such as explosive-sniffing dogs and added law enforcement presence at many domestic airports.

Travelers on US-bound flights, though, will be notice significant changes.

Under rules rushed out over the weekend, passengers boarding flights heading to the United States will be subject to pat-downs and bag searches at the gate.  During their flight, passengers will be required to put away personal items and stay in their seats for the final hour of flight.

The TSA posted a very general description of the new rules.  More specifics were posted on various airport and airline Web sites and detailed in a memo that some airlines shared with bloggers over the weekend.

Bottom line:

While everyone gets used to the new regulations, get to the airport early. Really early.

If you’re flying internationally to the United States, be prepared for an extra pat down and bag check at the gate.  And pack carefully:  you’ll only be allowed one small – very small – carry-on bag.

It’s a good bet that airlines, airports and the TSA will make some changes to rules and procedures starting today, so keep an eye on the news, airline and airport Web sites, and the TSA.gov site.

Rules are already changing:

Last night Canada’s WestJet announced that it would no longer accept roller bags or larger backpacks as carry-on luggage. And this morning American Airlines announced that, due to the long lines and confusion over the new rules, for the next few days the airline will waive change fees for passengers traveling from Canada to the United States.  Other airlines will probably do the same.

Here’s a link to the story on the new rules I wrote for MSNBC.com.

Please share your stories about your travel experiences this past weekend and let us know what you see happening if you end up stuck at the airport.

Categories: Air Travel, Alerts, Baggage, Bathrooms, Safety, Security, TSA
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Here at StuckatTheAirport.com, each Sunday is Souvenir Sunday: the day we unpack our bags and take a look at some of the fun, inexpensive items on sale at airports.

This week, Tess Staadecker sent along some photos of a few souvenirs she picked up in Houston, at a branch of the Barton Springs Dry Goods store at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

I suspect she bought this jar of D.L. Jardine’s Olé Chipolte salsa and dip as a gift, but I hope she kept the Texas Chili “Bag O’ Fixins Kit” for herself.  With that bit-o-string, that little cloth sack looks like it could do double duty later as a western-style accessories tote.

Have you found a fun, inexpensive souvenir while you’ve been stuck at the airport? If you find something that’s under $10, “of” the city or region and, ideally, a bit offbeat, please snap a photo and send it along. It may end up featured on a future edition of Souvenir Sunday!

Categories: Airport shops, Shopping, Souvenir Sunday, Souvenirs
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