Delta Air Lines

Souvenir Sunday at JFK

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New York City Souvenirs at JFK

It’s Souvenir Sunday at StuckatTheAirport.com. That’s the day we take a look at the fun, inexpensive and “of” the city souvenirs you can pick up when you’ve got time to spend at an airport.

This week’s finds were spotted in the shops at Delta Air Lines’ Terminal 3 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport – JFK.

New York City souvenirs

And, while they’re not “of” New York City, these cute kitty-bunnies caught my eye.

Hello Kitty at JFK

If you find a great souvenir next time you’re Stuck at the Airport, please take a moment to snap a photo, jot down some notes (price, why you love it, etc.) and send it along.

If your souvenir is featured on Souvenir Sunday, I’ll send you a special travel souvenir.

Finished shopping? If you’re in Terminal 3 at JFK, be sure to visit the iPad village.

Don’t just sit there

Air Travel, Power Outlets, Restaurants,

JFK DELTA

I knew they were there somewhere. But they weren’t by my gate in the Delta Air Lines terminal at JFK.

And there weren’t any signs.

So it was a good thing I set off in search of an outlet to charge my laptop before a long flight.

Because there, just a few minutes walk from where I’d been sitting, was the iPad “village” everyone had been talking about a few months back.

Tables for one. Tables for two. Communal work tables. All equipped with multiple outlets and with iPads that let travelers order snacks and meals from the restaurants nearby.

So very civil.

So, please, Terminal 3 operators, put up some signs.

Amenities making comeback on some airlines

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Most air travelers are no longer surprised when asked to pay for snacks, pillows and other services that were once free.

On some airlines, however, amenities are making a comeback.

“There are free in-flight amenities some airlines are offering that not only make a big impression, they’re cheap,” said Raymond Kollau, an analyst for airlinetrends.com.

Consider the “stretch bar” SAS installed on some jets to aid with in-flight exercise or the small mirrors the airline added to seats on some long-haul aircraft so passengers, Kollau explained, “can check their appearance without having to go to the bathroom.”

The mirrors SAS and other airlines are also placing inside overhead bins are inexpensive, Kollau said, “but help passengers and cabin crew check for forgotten items before leaving the plane.”

In February, All Nippon Airways (ANA) set aside a women-only lavatory on some of its international flights and then, by popular demand, added a men-only toilet in May.

ANA’s newly launched Haneda route to and from Los Angeles, Bangkok and Singapore has many late night departures, so the airline uses special lighting, sound and scent effects to create “a calm cabin atmosphere that invites passengers to relax and rest,” according to ANA spokesperson Nao Gunji. In addition to scented hand towels, the airline hands out small “Relax” and “Refresh” cards that emit a lavender or “ANA Original Aroma” scent when a small button is pressed.

ANA aroma cards

ANA Sleep Support aroma cards

Maternal instinct


South Korea-based Asiana Airlines has been offering a “Happy Mom Service” at many airports that includes a dedicated check-in line for families traveling with small children. With sponsorship from a Korean company that sells baby products, the service is extended onboard with complimentary nursing blankets, baby slings and baby seats.

Asiana Airlines Happy mom poster

The Happy Mom Service was so popular that Asiana introduced a “Pre-Mom” service in November that not only invites expectant moms into the dedicated check-in line but whisks them to the departure gate on an electric cart for early boarding. Once on-board, “pre-moms” get sleeping socks and front row seating that makes it easy to reach the lavatories.

Trend-watcher Kollau calls this sort of service a win-win-win airline amenity. “The airline doesn’t have to foot the bill and passengers share the story of the services and the products when they arrive. That creates word of mouth and helps build the brand.”

Ground service

On many of its long-haul routes, Air New Zealand’s in-flight concierge team solves in-flight problems and offers tips for touring when on the ground.

Korean Airlines, meanwhile, has in-flight cultural ambassadors, while Asiana Airlines recently announced that some cabin crew will be using skills learned in recently completed sommelier courses.

“I’m increasingly seeing airlines using the skills or passion of the cabin crew to make the service stand out,” Kollau said.

Turkish Airlines offers free, guided city tours of Istanbul to passengers that have long layovers between flights. “The itineraries vary by day, but the sites visited usually include the Sultanahmet Mosque, Hippodrome Square and the Grand Bazaar,” said spokesperson Kim Niadna. “Travelers can find out more at the Hotel Information Desk at Istanbul Atatürk Airport,” she said.

Drinks on the house
On most airlines, passengers flying in business- and first-class cabins can kick back with complimentary alcoholic drinks. Back in coach, that beer, wine or cocktail will cost you.

But Horizon Airlines, the regional carrier of Alaska Airlines, offers passengers in every section a complimentary selection of Northwest wines and microbrews. During December, for example, a holiday porter called Hum Bug’r Ale from MacTarnahan’s Brewing Co. in Portland, Ore., is on the menu.

On flights to Hawaii, Alaska Airlines offers complimentary Mai Tai cocktails for adults and complimentary tropical POG juice for kids. Southwest Airlines, meanwhile, often offers complimentary adult beverages to passengers on some holidays and special occasions. “The next day we’ll be doing this is Valentine’s Day,” said airline spokesperson Brad Hawkins.

Throughout December, American Airlines will offer discounted happy hour drink prices on certain flights during the 5 o’clock hour. It may not be free but is helpful for penny-pinching travelers.

Connect for free


In-flight Wi-Fi has been picking up steam, but “the usage, or ‘take’ rates are averaging [only] around 15 percent,” says Henry Harteveldt, an airline and travel analyst for Forrester Research. That may be why airlines continue to partner with sponsors to offer free samples of the service.

Passengers on AirTran, Delta and Virgin America are able to use the Wi-Fi service for free through Jan. 2, 2011, courtesy of Google Chrome.

Lufthansa passengers can use the airline’s new FlyNet service free through Jan. 31 on some North Atlantic routes. And in April 2011, when SAS rolls out Wi-Fi on European and intercontinental flights, the service will be complimentary for business class customers.

Little travelers get their wings

Delta wings

Delta Air Lines hasn’t forgotten about the kids. In addition to installing complimentary charging stations by its gates at 19 airports, the carrier also brought back the tradition of handing out complimentary plastic wings.

“Delta’s kiddie wings drifted away after 9/11, but they are an often asked-about item,” said airline spokesperson Morgan Durrant. “So we recently ordered more than 1 million pins with more on the way. Now customers of all ages may request a free set of gold wings from pilots and silver ones from flight attendants.”

(This story originally appeared on msnbc.com: In-flight amenities making a comeback on some airlines.)

Peanuts on planes: got a problem with that?

Advisories, Air Travel, Airplanes, Food, Legislation, Rules, Safety, , , , , ,

Peanuts on a plane.

For a lot of people, that’s a more frightening scenario than snakes on a plane.

And a lot more likely.

And as I wrote in my msnbc.com column this week – Passengers peeved about peanuts on airplanes – a lot of travelers think the best way to enhance airline passenger protections is to ban peanuts on planes.

peanuts

Through September 23rd, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is taking public comment on a wide range of issues affecting airline passengers. Everything from peanuts on planes to involuntary bumping policies to surprise baggage fees.

Of the nearly 1,300 public comments submitted so far, the majority are focused on peanut allergies.

One problem though.

Technically, DOT doesn’t have the authority to change in-flight peanut policies. That’s because an appropriations law from 2000 prohibits the agency from passing peanut rules until a scientific study proves a rule change will actually benefit airline passengers with allergies. And no such study has been completed or commissioned.

Still, the agency is trying to gauge public opinion on ways to handle in-flight peanuts.

“We haven’t said we won’t do anything,” said DOT spokesperson Bill Mosely. “We haven’t ruled anything in or out. So we still do want to hear public comments about peanuts. We plan to read and review them all.”

The problem with flying peanuts

Peanut allergies among children have tripled between 1997 and 2008, and peanut allergies, tree-nut allergies, or both, are reported by 1 percent of the U.S. population, or about 3 million people, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), a group that supports discontinuing serving peanuts on planes.

The fear of having a severe reaction from exposure to peanuts while locked inside an airplane keeps some allergy sufferers grounded. Under DOT’s rules, passengers with severe peanut allergies have a qualifying disability covered by the Air Carrier Access Act, which prohibits discrimination by U.S. and foreign carriers against individuals with disabilities.

As far back as 1988, DOT advised airlines to make reasonable accommodations for passengers disabled by their peanut allergies. Most airlines voluntarily comply, but no formal rules have been put in place.

Now, DOT is asking the public to comment on three alternatives to accommodate peanut-allergy sufferers on airplanes:

  • Ban the serving of peanuts and all peanut products on all flights;
  • Ban the serving of peanuts and all peanut products on all flights where a passenger with a peanut allergy requests it in advance, or;
  • Require airlines to establish a peanut-free buffer zone for passengers with severe peanut allergies.

DOT is also asking the public to comment on how peanuts and peanut products carried on board by passengers should be handled.

Peanut protections for airline passengers

If you’ve got a problem with peanuts, here’s what you need to know:

AirTran, Alaska/Horizon, American, Continental, JetBlue and United are among the major domestic airlines that do not serve peanuts. However, most airlines also post notices saying they can’t promise that some items served on board won’t contain nut products or that other passengers won’t bring their own nut products on board.

Two domestic airlines continue to ladle out legumes.

In 2009, both Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines served about 92 million bags of peanuts. “That does sound like a lot of nuts,” said Patrick Archer, president of the American Peanut Council, “But the airline portion of the overall U.S. peanut business is really very small.”

If alerted, Delta Airlines will accommodate a passenger with a peanut allergy by creating a peanut-free buffer zone for three rows in front of and three rows behind their seat. The airline’s website also notes that when advised that a passenger with peanut allergies is flying, “Gate agents will be notified in case you’d like to pre-board and cleanse the immediate seating area.”

And while Southwest Airlines can’t guarantee a nut-free airplane, it will suspend peanut service on an entire flight if a passenger with an allergy requests it. See Southwest’s peanut dust allergy page for more information.

Want to share your thoughts about peanuts-on-planes? You can leave a comment below.

You can also file comments for the DOT to read (through September 23, 2010) here.

Airports and airlines recycle some surprising stuff

Air Travel, Aviation history, Environment, Free Stuff, , ,

For my At the Airport column in USATODAY.com this month I offered a fun round-up of items being recycled by airports and airlines in an effort to be help save the earth and, in some cases, to save some serious money.

You can read the full column, For airports and airlines, creative recyling  brings cost savings, on the USA TODAY website but  briefly, the list I included ranges from airports that recycle, reuse or re-purpose everything from old metal detectors, used de-icing fluid and concrete from old runways to creative partnerships between airports or airlines and local non-profits and green businesses. 

Two examples:

Jacksonville International Airport is working with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on a project to turn tree clippings into food. The zoo needs a reliable year-round source of fresh “browse,” the natural vegetation eaten by many of the zoo’s large mammals. The grounds around the airport are full of browse-worthy trees and shrubs that could do with some regular clipping.  So browse harvested at the airport in the morning now becomes dinner for giraffe, elephants and great apes at the zoo;

And old seat covers from Delta and re-branded Northwest airplanes that could have ended up in a landfill somewhere were instead donated to Tierra Ideas, a small North Carolina company that is recycling the bags as messenger bags, laptop cases and other travel accessories with patterns that will very familiar to frequent fliers on those airlines.

A Delta spokesperson says so far Delta has donated about 5,873 pounds of fabric from an estimated 20,000 seat covers. “…Enough fabric to cover 92 of Delta’s 767-300ER aircraft.”

And – here’s something that didn’t fit in the column: On May 17th, Purdue University Airport, in West Lafayette, IN will be recyling this 737 aircraft.

“Shredding it,” is the term Betty Stansbury of Purdue University uses:

The aircraft is a 41 year old Boeing 737-200 donated to the University by United Airlines fifteen years ago for research and training purposes in Purdue’s  Aviation Technology Program. 

“The plane has reached the end of its useful life, and will be shredded starting on Monday May 17th. ….We use a large cutting device, called a shearer, to chew the plane into smaller pieces, which are placed in metal containers for transportation, melting and recycling.”

Tidbits for travelers: Free trips and free flu shots

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Doesn’t Paris sound good right about now?

Then sign up to win a pair of tickets (from Pittsburgh) to Paris – courtesy of Pittsburgh’s WHIRL Magazine, Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and Delta Air Lines, Entries will be accepted through May 7, 2010. But why wait?

Lufthansa Airlines isn’t giving away tickets to Paris, but if you suggest the winning name of the airline’s new A380 airplane, you’ll win a million miles and can go where you want.

The names I entered? Spot. Pookie. Stripe.

Think you can do better?  Then enter Lufthansa’s contest here.

[And keep in mind: Lufthsansa pilots are planning  a strike from February 22-25, 2010. So if you already have a trip scheduled during those days, be sure to check with the airline on the status of your flight.]

It’s still flu season and there are still lots of airports where you can get a seasonal or H1N1 flu vaccine.

If you’re heading to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) you can get an H1N1 flu shot (or mist ) for free.

For the fourth year in a row the airport is partnering with local health organizations to offer free flu vaccines to passengers.  The vaccines will be available Monday, February 22 through Friday, February 26 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – at Sky Harbor’s Terminal 4 on level 3 before the security checkpoints on both the east and west ends

And, when you’re shopping at an airport in the next few weeks, consider dropping some bills into one of the collection boxes  the Hudson Group has placed in each of its airport stores, including Hudson News, Hudson Booksellers, cafes and specialty retail shops.  The company is matching customer donations and will forward all contributions to the American Red Cross for the relief efforts in Haiti.

Man opens airplane door: can ya’ blame him?

Safety,

According to this article, Robert McDonald, a passenger on a Delta flight heading from JFK to Las Vegas on Sunday after arriving from Rome,  is in big trouble after trying to open an emergency exit door while the airplane waited out a delay at JFK airport.

Flight 149 pulled back from the gate just after 5 p.m. but was delayed on the taxiway for more than 2 1/2 hours due to bad weather and congested skies, common issues at JFK. Around 7:45 p.m., McDonald, who was traveling with his wife, lost his cool, prosecutors said.

“Apparently, the defendant wanted to get off the plane,” District Attorney Richard Brown said, “so he opened the emergency exit door.”

Wrong, sure.  But, when you’re stuck in that sort of  “when will we get out of here?” limbo, don’t you sometimes think about doing exactly the same thing?

sign-no-exit


Delta’s Wi-Fi-enabled planes: 50 and counting..

Wi-Fi

Delta Air Lines now has 50 planes equipped with Wi-Fi, courtesy of Gogo inflight internet.   That’s a smidge over 15% of the airline’s domestic fleet.

The count so far:

MD88 – 44 aircraft
MD90 – 1 aircraft
B757-200 – 5 aircraft

gogowifi

Strange: While they’re go-go about the Wi-Fi march forward at the Delta blog, click on the in-flight entertainment tab on Delta’s main Web site and they’re all hush-hush.  Not a word about it.

Like maybe the price???

Future Academy Award-winners on Delta?

Contests, Movies

flyin_soon1

Have a little Oscar fever?

Then check out the possible Academy Award-winners of the future on an airplane – or on-line – courtesy of Delta’s Fly-In Movies.

Five short film finalists were selected by programmers of the upcoming 2009 Tribeca Film Festival and will be shown, for free, from March 1 through April 12 on Delta Air Lines flights with personal, seatback in-flight entertainment systems (Delta on Demand).

film-reel

Not flying anywhere between March 1 and April 12?

The films will also be on-line.

You can even vote your favorite film.

The five films include:

* “Cold Calls” by Jack Daniel Stanley: In this 80’s spoof, a woman receives increasingly bizarre phone solicitations from an obsessive telemarketer.
* “Eight Percent” by Alexander Poe: Two high school exes meet up ten years later on an awkward date.
* “Gerald’s Last Day” by Justin Rasch and Shel Rasch: Gerald the dog has been scheduled for his termination by the dog pound at 5 p.m. Can he seduce a potential adopter before his time runs out?
* “The Green Film” by Andrew Williamson: It’s not easy being green-especially when you’re a filmmaker. So how do you make the greenest movie of all time? Watch and learn.
* “Locks” by Ryan Coogler: Dante wears his hair in dreadlocks. When he goes to the local barbershop, we see into his heartbreaking home life and learn how big his heart is.