Airports

Category Archives for Airports.

Missing Miles for Your Spending at Airports? Check Your Accounts

by Gary Leff on September 14, 2018

Sep 14 2018

I’ve gotten value from Thanks Again earning miles for years, just a few at a time. They started out with brick and mortar retailers and I’d earn points when I least expected it. Then they pivoted to focus largely on airports.

When you go through the airport you’re the airline’s customer, and the airport rarely knows who you are. But the airport makes money when you spend money at retailers there. So by rewarding that spend they learn about who their best customers are can provide even greater rewards.

When National Airport Puts Gate 35X Out of Its Misery, American May Start Flying Bigger Jets

by Gary Leff on September 8, 2018

Sep 08 2018

American Airlines President Robert Isom spoke about his airline’s future at Washington National airport this week.

As part of ‘Project Journey’ the airport authority is building a new course that will replace the current hated gate 35X. Isom shared what that changes that will bring.

TSA Security Screening Bins Have More Germs Than the Monkey in Outbreak

by Gary Leff on September 6, 2018

morgan freeman in movie outbreak in hazmat suit

Sep 06 2018

The TSA makes most travelers take off their shoes, many go barefoot on germ-laden floors. And most of us assumed, I think, that they weren’t doing much to wash or sanitize bins.

Your fellow sick passengers touch the bins, they even put their dirty tissue sand handkerchiefs in them before going through the nude-o-scope. TSA employees get gloves to wear, passengers don’t.

Airport VIP Meet and Greet, Priority Immigration Just Got a Lot Cheaper

by Gary Leff on September 4, 2018

Sep 04 2018

There are premium airport departure, connection and arrival services that you can buy all over the world. Some are offered by airlines, others by airports, and some by third party services. In fact it isn’t even always clear which is which.

I’m a fan of these offerings, but I like to see them affordable. I think that a meet and greet buggy service at under $50 for 2 people in Bangkok, including assistance from plane through immigration and with baggage claim (with handover to your transportation into the city) is a real value that more travelers would take advantage of if they were aware of the service.

At first world prices though it’s strategically useful to be aware of the option but not something most readers will take advantage of. Still it’s nice to see this option at a lower price than many vendors offer in Europe, and for less than the airlines are offering in the U.S. as well.

How Much Salary You Can Earn By Making Passengers and Airlines Miserable

by Gary Leff on August 24, 2018

Aug 24 2018

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is the government agency which manages Washington National and Dulles airports and has a role in construction of the metro Silver line to the airport and the Dulles Toll Road.

The airport authority has resisted making the new contract for its CEO public, arguing that they’re not funded with public dollars but by fees earned from running the airport. Of course the government gave them the airport, board members are appointed by government, and they receive substantial government funding for capital projects, and much of their operating revenue comes from ticket taxes.

TSA Says They’re Not Following Ordinary Americans. That’s Not True.

by Gary Leff on August 19, 2018

Aug 19 2018

A TSA official gave a deposition stating they do “not perform intelligence collection on passengers at airports.” So add giving false testimony to the litany of behaviors we let slide at TSA.

It’s Lights Out at Washington National Airport

by Gary Leff on August 15, 2018

Aug 15 2018

Developing. Washington’s National airport (DCA) is currently without power.

Watch: Geyser Spurts at New York JFK Baggage Claim

by Gary Leff on August 13, 2018

Aug 13 2018

New York JFK airport is a disaster. Governor Cuomo’s $10 billion plan won’t begin to fix it. The people who work there are bad enough but the physical plant itself is irredeemable.

Watch: TSA Agent Grab a Smoking Bag at Security Checkpoint

by Gary Leff on August 11, 2018

Aug 11 2018

On July 20 at the Savannah-Hilton Head airport the battery of an e-cigarette malfunctioned. TSA has just released video of the incident, because this happened, no one was hurt, and they didn’t even shut down the airport.

You can see the bag smoking once it’s gone through the x-ray. Initially the TSA screener saunters over, picks up the bag, and walks off. You can then see him on another camera speeding up.

This Delta Baggage Handler is Everything That’s Wrong With Air Travel

by Gary Leff on August 9, 2018

Aug 09 2018

It’s often been said that there are two kinds of luggage: carry on and lost. It turns out there’s a third kind.

Joshua Dwain Frith captured a Delta baggage handler on film Wednesday at New York JFK “recklessly tossing bags and a strollers… [h]e was assaulting those bags. But the stroller was attempted murder.”