Oct
19
Airport Searches of Laptops
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A recent 51-page Privacy Impact Assessment supports the right of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to copy, download, retain or seize any content from laptops, cellphones or other electronic devices. Without giving any reason for the search or seizure. Read It.
Last months DHS Privacy Office report to Congress states that more than 144 million travelers were processed at US ports of entry between Oct 1st 2008 and May 5th 2009. Read It. Of those 1,947 electronic media searches took place. Of those 696 searches were of laptops. This could have been something as simple as turing on the unit to confirm it was indeed a working laptop and not a fake. Of those the officers conducted in-depth searches of 40 laptops. No description of what an in-depth search is, or how long they retained the equipment.
It should be noted that your equipment can currently be held for a maximum of 30 days. Officers must consult agency lawyers if they want to view a journalist’s work-related data or a traveler’s sensitive legal material or medical records.
Oct
5
United Airlines announced today the launch of the Premier Baggage service. The new service will allow customers to pay a flat yearly fee of $249us for the ability to check two pieced of normal sized luggage on every flight you board for one year.
The fee covers the standard baggage also checked by up to eight passengers traveling on the subscribers confirmation number. Normal charge for a regular piece of luggage is $20 for the first and $30 for the second.
If you fly often or are planning a long trip with a group/family the new Premier Baggage may be a money saver. For more details view the programs web site.
It is valid for travel on both United and United Express flights in the US and international flights. You must use your Mileage Plus membership number.
I still think that luggage fees charged by airlines are a lot like “resort fees” it makes your original purchase price look better, but in the long run it all adds up. These fees cause after the vacation sticker shock when they view their credit card statement, adding to the average persons perception that vacationing and travel is expensive. Driving the trend toward staycations….
Sep
28
Friends Of The Earth, (who are they?), has released an environmental report card for cruise lines. The ranking was based on air and water pollution. You can see the chart here.
CLIA, the Cruise Line International Association, suggests that industry ships have made major improvements with discharged water being cleaner than what many municipal water treatment release into local environments. It also appears that most ships failed due to one item, the lack of shore power plug-ins. This feature allows ships to shut down or reduce their onboard generators usage when the ship is in port, reducing air pollution. The problem is that few ports offer this type of connection. I suspect if dock side power was available most cruise lines would begin using it.
Sep
10
The US retail division of luggage Samsonite Corp. has sought bankruptcy protection from creditors. The retail division, Samsonite Co. Stores, has 173 store fronts in 38 states with 650 employees. The parent company has not filed for protection, just the division that operates the retail stores. Details at Bloomberg.com.
Jul
20
U.S. Airlines on-time arrivals have improved. A reduced number of flights due to less people traveling may be resulting in airport increased airport efficiency. Every month this year, the airlines improved their on-time arrival performance, except March. The Transportation Department reported that 80.5% of the flights operated by the 19 largest airlines arrived on time in May, compared to 79% during the same time last year.
Another thought reported by an aviation consultant is that airlines have lengthened the estimated flight times, making it easier to have an on time arrival. The best May arrival time average is Hawaiian Airlines at 90.3%, the worst is Comair at 71%, a regional carrier owned by Delta. One has to consider the routes of the carriers too; some being more predictable than others.
The Transportation Department also noted improvements in tarmac delays, mishandled baggage, customer complaints and cancellations.
Jun
1
New Passport Reqirements In Effect
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As of today US citizens entering the US from Canada and Mexico via ground transport will need a valid US Passport or other approved documentation like a US Passport Card. Those arriving by air will be required to have a US Passport.
It should be noted that cruise passengers who return to the same port they exited will not need a Passport.
This is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. For more information on current travel documentation requirements CLICK HERE.
May
22
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is implementing a new safety measure for travelers. The Secure Flight Program will require airline passengers to give their name, gender and birth date when making a flight reservation to determine if there is a match to the No Fly or Selectee lists. By providing the additional information, Secure Flight can effectively help prevent misidentification of passengers who have similar names to individuals on the watch list and be more effective in screening for airline safety.
Secure Flight shifts pre-departure watch list responsibilities from the airlines to TSA and carries out a key recommendation of the 9/11 commission. When a passenger makes a reservation with an airline, travel agent or online company, the new data will be required. TSA is sensitive to privacy issues. Processes are still being worked out for a smooth transition from the airlines to the government agency.
“In addition to addressing misidentification, Secure Flight protects sensitive watch list data and enables officials to address security threats sooner, keeping air travel safer. By implementing one watch list matching system, the program provides a fair and consistent matching process across all airlines,” according to a TSA press release.
If a passenger wants to book a flight 72 hours in advance, the name (should match the government issued ID he passenger intends to present at the airport), gender and birth date will be required for cross referencing by TSA. If the fight is made within the last 72 hours, TSA will require additional information at the time of the reservation. During the 72 hour window, TSA will have the ability to stop the issuance of a boarding pass until further screenings.
The Secure Program is being rolled out in stages; beginning with domestic flights first, then expanding to international flights to and from the U.S. The ATS encourages visitors to the U.S. and hopes this new program will facilitate approachable travel to the U.S. If a traveler has a complaint about the manner they were treated by a government program to promote safe travel, there is a one stop web site to voice concerns. There’s a big green button: File a Complaint.
The name of the web site is: Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (www.dhs.gov/trip). It can also be used as the gateway to address watch list misidentification issues. Where travelers believe they have faced screening problems at ports of entry or situations where travelers believe they have been unfairly or incorrectly delayed, denied boarding or identified for additional screening at our nation’s transportation hubs. Secure Flight plans to use this web site to prevent future misidentification issues for passenger who may have similar names to individuals on the watch list.
May
8
The August 2005 Helios Airways plane crash north of Athens, Greece, killing 121 passengers and crew, was a direct result of the pilots experiencing hypoxia, a lack of oxygen resulting in loss of consciousness . The pilots ignored the warning system in the Boeing 737-31S of cockpit pressure failure and the tragic results followed.
Pilots are trained and understand the dangers of hypoxia which makes one curious to understand why a highly trained, capable pilot responsible for human lives would chose to ignore a basic safety system. The first reason is that the popular passenger 737 aircraft warning horn is confusing to pilots. The warning system serves two purposes. It warns the pilots that there is a problem with the configuration of the aircraft before the take off. After the pilot trouble shoots the pre- takeoff problem, they assume there are no more issues and dismiss the warnings, when in reality, potential problems of pressurization can occur in flight.
Other problems that pilots deal with are false alarms. Faulty pressurization equipment cause alarms to sound when they shouldn’t be. A publication sited that 25% of the 100 warning horns cited in the Aviation Safety Reporting System over the past 10 years were either alarms sounding when they shouldn’t be or visa versa. Because of the false positive altitude and pressure warnings, pilots have been known to ignore the safety signals.
The FAA has been investigating numerous reports of pressurized problems in the aircrafts. They have recommended a warning light to accompany the warning horn, and have also focused on after take-off procedures to include safety checks of the pressurization switches. The latest safety action happened last month when the agency mandated that briefings to instruct pilots to heed the altitude horns be implemented.
Boeing, the manufacturing of the aircrafts, have built a new and improved altitude warning system in their new aircrafts and are retrofitting older crafts with a improved safety altitude warning systems. More effective warning systems of pressure problems in flight may lead to less pilot hypoxia-related aircraft accidents.
The documented pilot errors and dismissal of warning systems have led to investigations and litigation. In the case of the August 2005 Helios Airways plane crash north of Athens, Greece, Helios executives were charged with man-slaughter. In additions, U.S. and Cyprus attorneys filed lawsuits in 2006 on behalf of the crash victims.
The FAA acknowledged the problems of the warning horn problems and issued an airworthiness directive July 2006. Even so, there has been at least 3 more reports of horn confusion. The most recent FAA directive comes in March of this year that requires before the first flight of the day and following any change is flight crew members, Being 737 crews must be reminded to acknowledge the safety horns and take appropriate actions.
Apr
20
Here’s a vacation bargain for you, a cruise deal to the communist nation of Cuba, situated only 230 miles from Miami with a natural deep water port. The largest Caribbean island makes for a logical expansion for the cruise lines. One problem, even though Fidel Castro resigned doesn’t mean it would end the strained relationships between the U.S. and that nation. But those tensions might change after the recent statements made by President Obama that could begin chipping away at the political barriers to entry.
Recently, President Obama stated in a White House communication “… I do believe that we can move U.S.-Cuban relations in a new direction.” And his sentiments were confirmed at the Summit of the Americas 2009 opening ceremony where he said, the United States seeks a new beginning with Cuba.” President Obama attended the host country, Trinidad and Tobagoto, for Fifth Summit meeting earlier this week. This location is the first Caribbean state to ever host this important summit of hemispheric leaders.
In related reports, Obama dropped restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba, waiting for his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, to reciprocate. This type of agreement would make travelers very happy; especially those Cuban-Americans who have families there. Sons and daughters who have parents from Cuba feel the restrictions to freely visit a place where they have strong family ties.
For the cruise industry, a new port in Cuba could be a lucrative project and fulfill the wants and needs of future baby boomer travelers. Cuba as a port of call may draw history buffs and adventurers as first time cruisers like never before. Time will tell if the political barriers to entry and tension between the two states will subside enough to allow for such a huge financial project between the cruise line and the state of Cuba.
No one knows if Obama’s promises will be kept or how long the process to undo years of mistrust will take to open travel access to Cuba via cruise lines. Realistically, future cruise vacations may include Cuba as a desired stop over and it may be the best way to visit the island.
Apr
7
Virgin America has partnered with Carbonfund.org to allow passengers to purchase Carbon offset credits using their in-flight entertainment system. Travelers can also purchase these credits online from the Virgin America ticketing confirmation web page.
This is part of a continuing effort to implement environmental sustainability practices. Carbonfund.org is the nation’s leading nonprofit carbon offset provider, allowing travelers to help offset the environmental impact of their flight. Virgin’s sustainability statement can be found here: http://www.virginamerica.com/va/html/sustainability.pdf
The airline and Carbonfund.org have selected offset projects that focus on emissions reductions, renewable energy and energy efficiency. The operation of all the supported projects are independently verified.
Virgin America was launched last year with the goal of building an airline from the ground up that makes environmentally sustainable practices an important part of its business model. They operate a fleet of aircraft that is up to 30% more carbon and fuel than the average US airline.
The airline employs aggressive steps to reduce its carbon footprint, such as single engine taxiing, and regulating cruising speeds to reduce fuel burn.
