Airport
Jet fuel risk is now a traveller issue: What it could mean for your summer plans
If you are flying to Europe, parts of Asia or beyond this spring or summer, this is worth paying attention to.
The risk is not that entire countries suddenly “run out” of jet fuel overnight. The more credible concern is that continuing disruption to global fuel flows could trigger regional shortages, tighter airline operations, higher fares, schedule cuts and more cancellations, especially on thinner routes and at smaller airports.
Lithium Batteries at 35,000 Feet: What Really Changed in the Past Year
Airlines have lived with lithium batteries for years. They power every phone, laptop and tablet on board. But when they fail, they overheat and burn in ways that are difficult to control in a confined cabin. Recent data and a string of high-profile incidents show this is no longer a theoretical risk.
The portable devices travellers carry onto planes every day have become an unexpected safety hazard in commercial aviation. Lithium-ion battery incidents have reached record levels, prompting airlines worldwide to implement unprecedented restrictions and forcing travellers to reconsider how they pack and use their electronic devices.
TSA agents may steal your belongings
Would you be surprised if I told you that some TSA agents have been caught stealing from passengers? The TSA is reporting that an agent at JFK may have stolen up to $5,000 in cash from passengers as their personal affects rolled down the screening conveyor belt. Another TSA employee, this time in Dallas, has been put on administrative leave because he may have stolen up to 8 iPads from passengers. MSNBC interviewed (Nico Melendez ) a TSA spokesperson who made some interesting recommendations for travellers:
Canada's WestJet to charge more service fees
Westjet is Canada’s second largest airline and it recently announced that it has found opportunities to double “ancillary revenue”. Ancillary revenue is income derived from non-ticket sources. One of the possible sources of new income “could be” checked baggage. The Westjet CEO said more specifically (according to Reuters) that they are carefully watching airline industry practice of charging passengers a fee as of the first checked bag (Air Canada charges $25 as of the first checked bag). This provides more motivation to be a onebag traveller.
Skype offers free WIFI access in 50 US Airports
Make travelling less stressful with free WIFI from Skype. Until December 27 2011, The fine folks at Skype are offering you an hour of FREE WIFI internet at more than 50 US Airports. All you need is a free Skype account and a Windows, Mac Skype application (or IOS Skype WIFI App). You can read the Skype blog posts and get a list of participating sites here. In years past, we have seen Google offer similar gifts (but alas, not this year).