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Tagged With "transportation"

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Re: Gallery: Transport, Rural South China

DrFumblefinger ·
I'm surprised beasts of burden don't seem to be used more.
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Re: Gallery: Transport, Rural South China

PortMoresby ·
Don't mistake this lot for an encyclopedic compilation. Buffalo are common and do you remember this? https://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/pod-baganw-oxen
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Re: Gallery: Transport, Rural South China

Paul Heymont ·
What an amazing variety! I like to look around in Europe for "oddballs" like small pedal-powered trucks and other small delivery vehicles, but these take the cake. I'm especially fascinated by the front-wheel drive truck that appears to be friction-driven (power applied to the surface of the tire, rather than to the axle).
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Re: How loooong does it take to get to your airport?

TravelGirlJenn ·
I think it depends on where one lives. Yes, those three cities may be faster; however should someone live IN Oakland, it may take them mere minutes using public transportation to get to the Oakland airport. And, using Oakland as an example, it takes me less time to get to the Oakland airport from my house using public transport than it would if I were to take my car simply because of traffic. However, to travel to my home to San Francisco (SFO) it is actually longer to take public transport...
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Re: How loooong does it take to get to your airport?

DrFumblefinger ·
Taking a bus from Honolulu is quicker than taking the freeway? Even with bad traffic (which the buses would also get trapped in) I find this hard to believe. I agree with Jen. Depends on where you live. Many of us would welcome reliable fast public transportation serving our airports. The cab lobby has effectively prevented that in many cities.
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Re: How loooong does it take to get to your airport?

Paul Heymont ·
There's certainly a lot of variation, as I also noted above. And sometimes the planners don't help much either, as is the case with all three of our New York airports, where the whole AirTrain concept is completely botched. At Kennedy, the AirTrain's stations are not in, but sort of near, the terminals. That means you have to drag your stuff outside, across the roadways, and then up stairs or elevator to the train. And then, you have a choice of going to the commuter rail station (about 3...
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Re: How loooong does it take to get to your airport?

TravelGirlJenn ·
Originally Posted by PHeymont You just have to conclude that all this planning is done by people who have chauffeurs or helicopters to get them to the plane on time... Or progress is blocked by some politician or lobbyist... ;-) I did just get a chance to read the blog you linked. While I agree that public transportation is much more available in Europe, and perhaps Asia, however with the few examples he sites, there really are few cities that have that 15-20 minute from "airport to...
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Re: How loooong does it take to get to your airport?

Paul Heymont ·
London was mentioned, actually...Heathrow Express in 15 minutes to Paddington. There's also a slightly-slower less expensive version. Skipped the CAT in Vienna last month, but the regular S-Bahn only took 28 minutes... Paris...hate to say anything bad about Paris, but RER is NOT a great way to do that...needs a true express.
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Re: How loooong does it take to get to your airport?

PortMoresby ·
Heathrow Express MAY take 15 minutes. The only time it was convenient for me and I decided to give it try, it stopped part-way to Heathrow and we just sat there. I'd have gotten to the airport faster and paid quite a bit less to take the slower train from Paddington, the Heathrow Connect. Since then I make a point to stay along the Piccadilly Line of the London tube and pay the least of all.
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Re: Whoa! Not so fast on that shrinking baggage size!

DrFumblefinger ·
That's good news! But rather than saying airline consumers were a lion, I think I'd have used "the sheep have bleated -- loudly"
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Re: Norwegian Air to finally get U.S. license

Travel Rob ·
This is great news! And this license should really have an impact on trans-Atlantic prices.
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Re: It's not a train, it's not a plane, but it's superfast!

DrFumblefinger ·
If not cost prohibitive, it would be an excellent way to travel around Europe.
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Re: Paris to set flat-rate airport cab fares

DrFumblefinger ·
I like these set taxi prices because there are so many dishonest cabbies in the world. I don't mind taking train or bus if I'm not to tired, but sometimes at the end of a long journey I like to splurge on a cab to get us directly to our hotel. Much more pleasant that way and to me often worth the extra few Euros.
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Re: Airfare bill would roll back consumer protection

DrFumblefinger ·
With the continuing unbundling of fares, it's important that people get some idea of what their flight will actually cost. I don't understand the airlines opposition to it. Most of them use the same tactics and it's unlikely someone won't fly because their true fare is revealed (though a few might not). People need clarity to make well-informed choices.
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Re: Airfare bill would roll back consumer protection

Travel Rob ·
It was a task to compare fares before the law, so I hope it doesn't revert back. Gotta love the name of the new bill. I guess it's opposite day again.
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Crowded Skies: U.S. sets air passenger record

Paul Heymont ·
Nearly 850 airline passengers for 2014! To be exact, 848.1 million passengers (obviously some repeaters!) flew on domestic airlines last year, or on foreign airline flights to and from the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The...
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Update: Did complaints force out Frontier CEO?

Paul Heymont ·
Dave Siegel, CEO of Frontier Airlines is out; the airline says his resignation was for "personal reasons," but Frontier Barry Biffle told the Denver Post that the changes at the top are meant to help fix the carrier's operational issues.  ...
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United off the hook on "mistake fares"

Paul Heymont ·
The U.S. Department of Transportation has ruled that United is not obligated to honor $50 first-class trans-Atlantic fares sold in error two weeks ago. DOT ruled that since customers were only able to obtain the fares by misrepresenting themselves as...
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Traveler advocates ask DOT to cap change fees

Paul Heymont ·
FlyersRights.org has petitioned the Federal Department of Transportation to put a $100 cap on change fees for international flights. The fees, which used to run around $50 to $100 now go as high as $750, and the group says they have no relation to the...
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U.S. airlines hit new low in long tarmac delays

Paul Heymont ·
The U.S. Department of Transportation has reported that "tarmac delays"—incidents in which passengers are kept on the plane during long take-off delays—hit their lowest total since rules fining airlines for allowing them went into effect...
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EASY WAYS TO TRAVEL IN LONDON DURING PEAK HOURS

John ·
London, which is the English capital, has an incredible public transport network. An agency, called Transport for London (TfL), controls all kind of public transport such as London Underground, Overground, Buses, Tramlink, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London River Services. Although London has an efficient transport system, travelling could become a little less convenient during peak hours as is the case with any major city in the world. Most people travel during these times which force...
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Airline ratings: Frontier is worst and latest

Paul Heymont ·
Frontier and Southwest planes pass each other at Seattle. Photo: Wikimedia / rsocol   In two different surveys recently released, Frontier takes the cake...sort of. On one, it was the airline garnering the most complaints; on the other (perhaps...
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Is Delta trying to become a "stealth airline?"

Paul Heymont ·
Above, Delta flight takes off. Below, Delta takes off flight info from ticket agencies     Delta, which earlier this year stopped posting its award charts so that its Skymiles members can no longer plan ahead how many "miles" they'll have to...
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How loooong does it take to get to your airport?

Paul Heymont ·
A USA Today blogger recently published a piece pointing out that only three U.S. cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Honolulu and Chicago Midway) have public transportation that gets to the airport faster than a car, and that in some cities it can take...
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In Uzbekistan,the Airline Weighs You

Travel Rob ·
Sounds like a late April Fools joke or a Yakov Smirnoff joke from the 80's, but its not. Uzbekistan Airways will soon start weighing passengers prior to departure. They made the following statement recently:   "According to...
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Airline Price Gouging, Collusion, Undisclosed Fees

PortMoresby ·
Is our federal government finally taking some action in favor of consumers where airline pricing and fees are concerned?  According to Consumer Reports, the Department of Transportation has launched an investigation of 5 airlines over price...
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Mandatory Seat Belts for Children traveling by Plane?

DrFumblefinger ·
  Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) wants airlines to implement specially designed seat belts for infants and small children, to be mandatory for all commercial air travel.  The idea is to prevent them from becoming "projectiles"...
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Whoa! Not so fast on that shrinking baggage size!

Paul Heymont ·
The luggage line-up...which ones will fit?   The public roared, and the lion has retreated, at least for now. When the International Air Transport Association, an organization of over 250 airlines, announced a plan last week for a...
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Dec. 13, 2017: Boulder Depot, Boulder, CO

Samantha ·
Memories of the past, as Samantha takes us to visit Boulder's original Union Pacific depot.
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Airfare bill would roll back consumer protection

Paul Heymont ·
An airline-industry-backed bill in Congress would roll back the requirement that airlines and travel agencies advertise the fare you'll actually pay. Before the 2011 Department of Transportation rule—which has been upheld in court—airlines...
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Jan 25, 2017: Transportation Around Waikiki

Samantha ·
Samantha and her husband explore the colorful transportation choices at Hawaii's favorite beach area.
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Gov't study: Airline loyalty programs fair but confusing

Paul Heymont ·
A Department of Transportation study has found that airline loyalty programs are working fairly well, but could use some further study and help.
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Ready, set, Havana! U.S. DOT announces routes

Paul Heymont ·
The U.S. Department of Transportation lists the airlines and cities that will begin regular air service to Cuba's capital by this fall.
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The Bay Area by "Clipper"

PortMoresby ·
PortMoresby turns misfortune into adventure when, after almost 6 decades of dependence on her car, discovers public transportation from one end of San Francisco Bay to the other.
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Yukon Transportation Museum, Whitehorse (Where Gumbo was #312)

DrFumblefinger ·
DrFumblefinger visits the Yukon Transportation Museum in Whitehorse. The Museum features the history of transportation in the territory, with many examples of the machinery used to develop this wild land.
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TSA's Blog: Hidden guns, human skull and an exploding suitcase

Paul Heymont ·
The Transportation Safety Administration publishes a year-end list of what it's found in screening—helps justify the budget, yes? This year's list includes 1813 handguns, endless lists of black powder canisters, explosive "initiators," swords...
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Norwegian Air to finally get U.S. license

Paul Heymont ·
Norwegian Air will finally get its U.S. foreign-carrier certificate, after waiting through over 2 years of opposition and inaction.
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Denver gets closer to airport with new rail line

Paul Heymont ·
Denver's new 23-mile rail line will cut travel time to the airport to 40 minutes, and a $9 rail fare instead of a $70 cab ride.
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Rome Suffers a Transport Strike and a Vehicle Ban on Friday

Travel Rob ·
On Friday, Rome was hit with a transport strike and a vehicle ban on odd number plates. Find out more.
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London buses to get free 'Hopper' transfers

Paul Heymont ·
London's new mayor starts his term with free bus transfers and a pledge to avoid fare increases for four years.
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It's not a train, it's not a plane, but it's superfast!

Paul Heymont ·
Based on an idea from Elon Musk, Hyperloop hopes to move passengers at 700 mph from Vienna to Bratislava. They've signed a contract to build it.
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At last! London 'Night Tube' to start in July

Paul Heymont ·
After nearly a year of delay's, London's plan for all-night tube service is now scheduled to begin in late July.
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U.S. picks airlines for Cuba flights; no Havana yet

Paul Heymont ·
U.S. parcels out the first commercial route approvals for flying to Cuba, but the big plum, Havana, won't come until later.
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The Oculus - New York City

Jonathan L ·
Jonathan L gives us a tour of World Trade Center Transportation Hub, and The Oculus, which sits over it.
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Re: U.S. airlines hit new low in long tarmac delays

GarryRF ·
Thanks Paul. Had to chuckle at that one ! I take it that Tarmac is a rarely used word - over on your side of the pond. I'll add it to the queue of everyday words I use when I'm in the US. Tarmacadam is a good word to use - when discussing relaying pavements ! I think you should start a campaign to reinstate old words ! That would be very astute of you .
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Re: U.S. airlines hit new low in long tarmac delays

Paul Heymont ·
When I was young, which is not recently, alas, I heard it more. These days in U.S. it seems only to be used for airport runways, and for an indpendent local car repair place near me in Brooklyn...
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Re: U.S. airlines hit new low in long tarmac delays

GarryRF ·
"A man walks into a bar with a lump of tarmac under his arm. ‘What would you like?’ asks the barman. The man replies, ‘A pint of beer and one for the road.’
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Re: Crowded Skies: U.S. sets air passenger record

DrFumblefinger ·
What the graph doesn't show is the huge dip that occurred after 9-11. And with this trend and less planes flying, no wonder the airlines think we're a captive audience.
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Re: Crowded Skies: U.S. sets air passenger record

Paul Heymont ·
The dip turns out to not be as huge as some of us imagined. At the end of 2003, DOT estimated the loss at 7.1%, and by the end of 2004 the figure was higher than before 9/11. I've gone back to DOT figures for emplanements (which means a passenger getting on a plane) and extracted these numbers from the month-by-month numbers for international and domestic passengers. Note that the numbers in this table are a bit lower than the figures cited above, for one reason: This is a count of people...
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Re: Crowded Skies: U.S. sets air passenger record

GarryRF ·
After 9-11 reports in the news claimed that demand for flights to the US from the UK had dropped dramatically. In March the following year I needed to be in Maryland. I tried to book a direct flight to any airport in the American north east. Any time - any date - any week before Mid- March The earliest time I could book 2 seats to fly over was in June ! Many flights had been cancelled and prices - for those still operating - had risen suddenly. After contacting many UK travel agents for help...
 
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