Tagged With "airport screening"
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Re: Airports, Airlines battle over passenger fees
Good points, PHeymont. I have noticed the extremely high fees imposed by airport car rentals. Sometimes these exceed the cost of the car rental itself.
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Re: It's magic: Harry Potter boosts park profits 38%
The Harry Potter collection has also boosted the number of younger folks that are reading books. That's got to be a bonus ! Kids here in the UK say there's so much more detail in the books than the films. Got to be better than "Blob dodging" on a computer screen !
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Re: Airport trend: More local restaurants
I enjoy trying these local restaurants in airports, especially when there's time between flights. It's one of the best developments of the airlines no longer offering meals.
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Re: U.S. plans big increase in "pre-clearance" sites
If you've ever used one of the foreign country based US customs clearances, you know that this is easy to do. So this is a wonderful idea and will help improve tourism to the USA>
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Re: U.S. plans big increase in "pre-clearance" sites
That’s especially true for high-volume areas like Heathrow…I’d far rather use my waiting time there to be cleared than have to spend extra time waiting AFTER my flight at JFK!
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Re: The newest, biggest, bestest airport: Aren't they all?
I often find that better facilities and more relaxing just mean they've added a shopping mall and an entertainment area to extract more money between gates. So I now have further to walk - and drag my carry-on to get to the gate. Maybe developers see us customers as "Lambs to the slaughter" Squeeze us - until our pockets run dry. I'd be happy if all those moving walkways worked. The cartoon Jetsons never had a problem with them in the 60s. Before they were even invented I think ! Vey...
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Re: One 'Ghost Airport' in China Plans to Expand Again
The video on the link even shows China's version of a bridge to nowhere.
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Re: The newest, biggest, bestest airport: Aren't they all?
I confess to a preference for developing world airports - small, simple, friendly places, like the towns they get us to when we choose to fly at all. I realize that I'll likely need to go through one or 2 of these urban behemoths to get to them, and then I'm reminded I'm on the right track again when baggage claim is a few steps into the building and it's a couple of guys who just pushed a cart to an opening in the wall and I can still see the plane.
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Re: The newest, biggest, bestest airport: Aren't they all?
It's a nicely researched and well-written piece, PHeymont. Thanks. I'm with PortMoresby, though. Given a choice, I'd rather travel to a smaller airport, and avoid these mega-hubs if at all possible. I know at some level you agree with this (based on some of your past comments on Heathrow for example).
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Re: The newest, biggest, bestest airport: Aren't they all?
Far from Third World except In the minds of Gov. Cuomo and Joe Biden, but Laguardia is my favorite NY airport precisely because it's so much smaller.
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Re: One 'Ghost Airport' in China Plans to Expand Again
Seems as if someone really believes "if you build it, they will come."
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, August 13, 2015: Willie Walleye, Baudette, Minnesota
Thanks for your feedback gentlemen. DrFumblefinger...I agree that walleye (aka pickerel) are probably the best pan fried fish I have ever had. To anyone who has never tried this fish, treat yourself by cooking some up yourself or try it at a restaurant. PHeymont and TravelRob, I'm glad that you also enjoy these types of sculptures. You said it well Paul...there is something "weirdly wonderful" about them. In terms of your question Rob, the reasons I'm not in any of the pictures is...
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Re: TSA, American testing automated security screens
This sounds like a nice idea. A modernization of a tedious process. Hope it works!
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Re: TSA strands 450 overnight: could it get worse?
What a mess. The very agency that is to protect citizens from terrorist activity is creating an environment wherein "tent communities" are springing up at America's airports. How embarrassing is that. Talk about a target rich environment for the bad guys. The TSA's funding, even with "cuts", is about US$ 7.3 billion for 2016. In contrast, Canada, which has 1/10th the population of the USA, has an airport screening budget of about CDN $0.56 billion, and Transport Canada acknowledges it has...
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Re: TSA strands 450 overnight: could it get worse?
Most countries around the world exchange ideas and processes to fulfil the common good. But some countries refuse to enter into a dialogue and share ideas. Russia is another one.
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Re: TSA strands 450 overnight: could it get worse?
To be fair to the TSA (which I find hard to do), the $7.3 billion is not all for screening, only about half is. That said, while airports are looking to outsource the screening, maybe they should hire Transport Canada! As for the PreCheck point: TSA can't seem to make up its mind. When it started, they semi-randomly selected 'extra' people to go through it, on the theory that they would like it enough to buy it—and some did, but not enough. Then the people who had paid for it started to...
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Re: TSA strands 450 overnight: could it get worse?
The few US airports that have private security companies handling the screening are reporting good results and I think that's a good option for the airports. My guess is for liability reasons, airports are scared to dump the TSA. After seeing the comments by DrFumblinger and PHeymont, I do think we can learn from Canada on this. I did a little more reading on Canada's airport security. It seems all major airports in Canada have private screening. The airports give out three year contracts.
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Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Encounters with an Arabian Oryx (Asia Pt 1)
Fantastic! (and a bit scary, even on screen...)
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Re: Is bad PreCheck planning responsible for TSA delays?
I don't like the whole concept of PreCheck because when they started this added security at airports, they insisted terrorists could be anyone and that's why we need to check everyone. We enter trains, buses and metros without a PreCheck, and it doesn't take forever. There is a history of attacks on those means of transportation too. And now attacks could just as easily happen at the ticket counter at the airport as on the plane.
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Re: Chip Credit Cards to Change the Way US Tips at Restaurants
Note that the tip suggestions on the machines have a habit of creeping up. New York cab tips were about 15% for years, as a standard, and as recently as 2 years ago, a Times survey found that was about the norm. But...when you pay by credit card, the machine offers a choice of 20%, 25% or 30%. To use 15%, you have to go back one step in the process, make a manual entry, and then back to the close-out screen...all while you're trying to get out of the cab and stop holding up traffic. I'll bet...
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Re: U.S. taxes on flying among world's highest
Oh, darn. I thought this was about paying a fee to sit in a section with our fellow stoned passengers.
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Re: American to drop seatback entertainment
DrF, not everyone has their own streaming service, but the theory is that nearly everyone has a screen, usually better resolution than the seatback. American is, in essence, providing a streaming service for those who don't have it. As for being small: those seatback screens go for north of $10,000 each because of all the issues involved in aircraft safety, etc. Not to mention the systems they are attached to. About $3 million average per plane saved this way, and American's order for the...
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Re: Robots and Therapy Dogs: the latest airport amenities
Dogs are the best! I'd never trade a friendly dog for a robot.
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Re: Paris to set flat-rate airport cab fares
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: NYC's Laguardia gets builder for new terminal
Estimated construction costs of $3.6 billion.... Shall we start a pool on what the real costs will end up being? I'd guess double that.
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Re: NYC's Laguardia gets builder for new terminal
So you're taking the low end of the pool? LOL! Actually, there is a smallish incentive to keep the cost low as possible, because the consortium's $2.5 billion share is meant to be made back out of operating profits once the terminal is open. So, if they run the cost up, it will take them longer to get their money back. On the other hand, my guess at the scenario is that they'll have arranged for most of any overrun to come from PA or state funds...
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Re: Wrong Airport: Help, I've landed and I can't get up!
There are few stories more embarrassing for a pilot than the old "landed at the wrong airport one". Wonder how often this happens? This particular story is news because it couldn't take off easily without special clearance. In this era of modern flight navigation, one has to wonder how it could happen at all.
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Re: Wrong Airport: Help, I've landed and I can't get up!
Years ago, flying with a friend into Montreal in a private plane and later than expected, after dark, we'd have been happy to see ANY airport. After a chat with controllers they flashed the runway lights for us and we made it in, safe & sound. Maybe that's the solution for everyone, there needs to be more light flashing for the confused at the right airport.
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Re: Wrong Airport: Help, I've landed and I can't get up!
If there are confusing runways nearby, PortMoresby's idea of flashing lights is good. Different airports could have different colored lights. Today I land at the green light airport. Tomorrow it is the red light airport (to be distinguished form the red light areas in different cities).
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Re: A Visit to Ireland: Part 3) Kenmare, Gateway to the Ring of Kerry
This is a terrific tip ! --- For travelers with their own cars, the clockwise approach is preferable as you have the outside lane and better views all the way around and don't end up one small buggy in a convoy of huge buses. Your article makes us want to consider a trip to western Ireland, which has not been on the radar screen. The stone circles are worth the trip all by themselves.
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Re: Where Gumbo Was #4.0: Queen Mary in Long Beach Harbor, California
Don't get left out again! You can follow Gumbo on your mobile device...it comes up formatted for tiny-screen use, but if you have enough screen (most smartphones do) click on settings and choose "standard view," or use the menu to select "Desktop view."
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Re: Credit Card size Cameras ! Any Good?
Try to find it in WalMart = (UK ASDA where I found it) around $50/£35. Discontinued. That's what caught my eye ! Reviews with like for like cameras scored well. And half the price ! This photo is bigger than the camera ! Sorry P. I just took your pic off the computer screen !
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Re: More Life at the Edge: What’s in a Name?
I admit to a long fascination with the names people choose; clearly whether screen names on websites or as names chosen for daily living, they tell some story of self-reflection, just as PortMoresby's does. What, I always wondered, made someone choose to be J. Edgar rather than just Edgar (or even just John?) That sort is more puzzling to me than the screen names that shout aggression (Warrior, Conan) or whisper softly (Miss Maisie, Teatime) or are ironically self-referential (my favorite...
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Re: Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park, British Columbia
Really good quality photos DrF. I love looking at frozen landscapes - on a screen ! Your words about reflection jogged my memory. Ever been walking through a store and see someone you think you recognise in the distance ? And as you get closer you realise its a mirror you're walking towards ! My wife says I need glasses - but its OK - I stop before I get into a conversation !
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Re: If you're happy and you know it...press here, please!
The reason most airports don't ask is because they don't care ! JFK and Heathrow continue to increase their passenger numbers without the need for customer satisfaction. So by some misguided indicator they presume all is well down on the farm. A captive audience doesn't attract an acceptable service level. A penny saved is a penny earned.
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Re: If you're happy and you know it...press here, please!
It certainly has seemed to me that Heathrow doesn't care (it's probably true for JFK, too, but I'm not a stranger there). In fact, I go out of my way to avoid Heathrow. Between the airport experience itself (especially with a T3-T5 transfer) and BA's high surcharges, I've taken to trying to make all my transfers through Madrid or Barcelona. In fact, on my trip this month, I save a good bit by taking American on award tickets to Barcelona and paying my way on Vueling to Marseille. I could...
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Re: Eat 'Healthy' at DFW ?
No question that the quality and variety of airport foods has increased tremendously these past 10-15 years. The more choice, the better.
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Re: Eat 'Healthy' at DFW ?
Serious question. Bread. In the US a "store bought" loaf of bread has no "Sell By" date. And it never ages like European Bread. We get 7 days on the date tag before bread starts breeding Penicillin and goes in the trash. We're not fans of Preservative in food - is that the only difference ? Just wondering!
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Re: Eat 'Healthy' at DFW ?
GarryRF, if you leave that bread outside of a plastic bag, it will never grow mold. It will be hard as a rock, but you don't need to worry about the penicillin. I figure consumption of preservatives is good! If it keeps the food lasting longer, it should do the same for those of us who eat it, right? A way to prolong our time on this planet?!
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Re: Eat 'Healthy' at DFW ?
Years ago a friend worked in a Flour Mill. There was a big advertising campaign on about "Our New White Unbleached Flour" from Millers. Sounded much nicer ! The new method of whitening flour was spraying during the milling process with a gas. Not a bleach but it did melt the metal blades! I don't trust any food now until I've read the contents !
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Re: Billy Bishop Airport, Toronto. Where Gumbo was #77
Thank you very much for the informative post. I have only been to Toronto once. I went up the CN Tower and took this picture of the Billy Bishop Airport.
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Re: Billy Bishop Airport, Toronto. Where Gumbo was #77
That's a great and very orienting photo, Roderick! Thanks for sharing it.
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Re: Billy Bishop Airport, Toronto. Where Gumbo was #77
In case you were curious, the pedestrian tunnel between Toronto and the island airport has been completed and is now open. It eliminates the waits for the ferry services for passengers who want to get to their departure gates. More on that story from Frequent Business Traveler at this link .
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A Day in Chartres
If you’re looking for a nice escape from the crowds and chaos of Paris, consider heading to the small city of Chartres for a day or two. Situated 60 miles (96 km) southwest of Paris, just an hour’s train ride from the...
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Memphis, Tennessee 3) The rest of the city
There’s a lot more to Memphis than Graceland, although Graceland is by far the city’s most popular attraction (which I’ve previously discussed here ). A city of about 650,000, Memphis has a...
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Cruising through the holidays
Every year thousands of passengers find out warm tropical breezes and Christmas festivities mix well aboard a Princess Cruise Line ship. “We install more than 347 Christmas trees fleet wide. Each vessel has a showcase tree in...
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Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport Adds Another International Route
Eva Air is the latest to announce new service to Houston's Airport. The new route will go to Evas's base go in Taipei. ANA,Korean Air,SAS, United, & Spirit all have added or announced new routes to Houston in 2014. Read More: http://www.usatoday.com/story/...ontinental/20514757/
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Saguenay Fjord — Deep and Long but not very Tall
I’d heard as a schoolboy that the Saguenay Fjord was one of the longest in the world. Years later someone told me the area around Tadoussac was pretty, sparsely developed and inviting. Given a spare day or...
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Ottawa – NOT the coldest Capital in the world!
Ottawa is a vibrant and charming small city — so pleasant that it’s hard to believe it’s home to soooo many politicians. Of the national capitals I've visited, Ottawa seems the most livable to me (ie. if...