Travel Sentry China Series
Flying blissfully through Asian skies yesterday headed for Hong Kong, I was grateful to be China-bound and not headed for London's Heathrow Airport. Nevermind that the only people that can afford to go to London these days are the must-be-there business travelers, the I-live-there residents, and the I'm-so-rich-I-don't-care traveler species. Being a volunteer tourist heading to London and flying into Heathrow upon the grand opening of British Airway's Terminal 5 is not a thought to relish, but rather a recipe for frustration, heartbreak, and barely contained rage.
Salt on the Heathrow wound came today as analysts at Goldman Sachs cut their recommendation for British Airways shares from "buy" to "sell", suggesting that the shares could drop sharply because of weaker consumer demand and "ongoing operational challenges of Heathrow." They also cited more competition on the North Atlantic in the guise of Open Skies.
British Airway's launch of Terminal 5 opened with great fanfare and accolades only to crash and burn during Act I. Their new state-of-the-art baggage system has a few kinks to work out, to say the least. Since its opening on Thursday, BA's passengers have dealt with 15,000 misdirected bags and over 750 cancelled flights. British Airways says things are improving slowly.
At 30,000 feet and nowhere near England, I was grateful to be headed for China on Sunday. With Heathrow's debacle on my mind I felt pretty self satisfied at journey's end as our luggage rolled promptly off the carousel after flying from Atlanta, to Los Angeles, to Taiwan and then to Hong Kong. The flight from Los Angeles arrived late in Taiwan but Air China held the Hong Kong flight - the last for the night - and managed the bag transfer with the greatest of ease in about 10 minutes. Off we went with a great sigh. An Air China staffer even appeared as we prepared for take off to deliver an eyeglass case we left on the Taiwan flight.
When we arrived in Hong Kong my bag had been inspected by TSA. The inspectors unlocked the TSA-accepted integrated lock, left an inspection notice inside, taped an inspection label around the bag, and tagged the bag as overweight (OK, I packed everything I owned, and please, let's not get personal about the weight).
The only glitch for the entire odyssey was on arrival at the hotel after over 24 hours of travel. After checking in we went down to the bar for a nightcap and we were told by the bartender they were closed. "What time do you close?" 1:00 a.m. "Well, it is not 1:00 yet." To our amazement she replied, "Well if I serve you everyone else in here will want another drink too." ???? With a little bit of cajoling, a bribe, and an agreement to order only vodka on the rocks, a double please, we managed to throw back a well-deserved cocktail.
So what brings us to Hong Kong and why am I telling you all this?
Travel Sentry is here for a travel goods show called Fashion Access which is Asia's largest trade fair for luggage, handbags and all sorts of other leather goods and accessories. Travel Sentry will be found amidst their licensed luggage and lock manufacturers and distributors on the travel goods floor.
On the heels of the San Diego travel goods show, we'll report on trends and travel fashion from the Asian markets and share some conversations with the Chinese manufacturers.
And as we travel through China over the next two weeks, we'll bring you other travel reports from the land of the dragon including a report on the new Beijing airport readying itself for the Olympic games. As I write this CNN is telling me that the Olympic Torch has just arrived in Beijing and is being transported to Tienemen Square for an elaborate ceremony headed by the Chinese President.
Travel Sentry was not invited. Go figure.
The Travel Sentry China Blog Series:
Last Stop - Shanghai
Tourism & Touring in China
Beijing and the State of Olympic Preparedness
The New Beijing Airport
China: A Brief Stop in Macau
APLF Show Spotlights the Latest in Luggage and Locks
Musings at 30,000 Feet
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Musings at 30,000 Feet
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Runway Traffic Signals Coming To 20 U.S. Airports
Posted by Travel SentryRunways at 20 of the nation's busiest airports will soon look like their downtown streets when the Federal Aviation Administration installs traffic signals to help facilitate runway traffic. The FAA announced this week that it will install their version of traffic signals at airports over the next three and a half years to keep taxiing planes and other vehicle traffic from intefering with planes taking off or landing.
Computer operated, the system will detect when a runway is in use and trigger a red signal at the runway intersections. As aircraft traffic increases, the system will serve as a redundant safeguard against inadvertant errors by busy air traffic controllers and pilots.
Close calls on the ground have been an ongoing problem for the FAA and the new system could have prevented two near misses in New York, one in 2005 at Kennedy and another in 2007 at La Guardia.
The FAA has asked for proposals for the 20-airport project and is offering a $5 million cost sharing program to develop technologies for the accident avoidance system. Current systems for ground control alert tower controllers but the new system will augment safety precautions by directly alerting pilots of runway traffic.
Airline Passenger Bill of Rights Dashed on State Level
If you are a passenger who has suffered hours and hours trapped on a plane delayed on the ground with inadequate services, you may not feel vindicated by a federal appellate court's rejection of New York State's Airline Passenger Bill of Rights.The nine other states that have similar proposed legislation are likely to be discouraged by New York's failure to uphold such legislation. On the positive side, this might spur Congress to pass a bill that would protect the right's of fliers and supersede any state law.
New York's legislation called for fines up to $1,000 per passenger if airlines failed to provide essentials like water, fresh air, electric power and working restrooms in the event of lengthy delays. In December a federal court upheld New York's law but the federal appeals court on Tuesday reversed the decision and overturned New York's ability to hold airlines accountable to its passenger bill of rights.
The appellate judge's decision was based on potential conflict of individual state laws with the Federal Aviation Administration's ability to maintain uniform standards of air travel. The centralized federal framework for air travel could be derailed by varying state regulation of how delayed passenger's on the tarmac would have to be serviced. "Although the goals of the (passenger bill of rights) are laudable and the circumstances motivating its enactment deplorable, only the federal government has the authority to enact such a law," read the decision issued in the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan.
The United States Department of Transportation also has formed a task force that is formulating its own recommendations on how airlines should deal with planes stranded on the tarmac. Perhaps the next venue for a passenger bill of rights will play out in the U.S. Congress.
Conditions of Carriage
Click on your airline to read its current policies.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
You Can Lock Your Bags: The TSA Baggage Screening Process
Most travelers are familiar with the large TSA exposive detection machines in airport lobbies used to screen all checked luggage. TSA is moving to a more advanced baggage screening technology and "in-line system" in many airports that allows passengers to "drop-and-go" after check-in instead of having to take checked bags to TSA for screening.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is one of many airports where an in-line system is used. Click here to view a short video of the in-line system in use.
You can see from the video that there are security safeguards in place during the TSA inspection process. The TSA requests that checked luggage be unlocked unless the lock is a TS
A-accepted lock, such as those bearing the Travel Sentry red diamond logo. Otherwise if the TSA has to open your checked bags for further inspection a non-compliant lock will be cut off, leaving your bag unsecured during the rest of its journey through baggage handling.If you want to see more about the TSA-accepted lock system, click here.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Air France-KLM's Takeover Bid for Alitalia: British Airways Raises Stake in Iberia
While JP Morgan was crafting it power move for Bear-Stearns last weekend, Alitalia's board held a 10-hour marathon meeting that began Saturday and lasted more than 10 hours. Shortly after midnight Alitalia’s board issued a statement announcing its unanimous approval of Air France-KLM's offer. The $1.17 billion deal now awaits approval from the Italian government — which owns 49.9 percent of the airline’s shares — as well as national and European Union regulators.
"Under the terms of the proposal, Air France-KLM, the French-Dutch carrier, said it would exchange one of its shares for every 160 of Alitalia stock, valuing the Italian airline at 139 million euros, or about 0.10 euro a share," reports USA Today. That represents a discount of more than 80% based on the closing stock value as the board entered final negotiations.
Air France-KLM plans to inject 1 billion euros into the Italian airline by offering new shares to existing shareholders once the takeover is finalized which is anticipated in June.
Apparently Italians found the discounted "French" offer "hard to digest" but was "the only concrete solution" for the airline. One airline analyst said this is a solid alternative to going bust on their own. Soaring fuel costs would only exacerbate the loses.
The Italian government has spent roughly 4.3 billion euros over the last five years, trying to keep Alitalia afloat. But the European Union has barred Rome from giving any further financial assistance to the airline. Alitalia is losing more than 1 million euros a day and is about 1.3 billion euros in debt. Its share of the Italian air travel market has fallen to around 30 percent from more than 80 percent a decade ago mostly due to competition from discount and low-cost carriers. Add in the airline's aging gas-guzzling fleet and strike-prone work force and you have the makings for a perfect storm.
Air France-KLM plans to base the bulk of its operations out of Rome and drastically cut flights from Alitalia's second largest hub, Malpensa Airport in Milan. This would give Air France-KLM a third major European hub alongside Paris and Amsterdam.
In another big player muscle move, British Airways said it bought another 3 percent of the Spanish carrier, Iberia Airlines, raising its stake to 13.15 percent, and that it would look for opportunities to purchase more of Iberia’s shares. British Airways said it bought about 28.7 million shares of Iberia at an average of 2.34 euros ($3.69). At that price, the acquisition would have cost about 67 million euros ($105.6 million).
Analysts predict more mergers and acquisitions in the airline industry both in North America and Europe as many economies slow and fuel costs continue to climb.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Latest From the Travel Goods Show
It was all about color and pattern, wheels and locks, durability and quality, when it came to the luggage lines being rolled out to the travel goods industry. “Packability” was also much touted with efficiency creating space where there once was none.
For all travel goods the “flight to light” was the Holy Grail. We didn’t see any luggage that could be managed with a pinky finger, but some pieces are getting pretty close. New materials are being introduced that are lighter and more durable making the luggage industry a balancing act between, science, design, and organization.
The new hardsided luggage designs really put on a show. Space-age shapes in beautiful colors rendered pieces that could pass as retro furniture. Ready for a trip? Just pack the end table and head for the airport.Travel Sentry made a splendid showing (even if we say so ourselves) with the Travel Sentry TSA accepted locks integrated into hundreds of luggage brands being shown. And the new designs for the add-on locks were impressive sporting innovative designs by the lock manufacturers.
Necessity is definitely the mother of travel-gear invention. Backpacks were huge with showings of back strapping pieces for businessmen with laptops to mothers transporting the mryaid of products needed to travel with children. Travelers juggling all the modern-day, must-have accouterments — laptops, batteries, cell phones, Blackberries, iPods and the like — will shoulder a new generation of hip, easy-to-carry, well-organized backpacks.
“A place for everything” was a mantra heard everywhere. No matter what the product, ease of organization was a definite chorus, particularly for any sort of carry-on, including a growing market for sleek, TSA compliant liquid pouches. The winners were the TSA friendly products with an eye on moving the traveler through security with the greatest of ease.
We’ll soon be seeing all these new travel goods in the airport terminals proving that the travel goods industry is definitely hi-tech and high fashion.
Safe travels.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
A Case For Hardsided Lugggage
Exposed to the elements Baggage handler Peter Johnson works at the new $6 million baggage handling facility at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.If you are flying into the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport you might want to consider investing in hardsided luggage.
Over a year ago the Fort Lauderdale Airport completed their new Terminal 4. But there is a slight design flaw with the new design. The Terminal 4 baggage handling center is exposed to the elements and does not allow operations during severe weather.
It was a cost-cutting measure. The baggage handling center has only a partial roof and no walls. That certainly saved a few bucks but the tradeoff has not been well received. Legions of travelers have had to cope with wet luggage or delayed flights when their arrival or departure coincided with storms, which, of course, is a pretty frequent occurrence in South Florida.
When there is lightning, baggage handlers evacuate – probably an OSHA thing. Flights are delayed when passenger's checked baggage does not get loaded onto the plane in a timely fashion because of threating weather. Less lethal but just as irritating, incoming flights suffer baggage delivery delays to Baggage Claim as passengers deplane but the baggage doesn’t, that is until the weather permits handlers to unload the plane.
Either way baggage can “rest” in the Terminal 4 baggage handling center open to foul weather resulting in soaked suitcases, delayed flights or delayed bags. What were they thinking? The airport ignored the advice of its architects and demanded the open-air design to save money. Small cloth awnings have been added to two sides of the building, but have done little to resolve the problem. A broader solution continues to evade the airport and could cost more than $400,000.
A permanent baggage handling center like that in Terminal 1 is unlikely before 2011. Handling more than 3 million passengers a year, Terminal 4 is the international hub of the airport and serves Spirit and other carriers including Air Jamaica and Air Canada.
Ongoing debate and finger pointing continues in Broward County. "Does this go on anywhere else?" one airport official asked. "I mean was there any reason why people would not put a roof on a building that was going to house luggage? To me it just sounds so out there."
I hear ya, man.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
TSA's Elite Canine Troops Deployed
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has created a new elite corps of the canine variety as a partner in America’s war on terrorism. Employing dogs to sniff out a myriad of illegal activities is nothing new in law enforcement, but these bomb sniffing units (dogs and handlers) are part of a new program under the aegis of TSA that targets cargo inspections.The first graduating class of 2008 just finished an intense 10-week training program at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. The twelve newly graduated dog detection teams will be sent to Los Angeles International Airport, Dulles International in D.C., New York’s Kennedy International, and Miami International. The teams will be fully operational by May after a “settling-in” period to accumulate and orient the canines to their surroundings and complete final testing and certifications. Each team has to be recertified every year.
TSA officials said that these teams will be used primarily to search for bombs hidden in cargo loaded onto passenger flights. The TSA initiative is in response to a Congressional directive requiring all cargo loaded onto passenger aircraft to be screened by 2010. Training is already underway for teams for other high cargo traffic airports like Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. TSA officials intend to train and certify more than 400 explosives detection canine teams over the next two years.
Prior to TSA’s creation in 2001, airport security was run by the Federal Aviation Administration who deployed canine teams at strategic airports around the country. If a plane faced a bomb threat, it had to be diverted to one of those serviced airports. The terrorist attacks changed that. TSA took over security and expanded the program to place canine teams at all of the nation's largest airports and shifted training from narcotics detection to explosives detection. This latest program for cargo inspection is the next logical step in national security with our four legged friends at the forefront.
The partnership of technology and a good old fashioned nose is a powerful security combination. "I don't think you can replace dogs," says Capt. Jack Wenke of SEPTA's Transit Police Department. Many security officials, including many working for firms building detectors, insist that bomb-sniffing dogs will never become obsolete.
“Bomb-sniffing dogs essentially work like breathing, tail-wagging versions of electronic trace detectors seen most often in airports. A dog’s nose is so powerful it can sense microscopic amounts of chemicals that might indicate explosives, even to the extent of detecting traces on clothing of someone who handled the material.
"No one has really been able to measure how dogs do what they do," says Scott Thomas, the breeder for the TSA program. "We know what they do. We know they do it accurately."
To learn to detect explosives, dogs must undergo months of training on any of the various chemical compounds that are present in explosives. TSA is the second largest government canine training organization - the Defense Department is the largest. Shared with the Defense Military Working Dog School, TSA's San Antonio facilities resemble real life transportation centers including mass transit stations, a mock airplane fuselage, a faux subway station with two authentic New York City transit cars, and a replica of a terminal from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport with ticket counters and photographic mural backgrounds identical to the actual terminal. All to teach dogs to function in crowded public spaces under similar conditions to the real venues.
The initial 100 days of training focus on getting the dogs (Labrador retrievers and Vizslas are favored by TSA) to associate the targeted odor with a toy. First the young dogs learn to search for a rubber treat-filled toy known as a Kong. Then they learn to target the chemical odor and are rewarded with the Kong. This reward continues throughout the dogs' work in the field so that the effort seems more like play than work.
Most security professionals believe that technology will never replace dogs. "To rely on any one element, whether a biological solution or a technological solution, is a huge error," says one official. "The fact that we can send luggage through a sensor and not have a dog screen every bag that comes through the airport makes good economic sense. At the same time, if an airplane runs out on the tarmac [with a bomb threat], we have a tool we can take right out there immediately - and a tool that has not been calibrated to one or two odors, but whatever odors we have identified as likely threats."
The TSA received a $2 million grant for genetic research to further define which genes produce instincts especially suitable for bomb-sniffing. Breeding research on these working dogs has already begun. TSA has a breeding program, which began at the start of this decade and now produces 100 puppies a year - each named after a victim of Sept. 11. The program includes Labrador retrievers, because of their instinct for toy play; vizslas, because they are more sensitive smellers; and now, a new custom breed: the Vizslador. By crossbreeding, TSA hopes to produce puppies with the best attributes of each. In the future, Thomas says the agency is interested in incorporating the signaling instincts of the "pointing breeds," which signal hunters when they smell game. "Let's not think of a dog as an old tool that can't be improved on," he says. "It can, with current technology."
It is hard to believe that these hard working canines who forego sleeping in front of the fire to defending our nation would have any detractors. The sour grapes comes from (oh surprise) the firm that markets various detectors. “What we say in the industry is they (the dogs, that is) get horny, hungry and tired," says Peter Kant, vice president of government affairs for Rapiscan Systems, a Hawthorne, Calif., firm that markets various detectors. Mr. Kant is probably sitting in his favorite chair with his loyal lab draped over his feet, waiting to do his bidding.
So what if the dogs need to be on the same break schedule as the TSA two-legged employees. Give the dog a bone!
I know I just said that TSA breeds its own dogs, but I have a thought. I have two Weimaraners (large gray Vizslas, more or less) and they have gotten pretty expensive with all the vet bills and dog sitters, acupuncture, chiropractor, etc. (I know, I know!) I keep telling them they are going to have to get a job to keep up their lifestyle. They just bring me the tennis ball to throw and cry to be feed. I’m preparing their resume for TSA as we speak. Here’s their photo. What do you think? TSA material?
Gus & Gracie - Heroes in Training
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Travel Goods Show Unveils the Latest in Luggage and Travel Products
Posted by Travel SentryTravel Sentry is heading west this week for the The Travel Goods Show in San Diego. This is the Olympics for those in the business of travel gear.
It is also the world’s fashion show for luggage where the latest designs will be displayed on the catwalk prior to being seen in the international terminals.
Last year the buzz was all about bright colors and patterns as luggage and travel accessories took on the look of designer fashion. Innovative materials for lighter weight and more durability were also of paramount interest to buyers. The trend toward four-wheeled bags also drove the market for greater maneuverability. Then there were the all important “gloves”, protective cases, and compartments for the ubiquitous laptop.
Stay tuned for Travel Sentry reports from the floor of The Travel Show for the latest in this year’s industry trends, cutting-edge design, and the latest gadgets.
Travel Sentry will be exhibiting hundreds of models of Travel Sentry® Approved locks and luggage from dozens of manufacturers and distributors worldwide. Take a look at the Travel Sentry video that explains the TSA accepted lock system .
The Show is organized and sponsored by the Travel Goods Association (TGA) which represents the travel goods industry and its membership of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and suppliers of luggage and other travel products.The Travel Goods Show, in its 70th year, is the largest annual exhibition of finished travel and leather goods in the world. Over 40,000 products will be on exhibit from over 250 leading companies with more than 5,000 attendees.
Monday, March 10, 2008
A Hip New Brand For Virgin America
As the step-child of cheeky Virgin Atlantic you must, absolutely must, maintain a certain je ne sais quoi. It's a Virgin thing - the James Dean of the air.
The New York Times reports that the head of VA's new San Francisco-based agency, Eleven, says the airline's new marketing campaign is all about the passenger experience. “In flying Virgin America, people said they felt a little better when they landed than when they took off,” he added, because they “browsed videos, watched films, chatted with people.” They probably felt pretty good about the low-cost fare as well.
And food and drinks on demand? VA promises, "You order it, we bring it." No waiting for the refreshment cart to waddle down the isle.
Virgin America's animated in-flight safety video is pretty entertaining as well. (Produced in-house.) Let me restate that...it's different; it's tongue-in-cheek and witty. And you'll probably watch it for the novelty of it. When was the last time you actually watched the in-flight safety video as you taxied to the runway.
On Virgin America , instead of some professional-looking flight attendant, you will see a matador and a bull demonstrating the seat belt operation. "For the 1% of you what have never operated a seat belt....yawn....here's how it works." There is also a pretty wacky looking nun. The explanations on smoking are as simple as, "The airplane is one big no smoking zone." Well...have a look yourself....
What's all the buzz about the browsing videos and movies? Take a tour of VA's entertainment system called Red:
"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane."
"To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."
"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."
"Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and, in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."
"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses."
Saturday, March 8, 2008
World's Most Wired Airports
Free love in airports for many equates to free wi-fi access. The importance of this holy grail for frequent fliers is evidenced by the inclusion by Forbes into their circle of ubiquitous lists, the “World’s Most Wired Airports.” This is a really handy list if you are a frequent traveler around the world and perhaps do not have a card case of memberships into the plush airline lounges. You may not be able to get a free drink and snacks in an airport’s public arena, but increasingly you can find all the tools the savvy techno traveler needs.
The importance of well-equipped terminals to travelers is supported by a 2007 survey by SITA, a Geneva-based provider of IT and communications services for the air transport industry. They found that 25% of passengers carry wi-fi enabled laptops and of that group 42% associate a wi-fi connected terminal with a “pleasant trip.” And it appears that number is rapidly growing beyond the multi-tasking road warriors to leisure travelers as well.
To grab a spot on the Forbes list an airport must offer broad wi-fi access to regular passengers for free or at a reasonable price. Forbes considered the top airports around the world as measured by passenger traffic. A filter was then applied based on three criteria: the breadth of coverage, whether they charged for service and if so how much, and how many providers they offered. Also considered was the comfort and convenience factor including workstations, seating, and electrical outlets, and business centers.
Those filters culled the list to 48 airports, 21 of which were located in the U.S. To offer a more global list, Forbes cut the U.S. airports representation to nine to make room for more overseas airports. (Hey, it their list and their rules.)
Here’s a list of the rankings for the top 30 “Most Wired Airports”. Travelers, start your laptops:
1. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
2. Denver International Airport (DEN)
3. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)
4. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
5. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
6. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
7. London Heathrow International Airport (LHR)
8. Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
9. Orlando International airport (MCO)
10. Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)
11. Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW)
12. Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG)
13. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
14. Amsterdam Airport Schipho (AMS)
15. Bangkok International Airport (BKK)
16. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
17. Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
18. Sydney Airport (SYD)
19. Munich Airport (MUC)
20. Charlotte Douglass International Airport (CLT)
21. Dubai International Airport (DXB)
22. Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
23. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
24. Madrid Baragas International Airport (MAD)
25. Gatwick Airport (LGW)
26. Paris Orly Airport (ORY)
27. Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
28. Kuala Lumpur International Airport
29. Barcelona Airport (BCN)
30. Taiwan Taoyan International Airport (TPE)
Only five of these wired airports are currently offering free wi-fi connections but the trend is certainly moving towards free. Most airports still see the connection as a revenue source but a growing number are making it free throughout the terminals and using ad revenue as a way to offset the expense. Increased usage may even create ad dollars as its own revenue stream.
Denver International Airport offers free service to travelers because it kept coming up on customer complaint cards. Usage shot up from 600 fee-based connections a day to more than 4,500 log-ons a day when service became free. To offset the cost, Denver started running ads.
The airport trend is definitely toward the comfort and engagement of the traveler because it is economically viable to do so. If economics point to free wi-fi access then the airports of the world will follow suit.
Chris Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of Wired Magazine and author of The Long Tail, said in a video on the business of “free”, “Every industry that is digital eventually becomes free.”
It’s a fascinating free world out there.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Free Seats on Ultra-Low Cost Airlines: The Next Trend
"Free Love" is a new trend? Not if you were around in the 60s and 70s. But for the thirty-somethings behind trendwatching.com tracking the rise of "free", valuable stuff that is available to consumers for free is definitely a trend that is here to stay.For a detailed analysis of the drivers behind the "free" movement, watch for Chris Anderson's (of Long Tail fame) new book, Free, about, of course the industry of all things free. Click here for a preview found in the March 2008 edition of Wired Magazine or see the video of Chris Anderson discussing his forthcoming book.
The most obvious manifestation of businesses offering goods, services, and experiences to consumers for free (that once required paid access) and making money from advertising is newspapers, magazines, telecom, and airlines. AIRLINES?
A new airline classification, the Ultra-Low Cost Carriers (ULCCs), are known for their "how low can we go" philosophy of air fares. Their lowest price fare is FREE. Last year European ULCC carrier, Ryanair, "sold" one million seats (that's 1,000,000) for free. Completely free, no taxes or surcharges. When Ryanair announced the free sale they received more than four million online hits within five hours. Ryanair continues a modified free program giving free fares to a quarter of its customers. Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, continues to promise that eventually the carrier will offer more than half of their seats at a cost of $00.00 for their passengers.
So how does Ryanair and other ULCCs (Wizz Air, Sky Bus, Spirit and AirAsia) offer free fares when the major carriers are struggling to maintain their existence beyond bankruptcy? The simple answer is ad revenue. Ad revenue brings in part of the cash from tray-table and seatback ads, to the opportunity to repaint the exteriors of Ryanair's planes "effectively turning them into giant billboards for the likes of Hertz, Jaguar and Vodafone."
And while the advertising revenue brings in good money for the ULCAs and supports free seats, there is also serious money to be made from ancillary sales as well, i.e. rental car bookings, hotel reservations, travel insurance, foreign currency exchange, in-flight phone calls, food and beverages, and dare we say, charging for priority boarding.
Is the next logical progression from free seats pocket money? Maybe so if the travel destinations and travel partners like hotels and car rental companies get in the game.
Jet Blue may not be giving away free seats but it is testing the waters of Free Love by offering free cream cheese and bagels on selected flights curtesy of Kraft Foods. 500,000 passengers around the country will be treated to a breakfast of Philadelphia cream cheese and bagels as part of Kraft's "Breakfast from Heaven" marketing campaign. On a handful of flights white-clad angels will serve the food. And these are not Jet Blue flight attendants impersonating angels.
Free Love is also extending its philosophy into the terminal. South Korean electronics giant Samsung has installed eight Mobile Travel Centers at Dallas/Ft.Worth Airport. The FREE Travel Centers feature leather lounge seating, semi-private workstations, electrical and phone outlets at each seat, and internet access. Samsung also offers free Mobile Charging Stations at JFK and Newark airports. In its home court, Samsung also has a Samsung Lounge at Seoul's acclaimed Incheon Airport.
Yet another new form of free from the airline industry is from Austrian Airlines which offers passengers free entry to several museums in Vienna by presenting their boarding cards along with a photo ID.
Free seats probably will not spread like wildfire to the major air carriers but the free applications will most likely find inroads in many unlikely places from the air terminals to the air cabin.
"You can expect Free Love to become an integral if not essential part of doing business." The airline industry could stand a little more "love" in the travel experience and no one ever says no to free.
From the gang at trendwatching.com: "Our trend findings help marketers, CEOs, researchers, and anyone else interested in the future of business and consumerism, to dream up new goods, services and experiences for (or even better, with) their customers."
Want to find some more Free Love? Trendwatching.com says try these sites for all things free:
thefreesite.com
startsampling.com
freechannel.net
freebielist.com
freebiesplanet.com
yes-its-free.com
totallyfreestuff.com
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Plenty of Company For Airport Misery - Just Get In Line
Is there really such a a thing as the "Airport Misery Index"? The answer is yes in the world according the U.S. News & World Report.
Granted the Airport Misery Index is not sanctioned by any of the airline industry trade groups, nor was it compliled by any of the nation's think tank organizations but nonetheless, there seems to be some validity and scientific evidence behind this misery gauge.
While the Airports Council International was busy seeking out their Oscar winners for the world-wide Airport Service Quality Awards, those at U.S. News were figuring out where the most miserable passenger experience could be had in America's airports.
The ACI's survey demonstrated that confirmed that American airports are not "invested in the happiness of flyers" as the world'd top five rated are located in Asia. That's a long way for Americans to go for a little TLC.
But back to the bad news in America for air travelers. Here's how the Misery Index was computed by U.S. News:
- First take the list of the nation's 47 busiest airports,
- Add on-time performance records from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for the scientific factor,
- Pile on the load factor which is simply the percentage of seats filled with passengers,
- Mix equally and rank.
Simple enough. And the winner of the Airport Misery Index (or is that really the looser?) is Chicago O'Hare where 66 percent of flights departed on time and planes were 83 percent full. And the least miserable airport in America (that's as good as it gets in the U.S., if you want something really pleasant you have to go to Asia) is San Jose, California where flights departed on schedule 83 percent of the time and were 77 percent full.
Chicago weather obviously plays a significant role in delayed flights. How can Chicago's winter storms compete fairly with picture perfect weather in San Jose? Just the facts please; no extenuating circumstances allowed.
Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport was ranked number 44 out of 47 on the misery scale but yet ranked number 1 for the second year running in North America by the Airports Council International survey of airport service quality. To each his own. Beauty is in the eye of the passenger.
It just goes to prove there are hundreds of ways to make lists. Just pick your poison...or your criteria.
Click here to see the full results of the Misery Index.
Monday, March 3, 2008
The State of Airline Security According to Consumer Reports
The passenger TSA experience is mainly centered around the airport screening process (at least around the water cooler) but McGee also explores the less verbalized concerns of in-flight safety including air marshalls, cockpit security, and thin security forces.
"I spent months talking to front-line warriors in the battle against terrorism. In many cases, their insights were chilling."
The results of the investigation were published in the February issue of Consumer Reports, entitled "Air Security: Why You Are Not As Safe As You Think."
"Overall, the lack of a large-scale airline security crisis in the years since 9/11 is something to be appreciated. But it's unclear how much of this is due to luck and how much to the TSA's planning and procedures. While no one at Consumer Reports or USA TODAY has any intention of abetting those who may attack our transportation systems, it's equally clear that publicly discussing such issues is a critical component in ensuring that air travel remains safe and secure."
McGee's investigation was based on interviews with dozens of front-line employees at the TSA and the airlines: air marshals, screeners, pilots, and a variety of security officials. "But it began by examining the public record, which in recent years has become quite extensive. In fact, there's been a growing litany of concerns about the TSA's performance from numerous government agencies."
McGee weighs in on the subject of air marshalls, "Perhaps the most frightening findings concern the Federal Air Marshal Service, which expanded dramatically after 9/11, from just 33 marshals to thousands. In recent years, however, government sources say those numbers have been shrinking again; one marshal told me, "Everyone thinks there are enough air marshals on the planes, and there are not." I also spoke to TSA insiders who have expressed concerns that suspicious individuals continue to conduct "probes" on-board U.S. commercial aircraft. One such incident, involving 13 Middle Eastern men acting suspiciously on-board a Northwest Airlines domestic flight in 2004, was serious enough to generate a report from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General.
"More than six years after 9/11, it's apparent the need for public discussion about our overall airline security procedures has never been greater. It's also apparent that the stakes could not be higher.
"So what can the average passenger do? For one thing, it's important to stay current with the latest TSA passenger policies. For another, it's important for all of us to become more educated about how our elected officials are responding to their most critical mission, keeping all of us safe."
Bill McGee, a contributing editor to Consumer Reports and the former editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, is an FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher who worked in airline operations and management for several years. Tell him what you think of his latest column by sending him an e-mail at USATODAY.com at mailto:travel@usatoday.com?subject=McGee.
