The Luggage Blog

Aside from airline fees, one of the top complaints traveler’s have lately is the amount of time it takes to get through security.  The TSA has tried to address this issue by implementing self-regulated lanes designed for different types of travelers.  The only downside to system where each passenger decides their level of expertise is that people may tend to chose whatever line they think will be quickest, regardless of how often they travel… leaving the people who actually DO travel often stuck waiting behind someone less prepared (as usual).

A few airlines are taking matters into their own hands and plan to provide special priority lines to their frequent travelers.  American Airlines announced last week that they’re starting their Priority Access, giving their top customers dedicated security and boarding lines to speed up their trip.  Today Southwest Airlines announced Fly By,  which will provide a priority security lane to Business Select and Rapid Reward A-List customers.  Both programs are said to begin sometime in late October.  This sounds like great news for frequent travelers who are sick of getting held up in long lines.  While we’re not sure how TSA policies play into this, we suspect you’ll still have to remove your shoes.  But at least the people in line with you know the drill and are probably wearing slip-ons.

Southwest Airlines Introduces Priority Security Lanes at Select Airports
American Airlines Adds Airport Perks for Top Travelers

Photo by Ingorr

Delta Airlines has introduced a new pink plane to their fleet in order to raise awareness with their partner, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

Delta and Northwest Airlines will also team up to kick off breast cancer awareness month with this special event on Oct 1st.  Breast cancer survivors and company executives from both airlines will fly on Delta’s pink plane from LaGuardia to Minneapolis/St. Paul where a ceremony will be held.  Donations will also be accepted and Delta’s Pink Mini-Cooper will make an appearance at the ceremony.  What a great way to show support of Breast Cancer Awareness!

Packing to Avoid Airline Fees & Stress

• Pre-Packing Tips
  
• Packing tips for guys
• When packing for two seasons, how can I avoid airline baggage fees?

Frequent Fliers

• Signs That You Travel Too Much
• What it’s like to be a Flight Attendant

Airport Security

• New TSA Uniforms cost taxpayers $12 million
• Congress questions why TSA agents are no longer screened
• US Develops Mind Reading Airport Screening Device

Photo by Andrew Currie

When you pick up your baggage from the airlines, you are usually tired and grateful to be at your destination. Most people don’t look over their bags to make sure they’re OK. Then, when they go to unpack they find something missing or torn. Unfortunately the airlines loathe taking responsibility for what they do to your bags, even though we have all watched the handlers toss our bags around and wonder why they don’t all spill open on the tarmac.

The most important thing about putting in a claim for a damaged bag is to know the game before you need to know it. The airlines will spout policy to you, if you accept that you will get nowhere. Remember, you do have the right to say, “No, that is not acceptable.”

Know what to expect:

• All airlines expect that you file a claim while you are still at the airport (no matter what time of day or night it is).
• There is not always someone available to take your claim at the airport.
• Most airlines allow up to 24 hours to file a claim, but you often are required to come into the airport.
• International travelers usually have 7 days to file a claim.
• Know your airline’s policy! US Airways, for example only allows 4 hours to file a claim.

The “customer service” agent is not always helpful in these matters. With the financial state of the airlines these days their policies have gotten stricter. Therefore it can be [Read more →]

The road to hell is paved on MALINTENT

Our good friends from the Department for Homeland Security are developing a system that will monitor various responses from travelers and determine whether or not they may be suspicious or have criminal intent.  The TSA already employs methods of psychological and behavioral screening, which they claim to be quite successful… but it’s done by actual trained human beings.  The MALINTENT device has the ability to detect subtle facial movements as well as body temperature, heart rate and respiration.  While a human being may overlook slight changes in a persons physiology, the device will always detect it.  The makers of the device also claim that it can differentiate between a stressed passenger and a malicious terrorist.

Project leader Bob Burns said:

“If you focus on looking at the person, you don’t have to worry about detecting the device itself… It analyses you against baseline stats when you walk in the door, it measures reactions and variations when you approach and go through the portal.”

Personally, I find the implications of that statement rather unsettling.  Rather than looking for harmful devices and dangerous situations, we would be relying on the device to find people who are untrustworthy and up to no good… potentially arresting the nervous hoodlum teenager and missing the deranged sociopath who’s able to walk through without displaying any sign of “malintent”.  Perhaps that conclusion is a bit extreme, but isn’t the point of all of our aviation abuse to take zero risks and avoid every possible negative situation?

The goal of MALINTENT is to avoid long lines and abolish the dreaded liquid bans.  But there are less invasive means of dealing with the issue of liquids and bombs, such as using devices that test liquids for explosives.  Even the TSA is attempting to test different methods of detecting bombs hidden in shoes.

The intentions of the developers of this technology seem to be based on good notions, but can we afford to continue to let the government push the envelope on exploitative technology in order to keep us safe?  Especially when it becomes a replacement for training and common sense and the people doing the screening are exempt from their own rules? I’m reminded of a phrase that I think the creators of MALINTENT may have missed…

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

Sky News

Nothing’s worse than forgetting the memory stick for your camera… except maybe forgetting your passport! CNN posted a really helpful checklist of things to do before you start packing.  Our favorite tip:

Record the contents of your suitcase
Take pictures of your clothes, shoes, and jewelry, which will serve as documentation if your bag is lost or stolen. Download the shots onto your home computer, just in case.

Check out CNN’s entire list and make your trip go a lot smoother.

More great packing tips:

• Packing Tips from the Pros
• How to Get it All in One Carry On
• Free Downloadble Packing List
• Packing Tips for 1 Bag Trips (video)