Use heat packs to avoid clogged ears – Airplane tip

by Gadling Staff on

Traditional methods for clearing “flier’s ear” include yawning, chewing gum, and using special earplugs for flying. However, there are other methods for preventing this painful condition, including this unusual, but effective, one:

  • Pack two small heat packs (they grow warm when mashed).
  • Use earphones to hold one over each ear.
  • Keep the earphones’ plug visible so flight attendants will see you’re not using an electronic device.

You’ll get a few weird looks, but it may help. (A pack may last a couple of flights if placed in an airtight bag after use.)

Southwest Airlines decides actor Kevin Smith is “too fat” to fly with them – kicks him off plane

by Scott Carmichael on

Oh Southwest Airlines… You make yourself look good by staying away from those pesky baggage charges, then you go and make yourself look ridiculous by kicking a famous actor off your plane because the captain decided he was “a safety risk” for being too fat to fly.

Bad, bad move.

The actor in question is Kevin Smith (you may know him as Silent Bob). He admits that he’s a bit of a fatty, but he also told his Twitter followers that he had no problems putting both armrests down. So, once the Southwest PR team wakes up tomorrow morning, I’d love to hear their side of the story, and how they decide who is entitled to fly on their planes, and what their definition of “safety risk” is. Seriously, I can’t wait for the PR spin on this one.

See, Kevin Smith has 1.6 million followers on Twitter, who all get to read just how unfairly he was treated, and how the airline tried to make everything better with a $100 voucher.

Of course, this is not the first time the airline has managed to get in the news with stupid decisions by its staff – last time they made the news, an overweight passenger was barred from flying, and missed the funeral of his uncle.

UPDATE: Southwest airlines issued a public apology this afternoon, along with their side of the story. Sadly, their page won’t load right correctly now, so we have posted their response here for you to read.

As you can see, there is indeed another side to the story. That said – Mr. Smith confirmed that he could sit with the armrests down and without the use of a seatbelt extender, so despite their statement, there still remains the issue that someone at their airline decided he was too large.

Use a packing list that doubles as a lost-luggage claim list – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Before you leave, use a printable checklist of items you need to pack, and where you’ll be packing them (carry-on or checked luggage.) Include all your frequently-forgotten or last minute items: batteries, cell-phone charger, toiletries, etc, and leave blanks for the specifics about clothes, shoes, and other valuable items.

But here’s the most important part of this list: Keep a copy of the list with you. If your checked baggage gets lost, you won’t have to try to remember what it contained, and you can share the list with the airline.

United Airlines snags first place in 2009 on-time performance

by Scott Carmichael on

Yesterday, United Airlines announced that they had climbed to the first place for on-time performance among the five largest global carriers in the country. This means United performed better than Delta (including Northwest), American Continental and US Airways.

On-time performance means the plane arrived at its destination within 14 minutes of its scheduled arrival time. Their 2009 performance was 10% better than the previous year, and preliminary numbers show that the airline will continue the trend in 2010.

One of the driving forces behind the huge increase in performance is a cash bonus for employees – for each month the airline took first spot, employees receive $65. For the entire year, United paid out $32 million, with each employee earning an extra $825.

Since delays are probably the number one complaint from most passengers, I’m very happy that the airline is putting so much effort into becoming better at being on time. And I do have to admit that the past couple of flights I took on United did indeed depart and arrive on time, something not always true in the past.

Fingers crossed that other airlines pick up the pace, and do what they can to beat United – more on-time flights will eventually benefit us all.

British Airways crew suspended for Facebooking

by Annie Scott on

British Airways has suspended 15 cabin crew members for “inappropriate” Facebook comments.

Back in October, a Jetstar flight attendant was disciplined for Facebook-stalking a 15-year-old (Airline apologizes for male flight attendant harassing a 15-year-old). That I understood. Some friends of mine in the law and medical fields have been warned about their Facebook personae; that they should consider themselves “employees of [the company]” first and foremost. I think that’s a little oppressive, but okay, they’re in some pretty high-power jobs where people immediately learn their full names.

But, I’m surprised anyone’s putting a Facebook gag on their cabin crew. I recently flew British Airways — and thoroughly enjoyed my experience — and not only do I have no idea about the full name of any one of the cabin crew, but I would never consider even searching them on Facebook, let alone friending them and reading their walls. If I were a big weirdo and did decide to spend my time that way, I would think the shame should fall on me, not on anything unsavory I might find.

What exactly is “inappropriate”? Does it depend what your definition of is is?

BA Press Officer Euan Fordyce is quoted as saying the airline “will not tolerate intimidation of our staff,” and that there were other, additional reasons for the suspensions. That seems to imply bullying, or some other kind of workplace no-no — but rumors are circulating that complaints about ongoing battles over wages, working conditions and job security are the culprits. Stuff.co.nz reports that “the UK’s Unite union called the move unacceptable.”

Funny; if they hadn’t suspended their crew members, I wouldn’t even know that those battles were going on.

[via stuff.co.nz]