GADLING TAKE FIVE week of 12/21/2007

by Catherine Bodry on

As I’m in a holiday rush, getting ready to drive 126 miles through the mountains to Anchorage when it’s supposed to snow 20 inches (20 inches!) over the night, then catch a flight to Seattle before trying to fit in last-minute Christmas shopping in a town that actually has more than 2 stores, as well as work a half-day in the morning and try to pack for two climates (Washington and Florida in addition the travel in Alaska), I’m going to make this post short and sweet (unlike this sentence).

1. Gadling’s guide to mileage running. Check it.
2. Christmas in the Czech Republic involves killing carp.
3. Gadling bought a cow!
4. Gadling’s got a grand giveaway going on, and at the time of this post, you’ve got about 4 hours left to enter.
5. We have a new blogger. His name is Aaron. Here’s a post he wrote this week.

There you have it!

Peace out, and happy solstice.

People dislike the TSA, says Institute for the Study of Obvious Things

by Aaron Hotfelder on

A new AP survey shows that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in charge of security at US airports, ranks just behind FEMA, and ties with the IRS, in a list of the most unpopular federal agencies. Since its creation under the Department of Homeland Security as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the TSA has been at the center of a number of controversies and the target of frequent complaints. Many of the nearly 9,000 complaints that the TSA received between January and October of 2007 were for long wait times going through security, seemingly arbitrary rules, and employee rudeness. In addition, screeners have drawn criticism for failing to detect fake bombs in government tests– as many as 75% passed through unnoticed in one airport.

On the other hand, the article notes that “53 percent of air travelers think TSA does a “very” or “somewhat” good job,” and it’s unlikely that many people write in to the TSA to compliment the job performance of their personnel, even when they do a good job. TSA’s spokeswoman Ellen Howe said that the travelers should realize that TSA employees are “good people motivated by the mission.” She added: “Our officers take a lot of disrespect from the public… These people are on the front lines and they deserve our respect.”

Personally, I’ve never had a complaint about a TSA employee, but some of the agency’s policies do strike me as rather arbitrary. For instance, a three-ounce bottle of liquid can’t blow up an airplane, but a four-ounce bottle can?

For a closer look at airport security personnel, check out Barbara Peterson’s March 2007 investigative piece in Conde Nast Traveler, “Inside Job: My Life as an Airport Screener.”

Cheap tickets? Forget the Net

by Jerry Guo on

Here are some tried and true tips from Rob Pelton (of National Geographic) on how to get the cheapest airline tickets. His take home message? “Low, low airfares aren’t always on the Web.” His top tips?

  • Some deals can’t be found online. That’s because many low budget airlines don’t have ticket offices accessible from the Internet, or from the Internet in the states.
  • Local ticket agents can do wonders, from taking advantage of bereavement fares to getting you discounts reserved for airline employees.
  • Fly by the seat of your pants. Go to a hub destination, like Frankfurt or Amsterdam, and then get cheap tickets from the backpacking district, where resellers often camp out.
  • Fly free! (By sitting in the cargo hold of a pilot who might be looking for some company on overnight hauls).

Woman sits in urine soaked airplane seat

by Grant Martin on

As volumes increase over the holiday season, the crazy airline stories start rolling in. Just yesterday, a woman flying from West Palm Beach to Boston reported that she took her seat in and AirTran flight, only to find that it was soaked in urine. By the time she realized the gravity of her problem, it had soaked all the way through her clothes. So she had to go to the bathroom, remove her wet clothing and wrap herself in a blanket for the duration of the flight. At least they let her sit in a different seat.

What I’m most surprised about is that neither the airline nor any of the other customers offered to help out. Perhaps the author of the article left out those details, but if someone was sitting next to me who just got his or her clothing soaked in urine I would definitely offer up a shirt from my carry on for the person to wear.

Instead, the woman was forced to walk through the entire terminal and down to baggage claim with the blanket wrapped around her. How embarrassing.

AirTran agreed to refund the ticket and any clothing damage costs. They’re “investigating the matter” internally.

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A look back at the year in travel

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Over at MSNBC.com, Sean Moriva recaps a very busy year in the travel world.

The beginning of the year saw Southwest Airlines almost kill a passenger, while Jet Blue was merely stranding them on runways. As the year progressed, Richard Branson’s Virgin America airline made its debut, and the behemoth Airbus 380 took flight for the first time. Surprisingly absent from the year-end wrap-up was the mid-flight freakout that turned one man into a YouTube star. I think I speak for everyone when I say, I just hope being famous doesn’t change him.

As for the year’s biggest trends? Google Maps continued to revolutionize the way we look at the world, eco-tourism continued to grow in popularity, and WiFi continued to expand into every nook and cranny of our lives. I, for one, welcome our new wireless overlord.

Check out the full recap here, and Forbes Traveler’s slide show of the Top 10 Travel Stories here.