Stephen Colbert chats with TSA critic Jeffrey Goldberg

by Aaron Hotfelder on

The Colbert ReportMon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Jeffrey Goldberg

In case you missed it this past week, Stephen Colbert sat down with The Atlantic‘s Jeffrey Goldberg, author of a recent article called “The Things He Carried,” a scathing criticism of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In the interview, Goldberg echoes many of the points he made in his provocative article, including the fact that airport security is designed to give passengers the appearance of security, not actual security.

Goldberg says: “When you walk into the airport, you become a bit player in a federally-funded theatrical performance.” Then he goes on to show Stephen that, on his flight to New York, he managed to sneak two box cutters onto the plane, as well as a Hezbollah flag and an “World Hero: Osama bin Laden” t-shirt. (You probably shouldn’t try that at home.)

After Colbert mentions that he’ll probably find himself on the No-Fly List after the episode airs, Goldberg says that he’s been trying to get on it for two years, but with no luck.

Read Goldberg’s article in The Atlantic here, which Gadling first reported on here.

Forget shoe shine benches — now there’s airport karaoke!

by Meg Massie on

When I’m waiting for a flight, I like to dive into a book or pop open my laptop and try to forget my surroundings. Other travelers tend to annoy me, and I have a better time in transit if I can just ignore everyone else. So I’ll be avoiding Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston from now on.

The Texas airport has recently set up karaoke booths for travelers inside the terminals. Airport assistant manager Caroline Schneider says that they hope singing will help travelers relieve some stress and anxiety. The singers will be awarded small prizes.

They get points for creativity, but I just don’t think karaoke belongs in an airport. Travelers who are already edgy are not going to be the ones stepping up to the mic, and will probably only be further aggravated if their gate is next to the group of tone deaf teenagers stumbling through the words to “Love Potion #9.”

I love karaoke, really, but I think it belongs in a bar — one where the drinks aren’t $8 apiece. I suspect that this new airport karaoke will bother more folks than it will entertain, but maybe I’m just being a typical travel grouch. What do you think? Cute idea, or good intentions gone very, very wrong?

Tucson International Airport boasts bogus baggage scales

by Jeffrey White on

Seems like we’ve had a few stories lately on airport baggage scales not working properly.

Late last month Jamie posted about a New York Post report claiming the American Airlines’ baggage scales at JFK check-in were not calibrated correctly. Now add Tucson International to the list.

KOLD TV reports that many of the scales at TIA do not work properly. The news channel followed the Arizona Dept. of Weights and Measures as it conducted tests at the airport recently. In all, inspectors found baggage scales off significantly at check-in counters serving Delta and United.

And we’re not talking about the odd one-off here either, folks. All eight of Delta’s baggage scales were “red tagged” as not being properly calibrated, and inspectors ended up shutting down all seven of United’s scales for being inaccurate.

Of course, in this era of baggage fees and weight limits, this stuff matters to travelers and serves as a reminder to stay vigilant at airports when you think that bag you carefully packed, which weighed around 40lbs at home, clocks in at more than 50lbs at check-in.

Heard of other airports with dodgy baggage scales? Drop us a line.

Flights resume in Bangkok

by Josh Lew on

Gadling has been following the situation in Bangkok over the past few days. Hundreds of thousands of domestic and international travelers were stranded when anti-government protesters occupied Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country’s international hub. Things came to a rather anti-climactic end yesterday (thankfully for those involved) when Thailand’s highest court convicted members of the ruling party of rigging elections held last year. Getting the result that they wanted, protesters simply abandoned the airport peacefully.

In the past few hours, those who were previously unable to leave have been flocking to the airport and to travel agents around the city in an effort to book their flights home. Cleaning and inspection crews have been working around the clock to bring the airport back to international standards. Airport officials claim that it will take two weeks before the airport is fully operational. For now, flights are trickling in. Travelers stranded might have to wait several more days before they can procure a seat on a departing flight.

[related]

A handy guide to help you wade through airline rules and restrictions

by Jamie Rhein on

While I was packing yesterday for my daughter’s and my trip to Denmark, I asked her if she wanted to take a lightweight shawl to use as a blanket on the airplane.

“Don’t they give you blankets?” she asked.

Maybe. Some airlines charge extra for a blanket and pillow. Jet Blue already does. U.S. Airways is going to start soon.

In another conversation yesterday, this one on the phone, my father told me that he decided against checking a second bag on his Delta flight from Columbus to JFK in New York when he found out that this would cost him $50. On December 5, that fee will go down to $25.

My dad’s plane was an hour late leaving Columbus yesterday, and he said that the JFK connection to Albany was a hassle to navigate. Perhaps, that’s why the extra baggage fees seem unreasonable. Plane travel is anything but heavenly.

Blanket fees, bag fees, reservation fees, carry-on size changes, meals or no meals, drinks or no drinks, working toilet or no working toilet–just kidding on that one–are details that make air travel more confusing than it used to be.

Sure, buy the plane ticket, but don’t think you’re done paying for the cost of getting from here to there. Keep some extra cash on hand because you’re bound to need it for something when you fly.

In this comprehensive article at Smarter Travel, Tim Winship covers 25 policy changes that are coming to various airlines. When trying to find the best deal, knowing an airline’s checked baggage policy, for example, can make a difference as to how pricey a cheap ticket may become.

One point Winship makes is that complaining can work. When United received complaints galore from passengers who were miffed about paying for meals on overseas flights, the airlines dropped that charge.

If there is anything that’s certain, as soon as you learn an airline’s policy, it’s going to change.