Snow Brings Travel Misery To US And UK

by Willy Volk on

Everybody knows that the weather in much of the US is really rotten right now. Frigid, icy, and wet, some areas of upstate New York have already topped 100 inches of snow since Sunday — and the end is not in sight. Moreover, at O’Hare, more than 140 flights were canceled this week. The unreal snowfall and airport closures aren’t restricted to the US, however. The UK is getting sacked, too.

Throughout southern England, the Midlands, Wales, and Northern Ireland, heavy snowfall has blanketed the area, and thousands of airline passengers have had their flights delayed or canceled. In fact, at least five airports in the south of England were forced to delay flights and suspend departures this week. Moreover, the region’s train systems have come to a stand-still. The country, apparently, is crippled. According to David Frost, Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce, “It is expected that the lateness and loss of work hours caused by transport disruptions will cost the British economy up to £400 million… This situation highlights the need for a real change in the current UK travel infrastructure.”

Wow. Not to rub it in, but I’m sitting in shorts and flip-flops on my back porch.

[Photo: gunbot]

World’s Most Aggressive “Queue Jumpers”

by Iva Skoch on

One of the things that annoy me to no end when traveling are people who cut in front of you when waiting in line or as the British say “Queue Jumpers“.

Part of the problem is that I never know whether I should just relax, ignore it and let everyone get ahead of me (I am on vacation, after all… no rush to get any place) OR whether I should “do as the Romans do”, assimilate and become a champion queue jumper myself. I have a feeling I would be pretty good at it, too. What I do know is that most countries in the world could use an elementary school subject called “The Art of Forming a Line”. It would make the world seem a lot more civilized.

Every time I travel from the US back home to Prague I notice how much more aggressive people are in Europe about their spot in line (The UK is an obvious exception here). Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin airports…I swear sometimes you feel like if you don’t squeeze into the front, they would not let you board. The further east you go, the worst it gets.

I just read a piece in the December 23 “The Economist” about the airports in Russia which really made me laugh. The author is describing the various species of the Moscow airport queue jumper: “the brazen hoodlum, the incremental babushka and the queue-surfing clans who relocate in groups when one of their number reaches the front.” It reminded me of my trip to China where elbow-wrestling with 70-year old women in lines was a norm. The Darwinism of the 21st century is quite sad, really.

Stolen Luggage Found in Houston Trash Bin

by Adrienne Wilson on

Um, this bothers me. A LOT. According to this story found in the Seattle Times, 68 suitcases which were taken from George Bush International Airport were found outside of a pet store dumpster in Houston earlier this week. The stolen baggage apparently came from nine different airlines and from destinations such as France, UAE, and domestic locations. Investigators are trying to determine now if it was an inside job or if some punks walked into baggage claim and casually walked off with bags without anyone noticing. Imagine waiting for your bag to come around the carousel when somebody has already successfully snagged your panties, boxers, toothpaste, Craisins, jewelry and other novelty items for their own personal pleasure. Ugh!

News like this really stinks to hear considering how much paper is wasted printing your baggage claim tickets and no one is ever there to check. I think I’ve been checked only once in all my travels before walking off with my bags. That’s pretty sad folks. If you’re heading through Houston it might be time to start making a mad dash to the claim area or just check-in nothing and buy when you arrive.

Sir, You’ll Have to Check the Cheesecake

by Erik Olsen on

Ahh, our devoted TSA. Diligent and alert and always reasonable, we salute you. Yes, take a gander at this blog entry about the intense, thoughtful discussion that went on recently at an American airport over the question of whether a cheesecake constitutes gel or some other liquid.

One can imagine the deep philosophical questions that arose, the scientific thread of the debate. To wit: “isn’t a cheesecake is made of cheese? And cheese starts as milk, which is most definitely a liquid.” Or: “Under intense heat the cheesecake could in fact melt, turning it into a liquid-like substance, a substance that could clearly be missed with C-4, this making cheesecake extremely potentially dangerous.

Well, as you’ll read, saner heads prevailed. But at least we go int the new year knowing our government agencies are constantly hard at work keep you, me, us, safe. God bless them.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of December 3

by Adrienne Wilson on

Time to wrap up the week that was with some of our some very tasty and foul entries.

5. How to Have A Bad Time in New York City:
Sad to say, but everyone who arrives in NYC doesn’t have a great time which is not a reflection of the city by any means. Instead it goes to show how much homework time they invested in seeing the Big Apple the right way. To avoid having a bad time on your first trip in try giving this article here a spin.

4. Find a Grave Tourism:
Over the last year or so I’ve been attracted to cemeteries for many reasons and thankfully none of which were to attend a funeral. When Neil posted this plug on finding graves of celebrities or even your own special loved ones I thought how cool! Not that I go stalking the dead on a regular basis, but there is so much history in grave yards. Anyhow, if this sounds like your sort of thing too then go take a look.

3. Low Rollers Guide to Vegas:
Looking to go to Vegas on a tight budget? Head to Downtown Las Vegas where Low Rollers remain Low Rollers and save a little pocket change.

2. No Lights on Flights:
Passing on gas on planes probably won’t earn the kind of fame and stardom you’re seeking in life, but lighting a match to your flatulence will. Read the tale about common sense lost and a plane grounded when a woman tries to cover her smelly toots from her caboose.

1. Smile! You’ve Been Secretly Profiled!:
For some folks being spied on is a high honor that shows someone really cares, but for others it is enough to boil the blood stream and do nutty things. What kind of nutty things? I don’t know for sure, but it sounds as though the government has been secretly collecting data on domestic and international travelers for the last four years. Flattered yet? What they’ve managed to soak up and put in your own personal folder may be of interest to you. Check it out.