Showering at the airport makes the flight so much easier

by Grant Martin on

Traveling with an airport lounge membership for the past few months, I’ve been struggling to figure out whether or not the investment was actually worth it. Iva’s had some trouble with her Continental Airlines President’s Club membership, but I’m still on the fence. On one hand, I get free wireless internet, free drinks and a comfortable quiet place to work while waiting for my flights. But is the two hundred and fifty dollars really worth it?

Well, yesterday on the way to London, I decided that it is.

First, a little background: it’s about 5 degrees in Detroit, as it usually is around this time of year. I’m on my way to London to take care of a little work on the Focused Ion Beam at Loughborough University then I’m bouncing down to Paris to visit my sister and Eleanor Beardsley. I’ve got my favorite Arc’teryx long weekender pack, am wearing my favorite pair of travel jeans and pretty much the thinnest pair of boots I’ve ever purchased (I had to JB weld the sole to the leather last season).

Needless to say, I was pretty much freezing on my short shuttle ride between the off-airport parking lot and Detroit’s McNamara terminal. On the way in, however, I recalled that the Detroit airport lounge had a couple of showers. Nothing feels better than a hot shower after being out in the cold. And despite my fears that the lounge shower would be akin to the boys high school locker room, it was quite pleasant. Free towels and soap were waiting for me when I showed up, and soft classical music played in the background as I warmed back up to temperature.

Now, sitting in 14J on my way to London I have to admit, I feel a lot better than I did on the way in. On a flight that’s booked with about 50 out of about 250 passengers, I look over at the vacant row of seats next to me and think about the decent night of sleep that I’m about to get. It’s nice to be traveling again.

Northwest Airlines Sponsors Destination and Miles Giveaway

by Grant Martin on

For those of you frequent flyers out there who subscribe to Northwest Airline’s Worldperks program, they just launched their fall promo. Dubbed Mystery Miles, this season’s dish is another points-based program, encouraging travelers to fly certain routes in certain fare classes to collect points. Come January 31, points are tabulated and you get a mileage bonus for the number of points you earned. This can be anywhere in the neighborhood of 500 – 100,000 miles, but 95% of us will be under 10k.

Earlier this year (or was it last?) I participated in the ‘Mile Safari’ promotion where I earned points in a similar fashion. While it didn’t turn into a wealth of miles, six thousand miles here and there never hurt anyone, especially if all I had to do was plug my frequent flyer number into their form.

In addition, Northwest will be posting clues on mystery destinations each week. If you can figure out and submit the location, you’ll be entered in a weekly drawing to win round trips to that destination. And I have a feeling that once the clues come out you’ll be able to Google the answers you need to partake. Lets hope the fantasy destinations aren’t Haiti and Ohio.

Northwest Airlines Employees to Undergo Customer Service Training

by Catherine Bodry on

Flights are delayed, and connections are missed. Passengers get angry. Airline employees get bitter from having to deal with the angry passengers. So what should be done? One airline is taking action, but not any that gets to the root of the problem.

USA Today reports that Northwest employees will undergo “intensive training” that will encourage them to see travel experience through the customer’s eyes. The airline admittedly needs some customer service training, as their reputation isn’t one filled with gumdrops and rainbows. Nevertheless, this training shouldn’t be the only response to passenger complaints; they wouldn’t have as much of a problem if flights were leaving and arriving on time. But as flights are still backed up and baking on the tarmac, a little sprucing up in the service department might do Northwest some good.

Will employees will be forced to sit in cramped quarters with screaming babies and people who take up half of your seat? Actually, come to think of it, flight attendants already do that.

We Hope NWA Treats Its Passengers Better…

by Iva Skoch on

CNN Money ran it’s 101 Dumbest Moments in Business site again this year. #2 was unbelievable. Apparently, just before laying off 4000+ more workers mid-last-year during its bankruptcy, Northwest Airlines handed out to its employees a guide for saving money: 101 Ways to Save Money.

The guide had in it suggestions such as #46 “don’t be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash.” Or, shred newspapers to make cat litter (or was it in-flight food?), make your own baby food, and take walks in the woods to save money on a date. Another favorite: (#15) “Get hand-me-down clothes and toys for your kids, from friends and relatives.”

Here’s hoping that nice blanket, pillow, and mixed nuts you enjoyed last flight weren’t the result of a dumpster-dive.

Sea Sick on a Plane

by Iva Skoch on

This video is worth watching. A Northwest airlines flight landing at SeaTac had a rough, and aborted, landing, due to high winds the other day.

The plane later landed safely, but it’s a good lesson to remember with winter and holiday travel here: our sincerest intentions are never a match against mother nature. Buckle up!