Rocket Science

Ok, I may just be slow, but I figured out how to get around the checked baggage fee everyone but premium members of mainline airlines have to pay these days. Bring too many carry on bags, or bags that are too big to fit in the overhead bins, and gate check the bag. (If you can get them past security, that is.)

The mainline airlines don’t have any process in place to charge you–that I’m aware of… Though I suppose it’s right around the corner that they’ll charge to bring anything onboard.

One of the flight attendants on one of my flights over Memorial Day pointed out United’s 757 only has space for about 80 roll aboard suitcases even though there are 160 passengers in economy. So of course it’s not unreasonable to assume there are going to be bags that won’t fit. Especially as people try to avoid the ludicrous checked baggage fees.

Photo Credit: @purploony/flickr

Things are out of hand, even the stuffed animals are getting caught by the bin police

(I’m lucky, I’m a premium member of United’s Mileage Plus frequent flier program. And they figured out that they’d have a revolt, and lose lots of money, if they pissed off their Premier passengers.)

As an aside, I’ve read that one reason these extra fees are being charged is that the U.S. Federal government doesn’t regulate nor tax these fees.

Domestic upgrades for Premier members no longer require co-pays!

Mostly, ’nuff said.

Source: Brandon/United

United Ends Domestic Co-Pays for Premiers

(In my opinion the policy of requiring pricey co-pays was leading to ever growing balances of frequent flier points. I’m pretty sure those points end up counting as a financial liability on United’s books. By not discouraging their Premier members from using points for domestic upgrades, in advance of the potential automatic upgrades, then they will be less likely to grow that liability to larger than healthy levels. But that’s mostly speculation on my part.)

And Delta does too…

Source: Brandon/Delta

And Delta Does Too!

(I wrote this during a vacation over Memorial Day…)

With Memorial Day upon us, the summer travel season has officially begun.

Witnessed today at the airport…

• Traveler’s blocking pedestrian traffic flow
• Traveler’s standing around with dazed looks on their faces
• Traveler’s carrying too many bags, that were completely unwieldy

Photo Credit: @M.V. Jantzen/flickr

ORD in motion

The best thing I heard on the security announcements on one of my flights today?

We ask for your patience….

Source: United Express Flight Attendant ORD-DTW

Hrm. That’s a new one. Especially considering you (the flight attendant or airline) haven’t done anything to warrant the need for my patience. What do you know is coming that I don’t?

I’ve been displaying selected photos in a one-at-a-time or slideshow format in the sidebar of my site for awhile now. I’ve been rotating the album every 3-6 months. As I get more albums uploaded, I’ll switch out the albums more often.

Holiday Cards 2008

Photos from my travels in 2008. I intended to use these with my holiday cards.

42 Photos

Holiday Cards 2007

Photos from my travels in 2007. I used these with my holiday cards.

37 Photos

Holiday Cards 2004

Photos from my travels in 2004. I used these with my holiday cards.

35 Photos

Tulips 2007

Tulips, Keukenhof, Netherlands, 2007

37 Photos

Holiday Cards 2009

Photos from my travels in 2009. I used these with my holiday cards.

47 Photos

India Flora and Fauna 2009

India flora and fauna from 2009

60 Photos

MIT Parking Rocket Scientist

Rocket Scientist in MIT parking garage

6 Photos

This is an update to my Holiday Cards 2003-2008 post.

I read about this in two places today, but the Wall Street Journal had the best news:

Source: snoll

Penalties Ahead

The new rule adopted by the Department of Transportation sets fines of as much as $27,500 a passenger when airlines leave fliers stuck on a plane on the ground for more than three hours. Based on a delayed plane carrying 120 passengers, the fine could be as much as $3.3 million.

Source: Mitchell, J. and Carey, S. (2009, December 21). “U.S. to Fine Airlines for Tarmac Delays, Impose 3-Hour Wait Limit“. Retrieved on December 21, 2009, from Wall Street Journal Website: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126140826775100235.html

It’s about time if you ask me!