airport posts

Airlines Offer Green, Conscience-Soothing Carbon Offset Packages

by Lee Bains (RSS feed) — Sep 30th 2009 at 5:02PM

The business of guilt removal has been around for a lot longer than Sally Struthers's quavering-voiced pleas for the children and Jim Bakker's patronizing smiles. Now, the San Francisco International Airport has joined those ranks with its three brand new Climate Passport kiosks. In exchange for good old U.S. greenbacks, these ATMs of environmental righteousness grant a passenger-patron a certificate indicating that his or her money has been earmarked for preservation efforts at the Garcia River forest in Mendocino County, California.

The price of an eco-indulgence depends on the length of a passenger's trip; to offset the contaminants of a shuttle flight costs a few bucks, ranging to $70 for an international voyage. Ari Zeskoe, the first passenger to thus purchase self-satisfaction, wasn't entirely, well, satisfied. Noting that his certificate did mention the Garcia River efforts, he told NPR, "I suppose that's what it goes to, but I'm not entirely sure."

Tags: airport, carbon, carbon footprint, CarbonFootprint, green, top

CNN Pulls Racy Pam Anderson PETA Ad From Airport Network

by Caleb Johnson (RSS feed) — Sep 10th 2009 at 4:21PM

After that notorious homemade video, it's hard to call any other video featuring Pamela Anderson "racy." But, the animal-loving Anderson's new PETA advertisement stirred up so much controversy that CNN has reportedly pulled it from its airport network.

Hollywood blog The Wrap reports that CNN was concerned about youngsters viewing the 'Cruelty Doesn't Fly' promo, which was scheduled to show in 48 U.S. airports. In a statement to PETA, CNN reportedly wrote that the matter was "particularly sensitive because children make up part of the demographic in airports." The video (shown below) does feel a little like a weird porno clip. Anderson, of course, is dressed like a stripper who is dressed like a security guard (yes, hot pants, halfway-buttoned shirt and corny hat included). She checks passengers for leather or fur products. Along the way, she rips off a shirtless guy's belt, stares at a nude couple's backside, and lastly, slaps a set of handcuffs on a fur-coated woman that's being escorted by Andy Dick.

Tags: advertising, airport, andy dick, banned, cnn, pamela anderson, peta, sexy, top

Airport Service 'Clear' Goes Bust, Keeps Charging Customers

by Leila Brillson (RSS feed) — Jun 23rd 2009 at 5:01PM

Frequent fliers, get back in line. Verified Identity Pass's (VIP) Clear, a subscription service that amazingly allowed travelers to bypass security checkpoints for a yearly fee, recently announced that yesterday would be its last day of operation. Despite having pulled in nearly 260,000 users at $199 each, Clear has shut down all 18 of its hubs, citing financial strain as its rationale.

If that wasn't frustrating enough for users who have gotten accustomed to zipping through lines, it appears that VIP continued to charge customers up until the day of that announcement, CNet's Matt Asay reports. While travel safety is important in an era of global terrorism, business travelers and frequent fliers often have to dash daily from airport to airport, so Clear's ability to quickly read fingerprints and verify IDs certainly endeared VIP to consumers. Isn't it remarkable how charging for a product that is no longer available can quickly change all that? [From: CNet and LATimes.com]

Tags: airport, clear, economy, flying, top, travel, tsa, verified identity pass, VerifiedIdentityPass

House Nixes 'Virtual Strip Searches' at Airport

by Caleb Johnson (RSS feed) — Jun 8th 2009 at 2:28PM

A House bill could soon stop airport employees from getting an eyeful of passengers as they pass through airport checkpoints. The House recently approved legislation that would stop the use of "virtual strip searches" at airports, according to CNET News. Using a low-energy, X-ray machine, airport security personnel can currently view a detailed image of the naked figure that includes every body part, right down to the genitalia.

The amendment would stop the use of these virtual strip searches as the primary screening method, and would allow passengers to request a pat-down search instead. While privacy groups like the Electronic Privacy Information Center support the bill, others say the issue has been blown out of proportion. According to the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), steps have already been taken to protect the privacy of air travelers -- most notably in the form of a filter that provides TSA employees with a more vague image of the naked body.

The TSA uses virtual strip searches at 19 airports across the country. While the TSA's director recently supported the technology, a number of advocacy groups have sent a letter asking the Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to suspend the use of the X-ray machines. Next up, the bill goes to the Senate for further consideration. Until this issue is resolved, we'll feel a little more self-conscious every time we pass through airport checkpoints. [From: CNET News]

Tags: airport, government, house of representatives, HouseOfRepresentatives, legislation, privacy, top, travel, tsa, x-ray

Computers

German Scientists Try to Clean Up 'Naked Scanners'

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Dec 1st 2008 at 3:57PM

Airports worldwide are starting to see new full-body scan machines that have the unfortunate side effect of revealing your goodies. Of course, the fact that security agents get an eye-full of your naughty bits has some privacy advocates concerned and has prevented them becoming common place in most countries.

Reuters reports that German scientists are looking to address some of these concerns. They've taken the scanners into the lab to see if they can produce an image with the private parts automatically blurred out. Critics of the highly detailed scanner dubbed it the "naked scanner," and are spearheading the effort to prove the scanner can effectively reveal weapons without producing an image of a passenger's naked body.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has previously defended the scanners, saying the images produced were family friendly enough to, "make the cover of Reader's Digest." After seeing the images, however, we can safely say that the only way 'Reader's Digest' would ever publish images from the scan is if they were purchased by 'Hustler.' [From: Reuters]

Tags: airport, flight, naked scanner, NakedScanner, scanner, security, top, travel

iPhone

American Airlines Getting In On That Cell Phone Boarding Pass Fad

by Engadget Staff (RSS feed) — Nov 14th 2008 at 11:51AM

American Airlines has joined its peers at Continental in offering boarding pass barcodes that you can download to and display on your BlackBerry, iPhone, G1, or whatever have you. Presently the airline is only offering the option on domestic, non-stop flights departing from O'Hare -- LAX and Orange County will start on the 17th. Some eastern yanks might be asking, "What, no JFK or Logan? Where's the east coast love, AA?" Don't get too bent out of shape, boys and girls -- tech-savvy business travelers love their BlackBerrys, so we could see this pop up just about everywhere before long.

[Via Mobilitysite]

The Top 11 Ways to Save Time and Money With Your Phone

Tags: airline, airplane, airport, boarding, boarding pass, boarding passes, boardingpass, boardingpasses, booking, cellphone, cellphone boarding, cellphoneboarding, cellphones, flight, lax, mobile, ohare, orange county, orangecounty, santa ana john wayne, santaanajohnwayne, transportation, travel

Computers

Birmingham Airport Report Exposes Cause of Vibrating Suitcase

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Oct 25th 2008 at 6:01PM

Stock photography is, more often than not, a necessary evil. We use a number of boilerplate images (some more often than we should), and companies are quick to break out photos of the everyday woman doing something vaguely relevant when assembling reports, brochures, and newsletters.

Usually, however, stock photographs are carefully chosen to be inoffensive and avoid grabbing attention. This leads us to believe that officials at the Birmingham Airport had a collective brain fart, or have a better sense of humor than we give them credit for.

On page eleven of the airports annual report (PDF) is a collage of safety and security related images. One of those photos is an X-ray of a suitcase that contains a very anatomically accurate vibrator. We know that vibrators occasionally trigger false alarms for airport security, often enough to be poked fun at in 'Fight Club.' We have trouble figuring out how this frankly shocking image made it into a corporate report. [From: Inquirer]

Tags: airport, humor, security, vibrator, xray

Audio/Video

New Technology Could Detect Terrorists By Screening For Anxiety

by Peter Mychalcewycz (RSS feed) — Sep 20th 2008 at 3:12PM

How do you feel when you walk through an airport these days? Angry, confused, and poorer than when you arrived? Us too!

We usually wouldn't mention such a touchy issue, but there is a new technology in development that could possibly affect millions of ornery travelers in a profound way. The Department of Homeland Security recently showcased an early version of what is basically an anxiety-detection machine designed to detect unusually high biological fluctuations in humans at airport checkpoints (changes in breathing patterns, increased heart rate, etc.)

They're looking for anxiety at airport checkpoints...Really? That's like going to Princeton University during final exams and screening a fourth generation legacy.

Sigh....

We don't really have much to say about this. They say the technology is in its infancy and years away from the marketplace. We hope so, because if they screened us for anxiety after we had just waited in line for an hour to pay 100 dollars for checking an extra piece of gum, we would probably have the same vital signs as a suicide bomber. [From: USA Today]

Tags: airport, anxiety, flying, homelandsecurity, stress, top, travel

Cell Phones, Computers

Best Buy to Sell Gadgets in Airport Vending Machines

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Aug 11th 2008 at 12:05PM

Best Buy Putting Gadget Vending Machines in Airports

Best Buy is paving the way for employee-free retail by installing gadget vending machines in airports around the country. Travelers will be able to pick up a host of electronic devices including cell phones, digital cameras, headphones, and various power adapters from the machines for what are sure to be absurd prices. The Best Buy vending machines will be operated and stocked by Zoom Systems, the same company that has put iPod- and Sony-gadget-vending machines in varied places such as the Dallas-Fort-Worth Airport, the Las Vegas Hilton, and Macy's.

The first batch of machines will be installed on September 1, in airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and San Francisco. They're sure to come in handy for the forgetful traveler who is always leaving behind important accessories, but we're not sure how comfortable we would be buying an expensive piece of equipment like a digital camera from the same machines that are always eating our dollar bills when we want a Snickers bar. Even so, Zoom Systems offers a 60-day return policy, in case you, say, accidentally press the wrong button and buy the wrong color iPod.

On the plus side, a vending machine can't steal your very personal photographs. [Source: AOL News]

Tags: airport, automation, best buy, BestBuy, gadget, retail, travel, vending machine, vending machines, VendingMachine, VendingMachines

Computers, Summer Fun

British Government to Fingerprint All Air Travelers

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Jul 30th 2008 at 2:10PM

It's bad enough that you can't walk around the streets of the United Kingdom with out ending up on closed circuit security camera somewhere, but now the government wants to track every air passenger, domestic and international, with photographs and fingerprints, says the Daily Mail. What's worse is some charge that the move is all in the name of making a buck.

New shopping areas and lounges in British airports mix domestic and international fliers in one area so that all can take advantage of the duty free shopping. But these common departure areas come with a whole new set of security issues to confront, like the possibility that a international terrorist or criminal could arrive on an international flight then meet up with an accomplice in the departure gate and swap tickets for a domestic carrier.

To avoid such a catastrophe, new security measures are being put in place that would photograph and fingerprint every passenger upon entering the departure area, and reconfirm their identity before boarding the plane. As usual, privacy advocates are in an uproar, and not without precedent. A similar policy at Heathrow had to be scrapped after the British Information Commissioner warned them that it was a violation of data protection laws.

Of course, the new invasive security measures and dangers to citizens could all be avoided if the airports weren't so keen to make an extra buck off of domestic passengers who normally don't have access to duty free shops. [Source: Daily Mail]

Tags: airport, privacy, security, summernews, travel

Computers, Laptops, Summer Fun

New Bags Let You Keep Your Laptop Inside at Airport Security Lines

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Jul 1st 2008 at 9:40AM

Airport Friendly Laptop Cases Just Around the Bend

In a post 9/11 world, getting though airport security is only about half a step away from a full cavity search and a Q&A session at Guantanamo. Shoes, belts, jackets, and sweaters must all come off, and laptops must be removed from their case and placed on the belt.

This isn't just a minor inconvenience -- as a result of the increased security procedures, it is now suggested that you show up at least two hours before your stated departure... for domestic flights. The slow moving and nerve-wracking long lines have many travelers fuming and even choosing other modes of transport for shorter trips.

But the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is looking to soothe at least some of the pain involved with air travel. It has just okayed luggage and laptop case makers to start manufacturing X-ray friendly cases. The problem with older laptop bags is that they are often difficult to see through on an X-ray machine and are packed with accessories -- such as power adapters and mice -- that block security personnel's view. The new cases will vary in design from fold-down or detachable laptop-only sections on luggage to standalone foam sleeves without room for accessories. Since they'll provide a clear view of laptops for X-ray machines, these cases will be allowed through security without requiring that anything be taken out.

Luggage makers should start manufacturing the newly approved travel accessories shortly, and will no doubt be rushing them to market as-soon-as-possible. [Source: NY Times]

Tags: airport, laptop bags, LaptopBags, security, summernews, transportation secur..., TransportationSecur..., travel, tsa

Computers

Apple Updates AirPort Express With Faster Speeds

by Tim Stevens (RSS feed) — Mar 17th 2008 at 10:05AM

Apple's AirPort Express has been hailed as a user-friendly, portable, out-of-the-box solution for wireless networking. It lets you connect your computers, share a printer, and stream your music over the air with little more setup required than plugging the pocket-sized thing in. Now the device has gotten even better, taking a step up to the faster, 802.11n standard.

The former AirPort Express used the 802.11g standard, which delivered a maximum speed of 54 megabits-per-second over the 2.4-gigaherz wireless band, the same many wireless phones use. 802.11n uses both the 2.4 gigaherz band as well as the 5-gigaherz bands, providing maximum broadcast speeds of 248 megabits-per-second, nearly five times that of g. Additionally it offers nearly twice the range, up to 820 feet, for those with really big pads.

The new AirPort Express is available now at the Apple Store for $99.

From Engadget

Related Links:

Tags: 802.11, AirPort, Wireless

Computers

New TSA Blog Fields Complaints About Airport Security

by Will Safer (RSS feed) — Feb 1st 2008 at 11:17AM

Can a security operation do its job and be transparent about its policies at the same time?

That's the challenge for the Transportation Security Administration as it launches its new blog called 'The Evolution of Security,' where in just a couple of days, more than 700 members of the public have already posted comments on issues ranging from the varying sensitivity of metal detectors to the sometimes mysterious application of rules and regulations to people just trying to get to their flights on time.

The blog's goal is to "facilitate an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process." In the early going, hot topics range from "shoes and liquids" to "inconsistencies" -- basically the common concerns of airline travellers today.

The site's motto? "Terrorists Evolve. Threats Evolve. Security Must Stay Ahead. You Play A Part."

TSA Administrator Kip Hawley writes that the blog was created to field questions from the public and provide answers, with the overall goal of getting passengers and the TSA "back on the same side, working together."

TSA personnel can't take the time to answer questions while doing their jobs at airport security checkpoints, so the blog was created as a way to explain policies to the public and take suggestions.

The comment policy is pretty straightforward. The TSA states the blog is for facilitating "an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process." It will not post comments that are vulgar, abusive or off topic, which is common practice for moderated blogs.

Hawley asks for patience and good humor while the blog is in its early stages. Maybe that's good advice if you're standing in a long security line at the airport, too?

From Computerworld.

Computers, Video Games

Video Game Trains Airport Security Guards

by Tim Stevens (RSS feed) — Oct 15th 2007 at 1:27PM

Those supposedly random security searches at the airport aren't the only things that aren't as unpredictable as they should be. A recent study of security at Los Angeles' LAX airport found that the patrols of terminals made by guards are not random or unpredictable as they should be, but instead fall into predictable paths -- the result of normal human nature to make and follow comfortable patterns. The problem is, predictability is easily exploitable by potential criminals or terrorists; randomness is not.

Enter a new simulation by Praveen Paruchuri, a PhD candidate at the University of Southern California. His software is a sort of video game for determining how random paths for security guards impact the behavior of simulated criminals. It applies so-called game theory to develop random paths through pixelated versions of LAX terminals, with each path rated according to rewards such as finding criminals, and penalties such as triggering terrorist explosions. The goal is to keep guards more alert by breaking routine -- which, for airport security, is a deadlier habit than suckling down cigarettes.

Video-game simulations of dangerous real-life situations have been used in the past to train our military. You may remember an urban warfare game for the Xbox from a few years a go called 'Full Spectrum Warrior.' That game was actually a more consumer-friendly version of a simulation that had been developed by the military to help train soldiers. Today, there are several companies contracted by the military and law enforcement to make such games, including Will Interactive, which makes a series called 'The Incident,' for training police officers on such issues as domestic violence and suicide negotiation.

This all makes 'Halo 3' look a bit trivial, don't you think?

From New Scientist Tech

Related Links:

Tags: airport, security

Peek Inside the Gigantic Airbus A380

by Tom Conlon (RSS feed) — Sep 11th 2007 at 5:32PM

Want to step aboard the spankin' new, Godzilla-sized Airbus A380, but don't have a trip planned on Korean Air anytime soon? No worries. Aving.net has you covered with a full-blown photo tour of the new planes, including shots of the cockpit, wine bar, first class accommodations and even the latrines.

We do not recommend this photo gallery to anyone about to board one of the sardine-cans-with-wings we're stuck with here in the U.S.

From Aving.net

Related Links:

Tags: airbus, airplane, airport, flight, plane, travel

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'Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

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Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.

Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.

Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.

Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.

HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.

HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.

HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.

GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.

Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.

Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.

Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.

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