More Than Points

There has been chatter about TSA and laptop manufacturers working together to create TSA-approved laptop bags for speeding up security checks.  The idea is travelers could avoid removing laptop from TSA-approved laptop bags.  The driving requirement is allowing clear access to the laptop as if it were separated in its own security bin.  You can expect bags which roll-out flat to separate the laptop from the other items in your bag  which may prevent an unobstructed view of the laptop. Targus and a few other vendors have already announced TSA-approved models which should be available in the coming months.

I don’t believe this will save time in the short run as travelers and TSA personnel get accustomed to an updated security process incorporating the new laptop bags.  I can see inexperienced travelers taking a cue from travelers with TSA-approved bags and sending in their unapproved laptop bags.  Expect additional questions from TSA personnel if a travelers fails to remove their laptop into a separate bin.  In the long run things should speed things up if there are enough travelers who purchase TSA-approved bags and we work through a few iterations.

I plan to keep my Tumi.  I’ve my security process down to an art.  Have a happy Monday morning.

The DOT has released some figures regarding air travel delays during the busy summer travel season.

• John F Kennedy International (JFK) in New York was worst among North America’s 40 busiest airports, with les than 55% of flights arriving on-time
• LaGuardia (LGA), also in New York, was the 2nd worst with 58% on-time arrival rate
• Rounding out the NY trio was Newark International (EWR) with a 60% on-time arrival rate
• For reference, the average at all other major airports was 74%
• JetBlue was the worst performing airline in July with less than 70% on-time arrival rate
• American Airlines was worst in June, with only 58% on-time arrivals

So, if you plan your travel around avoiding delays, then next year consider flying to Salt Lake City (on Southwest Airlines). SLC had nearly an 86% on-time performance, and as usual Southwest was the major carrier with the best on-time performance. Here is the full report

In yet another round of travel issues with American Airlines this year (you may recall the issues with their MD-80 fleet), the world’s largest airline had to delay and cancel flights at New York’s JFK Airport due to malfunctioning software that controls the baggage sorting conveyor belt.

About 30 flights — of the 69 scheduled to depart from the airport Wednesday — have been delayed as of mid-afternoon by an hour to 90 minutes. The airline’s employees are sorting bags by hand and delivering them to the gates.

The airline is informing passengers that they can choose to fly without their bags and that it will deliver the delayed luggage "once the issue is resolved."

"We have brought in internal engineers and technicians from the system developer to conduct diagnostics," the Fort Worth-based carrier said in a statement. "We regret the inconvenience and we appreciate our customers’ patience as we work through this issue. Though it is not our normal policy, we will be waiving first and second checked bag fees today."

This is what you’ll see today in American’s terminal at JFK:

American did say that it would waive the fees it charges to check a first and second bag on Wednesday. Perhaps now is time to consider saying goodbye to baggage claims and ship those bags direct to your destination.

For the 2nd time since the TSA implemented it’s "No-Fly" list, I found myself on the list of flyers prohibited from checking in because I present a potential threat to national security. True? Doubtful. Here are my travel credentials: 1K flier with United Mileage Plus, Gold Medallion status with Delta, Silver OnePass with Continental, Platinum with Marriott, etc. Have I painted a sufficient picture? Needless to say, the frequency of my travel should remove me from this list immediately.

The most interesting thing is that I was placed on the list within days of receiving clearance for the Fly Clear card. If you’re not familiar with this program, it requires a significant background check by the TSA, so you’d think it would be safe for me to get on an airplane. Needless to say, for about 2 months I was unable to check in online and had to be manually cleared for check-in before boarding every flight.

Want to avoid being on the list? Here are a few steps you can take

1. Check Whether Your Name Appears on the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals List
2. Check Your Credit Reports For OFAC Alerts
3. Check Your Name for Terrorist Matches at S3 Matching Technologies’ TeraMatch
4. Use the DHS TRIP Program to Resolve Appropriate Travel Related Issues
5. Contact an Attorney, If You are Placed on a No Fly List in Error
6. Get Up to Date Information
7. Vote For Candidates Who Support Watchlist and Civil Rights Safeguards

My approach was to file a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security TRIP program (#4). This worked and now I’m free to check in online and fly the friendly(?) skies again.

Here are a few celebrities and unlikely terrorists that have also been detained: Nelson Mandela, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), US Rep. Don Young (D-AK), US Rep John Lewis (D-GA), singer Cat Stevens.

You can find the full text of the article here

After United Airlines announced a $25 fee for a 2nd checked luggage, it was only a matter of time before other airlines followed suit with similar fee-generating programs.  Take out the macro effects caused by rising oil prices such as less flights for unprofitable segments (American is losing 3.3 million a day!) and let’s focus on what this means to your week-to-week flying experience.

I assume as a road warrior, you are traveling pretty light and you do not check in any luggage.  In some cases, airlines do not charge flyers who have status so you may think this won’t impact us too much.  In most cases it won’t but there are a few cases where it just might.

If you’re late for a flight or somehow fail to board with the first group be prepare to check in your luggage.  With the new luggage fees, you can bet the overhead bins will be packed to the rim.  This means more time waiting at the baggage claim.

If you need to speak to a customer service representative, you can expect lines to be longer as people are figuring out how to pay for their check-in luggage.  Kiosk lines will take a bit longer as people go through the additional step of paying with their credit card.

Let say the airlines lose luggage - you can expect to see more angry customers since they now PAID to have their luggage checked-in when before they did not.  Again - expect longer customer service lines.

If you aren’t careful - this $15 fee will cost you more than $15 in time, waiting in lines or at baggage claims.  For many of you, the following tips may be redundant, but make sure you’re keeping your travel process streamlined.

Tips to Keep Your Travel Process Efficient

• Print your boarding pass in advance.  Buy a printer if you have to.  You need to avoid checking in at the airport to avoid the unnecessary lines.
• Give yourself enough time to reach your gate and board with the 1st group - your status won’t save you if you’re boarding with the 2nd group.
• If your flight is delayed or canceled and you need to speak to a customer service representative - call the 1-800 number reserved for flyers with status or call your travel agency.  Do not wait in a line or you may miss the seat for the next flight going out.
• Smile and be polite.  You’ll stand out among the sea of unhappy flyers and that can make all the difference sometimes.

Flying goes with the territory so take control of the things in your power and keep more time for yourself.

Not to be outdone by Hyatt, it looks like Marriott Platinum Elite members are eligible for a special one-year complimentary membership to Clear.

Off the Website:

The Clear Card allows you to access a fast lane through airport security at 17 major airports nationwide. As the number of participating airports grows, so does the value of Clear. The first time you breeze through security without the unpredictable, long lines, you’ll marvel at the time you save.

Enrollment in Clear is easy and, for Marriott Platinum Rewards members, complimentary. Start the process online by clicking join now on the left, then bring two forms of government-issued I.D. to any Clear enrollment station, where an attendant will confirm your I.D.s, capture iris and fingerprint images, and take your photograph.

After that, we’ll mail you your card and you’ll be free and clear, ready to speed through airport security, whether you’re on your way to your next Marriott stay, or anywhere else.

While it is not accepted everywhere, it appears to be rolling out to more and more airports each month.

Airports Accepting the Clear card:

• Albany (ALB)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG)
• Denver (DEN)
• Indianapolis (IND)
• Jacksonville (JAX)*
• New York JFK Terminals 1, 4 and 7 (JFK)
• New York LaGuardia Central Terminal (LGA)
• Newark Terminal B2 (EWR)
• Little Rock (LIT)
• Oakland (OAK)
• Orlando (MCO)
• Reno-Tahoe (RNO)*
• San Francisco (SFO)
• San José (SJC)
• Washington Dulles (IAD)
• Washington Reagan (DCA)
• Westchester (HPN)

Just enter “Marriott” followed immediately by your Marriott Rewards number in the discount field on the payment information page at the end of the enrollment process and receive your complimentary first year of membership.

Less time in a security line can only be a good thing.

What is a Clear Membership and why would you want one? Think of it as your VIP pass through airport security. I’m pretty certain registration and approval requires a background check and giving up a certain level of personal information. If you’re willing to do it for the convenience of “straight-through processing” at one of these airports then take advantage of this Hyatt only offer for a free one-year membership available to Diamond and Platinum members.

From Clear’s website:

Clear® is the fast pass for airport security. Clear members are pre-screened and provided with a high-tech card which allows them to access designated airport security fast lanes nationwide. Clear members pass through airport security faster, with more predictability and less hassle.

Clear’s first year price is $100 plus the TSA vetting fee of $28 for a total charge of $128.

If you qualify for the offer, you can avoid the first year price. Think of it as try before you buy. Unfortunately I’m not a Hyatt Diamond or Platinum members (this year) so I could not go through the entire process, but this membership could determine whether you make or miss your flight if you happen to be running late at one of the participating airports.

May your security lines always be short.

Lifehacker.com has a decent article which captures a pre-flight checklist. In a nutshell it is broken down in the following categories:

1. How to get cheap fares
2. How to select the best seats
3. How to pack
4. Miscellaneous

As a frequent traveler, it provides limited value as several things didn’t apply (e.g. How to get cheap fares, how to pack, etc.) Our working schedules dictate our flights and we pack without giving it a second thought (or let our dry-cleaners do the packing for us). The best way to use it is to verify your current weekly process and look for improvements. If I authored the article, I would have titled the article “Pack like a Power Traveler”.

Nevertheless, it is well-written so I recommend giving it a quick read.

Frank Luntz is a road warrior with a serious flying resume (He is a 1K member on United, Executive Platinum on American, Platinum on Continental, Gold on Delta, and Gold on US Airways). I read his article at www.businessweek.com and I found the information useful enough to pass on.

His 5 tips in no particular order (with my comments):

• Know your airport. (I just make sure to get to the airport with at least an hour before the flight is scheduled for take-off if you have no check-in baggage. Even if the security line takes 20-25 minutes, you still have time make it to the gate.)

Big airports are as different as the cities they’re in. Las Vegas is by far the worst, with long security lines that often take 45 minutes, particularly at the newly expanded D Gates (serving American, United (UAUA), and Delta (DAL)). New York’s JFK is the toughest airport to navigate if you’re switching carriers because there are nine separate terminals.

Also, most airports let you check in and check luggage up to 30 minutes before takeoff. But don’t show up a mere half-hour early in Vegas or at LAX in Los Angeles. You’ll miss the 45-minute cutoff, and you won’t get a boarding pass. Denver and Miami also have a 45-minute pre-flight deadline to check luggage but require only 30 minutes if you just need a boarding pass.

• The shortest airport security line is not necessarily the fastest. (This is a good one - I use this subconsciously all the time. I spot the business travelers by their suits and laptop bags.)

Look at the type of people waiting in a line, not the number. A dozen businesspeople will move through security much faster than two families with young children or a tour group of senior citizens. Just remember this equation: One baby carriage equals four typical passengers.

Another tip for moving through security: Aim for the far left or far right scanner lanes. Most people just walk straight ahead and end up waiting longer as a result.

• Early boarding is not desirable. (I am not a fan of this tip - getting your carry-on into the overhead is CRITICAL to avoid having to check it in.)

On crowded flights, the big planes can take 40 minutes to fully board, forcing you to spend all that extra time in a cramped seat. Unless you’re afraid there won’t be room in the overhead bins for your carry-on, wait.

• Planes sometimes close the door to passengers before the posted departure time. (Remember - airlines CAN and will do this because flights are considered delayed if they are at the gate past their scheduled departure time. They can sit on the tarmac for 20 minutes after the scheduled departure time and not communicate the flight as “delayed”.)

Many carriers would rather have a flight pull away 10 minutes early and leave a customer or two behind than arrive at its destination 10 minutes late. Personally, I have missed more flights this way than for all other reasons combined. The worst offender: US Airways

• Frequent fliers get no preference when flights are canceled. (Call up your travel agency AS soon as you think your flight may be canceled. Your travel agent can hold a seat on another flight without making the reservation and release the hold if your original flight takes off.)

If you are a frequent flier with a particular airline, you’re supposed to have an advantage in getting on that carrier’s next flight. But it’s first come, first served, baby. The person who gets to any gate agent for the airline first, anywhere in the airport, snags the first empty seats. So if you’re standing in a long line at your assigned gate waiting for rebooking, look for an agent at an empty gate.

Here’s hoping travel in 2008 turns out better than 2007 for all road warriors and their families..

I do this twice a week, every Monday and Thursday, so I’d consider myself a seasoned veteran. I’ve seen less frequent travelers follow my lead and make it through security without a hitch. If you follow these steps, you should be able to get through security without any issues and minimize the chance of missing a flight if you’re running late.

Before you get to the airport, you need to do some things beforehand.

Preparation Tips:

• Checkin/print your boarding pass in advance and put it in an easily accessible location (e.g. coat pocket, purse)
• Ensure all liquids are in a quart-sized sandwich bag in an easily accessible location (e.g. front pocket of your carry-on, backpack)
• Wear shoes which you can slip on and off with relative ease
• If your belt buckle is Texas-style large, swap belts or don’t wear it
• Empty your pockets of all change or transfer your loose change to your bag or jacket pockets

Key Tips to Get Through Security:

1. After getting your boarding pass and ID checked - put your boarding pass in your pocket (not coat pocket). Security will ask for it after you move through the metal detector
2. Use only 2 plastic bins - one for your laptop and the other one for your shoes, coat, and quart-sized sandwich bag with your liquids
3. Keep your wallet, watch, and belt ON - no need to take them off if you followed the preparation tips
4. Don’t put your carry-on bag on the table, roll it with you until you get to the x-ray machine - it’s easier to manage that way and you don’t take valuable table space from the people behind you
5. At the metal detector always WAIT for the TSA employee to give you the signal to come through
6. Read the TSA’s badge and greet them by name with a smile - look them in straight in the eye

NOTE: If you do get pulled aside for a bag check or a manual scan always cooperate, smile, and don’t try to speed up the process. You are not allowed to touch your bags while they are checking them. They are not concerned you’ll miss your flight. Let the TSA person do their job (even if they do it slowly) and you’ll get through the process faster.

Here’s hoping you always catch your flight.