Has everyone heard about Boeing’s so-called self-cleaning lavatory prototype? Sounds great, but there’s some false advertising here. (It doesn’t actually clean itself. It sanitizes, which is totally different.) But it’s still a good idea, and the inevitable question is… why not do this on the entire airplane? The answer … Read the post
Category: Safety/Security
If you haven’t heard, it’s time for Congress to once again try to reauthorize the FAA. I say “try” because in general, Congress is really bad at this. Usually it just passes temporary extensions which keeps the lights on but does nothing to push the FAA forward. On occasion, it … Read the post
[You all know that I love TSA Pre✓®, so I was more than happy to cooperate with IdentoGO on a sponsored post about how people can sign up for the service. If you haven’t yet, it’s most definitely worth considering.]
Traveling … Read the post
Last week, we had our internal Crankyfest gathering for Cranky Concierge. We do this every year as a way for the team to get together, work through issues, and talk strategy for the future. Thanks to some shenanigans, a lack of French language knowledge by the TSA, and an … Read the post
The headline in the Wall Street Journal says “FAA Calls Out ‘Systemic’ Hazard at United.” (You can Google the title to get to the article if you aren’t a subscriber.) The FAA has raised some red flags at the airline, and United has responded saying all is fixed. … Read the post
It’s been a safety-issue kind of week, hasn’t it? There’s the letter United sent to its pilots regarding some serious problems. Then there was the news about Southwest missing inspections on over 100 airplanes.
Does any of this concern you? Would you be … Read the post
Who’s ready for another fun-filled Ask Cranky adventure? This time, it’s about a note that came in a long time ago. I was reminded about it, however, on my flight with Delta from Maui back home.
… Read the postHave you ever looked into seatbelt light overuse?
Had I said to you a month ago that your flight was quarantined because of an Ebola scare, you would have laughed out loud (unless, of course, you’re from Western Africa). But today, that’s the reality. We’re seeing a level of paranoia that is completely unwarranted, and I’m afraid it’s … Read the post
Pre Flight Goes Avant Garde – apex experience
The Airline Passenger Experience Association magazine has been revamped, and I’m back writing for it again. This month, I took on the topic of safety videos. (Think Air New Zealand.)
Beginning on April 25, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is doing something that you don’t often see; it is loosening restrictions on what you can bring through security. Shock! Horror! What is now being permitted, small knives among other things, has caused an uproar in some groups. Personally, I … Read the post
Have you seen the supposed “safety rankings” for 2012 from the Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC)? I know some of you have, because I’ve received emails about it, and it is a truly awful way to measure airline safety. You know I hate to give press to … Read the post
We have a couple of new safety videos that were released this week. In my mind, the ultimate question here is… will people pay attention? First up is Air New Zealand’s pure commercial Hobbit video:
Then Delta brought out two versions of its new safety … Read the post