End of the road (sort of....)

For various reasons I have decided to stop posting to this blog. Instead you can find postings on a slightly broader range of topics, but still including travel musings, at my new blog, "GeekOnTheRoad"

Information on the go

As frequent traveler, I have found having a smartphone with mobile internet a really useful tool. Of course it helps if you have useful sites to pick up data. In an earlier post, I mentioned seatguru.com and their mobile site, mobile.seatguru.com, is as good as the 'normal' version. Another useful mobile oriented site is mobile.flightstats.com. Finally for a mobilefriendly weather summary, go to m.wund.com

Delta/NW Merger

In various media, the rumors of a DL/NW merger grows. Having traveled on both quite a bit in the last twelve months, here are some ideas about what could best be taken from each side of the fence.
From Delta the NorthWest staff can learn how to treat their high mileage flyers, as well as an overall approach to all passengers. Also, NW needs to upgrade the interior of their aircraft, Delta is far superior, and probably the best amongst the large full service airlines.
On the other hand, I hope that Delta will change the Crown rooms into the WorldClub format. This would mean better snacks and free Internet access.

Hopefully, someone at Delta, with clout, will read this so that, if the merger goes ahead, both sides AND us, the traveling public, will get the best from the merger.

Things Clearing Up?

On a recent departure from Orlando, where I can use the Clear lane, I was told that Clear will be issuing new cards, with photographs. These cards meet TSA's requirements for ID, so it will no longer necessary to show boarding card, Clear card and picture ID. Well done Clear, great idea that makes our hectic travel life just a little easier.

Now we just have to wait for more aiprorts and even more ways to speed through security....shoes, laptops anyone?

Are you in the zone??

IT has been quiet on my blog, I guess because I have been back on my favorite airline, Delta. Unfortunately, in the last few weeks they slipped up a couple of times. Firstly whena flight was cancelled due to mechanical problems, the gate agents, all six of them just worked through the lines in sequential order. In past such situations Delta was very good at allocating at least one agent to work the frequent flyers as a separate line.

However my most recent hiccup is a little more troubling, as is goes to frequent traveler recognition on a day to day basis. Last Thursday, on my way home out of Dulles, I was not lucky enough to get my upgrade, so had to wait for my zone, which happened to be zone 3. When my zone was called, and I headed down the aisle to my exit row seat as one of the first of the zone 3 group, I was surprised to see that most of the seats around mine were already taken. It looked as if over half the zone 2 group were sitting there.

This begs the question, how does Delta determine zone number, or did the gate agent not police the zone mubers correctly. For zone numbers I expected the difference between zones 2 and 3 would probably be location, i.e. front/back of aircraft or window/aisle seats, or even a combination of both. But as I was sitting in a window seat and the zone two group were seated around me, the location criteria does not seem to apply. This experience makes me wonder if there might be other criteria than efficient loading for determining the zone number for Medallion members. If so, what is it? Last year I collected almost 150,000 (double Platinum) qualification miles, so it is not mileage status.

And if it is not, then what value is there in loyalty, once you achieve the top-level of elite status? It seems that it may be better to then share loyalty with a second airline and build status in more than one program.

So Delta, I am afraid that I have to award you a soduk.

Reply from Clear

I received the following reply to an email which I sent to Steven Brill, CEO of Clear. I hope that he does not mind me sharing it with you

"I ask myself that same question all the time -- and I ask Kip Hawley (who runs TSA) that question, too.

The answer for now is that the background screening will be used to offer real benefits -- such as not having to remove shoes -- once TSA approves the use of the enhanced equipment that we are trying to get them to approve, such as our shoe scanner. They say they are close to approving it and that when they do it will be the combination of the background screening and the enhanced equipment that gives them the comfort to allow a reduction of the security process at the lane.

For now that's a frustrating answer. But mid-term and long-term I think/hope it makes sense."

Clear becoming a little muddy?

In an earlier post I discussed the advantages of using the Clear card for expedited TSA security screening at a number of airports. Unfortunately they have recently downgraded their service, as they no longer use their shoe scanners, which allowed you to keep shoes on through the detector portal.

This means now that the Clear card has just become a paid way to go to the head of the line at security. As the screening that you now undergo is exactly the same as any other passenger, I wonder why they cannot reduce their $99 fee, by removing the TSA pre-screening. I heard that the latter costs about $28, but seems unnecessary now.

Of course, the Clear card is still useful for having a predictable time at security, but it would be nice if they could make it a little cheaper. Or allow the pre-screening to mean something, e.g. leave your shoes on, or leave the laptop in the bag.