How to improve travel in 2010 part 2
This is a great list and it’s worth clicking through to the article about Israel’s airport security.
cjn:
Inspired by the recent WSJ article, I’ve come up with a few ideas of my own.
1. Two small words: “Welcome Back.”
Being recognized by a hotel you frequent is absolutely essential. Two out of the 3 hotels I’ve stayed at in Japan this week got it right (Park Hyatt and Ritz-Carlton). My steady date, the Peninsula, got it wrong. An anomaly to be sure, but it is something that will stick in my mind when my finger hovers over the “book” button. There is simply too much competition at this level to not recognize guests who frequent your hotel.
2. Better airport security flow.
Noah Brier points out an article about how Israel handles airport security. While I think a lot of it is heavy handed and slightly for show, it is clearly thought out from a logistics standpoint, notably the various layers and how they serve as a filter. I’m sure there are several cues that US and other international airports can take away in light of the attempted Northwest bombing.
3. Decorum.
Travel used to be a dignified experience. I’d like to see passengers bring it back. This means dressing nicely, controlling your unruly children, and treating public areas (lounges, etc.) with respect. I might sound like an old man, but I suspect anyone who has spent more than a few hours in an airport or airline club is silently nodding their head in agreement.
4. Quick, easy connections from airports to city centers.
It seems New York’s infrastructure was built for those who had to go to the airport once a quarter, not twice per week. I find it frustrating to (i) sit on a clunky train from the 1970’s or (ii) take an overpriced town car through standstill traffic to get to an airport. Zurich, Copenhagen, Hong Kong — and London to an extent — get it right.
5. More integration of personal technology
Whether it is a hotel gym treadmill or a seat on an airplane, I’d like to see more integration with personal technology. For example, the new Continental 757 seats let travelers plug in their iPods and watch content on the in-flight entertainment system.
6. Rein in regional jet usage
In the never-ending quest to cut costs from the bottom line, major carriers have started flying dodgy regional jets on routes they shouldn’t. Recent crashes, and items like this suggest a ticking time bomb:
On the evening of Dec. 10, 2007, pilot Kenny Edwards got the order to fly a Continental Airlines Inc. (CAL) commuter flight from Tampa, Florida, to West Palm Beach. He told his dispatch supervisor he wouldn’t do it.
The plane’s collision avoidance system was broken, and a worn seal around the main cabin door made it difficult to maintain air pressurization above 10,000 feet, he told his bosses.
Gulfstream International Airlines Inc. (GIA), which operated the Continental flight, ordered Edwards to fly the 19-passenger Beechcraft 1900D turboprop plane anyway, Edwards says. He refused. As a result, he was fired.
