In-Flight Internet and VOIP On The Way!

Please no, not this. I really think this is a bad idea. Data yes, VOIP NO. It can be difficult today to try and find some serenity while on travel today. Mobile phones and people using VOIP while crammed in a small cabin where I have to hear all about your important things from several rows back.... NO, NO, NO, this is a very very bad idea.

http://digg.com/technology/In-Flight_Internet_and_VOIP_On_The_Way_

I can see the usefulness of such a feature on long haul international flights, where you need to reach some because something changed, you have a question, or a myriad of very good reasons. So how do you try and get customers to respect the personal space of those who really don't want to have to listen to those conversations. Ah, yes, the smoking and no smoking sections... that hasn't worked very well for smoking or in the customer lounges where there are designated no cell areas. These quiet zones are never respected by those people that are so important that they need to be on the phone all the time and have a need to make you listen to their importance.

When do I need to show my ticket??

The standard process at all airports for at least the past year has been that you need to show your boarding pass and ID to get by the first TSA person. Then once you make it through the metal detector, you need to show your boarding pass one more time.

Well, appearantly this standard process isn't all that standard, or is optional for some. At Milwaukee (MKE) today, they use a different process. The first check is still the same, but then a few feet later when you are placing your bags on the conveyor the TSA Agent assisting you requests your boarding pass and checks it then. The agent on the other side of the metal detector doesn't give a rip about whether or not you have a boarding pass. Seems quite different. I would think that the same process would be and should be used at all airports in order to lessent the confusion for travellers and to be able to manage traveller expectations. I just don't see a reason for this deviation...

Coffee in the lav???

So I was running late to a flight because the jet bridge broken and we had to climb down the back end stairs on a DC-9. There was no time for a pit stop in the airport. Once I got my bags put in place I hopped into the lav for a quick pit stop. I finished up my business and put the seat lid down. The strangest thing was laying behind the seat lid, a bag of coffee grounds. I pointed this issue (at least I thought it was an issue) out to the flight attendants. They explained to me, that this is done some times to reduce the smell from the lav. Seems like a real good way for the airlines to spend their money... Using coffee as a lav deoderizer. Must be cheaper than actually cleaning their lavs!

Stop! Leave those shoes on!!

Going through security in Milwaukee (MKE) today, the TSA Agent actually shouted to a lady that she should keep her shoes on. Talk about causing confusion. When was the last time you heard the TSA tell you to keep your shoes on.