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TSA's New 'Chat-down' Security Expands to Detroit Airport

October 24, 2011 at 4:21 PM | by | Comments (0)

We really don't want to be those travel bloggers. The ones who reflexively complain about everything TSA does just because it's really easy to pick on TSA. We try to be fair about moron passengers, we take pains to explain why TSA agents sometimes have to conduct intrusive inspections, and we give the agency credit when they improve their security protocols.

But the more we read about TSA's shift to Israel-style airport security inspections—which are now being called "chat-downs" by journalists and politicians, because naming things is fun—the more worried we get. This is the agency's new SPOT program, where agents ask you personal questions while you wait in line, and then they try to read your body language to determine whether you're making things up. We haven't quite figured out what's wrong but we're pretty sure we don't like it.

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TSA Launches Faster 'PreCheck' Security Lines, But There's a Catch

October 5, 2011 at 3:50 PM | by | Comments (0)

TSA has been a veritable mad scientist's laboratory of experiments lately, all aimed—depending on how cynical you are—either at improving security, getting the public to stop whining about intrusive security measures, or some combination of the two (hint: it's some combination of the two).

They're going out of their way not to pat down babies, they're launching Israeli-style security screenings, they're rolling out gingerbread man scanners, and now they're launching a new program to speed frequent fliers through security. Ambitious!

The new program, dubbed PreCheck, is in its pilot phase at ATL, MIA, DFW, and DTW. Selected frequent fliers who shared their information with TSA before they arrived at the airport are being offered—in exchange—a line that allows them get through screening much more quickly. It's kind of "basic trade-off," as the Associated Press writeup so eloquently puts it.

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Guzzling Some Avion Tequila During Delta SkyClub's Thursday Happy Hours

August 9, 2011 at 9:38 AM | by | Comments (0)

To celebrate the arrival of Avión Tequila at Delta SkyClub airport lounges, Delta and Avión have been hosting happy hour shindigs from 5pm to 7pm on Thursdays. We just happened to be in the neighborhood last week, and we’re already looking forward to another layover filled with agave spirits.

While killing some time in Atlanta we made our way to the SkyClub in the center of Concourse A near the Chili’s—after stopping at Chick-fil-A obviously. We got there a little early and warmed up with a glass of Sweetwater Pale Ale and waited for 5pm to arrive.

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Five Golf Courses Easily Accessible to Both Fairways and Runways

June 1, 2011 at 9:50 AM | by | Comments (0)

If you’re looking for something to do between flights—and you always travel with your clubs—there might be a place convenient to both the fairways and the runways. Check out our picks for some of the best golf courses that are like only 10 miles from the airport or less:

· Colwood National Golf Club - PDX
There’s four courses that are within a short cab ride from Portland International Airport, but the easiest to access is Colwood National Golf Club. It’s so close to the airport—as well as the Air National Guard Station—that there are places where you can see the planes taxi and take off.

It’s a full 18-hole course, and this summer playing all the holes will set you back around $30. There are a lot of red-eye flights out of PDX back to the east coast—and beyond—so we recommend hitting up one of their twilight specials before heading to the airport. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays it's just $9 to play 8-holes as long as you begin after 3:00pm.

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eBay Buyers are Going Crazy for Old Northwest Airlines Memorabilia

May 17, 2011 at 8:22 AM | by | Comments (0)

Remember Northwest Airlines? Of course you do, as they haven’t been gone too long. Although to some it must seem like they’ve been gone forever, as plenty of old Northwest Airlines stuff is starting to draw quite the crowd from airline collectors.

Delta's museum is looking for some donations of old airline memorabilia, and of course it would be great if you wanted to give away some stuff for free. However, if you’re hoping to raise some funds for your next trip on the new Northwest—we’re talking about Delta—then you might as well turn to eBay. There’s all kinds of junk up for sale on the auction website, and the red-and-gray NWA bits are starting to fetch a pretty penny.

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The Five Best Airport Bars for Toasting St. Patrick's Day

March 16, 2011 at 10:05 AM | by | Comments (0)

Being stuck at the airport on St. Patrick’s Day is definitely not the best way to celebrate the holiday. However, we’re pretty sure you can find some fellow travelers eager to toast to the Irish this week at airports across the globe. So pull up a stool, belly up to the bar, and order a pint of Guinness at one of our picks for the five best airport bars to celebrate all things green::

· Corcoran's Irish Pub at LAS
Lady Luck meets the Luck o’ The Irish at Las Vegas-McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. You’ll need to take a break from the terminal slot machines—like you have any money leftover anyway—to check out Corcoran's Irish Pub between gates C1 and C2. Expect the usual not-that-authentic recreation of a neighborhood pub, but that’s exactly what we want to experience this Thursday. Just take it easy with those Irish Car Bomb shots, as you don’t want to be turned away before boarding.

· Fionn MacCool’s at YYZ
Canada’s largest airport Toronto-Pearson will be celebrating the season this week with their version of an Irish Pub right within Terminal 3. The place has only been around for a year or so, but they promise to fill you up with both Irish inspired food and beverage. Get something to go along with your liquid lunch like a Guinness Steak and Mushroom Crock, but we’re sure they have a burger if you’re not that into the Irish food offerings this week.

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Five Things to Do During Your Flight Delays if You're Stuck at ATL, ORD, DTW or MSP

December 28, 2010 at 10:35 AM | by | Comments (0)

There's all of this focus on New York City and travelers stuck in their airports, which is understandable considering that that's where the majority of the snow was dumped, but let's not forget the scores of tired and cranky folks trapped at other airports around the country, trying to make it to and not away from the NYC snowdrifts.

In the past here at Jaunted, we've used our knowledge gained from previous frustrating layover escapades to develop a small series on Five Things to Do on Your Layover at...whichever major airport you're at. There's only four now—for Chicago-O'Hare, Detroit-Metro, Minneapolis-Saint Paul and Atlanta-Hartsfield, but it's more apparent than ever that such guides are needed.

But for now, we hope that our tips are of use to you or your family, as we enter travel days more frustrating than those even around Thanksgiving:

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Stop the Presses! Lufthansa Boots Up Long-Haul In-Flight WiFi, Free through January

Where: Germany
November 30, 2010 at 10:47 AM | by | Comment (1)

Be still our hearts! This morning, Lufthansa made us want to write "OMG" like a billion times in excitement after their announcement that long-haul In-Flight WiFi is up and running on most of their New York-JFK, Detroit and Atlanta direct flights to Frankfurt, with complete intercontinental roll-out completed by the end of 2011. Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Want to know just how awesome this is? Listen up: not only was Lufthansa the first airline to introduce long-haul in-flight WiFi, but this new system—a partnership between Lufthansa and Panasonic Avionics (the same people working on Virgin Atlantic's long-haul WiFi)—boasts high bandwidth for real-time internet use including the ability to access VPN networks or fun things like SKYPE. Netflix streaming? Hmm...maybe! And best of all, use of the new long-haul WiFi will be free until January 31, 2011. Where's our smelling salts?

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Five Things to Do on Your Layover at: Detroit-Metro Airport

August 25, 2010 at 10:29 AM | by | Comment (1)

We’ve all had layovers that were a little longer than initially expected. Mechanical delays, weather emergencies, and all kinds of other issues make that tight 45-minute connection turn into something extraordinary. We can’t get promise your flight will depart on time, but we can offer some time killers at the airport.

Five picks for spending a few extra hours within the McNamara terminal at Detroit-Metro Airport:

· Sushi Stop:
Delta uses Detroit as a gateway to the East, so it’s not surprising that you can start your vacation or business trip with a little sushi right in the terminal. Sora has all your sashimi favorites, but they also have plenty of noodle bowls for those long cold Michigan winters. Prices are somewhat reasonable, but the best thing is that the place isn’t gross. There’s no prepackaged fake crab rolls here, and we’d even say it’s actually pretty darn good considering its location. It’s near gate A35 near the gates typically used for Tokyo-bound flights.

· Work On Your Fitness:
DTW's McNamara terminal makes the airport one of our favorites, but you still might want to take a break from all the hustle and bustle of the terminal. During longer layovers make your way to the Westin hotel that’s right in the airport. It has its own entrance not too far from the center of Concourse A, and they’d be happy to have you inside to test out their treadmills, weights, and elliptical machines. Along with providing an escape from the terminal the hotel offers day passes to the gym for just $15. It’s worth it if you’re a little more ambitious than us—we’re usually the ones in line for a cookie and frappuccino.

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Graffiti Rocks are a Hidden Attraction at Detroit's Metro Airport

July 13, 2010 at 8:52 AM | by | Comment (1)

On your next trip through Detroit’s Metro Airport you might want to take a couple minutes to leave your mark for future passengers. There’s always the option of ruining the bathroom stall with a little bit of graffiti, but frequent flyers and families have found a better place to leave their mark within the McNamara Terminal.

If you’re connecting through the airport thanks to the comfort of a regional jet—you might be somewhere within Concourse B. Even if you’re not, make your way to the end of the hall towards Gate 21, and you’ll stumble upon a few potted trees trying their best to get a little sunlight. Look down towards their trunks and you’ll find this awesome collection of graffiti rocks.

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Detroit Airport Descends Into Chaos During the Weekend's Weather Delays

March 15, 2010 at 5:59 PM | by | Comments (5)

This last weekend, while the East Coast suffered under hurricane-force winds and rain coming down so bad and so hard that it stung your face, many flights were delayed or cancelled, and a few airports closed down fully. One of the first airports to close was New York-LaGuardia, which called off all flights from the late afternoon on Saturday, just about the time that our friends were flying on Delta from Detroit-Metro to LaGuardia.

Two hours into their flight and thus only a half hour away from LGA, the airport closed and their flights turned around to head back to DTW. Then, back at the tarmac at DTW, they faced the stress of rebooking for another flight, while their checked luggage (one bag, $23 checked fee paid online) caught the first flight out the next day. They waited for 3.5 hours in switchbacked lines to rebook their flight, and the first they could get was two days later—Monday morning. And a two-day delayed flight wasn't the only surprise of the experience, as we heard from their account of the ordeal at Detroit Airport:

Insanity! Chaos! Toiletry kits! After the jump...

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What Exactly Happened on Northwest Flight 253?

December 28, 2009 at 8:39 AM | by | Comments (0)

The usually uneventful stream of news over the long Christmas holiday took a sharp turn this year with one security breach after another. Just when we had heard enough about the crazy lady who knocked down the Pope during mass at the Vatican, BreakingNews tweeted this at 2:30pm on Christmas Day:

Passenger on flight from Detroit to Amsterdam reportedly sets off firecrackers, then subdued. Minor injuries. -- CNN

First we thought okay, this is some extremely stupid person taking the traditional applause-at-landing a bit too far, but then the real news began to roll in, marking it as a terrorist attempt with explosive materials and possible al Qaeda links. And yet nothing concrete was known; many rumors were thrown around and still are, but we've attempted to sort them out and present the factual events that happened on December 25th, 2009, on Northwest/Delta Flight 253.

See the truth, after the jump.

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