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TSA Expanding Its Trusted Traveler 'PreCheck' Program

January 11, 2012 at 1:47 PM | by | Comments (0)

Last October we told you about the nascent PreCheck program that TSA was in the process of soft-launching. The airport security pilot program was designed to provide "expedited screening" for some passengers—specifically, those who were willing to provide personal information beforehand—while still ensuring "random and unpredictable security measures" for everyone. The idea was that, on the whole and all things being equal, frequent passengers would be able to get pre-screened and then avail themselves of faster lines at the airport. A little privacy for a lot of convenience.

Now PreCheck is expanding. Originally the program was only available to Delta and American fliers at a limited number of airports, with the eligibility list culled from the rolls of those airlines' frequent fliers. In 2012 you can expect to see the program at more airports—including, finally, LAX and JFK. There will also be new airlines involved, with travelers from US Airways and United joining the program.

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Six US Airports for Stalking the Airbus A380

January 11, 2012 at 9:28 AM | by | Comments (0)


Korean Air and Lufthansa A380s snuggle up at JFK Terminal 1

Look, if you're an airport and you want to have the superjumbo Airbus A380 flying in and out, you can't just be like "hey, airlines, bring that big thang on over." Nope. Instead certain preparations must be made to accommodate an airliner of the A380's size and heft. To effectively manage each plane's 500+ passenger load, more jetways are needed, plus support vehicles to reach the upper deck. In some cases, airport runway indicator lights may need to be moved and the tarmac reinforced.

In other words, A380s can't just fly anywhere and, although the massive planes have been in the air since Singapore Airlines took delivery of the very first in 2007, not all that many airports around the world are treated to them. At least some of those are the United States...

US airports where you'll find A380s:

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American Airlines Plane Boots Alec Baldwin Over 'Words With Friends'

December 6, 2011 at 5:20 PM | by | Comments (0)

Did you feel that? If the internet could have earthquakes, we'd have just experienced a minor one as Alec Baldwin went from tweeting like normal, to getting kicked off an American Airlines plane at LAX, to being in custody, to becoming a trending topic, to giving his side of the story via Twitter in just about the span of one hour.

The reason for the tarmac takedown? Apparently, according to Alec, he was playing the popular mobile Scrabble-like app Words With Friends when a flight attendant "reamed" him out. Of course he was probably still playing it beyond the point of being asked to turn off and stow all electronic devices for take-off, hence the flight attendant interference. We predict that the next few days will see news channels rehashing the old argument of whether or not cell signals interfere with airplanes. You know, that old chestnut.

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The Most Popular Airports on Foursquare

November 17, 2011 at 10:35 AM | by | Comments (0)

It's been a minute or two since we last wrote about location-based social networking site Foursquare and its impact on travel. Does it still have one? You betcha, and with their recent introduction of "expertise badges" and a refresh of the 4sq site, it's high time to reflect a bit; we have, after all, been tapping to "check in" on the app for a solid two years now, leaving priceless tips along the route. Follow us here, by the way.

There are a few things you discover the more you use Foursquare, and we don't just mean which macaron-specializing bakeries are nearest your home (though there's that too, of course). What we mean is that users are overwhelmingly mobile; those truly into Foursquare get around, and they really love checking into, and leaving tips for, airports around the world.

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A Grueling Year Sends Katy Perry and Russell Brand Back to India for New Year's

November 10, 2011 at 1:02 PM | by | Comments (0)

After weeks apart, Russell Brand waited patiently outside LAX for Katy Perry to arrive home yesterday.

Katy, who has been on tour in the UK, looked out of place getting into the couple's car wearing a long puffy jacket in the warm Los Angeles weather. Alas, it seemed she was more interested in giving her husband a smooch hello than her wardrobe, as she leaned in for a kiss as Russell sat in the driver's seat, ready to go.

The couple will only be together for a few days before Katy is on the road again, this time headed to Connecticut for a November 15th gig. Though they have spent a lot of time apart this year, Russell has planned a romantic New Year's getaway with Katy to make up for lost time.

Apparently, the actor has booked a two-week stay in a private pool-suite at the Aman New Delhi Hotel India, not far from where they were married last year, and not a bad way to start the new year.

[Photo: DailyMail]

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Congressman: TSA's New Chat-Downs Are 'Mindless'

October 28, 2011 at 2:06 PM | by | Comments (0)

Responding to criticism like ours over the failure of TSA agents to stop a loaded gun from being checked onto an LAX flight, the security agency leaped into action this week and declared that they will make absolutely no changes to airport security procedures at the airport.

TSA spokesman Nico Melendez explained that there's no danger of having loaded guns in checked baggage, because "no one has access to them." So as long as it's true that loaded guns never ever fire accidentally, you can all go back to feeling safe now.

Speaking of which. A day before we posted about how loaded guns on airplanes make us uncomfortable, we discussed our deep skepticism about the training that TSA agents in charge of "chat-downs" were getting. Chat-downs, remember, are the Israeli-style security line interviews that TSA has been testing out in Boston-Logan and now in Detroit-Metro Airports. Agents ask you personal questions, you give personal answers, and then they read your body language to see if you're lying. In theory.

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The Three Airbus A380s to Look For at Los Angeles International Airport

Where: LAX International Airport [map], Los Angeles , CA, United States
October 27, 2011 at 5:25 PM | by | Comment (1)

It never fails. We'll be at an airport, chilling at a gate awaiting a flight boarding announcement, and every time an Airbus A380 rolls up nearby, other travelers around us will stand and head to the windows for a better look.

There's just something about the double-decker jet, maybe that it's easy to spot or maybe because it's simply so massive that makes people pay attention. Flyers who wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a 737 and a 777 will point and reverently whisper, "that's that new superjumbo. Cooool."

LAX may not have as many airlines arriving with A380s as JFK, but they're inching up there. On the other hand, LAX has only two gates best equipped to service the beasts, so you'll usually know where to find them at the large airport. That'd be gates 101 and 123. Of the 7 airlines currently flying A380s, 3 have routes to LAX. Here's who to look for:

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This Week in TSA Slip-ups: Sex Toys and Loaded Guns

October 25, 2011 at 2:54 PM | by | Comment (1)

Oh TSA. It seems like just yesterday when we were talking about how we don't like to pile on the organization, partly because we say that a lot but mostly because it really was just yesterday. But this week is turning into a rough one for the agency in charge of protecting the nation's airport security, and we'd be remiss as travel bloggers if we didn't cover the latest news.

Plus we let a whole month go by before posting this morning's Halloween sex travel story, and we'd like to make that up to you by posting a second one.

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LAX's New Facebook Launch Raises Some Questions

September 26, 2011 at 3:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

Ever since someone stupidly convinced Orbitz that they needed to invest in a Facebook application two years ago—the premise being that people would want to share their travel plans with all of their high school and college and work and random stalkerish Facebook friends—we've kind of given up on complaining about meaningless social media projects. Organizations will build Facebook pages, even if there's no real need for those types of organization to have Facebook pages, because that's what organizations do now.

Fair enough.

So let's quickly glide past how we don't really understand why LAX needs a new Facebook page, which is something they just launched. The Los Angeles airport has had a Twitter account since 2009, which makes perfect sense because people are used to going to Twitter for breaking news in general and for travel news specifically (checking an airline's Twitter feed for delays is now just something we do).

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Virgin America Launches 'Real Steel' Plane in Honor of New Dreamworks Movie

September 26, 2011 at 12:56 PM | by | Comments (0)

In honor of "Real Steel," the new Hugh Jackman movie about a time in the near future when robots replace human boxers, Virgin America has launched a new Airbus A320 aircraft named “Real Steel” featuring an image of the film’s World Robot Boxing contender “Atom” on the aircraft fuselage.

Virgin America, which will be the first airline to show Real Steel in flight later this year, is also partnering with Good Morning America to give away a trip to California for the red carpet premiere of "Real Steel". To enter the contest, "Like" GMA on Facebook today and click on the "Sweepstakes" tab in the left sidebar.

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Robert Pattinson Hits Up LAX Fresh from Checking on Kristen Stewart in the UK

September 15, 2011 at 1:35 PM | by | Comments (0)

Yesterday, Robert Pattinson arrived back in L.A. after spending a week in London with his girlfriend Kristen Stewart, who is filming Snow White and The Huntsman around the U.K.

R-Patz tried to keep his face hidden behind sunglasses and a Baltimore Orioles hat while he pulled along a suitcase. He was also followed by an assistant who carried his beloved guitar case.

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A Detroit-Bound Mila Kunis Keeps It Casual at LAX

August 31, 2011 at 2:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

Mila Kunis kept it casual yesterday as she boarded a flight leaving LAX in a pair of Ray Bans, comfy jeans, and a grey and white striped sweater. She also kept her head down and her iPod on as she navigated her way through the Los Angeles airport, carrying only a very large Chanel bag.

Mila was likely heading back to Detroit, Michigan where she is filming the Wizard of Oz prequel, Oz: The Great and Powerful, along with James Franco and Michelle Williams. Mila has been spotted out and about all over the Detroit area since she first arrived in town last month.

The latest rumored sightings include Lily's Restaurant in Royal Oak, MI and Lelli's in Auburn Hills where she celebrated her birthday 28th birthday. Lelli's specializes in northern Italian cuisine served in six courses starting with an antipasto, followed by soup, salad pasta, the main entree, and finally desert. That sounds like a pretty good birthday to us!

[Photo: DailyMail]

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