Entries from May 1, 2008 - June 1, 2008
Leave a Comment
Email
Print
Camera gear can be a major source of weight for the leisure/adventure traveler. Can you leave it behind and just rely on something that you’re going to take anyway - your phone? Read the Gadling account by a photojournalist turned editor who is sold on his new 5-megapixel phone: “Nikon to Nokia”“We have to say picture quality was absolutely impressive. It may be the addition of the Xenon flash, but the N82 produced better photos than the Nokia N95; images were extremely sharp but we were mostly happy that the colors actually looked true to life. Video quality was also great.”
The Building Bridges blog has a very nice post on packing the Aeronaut - good pictures.
The TSA Evolution of Security blog is batting around the “Science behind 3-1-1” and the problem of detecting liquid explosive, using a recent UK bomber trial as an example. The alleged bombers used - yikes! - Tang.
“The alleged bombs would involve 500ml plastic bottles of the Oasis and Lucozade soft drinks. A sugary drink powder, Tang, would be mixed with hydrogen peroxide, used as a hair bleach, and other organic materials.” - BBC
…becoming a grandpa. No, I’m not old enough but little Jesse Paul is perfect!
“We must seek to balance security with passenger convenience,” said EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot. “In this case it is clear that the inconvenience of additional limits would outweigh the advance in security.
In the wake of an alleged August 2006 plot against civil airplanes in Britain, security experts recommended that the European Commission limit the maximum size of carry-on bags to 56 by 45 by 25 centimeters.
The measure was originally supposed to take effect in May 2007, but the European Union’s executive arm put it off a year while it conducted studies to see if it was really worthwhile, which it was not deemed to be.
The studies found that baggage size had little impact on the performance of airport security staff.” -AFP
As travelers have adjusted to the carry-on liquid rules the overhead bins are back at full capacity. This definitely commends soft-sided, legal-or-smaller-sized bags:
On her US Airways flight from New Orleans to Washington in March, Corinne Marasco, a science writer from Kingstowne, Va., was forced to check her small wheelie bag at the gate because no room remained in the overhead bins.
It didn’t matter that the gate agents kept reminding passengers that they were limited to one item of carry-on luggage, plus one personal item; the overhead bins were stuffed with shopping bags, knapsacks and pieces of luggage that clearly didn’t pass the size test.
“I saw a woman with a roll-on suitcase, a medium-size tote bag and a pocketbook board the plane, and no one asked her to check the suitcase,” Marasco said. “I was sorely tempted to start emptying out the bin over my seat so I could fit my suitcase in. - NYT via Kansas City Star
The above story also suggests that the fees airines are levying for checked luggage is driving more inexperienced, rule-flouting flyers to carry on.
TSA Approves Use of Tamper-Evident Bags for Duty Free Liquids for Flights Leaving the U.S.
May 1, 2008
TSA Public Affairs
WASHINGTON - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today its approval of security tamper-evident bags for the transportation of duty-free liquids, purchased post-TSA security, on flights departing the United States for international destinations. Tamper-evident bags must meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines.
“The use of tamper-evident bags is another step in harmonizing security measures with our international partners,” said TSA Administrator Kip Hawley.
Tamper-evident bags are for passengers departing the United States who have purchased duty-free liquids in the secure area of U.S. airports. Tamper-evident bags will not be accepted in the United States at security checkpoints. International travelers arriving in the United States are reunited with their checked bags and have the opportunity to store liquid duty-free items before their next flight. Travelers exiting the United States, arriving at a non-U.S. international airport, and continuing on to a final international destination may not be provided this same opportunity as their bags go directly to their final destination. 
The use of tamper-evident bags on U.S.-departing flights is an additional security measure that will align with European Union security protocols and will reduce the number of passengers who surrender duty-free liquids when transferring to European or other international airports. This is part of ongoing TSA efforts to harmonize security measures with transportation security partners around the world.
Vendors of duty free liquids will voluntarily begin using these bags during the coming days and weeks.
Brad
.