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E L L I O T T ' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

December 7, 2004

Passengers Skip Electronic Check-In
Although checking in for a flight at the airline's main counter takes significantly longer than curbside service or self-service kiosks, less than one-quarter of passengers take advantage of either of these express check-in options, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Global Airport Satisfaction Index Study released Monday. The study, now in its fifth year, measures airport satisfaction in three segments: large (30 million or more passengers per year), medium (10 million to less than 30 million passengers per year) and small (less than 10 million passengers per year). (AP) Posted 6:35 a.m.
• LAX Near Bottom of Survey (Daily Breeze)
• Read Full Text, Earlier Surveys (JD Power)

Bottom line is that the smaller the airport, the happier you'll be as an air traveler. I think that's good advice.

Newark TSA in Sick-Leave Controversy
Security screeners at Newark Liberty International Airport missed an average of six work weeks -- on top of their vacation and holiday time -- during the first 9 1/2 months of this year, government payroll records show. The 329,000 hours of absences for the equivalent of 1,320 full-time federal screeners resulted from sick time, injuries and unpaid leave, according to records obtained by The Star-Ledger for the period between Jan. 1 and Oct. 16. Projected across a full year, the average absence per screener would be about eight weeks. Those missed shifts often leave other workers short-handed or at posts for longer periods without breaks, said current and former employees of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, which oversees the nation's screeners. (Star-Ledger) Posted 6:45 a.m.

Lenders Tighten Screws on Airlines
In the airline industry's dark months after the September 2001 attacks, the federal government, banks, aircraft lenders and others came forward to help, giving the wounded companies plenty of leeway in the face of extraordinary circumstances. But three years later, the benevolence is gone. Advertisement In a form of tough love that is quickly spreading, these same backers are putting the clamps on the still-troubled airlines, particularly those operating under bankruptcy protection. The backers are giving chief executives at United Airlines, US Airways and ATA Airlines their marching orders: enforce strict timetables, conserve cash, reduce spending and eliminate jobs - or else. (The New York Times) Posted 6:50 a.m.

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Captain Jack
Jack was a new and fairly shy pilot for our airline, and right out of the military. At our pre-flight briefing, everyone could tell by his wide-eyed grin that he was looking forward to our international trip. "It's my first time to Amsterdam, and I am bringing along my digital video camera to capture the trip. My buddies in the military will get a kick out of it," Jack said, like a schoolboy getting ready for "Show and Tell." (Editor's Note: This column contains adult subject matter and is for mature audiences only.) (Travelcomment.com) Posted 6:55 a.m.

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Missing Uniforms Not a Threat Says Transport Minister
Transport Minister Jean Lapierre rejected opposition allegations of a security breach at Canadian airports after receiving a report on missing uniforms from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. The report said 1,127 uniform items belonging to security screeners at Canadian airports went missing from Jan. 1 to Sept. 17 this year. That includes 639 name tags with only the employee's first name inscribed. (Globe and Mail) Posted 7 a.m.

Despite Shutdown, Southeast Employees Will Get Paid
Employees of Southeast Airlines who have not been paid because of the closed airline's frozen bank accounts may receive relief today, Southeast President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Kolfenbach said. In an interview Sunday with WFLA, News Channel 8, Kolfenbach said United Bank and Trust of St. Petersburg should not have placed an "administrative hold" on the airline's account after Southeast shut down Nov. 30. (Tribune) Posted 7:05 a.m.

Fat Americans Break Queen Mary II Seats
Dozens of seats on the Queen Mary II, the world's biggest, newest and most luxurious cruise liner, are being broken under the weight of obese passengers. The Telegraph has learned that the French company which supplied the chairs, both fixed and free-standing, claims that it is repairing and replacing them as fast as possible, as they creak and buckle under larger holidaymakers. (Telegraph) Posted 7:10 a.m.

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