In Episode 7: We take a quick video look at Munich, Talk about Paris Greeters, Find out about 5 things that (can) suck in long term travel, get groped on an airplane, savor beer in Italy, attempt some travel trivia, visit an amusement park in North Korea, found out about a failed port proposal in China, celebrate the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allen Poe’s birthday, get 10 answers from Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View, discover 10 tips for staying cool on a rickshaw, preview Celtic Connections 2009, find out where waiters eat at in New York City and learn about the history of San Francisco. Yes folks, it’s our longest episode yet!

 Episode 007: License To Travel [13:18m]: Download (12)

My recent trip to Europe started out well enough. I picked up my travel mate and we headed to the airport with plenty of time to spare. At the airport, we made our way to the check in counter and were relieved to find only a handful of people waiting in line.

We joined the line and soon made our way to new self-check-in kiosks. This was the first time I’ve used them. I say, self-check-in, but there’s still a Delta employee there working a couple of the kiosks helping people out and attaching the required luggage tags. The check-in process was pretty painless and being a mutt techie/designer, was more interested in how the interface was designed and worked. Seemed to be far too many screens for the process, if you ask me, but wasn’t overly mundane.

We took our luggage over to security and dropped them off and made our way to have a quick snack before heading towards the gate. We still had about an hour before the flight was to depart, so I tried to get comfortable in those gawd-awful airport chairs and read a book. My mate looked through some of the gift shops.

The flight between Orlando and Atlanta was a booked flight, so the area around the gate filled up as boarding time approached.

Soon, we were onboard and getting set in our seats. The plane door was closed and the cabin crew was making the standard departure spiels. If you haven’t flown in a couple of years, there have been changes made onboard, one of the most noticeable for Delta has been the addition of playing a local radio station onboard before departure. It’s nothing big, but it adds a nice touch to getting on the plane and helps defuse the conversations around you.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen and welcome aboard Delta flight 55 on an American built airplane.”

I look over to my travel mate, “Why is it important that this is an American built plane?”

She shakes her head, “Don’t know.”

“Seems kind of strange that they would mention that.”

I mean, if we were departing out of Seattle on a Boeing jet, then I would understand an announcement along the lines of, “Welcome aboard Delta flight 55 on a jet built right here in Seattle.” But I was flying out of Orlando where nothing original was built. Sure, maybe, just maybe there were a few international visitors on board and Delta just wanted to emphasize that this seemingly reliable plane was American built, unlike those rental cars they just had to suffer with for most of their vacation. I wasn’t sure, but I wanted to see if this was a new trend for Delta and would listen on our next connection.

Now, at this point, we’re somewhere mid-flight and after we arrive in Atlanta, we have 45 minutes to make our next connection.

Yes. Yes, I know. Those of you who have connected through Atlanta are laughing hard right now because they know a little secret which I’ve forgotten. The scheduling of gate arrivals and departures is specifically designed so that your arriving flight is always on the opposite end of the airport from your departing one.

I’ll give you an example.

The flight I was currently on, which was somewhere over Florida, would be arriving at Gate 15 of Terminal T. My departing flight would be leaving from Gate 36 of Terminal E, which are terminals at opposite ends of the airport.

Forty-five minutes would be cutting it close.

And here is where the fun begins. As I had said, we were somewhere over Florida, over halfway through our flight when we hear this announcement:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, are there any medical personal on board?”

For those of you keeping count; that would be the first phrase you don’t want to hear on a plane when you’re flying to make a tight connection.

My heart skipped a beat or two for a few minutes as nobody seemed to be answering the call to provide medical assistance. The person who required such assistance was currently located about 15 rows in front of us, so I could easily see all of the action.

By that, I mean, I can see the cabin crew leaning over, talking to someone. Walking over and talking on the phone to the Captain, I presume. I’m sure there were conversations going on trying to figure out what to do next. Which was the exact conversation I was having with my travel mate.

“Well, we’re about 30 minutes from landing, so…”

I knew any diversion would mean we would miss our flight out of Atlanta and I wasn’t aware of when the next flight to Paris would be leaving for Delta. Most certainly, a diverted landing would mean our first day in Munich would be shot. Thoughts I didn’t share with my travel mate.

“I’m not sure where we are, but we have to be equal distances from Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Atlanta, so not sure diverting the flight would make sense.”

I’m sure these types of conversations were going on all over the plane. In the meantime, a couple from a several rows behind us made their way up to the cabin crew and started working with the ill passenger. I think they were medics.

The guy in question was sweating profusely and not feeling well. I wanted to stand up and yell, “Jesus Christ, he’s flying on an American built jet! What do you expect?”

“On the plus side,” I said quietly, “this might get us priority landing at Atlanta.”

Now, I don’t want to say that I didn’t have empathy for the guy or anything. But, you know, I’ve got a tight connection to make. Turns out he was diabetic. I wasn’t sure if he knew that before or decided this was the moment to find out.

Either way, we landed and taxied into Atlanta to the gate. At the gate, everyone volunteered to wait until the medics came on board and helped the gentleman off the plane (which he was able to walk off, btw). Oh, and by volunteer, I mean we were told to wait in our seats until the medics arrived.

Needless to say, my watch became my new best friend. And I started mumbling phrases I haven’t heard since I dated a girl who worked for the Justice Department in Washington DC. “Come on baby, slow down. Slow down!”

As the guy was walking off the plane, I looked out to where the trucks were just arriving for the luggage.

“Think our luggage will make the transfer?”

“I don’t know.”

Finally, we were up and slowly making our way off the plane. There was still time enough that we didn’t have to run, but we did walk at a quick pace to get down to the trams that took us between terminals.

We got on and soon the tram was stopping at the next terminal.

“Now arriving,” said the recorded voice, “Terminal A. Terminal Alpha”

Two minutes later.

“Now arriving, Terminal B. Terminal Beta”

My travel partner asked, “What’s E?”

“Echo.”

Several minutes later, we arrive at Terminal Echo and make our way up towards the gates. Walking a little more briskly down the terminal. We arrive at the gate, the plane already boarded with most of the people.

I hand my ticket and passport to the crew at the gate. She look at it and says, “One moment.”

And here comes the second phrase you don’t want to hear…

She walks over to the crew behind the counter and says quietly, “Is this seat still assigned to this person?”

My mind races wondering what would happen if they gave our seats to someone who was on standby. I work part-time with someone who is also part of a cabin-crew, but for a different airline, perhaps I should ask him, because luckily the lady behind the counter says, “Yes, he’s still assigned to that seat.” And so was my travel mate.

So we make our way down to the plane and find our seats and soon were on our way over the pond.

But you know, none of the cabin announcements mentioned if the plane we were on was built in America or not and at this point, I didn’t think to ask.

In Episode 6: We look at the merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines, the Boeing strike being resolved, passengers stranded by another airline collapse, Munich museum savings, Tuesday Travel Trivia, 9 tips for learning a foreign language, the pirates life on Somalia’s coast, traveling in style in Italy, touring Italy, and Google street view for Italy and Spain. Subscribe through iTunes

 Episode 006: Google Street Views Italy [7:25m]: Download (14)

In Episode 004, we apologize for mispronouncing Greenwich, packing in one bag, sleeping on the plane, doing expensive cities on the cheap, 20 things to do in Italy, smoke a cigar and drink absinthe, ride a zeppelin, take some road trips out of Rome, learn about the cost of extended travel and talk airport security.

 Episode 004: Elphaba Does Not Live In England [6:13m]: Download (22)

As everyone knows, after 9/11, the United States went into an ultra secure mode increasing security at Airports, rail stations, ship yards…wait, okay, just at airports. We pumped a lot of money into improving the security at all of our airports.

Some will argue that it has worked as there hasn’t been an airplane related terrorist act since then. I’m not here to argue politics on either side of the case, what I am here to do is to compare security between the US and Europe. So, I’ll be looking at my recent experience flying to Europe and back and how security is going each way.

Going to the airport and traveling somewhere used to be an exotic experience. I’m sure everyone over 15 years old remembers their first flight. The huge open spaces at airports made you feel incredibly small. Who remembers having friends and family wave you goodbye from the terminal windows or there at the gate to meet you. Yep, those days are long gone.

Commercial jet travel is just over 50 years old, the first flight being in 1952. In the United States, December 10 marks the 50th anniversary of Jet travel when National Airlines began flying. American Airlines first domestic jet service began on January 25, 1959.

So in 50 years, we’ve gone from exotic and exciting to mundane, pain in the ass, would do something else in a minute if it was just as quick. I wonder if airlines do testing to see how small of a space they can create for a passenger before that passenger starts showing signs of serious fatigue and anger. Can we fit one more row of seats in economy class?

Enough about the plane, our focus is getting to the plane.

When you arrive at the airport, depending on the airport, your car may be searched or inspected. It’s been awhile since car inspections have been done, but if the terror alert changes colors, it could happen again.

Once inside, you check your luggage in and cart it over to a security point, where you drop it off to be x-rayed, checked (sometimes have electronics stolen from it) and sent off to your plane. Here in Orlando, they have security drop points, so that’s the final point where I’ll see my luggage until I arrive. I’m not sure how other airports are set up.

Before you enter the terminal (or ride out to the terminal), you go through the main security check point. This involves removing your shoes and anything that can cause the alarm to go off. I always remove my belt because if it sets off the alarm, it’s additional time I have to wait. I also plan for this and make sure I don’t wear anything that has excessive metal in it. I drop my bag on the conveyor belt and move through security. Sometimes you may be pulled over for a random search, but most time you’ll just walk through, pick up your bag, and hop on one foot while putting on your shoes (because they don’t have seats to use).

You are finally on the plane and on your way to Europe. Yeah!

When you arrive in Paris (I had to transfer in Paris). You get off the plane and move into the customs line, which is a large room of snaking lines. The wait for us was about 10 minutes, but it was very early in the morning (probably one of the first flights to arrive in Paris that day).

At the end of the line is a customs agent inside a little glass encased box. I step up to it hand him my passport. He opens it, looks at it, hands it back and grunts “okay.” I step past him, check where my connecting flight is and that’s it, I’m off to my next flight.

In Germany, no additional security checks.

[Insert happy vacation here]

Ready to head home? Neither was I, but alas, there are things we must do. While my vacation started in Germany, it ended in Paris. So off to the airport we go.

We arrive several hours early and there is only a couple of people checking in. We move down the line and meet the first person from the airline.

“Destination?” He says, looking at my passport.

“Atlanta.”

He takes a sticker, writes something on it and sticks it to the back of the passport and directs me to the check in counters. My travel mate and I walk up and the usual procedure occurs. Yes, yes, no, no. I place my bag on the scale. It’s weighed. Tag attached it to and it gets zipped up the line and out of my sight. No need for me to drag it over to security.

We make our way to the terminal where the main security is. Into the line we go. When we get up from, they check our passport and ask us to remove our shoes. From my observations, only people flying to the US have to remove their shoes. There were other people passing through in front of me that didn’t have to remove their shoes.

When I think of how much money we’re going to spend on preventing people from sneaking shoe bombs onto planes, it amazes me. To think, all of this effort because one person…one person tried to do it. Now we’ll be spending money on shoe bomb detectors so we don’t have to undo our shoes.

Sorry, but I don’t think it’s the best way to spend the money.

After asking me to remove my shoes, the security agent mentions something to another agent on the other side of the metal detector. I pass through and am asked to step to the side (again, this seems to be for anyone going to the US).

I collect my bag and have to go over to another agent sitting at a desk. He asks if I speak French, to which I reply no. He tells me to wait a moment. While waiting, he looks through my bag. Finally another agent arrives with some kind of fabric on a stick. Asks me to stick my hands out, dabs each on the top and palm, dabs all my electronics equipment and nods “okay.” Guess I didn’t have any explosive residue on me anywhere. Finally, I’m free to go to my plane.

Since we got there early, there was plenty of time to sit and read.

We get bussed out to the plane which is apparently parked somewhere in Switzerland. Find our seats and get ready to fly.

A moment, if you will, to allow me to rant about the plane. We were on a 757 which did not have seat back screens. I’m sorry, but I’m on an 8 hour flight across the pond and you can’t give me a plane which lets me choose what I want to watch on TV? Damn you, Delta!

On the positive note, I did get to see the sexy safety video.

Moving on to Atlanta where we touch down to change planes. Before we arrive, however, we’re all given a customs form to fill out in case we have anything to claim. The only thing I bought was a t-shirt for someone so I’m claiming a whole $12.

The plane lands and we make our way down to immigration.

And we wait. And wait. On a positive note, we can watch the slickly produced “Welcome to the US of A” video by Disney. Which happened to be playing on a screen which badly needed repair and tuning.

Finally, we make our way up to the surly agent. “Reason for trip?”

“Vacation.”

He looks at the passport and customs form. Finally he stamps the book hands both to me. “Give this form to the next agent.”

We move to collect our luggage. And move to the next agent.

“Reason for trip?”

“Vacation.”

“Do you have anything to claim.”

“Nope.”

And we pass through to go hand our luggage off to be put back on a plane.

Finally, we go off to find our connecting flight. Now those of you who have been through Atlanta will know, your arriving flight and connecting flight will always be at opposite ends of the airport.

In comparing both flights, I have to wonder if our excessive security measures do any more to protect us. Can we become better, more efficient and more effective? I don’t have an answer for that, but before we decide to implement more security, maybe we should look at implementing better security.

On a quick note, October 26 marks the 50th anniversary of the first New York to London Jet flight. It was flown by Pan Am. We’ve come a long way in such a short time.

In Episode 003 we look at damaged 757 engines, places to roll in the hay in Germany, Mona Lisa condoms, where to stay in Paris, what to do while you’re in Paris, check out British Airways magazine Highlife on the web, Southwest Airlines first quarterly loss since 1991, the future of travel blogging and 50 luxuries for our next vacation.

 Episode 003: Rolling in the Hay [7:52m]: Download (28)

Hi all, just wanted to let you know that I have started producing a new podcast called Travel Bits. It is available via iTunes here. If you prefer to just listen to it, you can also go to the “Blog Postings” link above and it’ll be listed in our feed.

The concept of the podcast is to review some of the stories that were posted over the past week.

Given that, I’m not promising that this is the best ever podcast you’ll ever listen to, but it’s a start and things can only get better, right?

The podcast is in AAC format because I’ve integrated screenshots and links to the stories as I talk about them, so use iTunes to listen to it.

Other than that, give us some feedback and what we can do to improve it!

[EDIT: Fixed space on end of episode]

In retrospect, this article probably should have been named: Armpitty.  In this episode, I look at TSA Security, Rick Steves latest blog posting, Morocco, Bus Tours, Haunted Places, Disney California Adventure, New Zealand, Sydney, Oktoberfest Post-Mortum and Google Maps.  Still not sure how well this is going, may start tweaking what I’m doing in the next episode.  Visit Travel Off The Cuff and leave me some comments on how to improve what I’m doing!

 Episode 002: Security [11:42m]: Download (27)

The first episode of Travel Bits by Travel Off The Cuff.  We highlight some great travel stories that came out this past week.

 Episode 001: Drugs [9:32m]: Download (38)