When a Cell Phone Rings…in the Cockpit

The debate continues about whether inflight use of electronics–specifically cell phones–poses a safety risk. As the FCC and the FAA ponder this issue, the flying public seems doubtful about the risk but fearful that allowing cell phones inflight might just...

Third time’s a charm

Gary Leff, knower of all things frequent flyer, swears that his most important tip is this: Hang Up, Call Back (HUCB). When a customer service agent doesn’t give you the answer you want–or even the answer you know to be true–politely say goodbye,...

A map label, politics and a pickle

“Can we change Arabian Sea to Persian Gulf?” the copyeditor asked. A simple question, right? Not so simple, it turns out. The body of water was labeled on an illustrated map of the UAE within a story on Abu Dhabi I was editing. I did a little search to get...

PreCheck’s expansion: Good or bad?

The TSA announced last week that it plans to expand its successful PreCheck program so that travelers can apply for an airline-agnostic “membership” that will cost $85 for five years. The agency can be applauded for taking a program that has been...

Getting paid to park at SFO

Airport parking can really eat up a budget, especially when it’s for vacation and not reimbursed. So I was curious to try out FlightCar for a recent trip, a new enterprise at SFO (also BOS). The concept is simple: Leave your car in their parking lot, and...