Aviation Daily on Airports

Random Airport News

Remember that post I did Oct. 16 about the chairman of the Piedmon Triad Airport calling out Delta over its high fares?  Well, Delta has finally responded, according to an article in the Nov. 16 issue of The Business Journal.  The Reader's Digest condensed version?  In a letter to the chairman, Glen Hauestein, Delta's executive vice president and chief of network and revenue management basically said that fares in Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham were lower because they have larger passenger bases.  He was polite but basically reiterated what I originally wrote - Delta will continue to charge the higher fares out of PTI as long as passengers continue to pay them.  My only question is why did it take a month to reply to PTI's charges?  Even a quick perfunctory form letter from a manager in the revenue department would have been better than just dragging this out for a month.

And remember that Nov. 16 post I did about the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority deciding to allow smoking in Central Illinois Regional Airport's Hangar Food & Spirits bar and restauant?  Well, not so fast.  An article in the Pantagraph has the city's legal staff saying that the restaurant might not be exempt from the smoking ban.  In a memo to the mayor and city council, city attorney Todd Greenburg found that "The city of Bloomington cannot permit smoking where state law prohibits it.  CIRA cannot permit smoking were state law or city ordinance prohibits smoking."

Since we're going down my posting memory lane, remember the post I did about AirTran holding a contest on its web site to choose its new city?  Well, according to a story (subscribers only) written by my colleague Lori Ranson in the Nov. 29 issue of Aviation Daily, Phoenix was the big winner.  Service will begin to Atlanta Feb. 15, 2007, with one flight a day.  Another flight will be added March 7.  AirTran will be competing with Delta, at 78 flights a week, and US Airways, with 69 a week.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport has done something almost unheard of these days -- it  actually cut its landing fees as of Oct. 1.  In my Aviation Daily story (subscribers only) Nov. 29, the Wayne County Airport Authority -- which runs Detroit Metro -- credited cost-cutting measures that allowed it to pass the savings on to its airlines.  All told, airlines stand to receive a $20 million refund when the airport closes its FY 2006 books.

There's been a lot of dissention over the new biometric passports that are coming online. with opponents saying that any hacker can get access to private information embedded in the document.  And now it looks like 3 million citizens in the U.K. will have their passports recalled by the Liberal Home Affairs after the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper showed just how easy it was to hack the documents. 

India's New Delhi International Airport is the latest to install the security scanning machine that can produce a nude image of the body via computer, according to DNAIndia.com.  The x-ray machine is designed to help search for weapons and explosives.  The maufacturers of the scanner are trying to build a version that blurs sensitive body parts.

A bronze statue of "The Young Rembrandt" has been unveiled at JFK Airport Terminal 4 to mark the 90th anniversary of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.  The statue was created by the late Dutch sculptor Wim van Doorn in 1969 as a plaster model and cast in bronze by Schiphol Group. Terminal 4 is operated by JFKIAT LLC, a consortium in which Schiphol USA has a 40% share.

Watching Your Weight While On The Road? Orlando International Tops List Of Airports With Most Healthy Food Options

I wrote a story (subscribers only) in the Nov. 28 issue of Aviation Daily/Airports on a new survey by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).  PCRM studied 13 of the busiest U.S. airports and found that the quality of airport food is rising, with almost 90% of restaurants surveyed now offer at least one vegetarian entrée low in fat, high in fiber and cholesterol-free.

Healthful entrées that the committee found at airports covered in the report include the vegetarian rice and noodle dishes at Zyng's Noodlery at Orlando, the grilled vegetable sandwich at Max & Erma's at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and the vegetarian chili at French Meadow Bakery & Café at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.  A detailed list on the survey is below.

1. Orlando International Airport (97 percent): Orlando’s airport offers a bounty of healthy choices to hungry travelers. Highlights include the gazpacho focaccia at Fresh Attractions Deli, the vegetarian rice and noodle dishes at Zyng’s Noodlery, and the vegetarian “purse” with couscous, tofu, and roasted peppers at McCoy’s Bar and Grill. Another good choice is Macaroni Grill’s create-your-own pasta, which offers low-fat options such as tomato sauce, broccoli, mushrooms, onions, and banana peppers. 

2. (tie) Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (96 percent): Detroit maintains its second-place status for the third year in a row, although it did see an increase of 7 percentage points this year. Cholesterol-free, high-fiber choices are easy to find, from the grilled vegetable sandwich at Max & Erma’s to the vegetarian stir-fry at Mediterranean Grill and the seaweed salad and veggie sushi at Musashi.

2. (tie) San Francisco International Airport (96 percent): San Francisco tied for second place this year, earning an extra 8 percentage points over last year’s score. Among the many healthy choices in this airport are the Asian noodle salad at Guava & Java, the smoky split pea soup at San Francisco Soup Company, and the curried vegetables and rice at Harbor Village Kitchen.

3. Newark Liberty International Airport (95 percent): Travelers facing layovers in Newark’s airport will be pleasantly surprised. This year, many more restaurants are offering cholesterol-free choices, including the veggie burger at Dick Clark’s Restaurant, the veggies with rice at Sarku, and a variety of vegetarian burrito and taco options at Maui Tacos.

4. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (94 percent): Choices at Dallas continue to improve. Health-conscious travelers will be pleased to find such options as the veggie noodle bowls at Blue Bamboo Xpress, the Caribbean salad at Chili’s Too, and the Texas spring rolls filled with roasted corn, spinach, black beans, and roasted peppers at Cool River Café.

5. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (91 percent): Chicago was the only airport to decrease its score this year, but it dropped just 1 percentage point, so customers are still likely to find healthy entrées at our nation’s second busiest airport. Veggie burgers and veggie and portobello mushroom sandwiches are widely available at airport eateries, such as Prairie Tap, Goose Island Brewing Company, and Gold Coast Dogs.

6. Denver International Airport (89 percent): Denver’s score rose 11 points this year, although it still finishes in sixth place as it did last year. Notable choices include the vegetarian panini (hold the cheese, which contains unhealthy levels of fat and cholesterol) at Chef Jimmy’s Bistro and Spirits, the teriyaki veggie or Colorado Sunshine bowl or wrap at Itza Wrap! Itza Bowl!, and the vegetarian taco, burrito, or beans and rice at any of the airport’s four Cantina Grill Express locations.

7. Philadelphia International Airport (86 percent): This is the first year PCRM reviewed Philadelphia’s airport, and it made a respectable debut. Healthy options include the vegetable sandwich or pasta marinara at Cibo Bistro and Wine Bar, the veggie bowl at Asian Chao, and the veggie wrap or salads at Lamberti’s.

8. (tie) Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (84 percent): Minneapolis gained an impressive 17 points this year. Healthy choices are getting much easier to find at the airport that ranked last in PCRM’s report just three years ago. Travelers can now enjoy a black bean and tofu salad at Caribou Coffee, the vegetarian chili at French Meadow Bakery & Café, and a grilled veggie sandwich or veggie burger at Itasca Grille.

8. (tie) Los Angeles International Airport (84 percent): Los Angeles breaks into the top 10 this year with a 15-point increase. Wholesome choices include the roasted vegetable wrap at Eaturna, the mixed green salad or pasta marinara at Daily Grill, and the udon noodles or vegetable roll at Sushi Boy.

9. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (83 percent): The world’s busiest airport can’t keep up with the improvements in healthy meal options at other airports. Despite a 6-percentage-point increase, Atlanta falls from seventh to ninth place this year. However, cholesterol-free choices are still available, including the Asian vegetable salad or veggie burger at Houlihan’s, the vegetable plate at Paschal’s Southern Delights, and the veggie burrito at Moe’s Southwest Grill.

10. Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (76 percent): Although Houston won “most improved” this year, it still lags behind the rest of the pack. Patrons searching for a healthy meal should look to such restaurants as Chili’s for its black bean burger, Lotus Express for steamed vegetables with rice, and Lefty’s Passport Grill for pasta primavera.

11. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (69 percent): While PCRM commends Las Vegas for increasing its score by 27 percentage points this year, the airport still has a long way to go. Health-conscious travelers should skip the many hot dog stands and bars and search for some of the more wholesome options available. These choices include the veggie sandwich at Prickly Pear Café, the beans and rice at Don Alejandro’s Texan Grill, and the Dutch cucumber salad at Bar One. 

Thanksgiving Travel - Slightly Worse Than Last Year

My colleage (and noted philantropist) Adrian Schofield wrote a story (subscribers only) in the Nov. 28 edition of Aviation Daily where he found that the Thanksgiving long weekend was once again bookended by reasonably heavy delay days, with bad weather the culprit on Wednesday and volume the problem on Sunday.

Wednesday saw 2,243 delays and another 243 cancellations, and there were 2,140 delays on Sunday. This was slightly worse than Thanksgiving 2005, when there were 1,824 delays on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and 2,039 on the following Sunday.  The Northeast section of the country was plagued by weather delays on the day before Thanksgiving, with New York LaGuardia posting 376 delays due to wind, Kennedy with 245 delays for wind and low ceilings, Newark with 301 delays and 248 delays at Philadelphia due to volume.

But it was much smoother sailing for those flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Chicago O'Hare -- two of the nation's busiest airports.  Both saw a fraction of the delays on Wednesday than the corresponding day in 2005, when these two airports dominated the delay list by a wide margin.  On Sunday, low ceilings at San Francisco were responsible for 156 delays, but apart from that, heavy air traffic volume was the major delay culprit.

Most airports reported the expected heavy crowds, but there didn't seem to be any major delays getting through security, according to post-holiday media accounts, including our friend Del Quentin Wilbur of the Washington Post.   So it looks like the TSA's 3-1-1 campaign actually worked!  We're all so used to slamming TSA, so when they do something right, it's right to give them the proper praise.

Story Of The Week - Cleveland Begins Campaign To Improve Airport Image

My top story (see here for free) in the Nov. 28 edition of Aviation Daily/Airports this week is the new `Going Places' campaign under way at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport.  The campaign is designed to promote improvements at the airport.

Cleveland competes with Akron-Canton, Port Columbus and Pittsburgh airports.  While its three competitors have been very aggressive in advertising and marketing their facilities, Cleveland has sat on the sidelines, said aviation director Ricky Smith, who was named to the post in June.  The airport has also had to deal with public discontent about the facility not being as modern and clean as similar airports across the country, he added.

Part of that effort is the launch of the new CLEan Team program, which encourages passengers to help keep the airport tidy, said Smith.  “We walk through the airport and see passengers enjoying the terminal and leaving trash on tables and chairs, making it difficult for employees to keep the airport clean,” he said.  “Our new campaign attempts to reach passengers at key points in the airport – restrooms, wait areas and restaurants – and get them to change their behavior.  We have an initiative where airport employees will reward passengers with discounts at food and retail vendors for cleaning up.”

It's part of an overall effort to aggressively pursue non-airline revenue sources in an effort to lower its operating costs and attract more new service to the facility, said Smith.   “It is extremely important to pursue these revenue sources, particularly when you are in a market where there are competing airports for passengers and airlines nearby,” said Smith. “You have to be able to offer lower costs to airlines in order to compete.  My predecessor, John Mok, started this and made some progress.”

Pie Oh My - Did TSA Blunder With Passengers Carrying Pies?

It looks like this Thanksgiving holiday travel season turned into a tempest in a pie crust.  Our good friend Mark over at Upgrade Travel Better made us aware of an incident that happened at Cleveland International Airport.  The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that while travel out of Hopkins went reasonably well, TSA had to confiscate about a dozen baked pies that passengers were trying to pass through security.  But TSA in Charlotte had no problem letting travelers through with their holiday pies.

Of course, this peaked my interest, because at a press conference Nov. 16 in D.C. with TSA Administrator Kip Hawley, (I posted about the press conference here and here) a question actually came up about whether passengers could carry pies.  We all had a good laugh, but Hawley did say that pies could -- COULD -- be carried past security.  He said that his definition of a liquid is what would happen if he put a questioned substance on a table.  If it holds its shape, then it's not a liquid, he said.  So pie would not be considered a liquid, he added.

OK, but I guess they forgot to tell the TSA screeners in Cleveland.  Mark made this point in his post, and it's worth repeating -- the inconsistency of enforcement of TSA regulations airport to airport is maddening.  I remember that long after TSA said we didn't have to take off our shoes anymore (pre-Aug. 19), I would go crazy arguing with TSA screeners about not having to remove my shoes.  It got to the point where I traveled with a print-out from TSA's web site over the shoe policy.  Actually, I carry several pages from the TSA web site on what is and isn't allowed now because of the continued inconsistency. 

And what happened to those pies in Cleveland?  They went to the USO Lounge, which provides a rest place for service men and women.  So let me get this straight -- the pies in Cleveland were considered potentially dangerous and therefore illegal to take on a flight, but they were good enough to serve to our troops?

And that leads to a bigger question - why, after five years in business, do we still have these inconsistent policies at our nation's airports?  Doesn't TSA have some sort of system to inform their Federal Security Directors, who in turn can pass it along to the screeners?

Strange But True Airport News

You're supposed to let the air marshal ON the plane.  Federal air marshals were removed from a US Airways Express flight out of Washington National Airport Nov. 8 after a gate agent pressed to see paperwork for off-duty law enforcement agents carrying weapons, according to BigNewsNetwork.com.  The agents said they were on duty, didn't need the paperwork and returned to their seats.  Then security from Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority , which operates National, ordered the marshals to leave the flight.  Pleas from the Department of Homeland Security to put the marshals back on the flight fell on deaf ears.  The Federal Air Marshal Service is working with flight operator Republic Airlines to investigate the incident.

Iconic airport turned beauty clinic?  Berlin's Tempelhof Airport, scheduled to close next year, could become a beauty spa and clinic operated by cosmetics company Estee Lauder, according to the U.K.'s timesonline.com.  But just one problem -- an email sent to me by a representative says that Estee Lauder Companies is not involved in the effort.  And a spokeswoman from Germany's finance ministry says that the two owners of the airport -- Land Berlin and the government's real estate department -- are currently studying ways to use the facility, but it's too soon to say what those uses may be.  So I wonder where the story came from??

Snakes, iguanas AND skinks on a plane.  A female passenger flying from Bacolod in the Philippines to Bangkok via Manila International Airport was arrested in Manila after security found her trying to smuggle 112 snakes, iguanas and skinks in her luggage, according to the Manila Standard Today.  The reptiles were placed in plastic bottles of soft drinks and mineral water.  Erlinda Vergara denied that she owned the suitcase, saying that a "friend" gave it to her to take on her trip to Bangkok.  The reptiles were handed over to the Plants and Wildlife Park.  And in the "no surprise here" department, the two security officers that let the woman pass through with the reptiles are facing 60-day and 30-day suspensions, respectively.

This case really stunk.  A German court threw out a man's lawsuit against British Airways after he claims he was thrown off because of a bad case of body odor, according to a story in Reuters.   The court ruled that BA had the right to have the man removed from an American Airlines codeshare flight from Hawaii back to Germany via Los Angeles.  Passengers told BA flight attendants that they were offended by the man's hygiene.  The man said that it wasn't his fault that he smelled after carrying heavy luggage in 90+-degree heat and sitting in the airport for hours without air conditioning.  He was suing for $2800, which covered the extra night in Los Angeles, lost earnings and his wife's lost vacation time.  I'm sorry, but I'm with the court on this one - I don't want to stay in a metal tube full of recycled stale air for 10+ hours with a man that reeks.

Fodor's Travel Wire Rates The Best, Worst Airports

Fodor's, the company that makes the wonderful guide books, has come out with its list of what its editors think are the best and worst airports in the world, and why.  I know I've posted about this in the past, but I just love these airport polls.  We all spend so much time in airports these during these times of heightened security, it's almost mandatory that facilities upgrade to keep passengers happy and bring in non-airline revenue.

The best airports, as judged by Fodor's are:

• Amsterdam Schiphol
• Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky
• Hong Kong
• Honolulu
• Munich
• San Francisco
• Singapore
• Incheon
• Vancouver

None of these entries are a big surprise.  I've been to every airport on the list except for Incheon and Hong Kong (although I did fly into the old Hong Kong Airport).  Amsterdam was lauded for its "surprising toilets" featuring cheery murals and "targets" in the men's room. Cincinnati gets high marks for its public art.  Hong Kong is noted for its mix of premium and traditional Chinese shops.  Honolulu wins high praise for its open air design and peaceful Japanese gardens and koi ponds.  Munich's Kinderland is pointed out by the editors as a play paradise for children.  You've heard all the accolades about Singapore, so I'll move on to Incheon, which features computer game rooms and an Internet lounge with free wifi.  And Vancouver gets kudos for its art collection and quiet zones for napping.

Not faring so well with the Fodor's editors were:

• Paris Charles de Gaulle
• London Heathrow
• JFK and La Guardia
• Moscow Sheremetyevo
• Mumbai

Paris was called dim, damp, and dirty, with nasty bathrooms.  Heathrow was knocked for being confusing to navigate.  The editors found the New York airports pitiful, recommending that they be  ripped down and rebuild from scratch. Moscow was deeply creepy, and smelly too.   Mumbai is Loud, confusing, and filthy and is is frequently infested by mosquitoes.

I've not been to Moscow or Mumbai.  But I have to say that I think that Fodor's views about the remaining three are a bit harsh.  The newer Air France terminal at Charles de Gaulle is not so terrible.  I found it light and airy, and since my flight was delayed, there was enough to keep me amused (see photo).

OK, so Heathrow isn't one of my favorites, but I've never had any trouble finding where I needed to go.  And how can you criticize an airport that has its own Harrod's and great duty-free shops with free liquor tastings?  :)  LaGuardia isn't going to win any design awards, but you can't beat it for its ease of use and easy access to the city.  And JFK?  It really depends on which terminal you're in, as I've said before.

But then again, it's like my dear old Dad says -- opinions are like...belly buttons - everyone has one!!

Remembering The Thanksgiving Spirit During This Busy Travel Season - Trixie's Rules For Polite Passengers

It's the day before Thanksgiving, and before you get on your stuffed-like-a-turkey flight (I'm staying home, thank goodness), I think this is the perfect time for a gentle reminder of things to do to make flights easier. I was delighted to come across the Bated Breath blog, where Miss Trixie is kind enough to give us some easy-to-follow tips on making the flight pleasant for everyone.  I did clean up some of her language, since I did not wish to offend you, gentle reader, but I agree 100% with her recommendations.  So here goes - and Happy Thanksgiving!!

• DO keep the volume down on your iPod/MP3 player. There's a reason they come with headphones...so other people don't have to hear your "bad" choice in music.
• DO NOT change your child's diaper IN THE SEAT between other passengers. What kind of person does this? "Boo-Boo" belongs in the bathroom.
• DO NOT use your tray table, or the seat in front of you as a drum set.
• DO tell your children to stop kicking the seat in front of them. Tie their ankles together if you have to.
• DO NOT continuously crack your knuckles, or your gum, or you'll get my hand cracked over your head.
• DO bathe and apply deodorant before your flight.
• DO NOT bathe in your perfume or cologne before your flight.
• DO brush your teeth before your flight. NOTHING is worse than sitting next to someone with halitosis for three hours.
• DO NOT talk loudly on your cell phone before takeoff and after landing. The whole cabin does not want to hear how you "had fun" with some guy from Jersey this weekend.
• DO turn your electronics off when they ask you to. They won't take off until you do, you "un-nice" person.
• DON'T knowingly try to carry on a bag that's too overstuffed to fit in the overhead compartment. Check that "bag." I don't want to wait while they gate-check your bag.
• DO observe the personal space of the people sitting next to you. I don't want your "darned" thigh on me for the duration of a four-hour flight.
• DO NOT behave in a way that would require anyone on the plane to use the word "asshole" in reference to you.
• DO sit down, shut up and let the rest of us travel in peace.

While these are some golden ones, I'd like to add a few of my own, based on constant travel worldwide since my first flight -- Philadelphia to Heathrow -- back in 1969 (when I was six years old).

• DO NOT try and have a long, drawn-out conversation with me if I've got my iPod on, reading a book or both.
• DO allow me, please, to have some of the arm rest if I'm unfortunate enough to be crammed in the middle seat.
• DO NOT try and put your stuff under my space if you're sitting in the bulkhead.  I'm sorry that you don't have a seat to put your stuff under, but that's not my problem.
• DO NOT spread all of your children's/baby's stuff into my seat area (and I say this as the mother of a one-year old).
• DO try and make an attempt to quiet/discipline your screaming/unruly child.  I know that children cry and act up (Lord, don't I), but don't ignore the problem and impose your apathy on your fellow passengers.
• DO spend the money to buy your child his/her own seat.  It gets really tiring to hear flight attendants have to explain that the flight is full and if a separate seat was not purchased, yes, you DO have to put little Timmy on your lap for the six-hour flight to San Francisco.
• DO try and not get up constantly if you're stuck in the window seat.  It's really annoying for the middle and aisle seat person (usually me) to do the dance needed so you can go for your umpteenth walk/stretch/bathroom break.
• DO remember that flight attendants are there primarily for your safety, not to be your personal servant.

Port Authority Opens Bidding Process To Redevelop Historic TWA Terminal At JFK Airport

I did a story (subscribers only) in the Nov. 22 issue of Aviation Daily about the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey's plans to release a request for proposal by Nov. 30 for companies interested in developing the iconic -- but empty -- Terminal 5, the TWA Terminal.  The facility, designed by Eero Saarinen (who also designed Washington Dulles), has sat empty since 2001, although it was used to film key scenes of the Steven Spielberg movie "Catch Me If You Can" and housed an art exhibit.  Lovely photos of the building can be found here at the greatbuildings.com web site.

The airport geek in me has always had a special place in my heart for this building.  I had the chance to fly out of it in December 1997 as I took a flight to Tel Aviv on TWA.  I got there early enough so I could just wander the halls.  It was a little scruffy looking, as TWA, mired in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, hadn't spent much money sprucing up the facility.  But you could definitely see what it looked like before, in the glory days.

“[Terminal 5] can't handle the types of passenger volumes today, the size of bags today and the security requirements of today. So the decision was made to build a new terminal on the site behind the Saarinen building while creating a new use for the existing structure.  And it will be very much in harmony with the new terminal that will be operated by JetBlue,” said Bill DeCota, the Port Authority's director of aviation.  The TWA Terminal is protected under the New York State Historic Preservation Office and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. 

So what will be done with it?  The Port Authority says that question is wide open, including restaurants, lounges, spas, shopping center, conference center, museum, outdoor gardens, office space or any combination thereof.  But whatever is done, the developer will be required to adapt the terminal in a minimally intrusive manner.  “Non-historic additions would have to be removed, such as the old entry vestibules, the south baggage facade and the pedestrian canopies that are not original to the building,” said spokesman Pasquale DiFulco.  “But historic elements would have to be restored.  All of the work would have to be done under strict maintenance and preservation guidelines and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Standards.”

The Port Authority is giving interested parties three months to offer their proposals.  The authority will take another three months to choose a winner, scheduled for July 2007.   And completion of the project will depend on what use is chosen, but the authority is hoping that it will open in conjunction with the opening of the JetBlue terminal.

Duty-Free Liquid Sales - Does Confusion Still Abound?

In my Nov. 20 post, I spoke about a press conference I attended featuring TSA Administrator Kip Hawley, Airports Council International-North America President Greg Principato and Air Transport Association President and CEO Jim May on holiday travel tips. 

During the Q&A section of the program, the issue on how duty-free liquids were being handled in the U.S. and the rest of the world came up.  It dovetails perfectly with a post from our friend Mark over on the Upgrade Travel blog about a particular incident he had at Munich Airport.   Mark writes that on Oct. 13, the duty free shop refused to sell him a liter of anything, saying "that it wasn’t permitted for flights to the United States." 

But we know from looking at the TSA's web site, that this is incorrect.  The actual policy is that on non-stop flights from Europe to the US, duty-free liquids bought after security that are delivered to the passenger onboard the aircraft or bought inflight are allowed.  But if you are transferring to another U.S. point, then the liquids must be put in checked luggage or it will be taken away.

ACI-NA's Principato noted that he had just come back from Cape Town, South Africa, where Airports Council International held its annual worldwide assembly, and a major topic of discussion was making rules for purchasing and transporting duty-free liquids more clear.  He also noted that duty-free shops have seen a drop in sales as confusion still abounds with customers not understanding when they can and cannot transfer liquid purchases. “The EU, Canada and the United States were able to come up with a uniform liquids policy and I expect we’ll do the same with duty-free purchases,” said TSA's Hawley.

Nice sentiment, but how long will it take?  During the press conference, an example to illustrate the point was used.  I'll use my own here.  Let's say our friend Mark is flying from Washington Dulles to Barcelona on British Airways.  And Mark wants to stop at the Vino Volo wine store past security and buy an $85 bottle of 2001 St. Emilion Bordeaux from Chateau Figeac for his good friend Xavier Marcé i Carol, the vice chairman of the Catalonia International Film Festival, because he's just that nice and has great taste in wine.  OK, stay with me here.

So Mark buys the wine and slips comfortably into his World Business Class seat (because he knows how to upgrade properly) for the flight to Heathrow.  But when Mark transfer's to BA's Barcelona flight, he can't bring that $85 bottle of wine he bought for Xavier at Dulles.  You can see the full explanation here at TSA's web site. 

My question is if the United States, Canada, Europe and 30 other countries can get together on the liquids policy, why can't they iron out differences on duty-free liquid sales?  Many airports rely heavily on the revenue from duty-free stores as a source of non-airline revenue used to keep them in the black financially.  There has to be a reasonable way to balance the need for security with the needs of shopping passengers and the airports that want to serve them.

EDITOR'S NOTE - Mark has switched blog providers for Upgrade Travel and his old site will no longer be updated, so be sure to bookmark his new URL.  BJW