Orlando Airport

Due to today’s foiled terrorism plot in the UK, new security measures have been put into place at all US airports, including Orlando.

First, all flyers should arrive two hours early for flights, even domestic ones.

Also, no liquids or gels are allowed in carry on bags. That means no toothpaste, hand creams, hair gels, beverages, or any other non-solids are being permitted on the aircraft.

Please note, the language says “on the aircraft”. That means liquids or gels purchased inside the airport, even after you have passed through security, will not be permitted onboard. Any beverage you buy while waiting for departure will have to be consumed before boarding.

For road warriors who ONLY use carry on luggage and never check bags, this new will require some thought on how best to pack, what to buy at the destination, and whether it now is necessary to check a bag.

Just a quick followup to the post about the Atlanta airport. The person ahead of me entering the Delta airlines lounge used an American Express Platinum card (the ‘real’ amex platinum card, not the Delta-branded one), which gets you into the Crown Room free if you’re flying Delta that day.

I had never seen anyone ahead of me ever do that, so I asked the desk agent if they see it a lot. She said it’s becoming so common, that Delta hardly ever sells new Crown room memberships (at the desk?) anymore.

The American Express Platinum Card (www.americanexpress.com/platinum) provides free access to Delta, Northwest, and Continental airport lounges, in Orlando and everywhere else, on the days you fly that particular airline. It’s pricey at about $400/year for an annual fee, but that’s about the same price as membership for even one of those airline’s clubs, so if you travel on those airlines a lot, it’s a good deal.

I’m on a 1 night trip to Atlanta, and once again I had to fly into Atlanta (Hartsfield) airport. And once again the same thing bugs me about this airport. The design is one long corridor, instead of a more modular design (like you-know-what-airport).
Now, no offense to the fine citizens of Atlanta, but why design an airport like a ladder or long tunnel, so that everyone has to take the same train to get to Baggage and Ground Transportation? If you’re unfortunate enough to deplane at Terminal C or farther, it takes too long to get out of that airport. Add to that the fact of the train being underground, not elevated, and I already feel hemmed in and a little less happy before I even get to Avis . I appreciate the nice mural with the happy people that greets you when you finally start to emerge from the underground train lair into the sunshine, but at that point it’s too late. I already feel a little dehumanized.

At least the above-ground part of the airport is nice and open. And the city itself is amazing, with great food. I stayed at the Hilton Atlanta Airport this time, and was very pleased. A bit pricey at $169, but free candy and bottled water, and Starbucks in the lobby, made it feel more like home.

-dean

Extra note: flying back home, I saw the same ID-checker I usually do, still smiling and making people feel better. If she’s not paid extra for that, she should be.

From BelfastToday. July 28/06

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I am not sure why, but in Orlando it’s common to call vacation rental homes ‘villas’. To me, a villa is in Tuscany or someplace similar. I guess I’m not quite as sophisticated as some.

However, this doesn’t change the fact that villas in Orlando are extremely popular, mainly because of the economics of a visit to DisneyWorld (or disney orlando walt world if you like a little backward sequence word play) or the other theme parks, and the economics are this:

… most people do not visit Orlando alone.

Think about it. Manhattan? Maybe your spouse, or maybe alone. Las Vegas? Maybe your spouse, but even more likely alone, given that What Happens in Vegas… theme.

Orlando? Family, kids, grandparents, a companion-family even. This is why it makes sense to rent a house instead of staying in a hotel. Per person it’s cheaper, and you almost certainly get your own pool, plus you definitely get your own bedroom, kitchen, etc.

And in case you didn’t know, your theme park ticket is good for the whole day(s) it’s issued for, so you can come and go as often as you please. Go home for lunch, or to take a nap (or to avoid paying 3 bucks for a Coke). Then go back again. It’s your choice.

Anyway, the point of this post is to tell you that I have been thinking about villas, and I think there’s an opportunity to perform a public service here, letting people provide reviews of the houses they rented and if they would recommend them to others. Who knows, according to the search engine data this is a busy field with almost zero chance of getting noticed, but I might try anyway.

It’s been about 6 months since I got my CLEAR card (www.flyclear.com) and it’s truly the best thing to happen to air trvel since online check-in.

The application process took over a month (I’m an immigrant, so that might have contributed to the delay. An American co-worker got hers a couple of weeks faster).

To apply for the card ($90/year) you have to show two forms of government ID, fill out a form on their computer, provide your fingerprints and have your irises scanned.

Your card, when it arrives, has a smart chip. The chip stores your biometric information, so even if someone else tries to use it, they can’t – they’d need your fingers or eyes.

To check in at the airport (Orlando only right now) you BYPASS THE REGULAR SECURITY LINE and go to the CLEAR line. Actually, I have never seen a line there. I’ve only ever seen one other traveler being verified at the same time as me, and there are two kiosks in the CLEAR area, so I still didn’t have to wait. Afer you’re verified,you cut in the line to the X-ray machine, ahead of the regular passengers who have waited who knows how long.

Longest time to get to an X-ray machine, in my experience: 90 seconds, from walking to the kiosk to loading my bags on the security conveyor.

This thing is the greatest idea ever.

Happy Flying,

-Dean