airports Archives - Mom's Guide To Travel

Feb 26 2016

Why Airports Around the Country Are Preparing to Go Mobile

The following post about airports going mobile appeared on The Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog.

It’s the hippest trend in airport fashion: going mobile via airport-specific apps or mobile-optimized websites.

Already, many of the United States’ larger airports—including Dallas Fort Worth International, Des Moines International, Pittsburgh International, and San Francisco International—have begun providing travelers with mobile content via native apps or mobile-optimized websites, while many other U.S. airports plan to follow suit.

Meanwhile, a survey by air transport communications company SITA found that 91 percent of airports around the world are planning to develop an app that helps passengers navigate terminals, while another 83 percent plan to use a mobile app to share real-time updates for local traffic and airport wait times.

Why all the clamor for mobile content? It turns out going mobile can benefit both the airports themselves and the travelers who pass through them. Here’s what this trend means for you.

For the Benefit of the Traveler

As travelers continue to adopt mobile technologies, they expect more from the customer experience in virtually all aspects of travel, particularly in the form of native apps and mobile-optimized websites—and this is certainly true of the airport. Around 77 percent of frequent business travelers and 67 percent of all passengers report toting along smartphones every time they fly, while 51 percent of business travelers with smartphones report using their phones to check their flight status. As more and more travelers adopt mobile technologies, the demand for personalized, up-to-date, and mobile-friendly communications will only continue to grow.

While airlines and trip planning sites have taken the lead on developing travel-specific apps and allowing travelers to book tickets, file complaints, and receive updates via mobile technologies like smartphones and tablets, airports are now starting to take notice.

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, for example, has introduced more than 40 mobile apps in the past two years alone, reports USA Today. The airport (the world’s fourth busiest) has made it a priority to streamline the traveler experience by developing apps that allow users to do everything from finding out which parking garages are full to navigating the airport terminals via mobile maps, accessing or changing flight information, locating the nearest airport shops or cafés, and determining wait times for food lines within the airport.

San Francisco International Airport has adopted a similar approach to mobile communications by thinking about how mobile tech can ease the travel experience. In July of last year, the airport launched an app that makes it easier for visually impaired travelers to navigate the terminals by providing audio directions, and it plans to expand these services to a wider range of travelers.

Other mobile initiatives at airports around the world include real-time flight information (including notifications about arrivals, departures, delays, cancellations, gates, and baggage), calendar integration, destination weather forecasts, information regarding ground transportation and hotels, airline contact information, and the option to interact with and save mobile-friendly travel itineraries.

All told, the goal is to minimize the stresses of travel and make the process of navigating the airport more pleasant for all travelers (and that’s good news for anyone who’s worried about making it through security or finding their gate). So far, it seems like this approach is working: Airports that have utilized mobile-optimized websites and native apps are already seeing improvements in customer satisfaction.

For the Benefit of the Airport

Of course, the impetus for airports to go mobile isn’t purely philanthropic. Airports that utilize mobile technologies enjoy a competitive advantage over their non-mobile counterparts as they earn reputations for ease of travel. Mobile content also promises to reduce airports’ customer service costs as travelers help themselves instead of needing to be helped (Self-service check-in and bag tagging are prime examples).

Going mobile also allows airports to operate more efficiently at all levels, as employee-specific apps can empower airport workers to perform their jobs more quickly and effectively. Case in point: At Dallas Fort Worth International, developing apps for employees to use on the job has resulted in over 43,000 previously manual functions being completed electronically (yes, 43 thousand).

These apps can assist workers in performing a wide variety of tasks ranging from issuing repair tickets to inputting reports during airfield inspections, to creating work orders for problems that need to be addressed. They also make it easier for employees to communicate with each other and respond to issues—such as a broken luggage conveyor belt or a bathroom spill—in real time.

Even these airport-specific benefits can extend to travelers. If airports are operating more efficiently and issues are dealt with more promptly, that’s good news for the millions of people who pass through airports on a daily basis. All told, the increasing mobilization of airports should spell good news for the world’s travelers.

Sep 27 2015

Here’s Where Luggage Goes After You Check It

Ever wondered what happens to your precious luggage after you bid your farewells at the ticket counter? I have imagined many scenarios and in some instances see the evidence of those assumptions once I retrieve my battered baggage. This Hipmunk article which originally appeared on The Tailwind blog pulls the curtain on your luggage’s journey.

As you queue up in security with a carry-on and contemplate the trip ahead, your checked luggage is embarking on a journey of its own.

Thanks to Amsterdam’s Airport Schiphol, you can now witness this voyage from the comfort of your own home. The airport recently released behind-the-scenes footage that reveals exactly what happens to bags after you hand them over at check-in and hope for the best. Check out the 360-degree video here.

While practices vary by country and airport, here’s a breakdown of the process as it’s commonly implemented in the U.S.:

After you leave a bag at check-in, it’s scanned by a laser barcode reader that transmits the bag’s tag number to a computer, which also keeps track of the bag’s destination. The bag is then sent off along a labyrinthine system of conveyor belts.
Once it reaches the main luggage facility, the bag is screened by security. If security administrators have any concerns about a bag, they’ll open it to scope things out (If a bag is opened, the TSA will leave a note inside stating as much).
If the bag makes it through security, the computer communicates with the baggage conveyor system to direct the bag to the right airline.
Once the bag has reached its stop, a baggage handler removes it from the conveyor belt and loads it onto a cart along with the luggage of your fellow travelers. Baggage handlers then drive the cart to the plane and load the luggage onto the aircraft.

When a Bag Goes Missing

While missing luggage is at the top of the list of travel nightmares, the good news is that statistically, it’s very rare: There’s only a 1 percent chance your bag won’t arrive at a destination along with you.

What unfortunate circumstances must align for the worst to happen? The explanation could lie with any of a number of factors:

Needing to be unloaded and transferred to a connecting flight in one hour or less.
High volume of luggage, which ups the chances of things going wrong.
Slipping off the conveyor belt or into the wrong chute (This is more likely to happen when bags are placed on the conveyor wheels-down).
Human error. If the check-in clerk inaccurately labels the destination code, your bag doesn’t stand a chance. Likewise, the bag may get loaded onto the wrong wagon (and therefore the wrong plane).
Having multiple connections. The more often a bag needs to be unloaded, redirected, and loaded onto a new plane, the higher the chances of things going awry.

How to Decrease the Odds of a Bag Getting Lost

While you may not be able to control everything that happens to a bag after check-in, take these steps to up the chances of luggage finding its way back to you:

Clearly label the bag with your name, address, and destination—both inside and out. Also apply some kind of visual identifier to the outside of the bag so it’s easy to describe to agents if it goes missing. Even better? Take a picture of the bag, including its ID tag and barcode, before it rolls off down the conveyor.
Get to the airport on time. Proper trip planning can help ensure there’s enough time between connections for bags to make it onto the plane along with you.
Know the rules regarding prohibited items, TSA-approved locks, and the like—and then follow them.
Tie up (or tuck in) all straps. Bag straps can get stuck in conveyors, creating delays in the sorting process (Depending on the length of said delays, this could mean that a bag won’t make it onto its flight).
Keep the essentials on hand at all times. Don’t check anything you can’t live without. Stash prescriptions, valuables, electronics, money, and an extra change of clothes in your carry-on, just in case. Be sure to follow all regulations so you don’t spend a ton of time in security.

If nothing else, perhaps learning about the wild adventures of checked luggage will make us all a little more grateful for the human way of flying. While babies may cry and people may recline their seats into your lap, it still beats sitting in the cargo hold.

Apr 18 2012

Traveling from D.C. to Jamaica

[Re-posted from my column on the Examiner.com D.C. for Family Travel & Entertainment]

As the weather begins to drop, many D.C. families begin considering warm-weather getaways, non-demanding of long travel time and high costs. Traveling from D.C. to Jamaica is an inexpensive choice and a relatively short flight. Including a connection, Jamaica is a 5-hour flight from the area and a feasible choice for families looking for high value and ample activities. It’s a place where you can eat good and play hard.

Jamaica’s two main airports, Sangster International (Montego Bay) and Kingston Norman Manley are on almost opposite ends of the island. Each has its own unique identity and features. Montego Bay is the laid-back resort-heavy side of the island whereas Kingston is the New York City of the country. Wherever you stay, there’s one thing for certain, Jamaica is not short on accommodations. According to the Tourist Board’s latest published country guide, the island houses over 130 hotels, resorts, villas, tree houses and inns.

So, why Jamaica? Aside from the reggae music, jerk chicken and beef patties, the country has a lot to offer visitors. Granted, there are several other Caribbean islands that would make great getaways, many of which have been noted as being more pristine, safer, and luxurious. However, and according to Jamaica Tourist Board rep Wayne Sterling, aside from Jamaica having “more attractions than all the Caribbean islands put together”, the island’s key feature and the reason “why”, is her people. “The people are warm and friendly like no other place.”

With tourism being the economy’s cornerstone, Mr. Sterling noted that the Ministry of Tourism makes conscientious efforts to “enhance the tourism product.” The Ministry reviews their “Tourism Master Plan”, analyzing market trends, creating a planning phase and working with various tourism interests to help keep Jamaica marketable and highly attractive to visitors, especially families. The Jamaica Tourist Board’s website is a noteworthy front in those efforts, highlighting everything you need to know to plan a getaway. It’s well-organized, user-friendly and entertaining. One of the best features of the site is the search by Vacation Themes. Kudos to the webmaster for making it easy.

Here are 6 family-friendly activities to explore in Jamaica:

Horseback Riding with Chukka Caribbean Adventure Tours
Zip-lining at YS Falls
Swimming with the Dolphins at Dolphins Cove
Black River Safari Boat Tour
Bobsledding at Mystic Mountain
Kayaking at Kool Runnings Water Park

In addition, there are plantation tours, nature tours and a host of various other things to do throughout the island. You wouldn’t necessarily know about the island’s attraction diversity unless you went there, and as the Tourist Board states, “Once you go, you know.”

Now all D.C. needs is a direct flight to the island to make everything “irie”.

Disclosure: The Jamaica Tourist Board hosted my press trip to Jamaica, which included air fare, hotel, and meals. I received no monetary compensation for this article or my trip and all opinions are my own.

Connect with Tawanna