8 posts tagged “airport”

Although my most recent flight was Air New Zealand, when flying the Virgin affiliate out this way, Pacific Blue, you get to see some cool things. You are not sheltered with those poncy air bridges that the wimps use. It’s down the stairs and out on the tarmac—where I spotted this sign:

   If you run out of aprons at the airport, you need to activate the alarm. Very important. They take cooking really seriously there, even if airline food sucks.
   Or does it? Air New Zealand has heralded the return of the vegetarian chips! These were last served domestically on Qantas flights in 2003 and when I told that to the crew today, I was given three bags! Go Air New Zealand! (Yes, I was bribed with three bags of chips.)
   The distracting thing was that the safety announcements are now done in the nude on this airline. Before you get excited, it’s a video, the crew members are wearing body paint, and there is nothing revealing. The issue is you are getting the same sort of laugh you would with those gags in, say, the Austin Powers movies, where you wonder how they are going to cover various body parts up. It ties in to a campaign they are running: And in fact, you can see this for yourself (the blonde stewardess served us today, clothed): I warned her that if they ever heard the acronym NIFOC from the cockpit, then they might not want to go in. I said it stood for Naked In Front of the Cockpit, which isn’t exactly true—I learned the expression from a nudist I knew many years ago (the C stands for computer).
   But the point is I paid no attention to what they said, which defeats the purpose of the safety video.
   Finally, here’s a curiosity which I think should go on to Font Police: No, it’s not the use of “dumb quotes” that has me concerned, but why is it in quotes anyway? It’s like Christchurch Airport doesn’t mean it, and that they are merely quoting something someone else has said. Disappointingly, it is in Frutiger, which means instant anonymity as far as airports are concerned. Of airport signage, this is actually stranger than the apron emergency.

Chicago would like to be the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Do you like this idea? Why or why not?
Submitted by Chicago Shadow.

While I would love to visit family in Illinois, the US has made it so tough for any foreigners to even visit. Lately they have introduced some extra steps that one has to take prior to departure, even for people transiting. From the Air New Zealand site:

It is now compulsory for passengers travelling to or transiting in the United States under the Visa Waiver Program to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) no later than 72 hours prior to departure. This online form may eventually replace the green visa waiver form (I-94W) which is currently completed whilst inflight to the US. This online form may eventually replace the green visa waiver form (I-94W) which is currently completed whilst inflight to the US.
   Travellers should visit the US Department of Homeland Security website and fill in the required information. In most cases a response will be received within seconds determining whether travel to the US has been authorised. If the application is not authorised then a visa may be requested through the US Embassy. In some instances customers will need to wait up to 72 hours for authorisation.

So much for establishing good relations with other nations. Bloody ridiculous, considering we already get photographed and our thumbnails are scanned already for Homeland Security (thanks, President Bush).
   This has taken the United States so far out of international travel convention that it’s harder and harder to convince anyone that it makes sense flying through there. I’d rather now go via Montréal and Vancouver than through any US airport now.
   The US has also ceased to recognize British Overseas Nationals for its Visa Waiver Programme, which means it now effectively practises apartheid against British subjects.
   There is also this new rule for 2009 (thanks, President Obama):

Nationals of these countries travelling under the Visa Waiver Program not holding an e-Passport and an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) authority will be referred to secondary customs processing on arrival, where they may be issued a waiver for entry for up to 90 days provided they are found admissible. The normal charge for such a waiver is US $545, however US airport authorities may waive the fee in some circumstances. Air New Zealand urges these nationals to obtain both an e-Passport and ESTA authority before travelling to the US.

   Yeah, right: just because we have an older passport not yet up for renewal yet means the US will sting us a grand of our dollars to even visit. Spreading the wealth?
   So the short answer is while I would love to see everyday Americans get the benefit of an Olympiad, at this rate, I don’t think anyone will show up to a country that is, administratively, disconnected from the rest of the planet.
   It’s a shame as the American people have a will to be more connected. Pity their politicians, whether they are Republican, Democrat, or John McCain, seem to disagree.

Have a good time in Sydney, Doug!
   My good friend Doug Rimington—you’ll have seen his credit in Lucire, where he got his start, and elsewhere—embarks on the next stage of his career as a professional photographer, venturing to Australia to see what opportunities await. I know he’ll blow ’em away and look forward to seeing more of his work—and to continuing our collaboration on Lucire and other titles.
   Some of his work can be seen at Lucire: we did a one-page tribute to him on the site yesterday.

[Cross-posted] In the past month or so I have had the pleasure of flying all the main New Zealand airlines: Air New Zealand, the national carrier; Qantas, the Australian airline that has fairly comprehensive services within this country; and Pacific Blue, the Toll–Virgin venture that launched with cut-price services nationally this month. All have online booking, so that at least puts them evenly as far as the computer-savvy folks are concerned.
   But taking that aside, how do the airlines fare? You can read more either at the original post on my main blog, or hop on over to Lucire if you want a few more pretty pictures.

For those who believe in astrology, Mercury retrograde had some noticeable effects at its end peak in July 2007.
   One family’s Toyota Scepter Wagon, in the distance here, burned out on the northwestern motorway as it entered Auckland, New Zealand. Traffic was backed up for probably a mile or more; on my way, heading out of Auckland, the outermost lane was shut and there were some traffic delays.

   Here’s the next humdinger, as mentioned in my previous post.
  

The end peak of Mercury retrograde was pretty astonishing. I tried not to make any real decisions or statements, in case things go wrong.
   For a start, Sunday was quiet. One friend whom I wanted to catch up with had her cell stolen. Another left hers at home. It was good for me to reflect on the pluses of the past week and catch up on emails.
   Returning to Wellington was a blast. AT&T Global would not connect to the Auckland Airport hotspots, despite having them listed. My flight was delayed an hour. Then, the carousel at Wellington Airport would not work and we had to leave our luggage unattended, walk into the security area, down the stairs and get our checked suitcases and bags ourselves.
   There were people to whom I wanted to make important calls, but being aware of this astrological cycle, I am glad I hesitated! While tomorrow may not be 100 per cent back to normal astrologically, I am going to get things back on track—somehow!
   My next post will have a few retrograde photos, for your entertainment. I am sure others were frustrated while yours truly was just marvelling at how sometimes astrology really works.

Auckland Airport wifi: $10 an hour, payable by Mastercard or Visa (which kind of sucks for a guy who uses American Express exclusively). But the food is pretty good, with a Japanese place having opened up there.
   Wellington Airport wifi, according to David Philpott: free. Wellington: keep it that way. I chose to wait till I got home yesterday before sending my emails than give $10 to an airport which was already making money from me via my air fare and my buying food there.

Wellington Airport now has wifi for us plebs not in a business lounge. Hooray!
   Up sides: I can type.
   Down sides: the terms and conditions say that they can use my email address to send me a bill. This violates the law on a few angles: (a) there is no way of confirming that my entered email address is genuine; (b) no price term has been agreed to. Finally, I can’t actually use my regular POP mail, only the webmail service.
   My flight was delayed. The plane has just come in and is taxiing toward the gate now. Might as well go through security, which should not be as heavy as it is in the US (let’s hope not).