TSA’s Secure Flight Program Heavily Criticized
Jolt of Caffeine or Power Nap? Sleepy Drivers Put to the Test
Auction Systems Considered to Cut NY Airport Delays
Tips on Dressing for Business Travel Abroad
Airline Denies Wildlife Smuggling Allegations
TSA’S SECURE FLIGHT PROGRAM HEAVILY CRITICIZED – Travel Management
Several airlines, associations and other travel industry constituents have criticized the TSA’s proposed Secure Flight air passenger security program. Under proposed rules, the TSA would collect data from airlines on passengers booked on all flights within, to, from and over the United States. This data would then be checked against terrorist watch lists. More than 100 comments had already been filed back in early October from others in the travel industry. Recent comments from critics have included the words “unacceptable,” “unrealistic,” “unreasonable,” and “imponderable.”
Link: Travel Management
JOLT OF CAFFEINE OR POWER NAP? SLEEPY DRIVERS PUT TO THE TEST – The New York Times
Sleepy drivers who don’t want to spend the night in a hotel have two options: take a nap or load up on caffeine. French researchers tested the driving performance of two dozen sleep-deprived drivers. Participants drove a two-mile course at different times of the day and given either decaffeinated coffee (as a placebo), regular coffee or were allowed to nap for 30 minutes. The result? Coffee drinkers did the best overall, but the effect varied by age. For younger drivers ages 20 to 25, a nap was nearly as effective as caffeine.
Link: The New York Times
AUCTION SYSTEM CONSIDERED TO CUT NY AIRPORT DELAYS - Bloomberg News
An auction for takeoff and landing slots in New York City’s airports is one of the options being considered to curb delays. The auctions would put some departure and arrival times up for bid, in the hopes that carriers would try to save money by combining flights or flying during off-peak hours. Other options include capping the number of flights allowed at the airports and charging airlines to land at busy times of the day
Link: Bloomberg News
TIPS ON DRESSING FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL ABROAD – Wall Street Journal
One business traveler found herself sitting in a sauna full of nude salespeople in Scandinavia, while others may have offended locals by wearing leather belts in India. In Malaysia, yellow is reserved for royalty, and in many parts of Asia, white is meant for mourning. Business travelers need to plan ahead to avoid a fashion (or cultural) faux pas.
Link: Wall Street Journal
AIRLINE DENIES WILDLIFE SMUGGLING ALLEGATIONS – New Zealand Herald
Ethiopian Airlines claims that it was not aware of a Cameroonian conservation group’s allegation that airline was involved in illegal wildlife smuggling. A flock of 500 African Grey parrots were seized on Tuesday from an Ethiopian Airlines plane shortly before take-off. The species is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Link: New Zealand Herald
