ONLINE TRAVEL - Airport security latest on the Web
ONLINE TRAVEL - Airport security latest on the Web
By Darren M. Green
Copyright by The Tribune
Published August 20, 2006
The world of flying has changed dramatically in the last week and a half with every day seeming to bring new changes. Here are some Web sites that can keep you updated on changes in airport security and carry-on restrictions--as well as track and navigate any resulting flight delays and cancellations.
www.tsa.gov -- The Transportation Security Administration's Web site, which offers a number of useful tools for traveling during turbulent times, is a good place to start in researching the lay of the land. Click on the Updated Prohibited Items link along the right side of the home page to read an up-to-the-minute summary regarding items you will not be able to carry onto the plane (check back often as restrictions are expected to evolve over time). From there, click on the Frequently Asked Questions button, which yields a litany of categories intended to clear up some of the misinformation circulating online and offline over the past couple of weeks. Another worthwhile feature in trying to plan for the unexpected is the Wait Times section of the Web site, which provides expected security checkpoint wait times based on the airport, day of week and time of travel.
www.dhs.gov/dhspublic -- By now most would-be travelers are likely aware that the "threat level" for the U.S. aviation sector has been raised, but for most of us that doesn't mean a whole lot in and of itself. Check out the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Web site to learn more about the current threat level. Click on the Threat Advisory link to learn what in fact each threat level means, and to review recommended activities for all Americans planning to travel over the coming months.
www.faa.gov --The information available at the Federal Aviation Administration Web site overlaps in large part with the sites listed above; however, the FAA site also offers an informative interactive delays map behind the Airport Status and Delay link.
www.ask.com -- Travel search queries entered at Ask.com now not only generate the usual and customary search engine results, but also pull up information targeted to current-day travel issues. For example, the first entry posted in response to a search under "Terrorist Threat" is a news bulletin feature that is constantly updated with the latest on the thwarted U.K. plot and repercussions for travelers.
www.flytecomm.com -- The best defense against spending six hours at the airport or circling the airport due to a flight delay (unfortunately a rather common occurrence with heightened security) is preparedness, and Flytecomm.com is among the best resources to get real-time information. FlyteComm pulls information from dozens of data sources in anticipating and reporting on flight delays, and serves as a nice one-stop-shop for those looking for updates on multiple flights or multiple airlines. Travelers can track a flight directly at the Web site, or even better, directly from their cell phone. MFoundry, a pioneer in bringing travel and other information to cell phones, has partnered with FlyteComm to enable Sprint, Cingular and Nextel to offer their customers the ability to access real-time flight data while on the go using a mobile application called FlyteSource Mobile. Check out moblets.mfoundry.com (and scroll down to the FlyteSource entry) or contact your wireless carrier to learn more about purchasing FlyteSource Mobile for your phone.
Other Web sites -- Other online resources can also be of assistance to those traveling over the coming months. Local newspapers often provide details regarding their geographic areas of coverage that may not be available elsewhere--check out www.newsdirectory.com to find the Web sites for thousands of newspapers. If your plans include a stop in the United Kingdom, spend a few minutes at www.fco.gov.uk, which is the Web site for the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (somewhat akin to the U.S. State Department). The Travel Advice link may prove useful in preparing for your departure back to the United States. Finally, if you still have a few nagging concerns about a particular destination or the means by which you intend to get there, post a "thorn" at Lonely Planet's bustling virtual "Thorn Tree" (thorntree.lonelyplanet.com). Here you can pick the brains of other travelers who have just flown through the airport that troubles you or visited your anticipated destination.
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dmgreen11@yahoo.com
By Darren M. Green
Copyright by The Tribune
Published August 20, 2006
The world of flying has changed dramatically in the last week and a half with every day seeming to bring new changes. Here are some Web sites that can keep you updated on changes in airport security and carry-on restrictions--as well as track and navigate any resulting flight delays and cancellations.
www.tsa.gov -- The Transportation Security Administration's Web site, which offers a number of useful tools for traveling during turbulent times, is a good place to start in researching the lay of the land. Click on the Updated Prohibited Items link along the right side of the home page to read an up-to-the-minute summary regarding items you will not be able to carry onto the plane (check back often as restrictions are expected to evolve over time). From there, click on the Frequently Asked Questions button, which yields a litany of categories intended to clear up some of the misinformation circulating online and offline over the past couple of weeks. Another worthwhile feature in trying to plan for the unexpected is the Wait Times section of the Web site, which provides expected security checkpoint wait times based on the airport, day of week and time of travel.
www.dhs.gov/dhspublic -- By now most would-be travelers are likely aware that the "threat level" for the U.S. aviation sector has been raised, but for most of us that doesn't mean a whole lot in and of itself. Check out the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Web site to learn more about the current threat level. Click on the Threat Advisory link to learn what in fact each threat level means, and to review recommended activities for all Americans planning to travel over the coming months.
www.faa.gov --The information available at the Federal Aviation Administration Web site overlaps in large part with the sites listed above; however, the FAA site also offers an informative interactive delays map behind the Airport Status and Delay link.
www.ask.com -- Travel search queries entered at Ask.com now not only generate the usual and customary search engine results, but also pull up information targeted to current-day travel issues. For example, the first entry posted in response to a search under "Terrorist Threat" is a news bulletin feature that is constantly updated with the latest on the thwarted U.K. plot and repercussions for travelers.
www.flytecomm.com -- The best defense against spending six hours at the airport or circling the airport due to a flight delay (unfortunately a rather common occurrence with heightened security) is preparedness, and Flytecomm.com is among the best resources to get real-time information. FlyteComm pulls information from dozens of data sources in anticipating and reporting on flight delays, and serves as a nice one-stop-shop for those looking for updates on multiple flights or multiple airlines. Travelers can track a flight directly at the Web site, or even better, directly from their cell phone. MFoundry, a pioneer in bringing travel and other information to cell phones, has partnered with FlyteComm to enable Sprint, Cingular and Nextel to offer their customers the ability to access real-time flight data while on the go using a mobile application called FlyteSource Mobile. Check out moblets.mfoundry.com (and scroll down to the FlyteSource entry) or contact your wireless carrier to learn more about purchasing FlyteSource Mobile for your phone.
Other Web sites -- Other online resources can also be of assistance to those traveling over the coming months. Local newspapers often provide details regarding their geographic areas of coverage that may not be available elsewhere--check out www.newsdirectory.com to find the Web sites for thousands of newspapers. If your plans include a stop in the United Kingdom, spend a few minutes at www.fco.gov.uk, which is the Web site for the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (somewhat akin to the U.S. State Department). The Travel Advice link may prove useful in preparing for your departure back to the United States. Finally, if you still have a few nagging concerns about a particular destination or the means by which you intend to get there, post a "thorn" at Lonely Planet's bustling virtual "Thorn Tree" (thorntree.lonelyplanet.com). Here you can pick the brains of other travelers who have just flown through the airport that troubles you or visited your anticipated destination.
----------
dmgreen11@yahoo.com
posted by Carlos T Mock at 11:04 AM
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