Jetiquette | The Sky Steward

The latest from Skysteward’s European Correspondent

THIS IS a very fishy time here in the Netherlands, for now is the time of year for “Hollandse Nieuwe” – “New Catch Holland Herring.” The skinny silver herrings fatten up until they are more than 16% fat (the required minimum), sometimes 25% from eating the plankton, which is like Nutella and stroopwafels to those fishes. The fish is filleted but the tail is left on to provide a handle when you eat them. [...]

Wouldn’t it be great to turn your next 5 hour flight into a transformational experience? Time spent commuting, whether on the ground or in the sky, can be turned into time well spent. Many travelers bring along reading materials, movies, music or audio books to pass the time. This is a time that can also be spent changing your life with self-help and hypnosis programs designed to address such issues as confidence, anxiety, depression and many others including the smoking [...]

by Margery Wilson

The “Full Body” scanners that are being installed in many airports have created quite a stir, with passengers concerned about their privacy being invaded.  Gailen and Margery talk about a new technology that is entering the airport security arena: a Thermal-Boosted Infrared Detection System that only shows objects and clothing without any harmful radiation or invasion of privacy.

Unlike “full body scanners”  that essentially reveal passengers without clothing, this new system reveals the thermal imprint of any material — [...]

We are joined by Yapta‘s CEO Tom Romary. Yapta provides do-it-yourself travel planners with the tools and information needed to get the best value on their travel arrangements. Yapta enables travelers to find their ideal flights and hotel rooms, track specific airfare and hotel rates, and to be alerted when prices drop – or when they hit a designated price-point.  Bringing to light pro-consumer “guaranteed airfare” policies offered by many airlines, Yapta also helps travelers obtain an airline travel voucher [...]

Director Kevin Smith was in the news, the latest in a string of  passengers Southwest Airlines judged as too big for one of their seats.  To help sort out the controversy and look at effective solutions we will be joined by Bill Fabrey from the Council on Size and Weight Discrimination, Inc. Bill helped found the Council in 1991, along with seven others, and has served as a director since that time.  Bill has been an advocate for size [...]