Long time no update

I'm sitting at SJC being taunted once again by the temptatious smell of Cinnabon - that place is pure evil and it makes SJC one of my favorite airports. I'm on my way to Disneyland with Max. On top of cinnalicious air flavorings, SJC now plays host to the newest travel invention in my life: Registered Traveler.

Registered Traveler is a program created by the TSA such that you give them all your information details (which of course they have already) plus your biometrics (iris scans and fingerprints) and they use it to 'expedite' your security experience. They allow companies to signup to be the administrators of this program; Clear is one of these companies and the one I've been using as they service SJC.

Now, aside from the gross privacy implications with this program (imagine when we start using biometrics more prevalently for authenticating to datastores such as banking, corporate access, etc.), the service is actually pretty slick. I walked up this morning with my boarding pass, smartcard and picture ID. Two very helpful girls helped me slide the card in, take my fingerprint, etc. Then they helped me get my laptop and liquids out, walked me to the front of the security line and even got bins and helped me place all my items on the belt. It was like having a personal valet service.

What I don't understand is how this benefits airport security. I still had to disrobe, submit my "dangerous" items for inspection (that Chanel hand lotion is surely dangerous!) and take off my shoes. Ironically the process services as an EXTRA biometrics check that I had to pay for! Other than the personal valet service how was this any different, and more importantly, safer? I might be mollified by not having to disrobe and simply walking through a GE Sniffer (which they have at SFO and I find adorably cute).

San Jose claims they've registered a mere 4,000 registered travelers (according to this article in the Examiner). SFO (my favoritist airport in the world) is adding it by October (which doesn't help me much as United's VIP security line is wicked fast). But with millions of people flying through these airports a year how will such small numbers using RT help consumers, the government and security? I'm very skeptical although I am very much enjoying the VIP service! But even if everyone got jealous of the special treatment and shelled out the $99/year fee would that service stay consistent? It will have to improve significantly.

So on the topic of airports and airplanes I've been in a lot of them lately and I suppose I could mention the recent experiences. There was of course the nightmare of the NYC trip (my appendix was the issue, not the travel). I flew United and it was the second trip I took since being put into United's Global Services status. This is essentially the black-card-amex of status with United. They provide a special travel desk (24 hours! and with international numbers!), special representatives at big airports like Heathrow and even if you fly economy you always get the first-class services. When traveling at places like Heathrow this *really* makes a difference. On my January trip to Europe this meant getting to sit in the first class lounge and checking in at the first class desk. People are nicer, there are fewer of them, etc. Delightful.

My one beef is the ridiculousness of the red carpet club. I flew business to NYC and that does not qualify you for entry into the red carpet club lounge! WTF? Ok supposedly you only get access if you fly first class domestic. That's fair. So on the way back I was on a two-class plane (only first and economy) and I was told I couldn't access it then either! United needs to get their stories straight. To their credit, both times they let me in anyway. I'm wondering if just social engineering my way in should be a regular part of the process.

I visited Rome also this year thus far (a post which I'll make later). The FCO airport in Rome is very pretty and pristine (a situation which I am told has been most improved in the last 10 years). They have a nice shuttle/train bus between terminals and great high-class shopping. There is no smoking for the most part and all the terminal is nice and clean. The only downside is how far from the city it is (an hour's cab ride or so, more if there is traffic), but cabs are on a fixed price so they can't rip you off.


More later.