Airports, Airlines Are Trying to Make Life Easier

I both admire and loathe inventors.

I applaud their creativity. I hate them for getting there first.

The guy who put cotton in over-the-counter medicine bottles? Brilliant. Furbies, Elmo, Cabbage Patch Kids … geniuses. The founders of Facebook? Bravo, Winklevoss twins.

So any time someone comes up with an idea that makes airline travel easier, I am all at once envious and grateful.

Trust me, nobody is happier when business and commerce is thriving in this country, including the airline industry. But between fewer flights and increased airfares – not to mention the suddenly ubiquitious fees – and just general stress from moment of purchase to the moment of takeoff, it’s tough to be a flyer these days.

That’s why I love the folks at ….

Pittsburgh International Airport. A little more than two years ago, somebody in the Steel City had the idea to turn one of its security checkpoints into the milk, bread and egg aisle. That is, just like the express lane of 14 items or less at the grocery store, Pittsburgh International has created an express security lane at the airport, since copied by other airports.

The express lane is strictly for flyers with one bag – no purses, no briefcases, no excuses. One bag, and it has to be the correct size (or smaller). Because unlike at the grocery store when that one guy thinks he’s getting away with something by slipping 15 or 16 items on the conveyor belt, you WILL be politely directed to the regular security checkpoint lines if you have more than one bag.

This is brilliant for those of us who take a same-day business trip and bring only a laptop for instance, or for flyers who can squeeze all their belongings into a carry-on. And it’s something that more or less levels the playing field against travelers who bring more carry-on items through security to avoid airline baggage fees.

That’s why I love the folks at … Walt Disney World.

Many hotels and resorts have their own transportation to and from the airport. The WDW people have the Magical Express program. Check your bags at your departure city, and you don’t have to touch them again until they end up in your room after you arrive and check in to your WDW hotel.

That’s why I love the folks at  …

KLM Airlines. Like it or not, we are increasingly becoming a society of mobile consumers who rely on social media for everything from simple communication to getting our news. Last week, KLM said it would experiment with a new program that allows its passengers to purchase airline tickets via social media.

According to airlinetrends.com, the program is similar to and as easy as booking a ticket over the phone. Customers can use Facebook or Twitter to find the best fares for the best dates, and KLM will then send the passenger a private message with a link to click to book the flight via their preferred method of payment.

That’s why I love the folks at …

American Airlines and JFK Airport. Ever get stuck behind a gaggle of family travelers? Five years ago, at Terminal 8 at JFK, American and the TSA introduced a special checkpoint for families who do not speak English as their native tongue. Workers and translators who DO speak the language help expedite the process.

Lord knows airlines and airports get bashed day in and day out. These are just a few examples of how they have tried, and are trying, to make things a little easier.