Odds n Sods
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Why is Japan cracking down on rideable motorised suitcases?
My emphasis in red
aljazeera
My emphasis in red
A growing number of airports are imposing restrictions on these electric suitcases over safety concerns.
Rideable motorised suitcases, which emerged almost 10 years ago as something futuristically novel as well as functional, have increasingly become popular among travellers.
But the rideable suitcase craze is getting pushback in some Japanese airports because of safety concerns and due to some foreign visitors using them illegally on public roads.
Many of these rideable suitcases can reach maximum speeds of 13 kilometres per hour (8 miles per hour). That’s the equivalent of the average running speed for a moderately fit jogger.
Singapore Changi Airport has banned the suitcases entirely.
Rideable motorised suitcases, which emerged almost 10 years ago as something futuristically novel as well as functional, have increasingly become popular among travellers.
But the rideable suitcase craze is getting pushback in some Japanese airports because of safety concerns and due to some foreign visitors using them illegally on public roads.
Many of these rideable suitcases can reach maximum speeds of 13 kilometres per hour (8 miles per hour). That’s the equivalent of the average running speed for a moderately fit jogger.
Singapore Changi Airport has banned the suitcases entirely.
Joined: Oct 2018
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From: Ferrara
"Singapore Changi Airport has banned the suitcases entirely."
After a walk of over a km from the Lounge to the gate at Changi on our last visit I was thinking of taking roller skates for my next trip
After a walk of over a km from the Lounge to the gate at Changi on our last visit I was thinking of taking roller skates for my next trip
Thread Starter
Son of Slot
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Joined: Feb 2013
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From: London
An article in an upmarket travel magazine talks about three towns introducing Tourist taxes, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. They draw a parallel with Venice, lake Como, Brussels and parts of Japan.
I distinctly recall hotels charging a City Tax in France and USA more than 40 years ago. Given that was charged to all and any night stop, it was a city tax and not tourist tax. But was it not also taking advantage of tourists? NYC must have raked in millions.
I distinctly recall hotels charging a City Tax in France and USA more than 40 years ago. Given that was charged to all and any night stop, it was a city tax and not tourist tax. But was it not also taking advantage of tourists? NYC must have raked in millions.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,841
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Travellers to Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport may soon be able to use facial recognition to check in for flights.
Reported via Yahoo News
Abu Dhabi Airports is developing a "Smart Travel" project that involves rolling out biometric authentification artificial intelligence (AI) into all security checkpoints at the airport by 2025.
The project will use the databases of the United Arab Emirates’ Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security to "automatically authenticate travellers," according to a July statement from the local government.
The project will use the databases of the United Arab Emirates’ Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security to "automatically authenticate travellers," according to a July statement from the local government.
Etihad Airways already has biometric systems in place that use facial recognition before boarding and assists with self-service baggage delivery and traveller check-ins.
That means people won’t need their boarding passes to board one of Etihad’s planes. The technology is also being implemented for five additional airlines at check-in and boarding gates.
These new technologies means it will take roughly seven seconds from the 25 at regular kiosks to go through the entire ticket and travel document verification process.
The project "will enhance airline performance by eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure expansions and effectively detecting fraud and forgery in identification documents," a statement from Abu Dhabi Airports reads.
That means people won’t need their boarding passes to board one of Etihad’s planes. The technology is also being implemented for five additional airlines at check-in and boarding gates.
These new technologies means it will take roughly seven seconds from the 25 at regular kiosks to go through the entire ticket and travel document verification process.
The project "will enhance airline performance by eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure expansions and effectively detecting fraud and forgery in identification documents," a statement from Abu Dhabi Airports reads.
Italian authorities started trials in May on a similar software called FaceBoarding that uses facial recognition at two airports: Milano Linate and Catania.
Travellers use airport kiosks to show their documents and scan their faces. That lets them use FaceBoarding again at other checkpoints, making it faster for security and boarding.
SEA, the company managing the new Italian system, says on the Milano-Linate airport website that those who opt-in to Faceboarding will have their data processed only "for the purpose of participation in the project".
Travellers use airport kiosks to show their documents and scan their faces. That lets them use FaceBoarding again at other checkpoints, making it faster for security and boarding.
SEA, the company managing the new Italian system, says on the Milano-Linate airport website that those who opt-in to Faceboarding will have their data processed only "for the purpose of participation in the project".
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: USA
In rear facing the seat backs have to take the weight of the passenger under acceleration, meaning the hinges and seat back frames have to be far stronger. That's where the weight comes from. In forward crashes the seat backs are essentially on their own and could just as well be cardboard.
Joined: Dec 2015
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From: Budapest
An article in an upmarket travel magazine talks about three towns introducing Tourist taxes, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. They draw a parallel with Venice, lake Como, Brussels and parts of Japan.
I distinctly recall hotels charging a City Tax in France and USA more than 40 years ago. Given that was charged to all and any night stop, it was a city tax and not tourist tax. But was it not also taking advantage of tourists? NYC must have raked in millions.
I distinctly recall hotels charging a City Tax in France and USA more than 40 years ago. Given that was charged to all and any night stop, it was a city tax and not tourist tax. But was it not also taking advantage of tourists? NYC must have raked in millions.
Budapest has had a tourist tax for years. Interestingly, staying up the road recently we, although Budapest residents, also had to pay the tax. Peanuts though so not bothered!
Joined: Aug 2024
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From: Sweden
Paxboy, here are two unpleasant facts about Helsinki: the weather can be quite gloomy with long, dark winters, and the cost of living is notoriously high. The picture really captures the situation accurately!
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Slaying the myths about tougher post-Brexit red tape for UK travellers to Europe
Good article in The Independent
Good article in The Independent
The headlines this week looked scary for those of us who fret about red tape when travelling. “UK citizens travelling to EU next summer will have to pay €7 visa-waiver charge” read one.
Let me guide you through the latest post-Brexit bureaucracy muddle – starting with that very headline.
Myth 1: “UK citizens travelling to EU next summer will have to pay €7 visa-waiver charge.”
Happily, that sentence becomes correct only if you replace “will” with “won’t”. Certainly, the toughest-ever tightening of red tape for British travellers will begin 10 weeks from now. But you won’t have to pay anything for at least another year.
Let me guide you through the latest post-Brexit bureaucracy muddle – starting with that very headline.
Myth 1: “UK citizens travelling to EU next summer will have to pay €7 visa-waiver charge.”
Happily, that sentence becomes correct only if you replace “will” with “won’t”. Certainly, the toughest-ever tightening of red tape for British travellers will begin 10 weeks from now. But you won’t have to pay anything for at least another year.
Joined: Oct 2018
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From: Ferrara
The Finns sit there and drink slowly. But they never stop...................................
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: UK and Italy
Two Finns go into a bar. They order vodkas, down them, and sit in silence.
Then two more. Then two more. After the seventh, the second Finn says to the first Finn 'I don't feel so well'.
The first Finn replies 'I thought we came out to drink, not to talk'.
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
I once flew to Helsinki on the Friday evening Finnair service from LHR to Helsinki. I swear the Drinks cart came out as we were passing Windsor Castle and did not get put away again until we were 30 miles out from Helsinki 
Cheers
Mr Mac
Cheers
Mr Mac
Last edited by Mr Mac; 1st September 2024 at 15:37.
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: UK and Italy
Swissair used to go one better than that. During the Iran-Iraq war Iran Air used to fly the Iranian airspace sector from Tehran to Bandar Abbas, where Swissair took over for a short flight across the Gulf; for reasons which will become obvious I don't remember where the flight landed.
As soon as the plane left Iranian airspace the FAs used to come around each pulling one drinks trolley behind them and pushing another in front. They often had to go back to the galley to refill their trollies before they reached the back of the plane, and then they didn't so much deboard us as pour us out of the plane. Two weeks of Tehrani heat on soft drinks gives you a tremendous thirst!
As soon as the plane left Iranian airspace the FAs used to come around each pulling one drinks trolley behind them and pushing another in front. They often had to go back to the galley to refill their trollies before they reached the back of the plane, and then they didn't so much deboard us as pour us out of the plane. Two weeks of Tehrani heat on soft drinks gives you a tremendous thirst!
Joined: Oct 2018
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From: Ferrara
"y (limited experience of drinking in Finland is summarised by this ancient joke. Stop reading if you've heard it before..."
The version I heard was after 5 hours drinking "how's Mum?" " I thought we were here to drink..................
The version I heard was after 5 hours drinking "how's Mum?" " I thought we were here to drink..................
Joined: Oct 2018
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From: Ferrara
There used to be a Business Class only flight first thing on weekdays from Helsinki to Oslo. Helsinki Apt was full of well dressed business folk of all sexes downing (English) cider and booze at 06:30
The Norwegians referred to it as the Cognac Express - seeing someone get through a few miniatures at 08:00 was an interesting experience - perhaps only beaten by a Glaswegian on the 07:00 Mallaig train who ordered a can of Newcastle Brown Ale with his cornflakes - for a dreadful moment I though he was going to pour it over them.......................
The Norwegians referred to it as the Cognac Express - seeing someone get through a few miniatures at 08:00 was an interesting experience - perhaps only beaten by a Glaswegian on the 07:00 Mallaig train who ordered a can of Newcastle Brown Ale with his cornflakes - for a dreadful moment I though he was going to pour it over them.......................
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: UK and Italy
It used to be (maybe still is) that the first Aer Lingus flight LHR-DUB had a bar serving pints of Guinness as soon as you entered the boarding gate, two of those down the throat, then if you were sitting up front there was a miniature version of a Full Irish breakfast with buck's fizz: if you asked nicely the FA wouldn't pour them into the same glass, and ask you 'would like another of the little bottles of champagne?' then out of the plane, into a taxi and directly into technical meetings about Fresnel zones and wind loadings. Are things still that relaxed travelling to the Emerald Isle?
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Back of beyond
Back in the day when drinks used to cost and Ms RevMan2 was a FA on LH, they dreaded any Scandinavian/Baltic flight for the sheer post-flight work in accounting for multi-hundred drinks. All cash. In a variety of currencies...
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
I read that Czech Airlines are dropping out from SkyTeam later this year. They will then use the QS code of their owner Smartwings. My guess is that, belonging to one of the big groups must be expensive.