Airport Check-in
Roger Yu, USA TODAY, 2/2/2009 and 2/9/2009 (excerpted)
CHICAGO: United to test new tags
United Airlines says it will begin testing new plastic bag tags at Chicago O'Hare that will allow some customers to bypass waiting in line for paper tags required for checking luggage.
Available for 1,000 United frequent-flier members who live in the Chicago area, the tags are equipped with a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. In the test, which starts Wednesday and is expected to last six weeks, the participating customers can check in for their flight online or, using a kiosk, then drop off the bag in a designated spot, where an airline employee scans the tag and checks the passenger's identification. Once the passenger leaves, the tag is scanned again, and the bag enters the screening process. Travelers interested in participating can apply online (www.united.com). The airline, which is conducting the test with the Transportation Security Administration, plans to evaluate the program after six weeks. "We're going to find out through this trial what work needs to be done in order for this to become the next generation in how customers check bags," says spokeswoman Robin Urbanski.
ORANGE COUNTY, CA: Virgin to fly to John Wayne Airport
Virgin America plans to launch service to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif., from its home base at San Francisco International. Starting April 30, Virgin America will fly five daily flights to Orange County, which will be the ninth destination in its network.
MILWAUKEE: Airport launches website for travelers
General Mitchell Airport has launched a website tailored to travelers with smartphones and mobile devices. Visitors to www.mitchellairport.com/mobile will find arrival and departure data, real-time parking updates and an airport guide, formatted for the smaller screens and slower bandwidth of handheld devices.
LAS VEGAS: McCarran's D Concourse trams to be replaced; expect delays
Travelers who fly from Las Vegas McCarran's D Concourse will need to arrive earlier due to a construction project that will interrupt its tram service for several weeks.
Passengers usually use a pair of parallel trams to get to the D Concourse. But for much of February, only the south trams will be in service while workers replace the north trams. Once the north trams have been replaced, both sets of trams will resume their regular schedule for about a month before the south trams are taken offline for replacement beginning mid-spring.
The airport advises passengers traveling in peak hours to arrive 30 minutes earlier. Airlines based at D Concourse include AirTran, Alaska, Allegiant, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Horizon Air, JetBlue, Northwest, SkyWest, Sun Country, Spirit, United and Virgin America.
WASHINGTON DC: AA's new lounge final step in relocation to Terminal B
American Airlines has opened an Admirals Club lounge at Washington Dulles International, the final step in its relocation to Terminal B. Located near Gate 63, the 3,000-square-foot lounge offers business center tools, food and drinks, and assistance with boarding passes, reservations and upgrades. American shifted its operations from Terminal D in June 2008.
FRANKFURT, GERMANY: New Lufthansa lounge set to open
Lufthansa will open later this month at Frankfurt International a new lounge that caters to first-class passengers and its most elite category of frequent fliers.
The new lounge, in Concourse B of Terminal 1, will primarily benefit U.S. and other transfer passengers who previously had to exit the airport to use the airline's First Class Terminal.
The lounge will provide many of the services offered at the First Class Terminal — a dedicated security clearance area, computer stations, food and drinks, shower facilities and day beds. The 13,100-square-foot lounge will also feature a spa.