Comments on: How to get rid of long airport lines http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/ The travel troubleshooter. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:58:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Trevor http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/comment-page-1/#comment-11652 Trevor Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:06:07 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/#comment-11652 I think Smart Host Paging just offers restaurant paging/texting, but a similar concept i guess. This is a place where technology can really help with some traditional problems. In the case of restaurants, I am sure they would pay as it is in their interest to get people seated. Airlines may do the same, but in their case the customer has already paid for their ticket so there is not anything gained by paying to get them through security. I think Smart Host Paging just offers restaurant paging/texting, but a similar concept i guess. This is a place where technology can really help with some traditional problems.

In the case of restaurants, I am sure they would pay as it is in their interest to get people seated. Airlines may do the same, but in their case the customer has already paid for their ticket so there is not anything gained by paying to get them through security.

]]> By: Joel http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/comment-page-1/#comment-11565 Joel Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:34:49 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/#comment-11565 I work for SmartHost. The restaurant industries have really begun to move to cell phone paging and away from the old pagers. Like Mike said I'm sure this is the wave of the future. http://www.smarthostpaging.com I work for SmartHost. The restaurant industries have really begun to move to cell phone paging and away from the old pagers. Like Mike said I’m sure this is the wave of the future. http://www.smarthostpaging.com

]]> By: Mike Flaker http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/comment-page-1/#comment-11498 Mike Flaker Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:37:54 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/#comment-11498 Smarthost is a product (startup) that is doing something similar for restaurants www.smarthostpaging.com - I imagine it will be offered in all types of industries eventually. The up-and-coming generation looks at email as 'snailmail' and I beleive will readily embrace the concept. Smarthost is a product (startup) that is doing something similar for restaurants http://www.smarthostpaging.com – I imagine it will be offered in all types of industries eventually. The up-and-coming generation looks at email as ’snailmail’ and I beleive will readily embrace the concept.

]]> By: Gene M http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/comment-page-1/#comment-7169 Gene M Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:15:59 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/#comment-7169 I can think of more important applications than airport security. Tech support for damn near anything generally has long hold times. It would be ideal for the phone company to call back for new services or repair because toll calls are not a problem. Airline reservations, banking issues, event tickets, etc. Great idea. I can think of more important applications than airport security. Tech support for damn near anything generally has long hold times. It would be ideal for the phone company to call back for new services or repair because toll calls are not a problem. Airline reservations, banking issues, event tickets, etc.

Great idea.

]]> By: Chris http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/comment-page-1/#comment-2405 Chris Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:13:30 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/#comment-2405 Re: J Collier: If United and other airlines can afford call notification for flight arrivals/departures and delays, they can afford them for QLess services. The notion of long-distance is progressively going out the window with VoIP services like Vonage and Skype. Even with traditional telcos, long-distance rates have dropped substantially (on my home phone, I get 850 minutes for $10 per month), and giant businesses like airlines likely use a custom-built VoIP application combined with a wholesale rate on minutes, so the per-minute cost is insubstantial. Another (cheaper?) option might be SMS messages, although these are easier to miss and there is no way to confirm it was delivered. Re: J Collier:

If United and other airlines can afford call notification for flight arrivals/departures and delays, they can afford them for QLess services.

The notion of long-distance is progressively going out the window with VoIP services like Vonage and Skype. Even with traditional telcos, long-distance rates have dropped substantially (on my home phone, I get 850 minutes for $10 per month), and giant businesses like airlines likely use a custom-built VoIP application combined with a wholesale rate on minutes, so the per-minute cost is insubstantial.

Another (cheaper?) option might be SMS messages, although these are easier to miss and there is no way to confirm it was delivered.

]]> By: J Collier http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/comment-page-1/#comment-2404 J Collier Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:15:17 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/#comment-2404 Exactly who will pay for all the long distance calls to reach those cell phones? It is obvious that most of the travelers would have cell phones from various parts of the USA and possibly Canadian. Each call from the guy in security would likely be a toll call. I've been in buildings where my cell phone doesn't ring and then later it notifies me, I've missed a call. Keep working on a plan... as no one likes to stand in long lines. Perhaps they could hire more staff during busy times to help the efficiency. Exactly who will pay for all the long distance calls to reach those cell phones? It is obvious that most of the travelers would have cell phones from various parts of the USA and possibly Canadian. Each call from the guy in security would likely be a toll call. I’ve been in buildings where my cell phone doesn’t ring and then later it notifies me, I’ve missed a call. Keep working on a plan… as no one likes to stand in long lines. Perhaps they could hire more staff during busy times to help the efficiency.

]]> By: Allan http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/comment-page-1/#comment-2403 Allan Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:55:37 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/#comment-2403 Would the participating airline accept responsibility for the proper functioning of Q-Less? For example if Q-Less does not deliver the expected results and time savings for whatever reason including weather, the passenger would have his ticket honored for the airline's next available flight with no additional money paid to the airline and no cancellation of onward or return travel? (I would not insist on added compensation here.) Would the participating airline accept responsibility for the proper functioning of Q-Less?

For example if Q-Less does not deliver the expected results and time savings for whatever reason including weather, the passenger would have his ticket honored for the airline’s next available flight with no additional money paid to the airline and no cancellation of onward or return travel?

(I would not insist on added compensation here.)

]]> By: D. Deterly http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/comment-page-1/#comment-2402 D. Deterly Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:30:54 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/#comment-2402 Great idea. Only problem, there is virtually nothing to do outside security. Try to find a TCBY or any food service or merchant outside security and they won't be in business long. At DFW there is absolutely nothing. Great idea. Only problem, there is virtually nothing to do outside security. Try to find a TCBY or any food service or merchant outside security and they won’t be in business long. At DFW there is absolutely nothing.

]]> By: Stewart http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/comment-page-1/#comment-2401 Stewart Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:15:23 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/#comment-2401 What is the fee proposed for this service What is the fee proposed for this service

]]> By: Petri http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/comment-page-1/#comment-2400 Petri Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:44:53 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/how-to-get-rid-of-long-airport-lines/#comment-2400 I can understand that there are queues to the trills at amusement parks. Over the last years my experience with US airport security has been either easy (practically no queue) or, most of the time, a total chaos with long queues, over half of the x-ray machine unused, and basicly stupid travellers. Sometimes there are first 10+ queues, then they all combine and then they split to 5+ machines. The airports should work to make the queues non-existent or less than 10-15 minutes and not make the 30-90 minute queues the standard. I can understand that there are queues to the trills at amusement parks.

Over the last years my experience with US airport security has been either easy (practically no queue) or, most of the time, a total chaos with long queues, over half of the x-ray machine unused, and basicly stupid travellers. Sometimes there are first 10+ queues, then they all combine and then they split to 5+ machines.

The airports should work to make the queues non-existent or less than 10-15 minutes and not make the 30-90 minute queues the standard.

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