Sky Talk

Security heightened at D/FW Airport

The public safety department at D/FW Airport has increased security around the airport in the wake of the heightened terror threat status in the United Kingdom, according to a news release sent out Saturday by David Magana, manager of public affairs.

The rest of the release reads as follows:

Because the United States remains at a Level Orange alert status, security is always high around the Airport.

Today, D/FW has placed additional officers and canine units on patrol in the terminals, parking garages and roadways in order to establish a higher level of visibility and vigilance.

The D/FW DPS is also maintaining close contact with federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI in an ongoing assessment of the situation overseas and its potential impact domestically.

-- John Metz

Flying to Glasgow real soon?

You might count on getting some quality time in London.

-- Scott

Glacier Girl, overdue by 65 years, is still late

Travellers hung up by this week's storms haven't got anything on Glacier Girl. As you might recall, we told you about her a week ago in this blog. Glacier Girl is a World War II-era P-38 Lightning whose trip to Great Britain was interrupted decades ago. Salvaged from underneath a block of ice, she finally took off for England from New Jersey a week ago. She still hasn't arrived.

-- Scott

Tipping in Vegas and other furrin' places...

So, how much are you supposed to tip on your next trip to Vegas? Here's expert advice from the L.A. Times, including suggestions on specific tips for everyone from blackjack dealers to doormen. One flaw: there's no advice for what to tip the exotic dancers. But having said that, the Times takes a decent big view up tipping, offering up a chart with suggestions on what tip everywhere from China to London. Here's a hint: in some places like Japan, you're expected to tip nothing. -- Scott

Southwest's reach for more Denver market share

The Denver Post reports that Southwest Airlines, even with its bulked-up schedule to the Mile High City, faces challenges from United and Frontier, which has been touting its hometown flavor, assigned seating, and seatback TVs.

-- Scott

Imagine! The swim-up hotel bar turns you away

More and more, vacationers are finding themselves turned away from the swim-up bar or the best hotel restaurant because of private business parties, a trend that has emerged with the surge in business travel, the New York Times reports.

-- Scott

7-7-07 a very auspicious date...

July 7, 2007 -- 7-7-7, or triple sevens -- apparently is considered a very lucky date. According to the Washington Post (free registration), brides have snapped up that date, Vegas has experienced a surge in bookings, and even some Six Flags parks nationally have booked special events. We're sure the great public relations people at American Airlines and D/FW Airport will alert us here at Sky Talk if anybody's planning to get married on a 777 somewhere next Saturday. -- Scott

(Triple 7, anybody? TV at every seat!)

Five ways to beat the post-vacation blues...

Tip 1: Try building a bit more time between your last pitcher of sangria and when you have to return to work. Other tips on how to get your body to re-adjust quickly.

-- Scott

More tales of woe...

Airline passengers have been liberally sharing their horror stories of wrecked vacations, sleeping on cots in airports, and buying overpriced toothbrushes.

-- Scott

Who gets the standby seats?

Because airplane loads are so full this summer, when flights are canceled, hundreds of passengers must compete for just a few extra seats on later flights. Here's how American Airlines doles out those precious seats:

1. Elderly and disabled passengers, and unaccompanied minors, have first priority.
2. The most frequent fliers -- those who have achieved "platinum" and "executive platinum" status in American's program -- are next.
3. Everyone else is then added to the list, ranked by how early they checked in for their flight. The last to check in are at the bottom of the list, and could wait days for an available seat.

-- Trebor