USA: San Francisco Airport Bans Plastic Water Bottle At Its Premises

In what officials believe to be an airport first, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) announced Friday that it’s banning the sale of plastic water bottles on its premises.

The move is part of the travel hub’s goal of becoming the world’s first zero-waste airport by 2021 and will go into effect on Aug. 20.

We’re the first airport that we’re aware of to implement this change, SFO spokesman Doug Yakel said. We’re on the leading edge for the industry, and we want to push the boundaries of sustainability initiatives.

The ban addresses one of the major sources of waste generated at the Airport, SFO said in its announcement. Vendors will need to offer reusable bottle options, such as metal or glass containers, or single-use compostable cups for water.

The San Francisco airport has long encouraged passengers to bring their own reusable water bottles to the airport, and it made news in 2011 for installing water bottle refill stations in a newly renovated terminal.

There are now nearly 100 of those stations throughout the airport, up from just 36 in 2016.

The airport’s ban comes a month after several plastic bans went into effect in San Francisco.

As of July 1, restaurants may not provide plastic straws to customers, with exceptions made for some customers with disabilities.

Plastic stirrers and toothpicks are also now banned, while single-use food items, such as napkins, packaged condiments and chopsticks, are to be made available only upon request.

San Francisco International Airport has made history by becoming the first major U.S. airport to ban the sale of single-use plastic water bottles.


Tourism Observer

USA; Uber Driver Drops Passengers At San Francisco International Airport, Comes Back To There Home To Steal

San Mateo police say they arrested Jackie Gordon Wilson, an Uber driver who dropped off passengers at San Francisco International Airport and then allegedly returned to the house in an attempt to burglarize them.

He came back to that exact house and tried to burglarize it, said Officer Michael Haobsh with San Mateo police.

The passengers were staying at an Airbnb rental on Rand Street in San Mateo. Police say a security alarm scared Wilson off, and he eventually ended up a few blocks away and broke into a house on Nash Drive.

He tore apart the whole house, tossed everything. Every piece of furniture moved. He opened my safe, explained Scott, who lives with his girlfriend, Chana, in the house that was burglarized.

Scott and Shana don't want to share their identities, but they are sharing surveillance video of the suspect allegedly breaking into their house.

There are heirlooms that belong to my grandmother that go back all the way to the Holocaust. For him, that was just something to pawn off. To me, that was the memory of my grandmother, explained Chana, who broke down in tears.

Chana said the suspect spent four hours ransacking their house, walking in and out several times with bags filled with their valuables, as seen on their Ring surveillance footage.

When Scott got home after work, he shared the Ring footage online. The owner of the Airbnb then identified the intruder as Wilson, who was also seen allegedly trying to break into the Airbnb property earlier.

The Airbnb owner had immediately contacted his tenants, who had just left within the hour. He asked them - Do you know this guy? Yeah, that's our Uber driver, explained Scott.

Chana and Scott say they were horrified to learn that the suspect may have had a criminal past, which they found out through searching his social media accounts.

He had openly posted that in 2017, he had been out of jail for six months for robbery. I was shocked! said Chana.

They think Uber needs to do more to screen drivers.

I'm definitely thinking twice about taking ride shares after this. I'm thinking everybody should. I mean, this is a big deal! He used this to facilitate committing a crime! said Scott.

Police say they used information from the Uber app to track down Wilson, who lives in Rancho Cordova near Sacramento.

The couple is working with police to get their items back.

Uber did not return requests for comment.


Tourism Observer

USA: United Goes Nonstop To Tahiti

United announced that it will fly between San Francisco International Airport and Papeete, the capital of Tahiti, in 2018.

United will operate nonstop service, three times weekly with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft between SFO and Fa’a’ā International Airport (PPT), beginning Oct. 30, 2018, through March 28, 2019, subject to government approval.

United’s announcement comes on the heels of French Blue, a new Paris based airline, announcing its intentions to fly between San Francisco and Tahiti starting in May 2018.

However, our contacts at SFO say that they have not heard officially from the airline yet.

Currently, the only non-stop service to Tahiti from the U.S. mainland is out of Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui and Air France with economy fares in the $1,300 roundtrip range. Hawaiian Airlines also flies once a week between Honolulu and Papeete.

Until now, one stop fares from SFO via LAX have been in the $1,500.

A quick search on United’s site today showed SFO-PPT fares of $1,467 roundtrip in the first week of Oct 2018.

Searching for mileage redemptions, the cheapest we could find for October flights was 160,000 round trip.

Before this announcement, United Mileage Plus members did not have an easy way to fly to Tahiti using their miles.

Here’s the San Francisco – Papeete schedule, which still requires government approval.

Flight time between SFO and PPT is about nine hours. It is about 4,200 miles from SFO to PPT each way.

Tahiti is part of French Polynesia, which is located on the eastern side of the International Date Line, so flights arrive on the same day they depart, not two days later as they do when flying to Asia.

United says Tahiti is the “South Pacific’s gateway to more than 118 islands in French Polynesia including Bora Bora, Moorea, the Marquesas and Raiatea.


Tourism Observer

USA: United Airlines Passengers Complains About Its Flight Attendant Over Over Bad Service

Zach Honig, he was on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco International Airport to Newark Liberty International Saturday afternoon when he attempted to order an old fashioned alcoholic beverage.

Honig claims the attendant told him the flight did not have the old fashioned, but was forced to bring him the drink after another passenger pointed out that it was on the menu.

When Honig asked for a second cocktail after takeoff, the crew member said they were only provided one old fashion per fight.

After openly questioning the attendant, Honig received his second drink but noticed it did not feature the candied orange peel skewer the menu described.

When he requested his third old fashion, Honig also asked about the orange peel, which he received.

In addition, Honig complained about the attendant wearing headphones and eating a business-class salad during the flight.

In response, a reported United flight attendant responded to the Twitter thread by calling in to question Honig’s etiquette in the situation and how much responsibility the attendant should take for his actions.

The woman has since deleted her Twitter account, but Airliners.net has the screenshots.

While the actions of the attendant on Honig’s flight were wrong and he should be reprimanded, the reported crew member who followed up on the writer’s complaints by chastising him online doesn’t help the situation.

Even off duty, employees are a reflection of their employer.

United must do a better job educating attendants and other crew members on social media etiquette and how to avoid similar situations.


Tourism Observer

USA: United Airlines To Commence Los Angeles To Singapore Flights October 27th 2017

United Airlines today announced that it will introduce daily nonstop flights between its Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) hub and Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN), effective Oct. 27, 2017 (westbound), subject to government approval.

The flight between LAX and SIN will set the new distance record for any airline operating a flight to or from the United States, at 8,700 miles.

United’s existing service between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and SIN started one year ago, June 1, 2016 and holds the current record for the longest scheduled 787 flight operated by any airline and is currently the longest scheduled flight operated by any U.S. carrier, at 8,446 miles.

The airline will operate both routes with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

Whether our customers are on leisure or business travel, United is making travel to Singapore easier and even more convenient than ever before and customers arriving in Los Angeles will have multiple opportunities to connect to hundreds of United destinations in the U.S., Canada and Latin America, said Dave Hilfman, United’s senior vice president of Worldwide Sales.

Our commitment to our Los Angeles hub is more than 50 years strong and with today’s new Singapore service announcement, we continue to strengthen our position as the leading U.S. carrier to Asia.

Flight UA 37 will depart Los Angeles at 8:55 p.m. daily, arriving in Singapore at 6:50 a.m. two days later local time.

The return flight, UA 38, will depart Singapore’s Changi Airport at 11:00 a.m. daily, arriving at Los Angeles International Airport at 10:15 a.m. the same day.

Flying times will be approximately 17 hours, 55 minutes westbound and 15 hours, 15 minutes eastbound.

United has timed arrival to LAX from SIN to provide optimal connections to more than 20 U.S. cities. From its LAX hub, United operates more than 130 flights to over 40 airports across the U.S., including more seats to top business centers in New York, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Houston and Washington, D.C. than any other airline.

United’s hub at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is a key gateway offering service to Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the domestic U.S. network.

Over the last two years, United has invested more than $570 million in its LAX hub with renovations designed to add greater convenience and comfort.

As a result of this investment, customers are enjoying new state-of-the-art ticketing lobby, gate and bag areas, employee areas, and a brand new United Club lounge.

From Los Angeles, United operates daily nonstop service to four Asia Pacific destinations including Melbourne (MEL), Tokyo/Narita (NRT), Shanghai (PVG) and Sydney (SYD) and serves more Hawaiian Islands locations non-stop than any other airline.

We are proud that United Airlines will set a new record for the longest nonstop route by a domestic carrier right here at LAX.

This historic route to Singapore will bring more flights, tourists and economic growth to Los Angeles, said Deborah Flint, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports.

United’s daily nonstop flight to Singapore will further strengthen L.A.’s cultural and economic relationship with Singapore.

United’s 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will feature a total of 252 seats – 48 United Polaris business class, 204 United Economy, including 88 Economy Plus.

United Polaris business class, a reinvention of the airline’s international premium cabin travel experience, offers elevated comfort and service for a restful night’s sleep in the air.

United Economy offers complimentary food, soft drinks, juices, beer and wine, tea, coffee and inflight entertainment.

Seats feature an adjustable headrest and seat-back monitor delivering a personal on-demand entertainment system.

United Economy Plus offers up to five inches of extra legroom. Located near the front of the economy cabin, the seats give the added benefit of allowing a swifter exit from the plane upon arrival.

INDIA: Air India Made Around The World Flight With Only Female Crew

Air India says it has become the first airline to fly around the world with an all-female crew, just ahead of International Women's Day.

"Air India scripted history by flying an all-women crew flight around the world," the airline said in a statement on Facebook, after Flight AI 174 touched back down in New Delhi on Friday.

The Boeing 777 flew from New Delhi to San Francisco last Monday, traveling over the Pacific Ocean. The crew completed a mandatory rest period before flying over the Atlantic back to New Delhi, completing the round-the-world trip.

Smiling members of Air India's crew, wearing saris and jackets, posed for selfies in San Francisco International Airport before setting off on the final leg of the trip.

All member of staff from the flight's captains to the cabin crew, check-in and ground handling staff were women. Even the engineers, who certified the aircraft, and air traffic controllers, who cleared its departure and arrival, were women, the company said.

An Air India said that the airline has applied for a Guinness World Record to mark the occasion, part of a series of all-women flights scheduled to mark International Women's Day on March 8.

For women in India, sexual assault is all too common.

In 2012, the brutal gang rape of a young woman in the nation's capital, brought the issue of sexual violence to the fore. In response, the central government quickly passed tougher laws with harsher punishments.

But the number of reported rapes has continued to climb. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, the number of reported rapes in 2015 was 34,651, compared to 24,923 in 2012, suggesting an increase in the reporting rate.

Last month Air India began selling female-only seat sections on its domestic routes to combat in-flight sexual assault. The move came after reports that some women were being groped by male passengers.

USA: United Expands To Asia With New Service To Hangzhou, China

United Airlines announced yesterday that it will introduce a thrice-weekly non-stop flights from its San Francisco hub to Hangzhou in China, beginning July 13. The carrier will use its Boeing 787-9 fleet to operate the service.

Hangzhou is the fifth mainland China city served by United, following Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Xi’an, which will run seasonally from May to October. This year, the Chicago-based carrier celebrates its 30th anniversary of presence in the Asian market, when in 1986 inked a deal with Pan Am to take over of its Pacific routes.

With 14 destinations in Asia, United currently holds the largest amount of capacity of any airline between the US and China. The carrier continues growing aggressively to keep its leading position. With its bases covered in the most prominent Chinese cities, the next logical move for United will be the expansion to secondary cities.

“We will offer customers unique nonstop flights between the West Coast and one of China’s fastest-growing travel markets. Additionally, customers traveling from China to the U.S. will find convenient, easy connections at our San Francisco hub to many U.S. business centers and leisure destinations” said Jim Compton, United’s vice chairman and chief revenue officer.

United schedules the service from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hangzhou to depart at 14:15 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, arriving at 18:10 the following day. Return flights will leave Hangzhou at 11:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, landing in San Francisco at 08:25 on the same days (all local times). The flights will be available to book at a later date.

To date, United Airlines connects San Francisco with 14 destinations in Asia, and it will launch non-stop flights to Singapore next June, considered to be the longest scheduled 787 flight operated by any airline and the longest scheduled flight operated by any U.S. carrier, at 8,446 miles (13,593 km).

UAE: Dubai Airport To Remove Passport Control At Terminal 3

Traveller’s details, at the time of booking their ticket with Emirates airline, will be passed on to the passport control officers.

In a bid to expedite passenger movement through Dubai airport, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has announced plans to do away with the passport control counters from the departures wing of Terminal 3.

If this plan is implemented, passengers will no longer have to queue at passport control counters. Instead, the traveller’s details, at the time of booking their ticket with Emirates airline, will be passed on to the passport control officers. Once the ticket is booked, passengers will simply be able to walk through to the departure gates after checking in.

“The plan is still under study and has to be approved before implementation,” a GDRFA official said, “If it is, all that is going to change is removal of the passport control counters. All other procedures will remain the same.”

However, immigration officers will still be present at the terminal and will receive traveller’s information, and they are authorised to stop any traveller whose details reveal a criminal case against him or any other reason that bars them from leaving the country.

A number of International airports have adopted a similar approach in their departures wing, including San Francisco International Airport.

Major General Mohanmmad Ahmad Al Merri, Director-General of the GDRFA, said on Tuesday that this step will enhance the GDRFA’s services at the airport.

“We want our clients to enjoy fast and hassle-free travel,” he said.

Dubai airport is one of the busiest in the world, he said. “It requires efficiency on the GDRFA’s part to handle the large number of passengers using the airport,” said Maj Gen Al Merri. :More than 71 million passengers used the airport in 2014. We are expecting 78 million travellers to use Dubai airport this year.”

Smart Gates and E-Gates

The objective of moving huge volumes of passengers with efficiency has led Dubai airpot to adopt many measures.

Lt Col Talal Al Shanqity, assistant of the director General of the GDRFA-Dubai for Airports’ Affairs Department, said the airport has installed more than 100 e-gates at Terminals 1 and 2.

Smart gates are available at Terminal 3 arrivals, which allows registered travellers to clear the immigration process in only 10 to 15 seconds by using either a passport, Emirates ID, Smart Gate card or even a QR barcode via the GDRFA DUBAI smartphone app.

A special needs counter at the smart gate is available which allows passengers in wheelchairs to go through it easily, said Lt Col Al Shanqity.

Currently, there are 28 smart gates at the arrival wing of Terminal 3, he added. There are 100 e-gates across the terminals at the airport and they can be accessed by e-gate card or by Emirates Airline Skywards.

Another change to be effected soon, said Lt Col Al Shanqity is that travellers will not have arrival or departure dates stamped in their passports. The stamp will be replaced by a sticker.

Visa smartphone app

According to Maj Waleed Ahmad Saeed, Director of the Dubai Airport Passport Control at Terminal 3, an app will be available soon on smartphones that will allow visitors to check the duration of their stay as per their visa. If they have overstayed their visit, the app will allow them to pay the fine.

“We try our best to speed up the process for each and every traveller, even for those who have cases against them,” said Maj Saeed. “We try to complete processing their details at the counter in under 40 seconds.

“Despite working under pressure and dealing with angry travellers at times, we deal with passengers in a civilised manner and pay them due respect,” said Muna Saif Al Muhairi, a passport control officer at Terminal 3.

“Sometimes, people have issues with their passports which may have expired, or with expired visas. We try our best to help people avoid legal issues,” said Warrant Officer Haytham Ali at the GDRFA airport office.