Your Airport To-Not-Do List

Ex-TSA chief Kip Hawley: 'You probably hate us'

(NEWSER) - Let passengers carry knives, lighters, and liquids on board flights. In fact, eliminate all banned items, and get rid of baggage fees while you're at it. So argues former TSA chief Kip Hawley, who writes in the Wall Street Journal that "the TSA's mission is to prevent a catastrophic attack on the transportation system, not to ensure that every single passenger can avoid harm while traveling." He's no PR dummy either, noting that "if you're a frequent traveler, you probably hate us." More»

Singapore! Where the Changi International Airport wows

(NEWSER) - An airport typically helps you get to your destination—but Singapore's Changi International Airport arguably is a destination. Since opening 30 years ago, it has racked up 370 awards, and with good reason. The Wall Street Journal takes a look at some of Changi's most fabulous features, which, pleasantly, aren't restricted to elite travelers:

• A nap room, where you can doze for three hours. Price: $23
• A swimming pool ($11 to access, or free if you're staying at an airport hotel)

Feds approve flights, but restrictions remain

(NEWSER) - Americans can now legally hop a plane in Key West and skip over to Cuba: The US government has given the green light to Key West International Airport to run charter flights to the communist state 90 miles away, reports the Huffington Post . Restrictions do remain: Havana-bound flights are limited to a max of 10 passengers—whereas Fort Lauderdale can fly up to 150 passengers—and citizens must still be authorized by the feds before embarking on their Cuban jaunt. More»

Digitized employees to explain security measures

(USER SUBMITTED) - Don't be startled if you accidentally bump into a staff member at Manchester Airport and pass right through them. The British airport recently unveiled their latest effort to reduce security queues—holograms of its staff members. The holographic projections will greet travelers and lecture them on topics such as liquid restrictions and boarding passes. More»

Arrivals areas are the soft spot in airport security, experts say

(NEWSER) - The days when you could just turn up and walk straight into an airport arrival hall could soon be history, analysts warn. Airports around the world are boosting security in their arrivals areas in response to yesterday's airport bombing in Moscow that killed at least 35 people, reports CNN . Arrivals halls are attractive targets for terrorists, security experts say, because they have lower security and are much more densely packed than departure areas. More»