Tip 27 - Delta Airlines power outlets

For those who travel frequently, encumbered with significant amounts of electronic equipment, the term road warrior might better be termed seeker of power - as in power outlets. The odyssey is often circituous, and even in locations that having power makes sense, it's often hard to come by.

One welcome addition, for my travels at least, is the availability of power outlets at some seats on Delta flights.

For domestic US Delta flights, which I often get upgraded on, the addition of 110 power outlets is a welcome benefit. For Delta, this means flights on select Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767 and 777 planes.

On Northwest, the almost-subsumed airline carrier that Delta is merging with to create a single operating entity (SOE) that will be called Delta, the Airbus and Boeing 747 planes have outlets.

There are two annoyances with this wonderful addition.

First, while a few of the Delta planes have power outlets in particular coach class locations, at least according to Delta Sky magazine (deltaskymag.com), the location of these seems to be a well-kept secret that's not shown at the time of the seat-selection when booking online (delta.com).

Especially for those of us who fly frequently, including international flights where we no longer get bumped to Business Elite (the seats formerly known as First Class), the ability to choose a coach seat for a 6-8 hour flight that had a power outlet would be ideal and a great start to an overseas trip (imagine charging your laptop before you land rather than having to find a power outlet in a foreign airport).

Second, perhaps more disturbing for a feature that may entice some flyers choose Delta over another carrier, is the inconsistency with which the power outlets work. On the last two domestic flights, in first class, my power outlet hasn't worked, even though my seatmate's power outlet was working.

In the first instance, a flight from ATL to SFO on a 757, my question to the flight attendant about the failed power outlet led to a rebooting of the power system, which then caused everyone's outlets to stop working for the remainder of the flight. For the record, as much as I needed to work on the flight, I would not have made the request, had I known it would knock out the entire power outlet system.

In the second instance, on the flight I am currently on, the outlet at my seat also does not work, but my seatmate's does, and she - having nothing to charge - was gracious enough to let me use her outlet after the flight attendant first tried a reboot on the system. I don't know if that reboot (pushing a green button in the front of the cabin) jolted my seatmate's power outlet to life, as I had not tested hers beforehand, but I know it had no effect on the power outlet at my seat.

My suggestion, then, is to enquire with an agent on the phone (after booking your ticket online to save the booking fee) regarding the location of power outlets on the flight so that you can select a coach class seat and still have power close by, even if you don't get upgraded.

The secondary tip is to always treat your seatmate with respect, as you'll never know when you'll need a power up.

Delta, please fix the two annoyances, since this really is a great feature that entices flyers to remain with Delta.

Tip 26 - WiFi and Loyalty Programs

Mentioned in a previous post that Sheraton and Microsoft's joint partnership in Link@Sheraton is a great model, where computers, printers and WiFi are available in Sheraton lobbies.

Some Shearatons make their access widely available for anyone while others, like the Sheraton hotel at CDG, have it locked down with password protection.

Those in the loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), can enter their loyalty program number and receive complimentary access.

If you don't have an SPG number, no worries: Sheraton makes it easy to sign up for SPG at the WiFi log-in page.

Clever concept and clever marketing.


iPhoned

Tip 25 - Paris RER payments

[Update: well, he might have been running a scam, since my ticket worked when I went through the RER turnstile in Gare du Nord but didn't work when I arrived at Roissy CDG 2. Two other people had a similar problem, although they may have had different reasons for their issues with the turnstile, so the guard had all three of us climb over, with bags . . . ]

Like the London Tube, the Paris RER regional trains no longer accept US Visa cards - debit or credit - unless they have the Chip + Pin (chip-pin uses a chip on the front of the card as a way to partially "dip" the card without putting the card all the way in to a machine).

In addition, the RER machines at Gare du Nord also only accept Euro coins up to 2 euros, so paper money is no help.

Since I only had a Visa debit and a fiver with Euro 3,65 in coin for a Euro 8,50 toll, I was hosed after arriving at 11:47 PM on the Eurostar for a midnight train.

So I did something I never do - took the offer of someone in the station to use their French card. Couldn't tell if it was someone who worked for the RER or SCNF, nor if he often gets a Euro 10 note and doesn't make change, but I would certainly have given him one if I had it.

Stock up on Euro coins for your next trip; even if you can't exchange them, they may come in handy, especially if you see someone like me looking desperate.

iPhoned

Tip 24 - London Tube payment types

The London Tube payment system updates mean the Underground ticket system no longer accepts US Visa cards - debit or credit - unless they have the Chip + Pin (chip-pin uses a chip on the front of the card as a way to partially "dip" the card without putting the card all the way in to a machine).

Go to the wide, large ticket machines (typically in the center or at the end of a bank of machines) if you have bank notes or want to receive change for your pound or two-pound coins.

If you have coins and don't mind not receiving change, there is often one other machine in the bank of ticket machines keyed to this option.


iPhoned

When in London, oops, no changes

[Update 3: This whole single-tunnel concept isn't looking so great, what with 2,000 passengers trapped in it . . . ]
[Update 2: So what's the policy for delayed trains? According to the Eurostar conditions of carriage, it has to be "delayed significantly" in order for a refund to be issued: 21. Refunds for delayed or cancelled trains says "if the train you planned to catch is delayed significantly or cancelled and you decide not to travel or to continue your journey, we may give you a full refund on the unused portion of the ticket if you cancel your reservation in accordance with our instructions and return it to the point of sale where you bought it (or to another point of sale to which we or our agents direct you) at the earliest opportunity.  If you do not cancel it immediately but claim a refund after the two month period of validity from the scheduled date of travel has passed, we may make an administrative charge."]
[Update: Apparently the trains are now fully suspended, with Eurostar advising passengers to stay with friends in London if possible. Still no flexibility to change to the earlier train. High likelihood they'll cancel my train, which will ripple down to staying the evening in the train station and then a verrrrrrrrrry long day tomorrow since I'll miss my early-morning flight from Paris.] 

All Eurostar trains are delayed this evening from London to Paris, the famed Chunnel Eurostar route.

This is due to, I was told upon check-in, "a death on the line" that will delay the train before mine for probably another hour, as well as mine, the last one of the night.

The reason is understandable: the police need to do their work, and it's uncertain whether the fatality occurred inside a Eurostar train or on the tracks. May the deceased rest in peace.

What isn't understandable is the inflexibility of the system to accommodate changes in schedules, when the delay rests clearly on Eurostar, pointing up one very important difference between the airline and train industries.

With airplanes, if the event is unforseen and it is known a flight will be delayed, a passenger is allowed to change to a less delayed (earlier) flights if seats are available.

On the Eurostar between London and all points South, this is not an option. When I asked about changing to the earlier, less-delayed train, I was told it was not possible. When I asked about seats being available, I was told they were but that a non-refundable ticket meant no changes could be made to the reservation.

"Even if the delay is due to this unforseen circumstance," the check-in attendant told me, clearly surprised at the question, "we can not change the ticket. If one person changed to the earlier train, everyone would want to change."

That might be true, but one is certain that not everyone would ask; that's what the airlines get - and apparently Eurostar does not.

For Eurostar, it is apparently better for me to arrive very late in Paris, beyond the time at which my connecting train departs (it leaves at 12:15 AM) and stay the night in the Gare du Nord train station, rather than allow the option of being put on an earlier train.

Guess this is my last Chunnel ride for some time, until this issue is resolved.

iPhoned

Tip 23 - Inexpensive Hotels

A recent New York Times travel article on inexpensive hotels in Europe - quite helpful for those Americans looking to stretch a dollar