Comments on: Five things that are annoying me about travel http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/06/annoying-travel/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nathan Midgley http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/06/annoying-travel/#comment-152436 Nathan Midgley Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:27:09 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4881#comment-152436 The innovation question's an interesting one. Antoine is right about "Data portability, open-ID and Oauth, RIA" and so on; but I agree with Simon's reservations about comparing travel with mobile technology. There's a tendency to see the pace of change in consumer electronics as the norm, but most sectors don't have a Moore's Law, or an equivalent to the 'free upgrade' model, where networks basically guarantee a market for new phones by dropping the latest technology in users' laps to keep them on contract. We've come to see a shiny new handset every 12-18 months as the norm, but it's insane. In terms of mobile *software* for the sector, Layar is pretty smart. In fairness the next step for travel inspiration/content is probably widespread location awareness, and mobiles will have a big part to play there. The innovation question’s an interesting one. Antoine is right about “Data portability, open-ID and Oauth, RIA” and so on; but I agree with Simon’s reservations about comparing travel with mobile technology. There’s a tendency to see the pace of change in consumer electronics as the norm, but most sectors don’t have a Moore’s Law, or an equivalent to the ‘free upgrade’ model, where networks basically guarantee a market for new phones by dropping the latest technology in users’ laps to keep them on contract. We’ve come to see a shiny new handset every 12-18 months as the norm, but it’s insane.

In terms of mobile *software* for the sector, Layar is pretty smart. In fairness the next step for travel inspiration/content is probably widespread location awareness, and mobiles will have a big part to play there.

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]]> By: Perdita http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/06/annoying-travel/#comment-151926 Perdita Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:44:41 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4881#comment-151926 I have to agree with your second point. We've just booked a holiday and none of the sites allowed you to search for flights and a week each in different cities. We ended up calling their premium rate call centre to see if they could do it, but no they ended up booking it as two separate bookings! It's not an usual request, you'd think someone would have cracked it by now! My biggest gripe on hotels is that, apart form a few notable ones, they don't offer the ability to search for more than one room at a time. I do a lot of bookings for work and as I need to book two adults in two rooms I often end up going through the whole booking process twice. And don't get me started on the rip off prices for train travel. Looking into booking tickets from the north to Heathrow. Travelling there and back on a saturday and obviously can't book a set train for the return as you are guaranteed to be delayed. Worked out that the whole thing (intercity, tube, heathrow express) will cost us nearly the same as a week's accommodation! (oh and I have no idea whether the holiday we've booked is protected by any body, that can of worms just makes my head hurt) I have to agree with your second point. We’ve just booked a holiday and none of the sites allowed you to search for flights and a week each in different cities. We ended up calling their premium rate call centre to see if they could do it, but no they ended up booking it as two separate bookings! It’s not an usual request, you’d think someone would have cracked it by now!

My biggest gripe on hotels is that, apart form a few notable ones, they don’t offer the ability to search for more than one room at a time. I do a lot of bookings for work and as I need to book two adults in two rooms I often end up going through the whole booking process twice.

And don’t get me started on the rip off prices for train travel. Looking into booking tickets from the north to Heathrow. Travelling there and back on a saturday and obviously can’t book a set train for the return as you are guaranteed to be delayed. Worked out that the whole thing (intercity, tube, heathrow express) will cost us nearly the same as a week’s accommodation!

(oh and I have no idea whether the holiday we’ve booked is protected by any body, that can of worms just makes my head hurt)

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]]> By: Issa Qandil http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/06/annoying-travel/#comment-151890 Issa Qandil Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:18:05 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4881#comment-151890 Hi there, Great holiday hates. I usually read about what is the greats 5 things about going on holiday but your post is unique :-) My main hate, especially here from London is getting to the airport (The airport itself is a different story). I live in east London and in many cases I have to get to Heathrow Airport for certain holiday destinations. Getting the train to central london then tube to the Airport is around 2 hours or more trip. Then you wait in the airport for 3 hours minimum with all the new security check systems. Your flight has to be delayed in Heathrow now a days, so add half an hour to the total. The plane usually takes 4 hours, then from the airport to your hotel could be 1 hour. The total is almost 10 hours to travel! Thanks for letting us get it off our chest :-) Best, Issa Hi there,
Great holiday hates. I usually read about what is the greats 5 things about going on holiday but your post is unique :-)

My main hate, especially here from London is getting to the airport (The airport itself is a different story). I live in east London and in many cases I have to get to Heathrow Airport for certain holiday destinations. Getting the train to central london then tube to the Airport is around 2 hours or more trip. Then you wait in the airport for 3 hours minimum with all the new security check systems. Your flight has to be delayed in Heathrow now a days, so add half an hour to the total. The plane usually takes 4 hours, then from the airport to your hotel could be 1 hour. The total is almost 10 hours to travel!

Thanks for letting us get it off our chest :-)

Best,
Issa

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]]> By: Crystal http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/06/annoying-travel/#comment-151870 Crystal Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:28:10 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4881#comment-151870 Thanks for the Joobili link Darren. Interesting looking website. My biggest gripe in travel is still the airport travel experience but I think Catherine in comment number one has covered that ! I also think the new longhaul flight tax is going to be a killer for some destinations that really rely on tourism for their economic stability and growth, Thanks for the Joobili link Darren. Interesting looking website.

My biggest gripe in travel is still the airport travel experience but I think Catherine in comment number one has covered that !

I also think the new longhaul flight tax is going to be a killer for some destinations that really rely on tourism for their economic stability and growth,

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]]> By: Nick http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/09/06/annoying-travel/#comment-151866 Nick Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:43:48 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=4881#comment-151866 Zach, that is because the States does not work like the EU in protecting consumers or the way you purchase travel. Zach, that is because the States does not work like the EU in protecting consumers or the way you purchase travel.

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