Adrie Reinders

iPad
Since a few weeks I have become an Apple iPad user.

First of all, I like gadgets, but generally I use them a few times and then get bored with them, as the offer little or no extra value. This time is different though, which is why I have been waiting to give you my opinion for a few weeks (besides not wanting to make you insanely jealous).
Why this review in this blog? Simple – I use my iPad when I am traveling – it is not a replacement of regular laptop, merely an addition to it.

E.Mail – because of the big screen – very simple. Not as quick as using a full computer (keyboard) but clear and very workable.
iTunes – same functionality as the iPod
E.Reader – simply wonderful, mostly because of the lit up screen en simplicity of use
Browser – extremely fast and user friendly
Pictures – great to see and explode across the screen
Skype – works just as well as on any laptop.

Because of the simple, compact form and user friendliness – overall a great product.
I have the WiFi version (rather then the 3G) which works fine for me – but maybe for others that need constant access to the internet 3G will be better
Last of all, it is as if the battery lasts forever – I easily get 10 hours use out of it before recharging.

In short – iPad: 9

Travel

Travel always is a stressful activity – may be even worse these days due to all those security measures. After about 30 years of intensive business travel, I more and more feel that being somewhere else is wonderful, but the getting there is definitely not.

There are a number of things I see though that you can do to organise yourself a little better and make the experience somewhat easier:

Always try and check in in advance so that you can choose your own seat. One that gives you the most breathing space – aisle, exit row, not next to a toilet preferably and most definitely not if you are on a nightflight returning from the US to Europe.
Use luggage on wheels where ever you can… even your hand luggage. Distances at airports get bigger and bigger, you have to walk for miles. Not good on your frame if you have to carry heavy bags on one shoulder.
Make sure you have music with you on an MP3 player to relax to and something easy to read. I am not an advocate of working whilst I am on the plane, it is yet another stress factor. It’s almost funny to see – after the sign “seatbelts on” is extinguished some 20 mins. into the flight, dozens of people get up simultaneously to grab their laptops.
Wear something comfortable – no tight clothing – and try to move around a bit. There’s some good exercises in the airline magazines these days for longer flights.
Do not point the “fresh” air fan above your head at your face – doctor’s advice – as it is likely to carry all sorts of other germs with it as the air system is a closed system.
I hardly ever eat a full meal in an airplane and never drink alcohol. As you move around less, and because of the cabin pressure etc. you already get a bloated feeling. I never understood why they don’t serve lighter meals on board of intercontinental flights.
Drink lots of water.
To overcome jetlag, I always try to pick up my normal rhythm as soon as possible. I exercise the day I arrive which really helps and personally I use melatonin for a couple of days when I fly east.
At more and more airports these days you will find bio-metric security systems – which make passing through customs much easier. For example, iris-scans are used at Schiphol and Heathrow and in some measure also in the US. It makes this part of the process much simpler and costs to get a card or pass are relatively low – definitely worthwhile if you are a frequent traveller!
During the flight my pet hate is really when you have just falling into a snooze, and the passenger behind you gets up by pulling him/herself up on your chair. Why can’t these people use their legs?!

Another phenomenon of the last few years was the introduction of a kerosene tax, to pass on the cost of the high fuel prices onto the customer. Now that prices have gone down again, airlines were quick to find a nice alternative… when I travel I always carry a big suitcase since I am usually on the road for a few weeks. When I checked it in at Chicago O’Hare recently – my case was a few pounds over the limit in weight.. I ended up having to fork out another US$150 for the excess, more then my entire ticket. It is always worthwhile to check restrictions airlines impose on passengers these days….

One of the most annoying things in the entire system is the tariffs and the lack of transparency. Why do I have to pay US$4000 for an economy class ticket that offers me the chance to upgrade on miles, whereas another I pay US$ 3,200 for a business class ticket. And it isn’t that you can rely on one airline always being cheaper either… I am blessed with a travel agency , that really takes the time and effort to check it all out and isn’t bothered about using miles to upgrade me – instead of always charging me the highest ticket simply because it earns them the most commission.

A lot of airlines are taking flights out of their schedules to keep demand, and therefore prices, high. Or they fly smaller planes. Service has not really improved much either over the years despite the fact that it must be harder to gain and keep customers. Flying lo-cost airlines is often a good solution  at least you know exactly what you should expect. I have travelled with Transavia, South West, Jet Blue – all of them offering little in terms of extras – but they do have friendly personnel and a good service.

I would love to hear your comments and additions to this piece – perhaps by joining forces we can make travelling by plane a little more comfortable…

adrie reinders
_

I had the pleasure of travelling again this past Saturday – travel is becoming an increasing stress factor in a business man’s life! First I flew from Chicago to New York with Jet blue. A few years ago when I first flew with Jet Blue, it was a new and refreshing experience, now it seems to have become just another low-cost airline. Nothing special but cheap.

Once in New York, I had to get from the Jet Blue terminal, Terminal 5, to Terminal 2 – where Delta would depart for Amsterdam. This was my first experience with the Air Train at JFK – just unbelievable! It has been heralded as a new way of connecting the terminals, and was only launched after many years of delays. The genius who designed this connection was either drunk when he did so, or hadn’t finished his schooling. From the luggage belt at terminal 5, you first have to walk at least 20 minutes to get to the nearest train stop – not much fun with two serious pieces of luggage. The trainstop is not right there in the terminal, like everywhere else in the world but way outside of it. Then you get to Terminal 2, and have to repeat the entire procedure including a walk outside across all sorts of lanes of traffic – great when it is raining cats and dogs! And all this because they seem to have skimped on the number of stops on the line and thus feel they need to drop passengers right BETWEEN terminal 2 and 3, and then have them walk the rest… clever stuff.

These days everything about air travel is grey, disinterested personnel on the ground, not much difference in the cabin, smaller aircraft then usual and a noticeably lower number of passenger. Service on board of our flight was fine – but again – the fun seems to have gone out of travelling. It was almost good to be back at Schiphol, at least an airport that’s bright and modern!!