Community Mobilization

Dopplr Opens Up Registration

Dopplr is one of my new favorite web applications. I use it to catalog all of my travel and post it online so that all of the others that I have invited to use Dopplr can see where I am and when. It makes a lot of sense for people in a similar field because I know who is going to what conference and meeting and can actively try to get face time with them. The BBC reported that at Le Web Dopplr announced that it was opening up to anyone who wants to register. Joi Ito Invited me to Dopplr originally and I continue to add friends I know in the technology and social space field. Privacy is truly gone for those of us who work in the social field so why not open up everything? Part of the comfort level with being open is that we respect each other's space and information.

Small Airport - Big Service

I am sitting in the Charlottesville Regional Airport somewhere in the middle of Virginia and enjoying free wifi - something I do not have the luxury of in major market airports. Sure I can pay for a T-Mobile hot spot connection but why? It is the same thing that bugs me when I go to a Hampton Inn and have free wifi while my Marriott hotel that costs 4 times as much charges me $11.95 for internet access. Better yet I just heard The Talking Heads and now Pixies on their overhead sound system - are you kidding? How progressive can you get?

Update - Flock of Seagulls is blasting overhead and although I may miss my connection in Atlanta I am rocking out.

Customer Service Begins at Check-in

The Good Experience blog has an amazing epiphany on where good customer service begins - and it the airline industry it begins with Check-in. Design and user interface are a tell tale sign of what is to come, and I never really thought to look there. In my continued rant against the miserable American Airlines customer service, I appreciate the post and how it highlights the fundamental lack of customer service consideration, even in the design of the kiosk.

KLM Social Network for Airlines

KLM recently released an international travel 'club' that they are branding for their major international destinations. Club China, Club Africa, and even KLM Club Golf.  Not being a KLM frequent flyer, I am envious of their new social hub. It seems as if there is an opportunity for movers and shakers to connect and even get seats next to each other so that they can meet on the rare chance they fly on the same flight. I would be very curious of the business venture that are seeded or born from a chance conversation on an airplane. With systems like these you can make acquaintances before you ever board and position yourself to have a conversation about funding, or acquisitions. Thanks Springwise for the find.

ZE Frank and American Airlines

Even Ze Frank had a bad experience with American Airlines. In his 3/1/07 episode of 'The Show'  he bemoans the loss of his bags on the way to St. Louis to visit Ray and deliver some amazing group produced media. Moor in the next post about that.  Poor Ze.

Flying Your Conscience

Since I have moved to Cincinnati I now am facing a few new realities that concern air travel. Yes I am still on a Delta Hub but now I am near CVG, the most expensive airport in the USA. So when planning a trip to NYC I found direct tickets to all 3 airports close to $1,000.00 That is absurd, especially since this is donor money! Now I could fly out of Dayton (20 more minutes in the car) and connect through Cincinnati for the low price of $225 but that is 2 flights and a big carbon foot print. The kicker is that the American Airlines flies direct to La Guardia from Dayton. After the bad American Airlines customer service experience incident I refuse to fly with them under any circumstances. In conclusion I will be flying Continental into Newark and taking the train into the city. It is the best compromise I can find to save donor money, keep a smaller carbon footprint, and avoid giving American a single red cent of my money.

American Airlines has Bad, Horrible. Terrible, Horrific Customer Service

I experienced some of the most horrific, horrible, terrible, and plain old bad customer service on Christmas eve in the DFW airport courtesy of the American Airlines staff. This is a tale of doors being slammed in our faces, mean nasty gate agent named Lokesh, missed connections, lost bags, shift Managers who asked us to count our blessings that we are not sleeping in Denver, and the saving grace of Delta Airlines. I must disclose that I am a very frequent flyer on Delta. I'm including other links at the end to other folk's AA Horror stories.