A couple of recent travel items that made me go, "hmmm"…

  • Continental Airlines announced that, for a limited time, it’s offering complimentary helicopter service from Manhattan to Newark Liberty International Airport to customer traveling on first-class and full-fare economy tickets. "The offer is effective immediately for tickets purchased on or afterSept. 1 for travel through Oct. 31, 2008. Customers previously ticketedto travel within these dates may add the US Helicopter service at thediscounted fare."  Pretty cool promotion – and it will give you the opportunity to do you best Arnold Schawartzenagger impersonation.

  • The Australian Federal Government is beginning trials of a new airport security screening measure that includes, "a body scanner that can see what lies undera person’s clothes."  (Yowza!)  According to this report, it provides detailed images of a person’s body, yet still "ensures passengers’ privacy and dignity" because faces are blurred and images are not saved.  (Sorry mate, but there’s nothing private or dignifying about this.)  But wait, it gets better!  The scans are reported be "safe" because they emit only a "minute amount of radiation".  So, if you’re looking for a little extra glow before you fly, step right up to be a part of this trial.

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