Passenger Experience

• Airport travel is "uncomfortable," not fun, writer says
  Travelers are uncomfortable and inconvenienced when they go to airports, this feature says. Though some hubs are adding novelties -- such as a swimming pool at Changi Airport in Singapore or the driving range at Chep Lap Kok in Hong Kong -- the writer says those should be standard. Stuff (New Zealand) (9/4)     

• LAN says it's pleased with Dreamliner cabin
  LAN says it is happy with the cabin of its first Boeing 787-800. The cabin offers fold-flat seats and several lighting options. The airline says it dealt with delays by starting work on its long-haul cabin earlier, trimming several months off the process. APEX Editor's Blog (8/31)     

• International terminal at Indian airport is too small, airlines say
  Airlines are opposing proposed fee increases at India's Chennai International Airport's international terminal, which also will raise its fees to fliers. Airline officials also say the international terminal was not built adequately. They are unsure of its opening date and say they may not have the time required to train extra personnel needed to process passengers expediently due to a lack of space. "We have found several design anomalies. AAI did not take feedback from airlines when the terminal blueprint was prepared," an official said of the Airports Authority of India. The Times of India (9/3)     

• "The Possession" takes box office's top spot during holiday weekend
  "The Possession" came in first for highest sales at the domestic box office this weekend, raking in $17.7 million and on target for a $21.3 million four-day gross. "Lawless" held steady in the second spot, earning $9.8 million over the three-day weekend. The Hollywood Reporter (9/2)     

• Column: Add-on fees are poised to spread beyond the airline industry
  Other service industries are testing the waters of add-on fees, taking their cue from the airline industry, which continues to hang on to profitability through a variety of ancillary revenues, writes columnist Phil Rosenthal. Economic times have made the move "not unique to airlines or even the travel business, where hotels may look to charge for a Wi-Fi connection that Starbucks will give you for free, or assess a resort fee on top of the cost of whatever the resort's room rate is and maybe tack on a housekeeping surcharge," Rosenthal writes. Chicago Tribune (free registration) (9/2)     

• Airports transform into eating destinations
  HMSHost, a food service provider serving 113 airports, is bringing the farm-to-table trend to airport terminals harvesting fresh ingredients. Other airport restaurant trends include food prepared by celebrity chefs such as Wolfgang Puck and local eateries opening up locations in airports. The Washington Post (8/31)     

• Other News

• Flying with pets takes planning
  St. Cloud Times (Minn.) (9/2)     

• Phantom Media is renamed DMD Phantom; director is added
  APEX Editor's Blog (8/31)     

Connectivity & Technology

• LAN will add wireless IFE on some Airbus planes in 2013
  LAN will pilot wireless in-flight entertainment on Airbus narrow-body aircraft next year, the airline's travel experience executive says. The technology will let passengers stream content onto their personal mobile services. Fernanda Toro says content that will be offered on the Dreamliner's economy seats will be the same as that on the Boeing 767 and Airbus A340 long-haul routes. APEX Editor's Blog (9/1)     

• Lufthansa pilots mobile phone connectivity service
  All Lufthansa passengers "will soon" be able to connect to the Internet on their mobile phones during flights, this blogger says. The airline has begun testing the AeroMobile's eXPhone GSM connectivity system, which is available on 71 of its aircraft and branded as FlyNet. APEX Editor's Blog (9/2)     

• You can watch your favorite flicks on your longest flights
  Travelers who are busy with work often rely on their time in the air to catch up on the movies they want to see. Airlines offer a wide range of options on some in-flight entertainment systems so passengers can also see independent movies or those that never make it to movie theaters. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (9/3)     

• Young fliers want Internet on flights -- like, now
  Seventy-five percent of fliers 18 to 24 want Internet connectivity on flights, shows a survey of adults in the U.K. Research from In-Stat shows that U.S. carriers will earn about $225 million in connection charges this year. TNooz.com (9/3)     

• Other News

• German researchers are studying climate-controlled airplane seats
  Mashable (9/1)     

• British Airways video aims to calm anxious fliers
  The Telegraph (London) (9/1)     

Airlines & Aircraft

• Etihad ups stake in Virgin Australia to 10%
  Etihad Airways now owns a 10% stake in Virgin Australia, up from its previous 5% ownership. Etihad, which also owns stakes in Aer Lingus, Air Seychelles and Air Berlin, has said it does not intend to own a majority stake in Virgin Australia. Reuters (9/2)     

• Other News

• Air India Express will add 130 short-term flights in fall
  The Economic Times (India) (9/3)     

Association News

• Register now for the APEX educational event in Santiago, Chile, 7-8 November 2012
  We are thrilled to announce that APEX is expanding its international outreach by hosting an educational event in South America this year! Hope you can join APEX at this event in Santiago, Chile, to get the latest updates on key topics in our industry and to have the opportunity to network with our colleagues in the region. Visit here for more information.     

• Become a fan of the Passenger Choice Awards Facebook page
  APEX would like to invite you to become a fan of the Passenger Choice Awards Facebook page. View past APEX award winners, read articles about the passenger experience and pick up travel tips along the way. Feel free to leave a comment on our Facebook page and be sure to pass along the survey link, www.passengerchoiceawards.com, to your friends, family and contacts as well.     

Hot Topic

Top five news stories selected by apexnews Daily SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Wireless providers connect with customers (APEX Editor's Blog)

• Transaero Airlines begins to roll out Internet service (The Moscow Times)

• Airplane design needs to come first for positive experience, expert says (APEX Editor's Blog)

• Virgin Australia is set to test in-flight Wi-Fi this fall (Australian Business Traveller)

• Upgrades are widely available for those who know where to look (FoxNews.com)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

SmartQuote

The best people possess a feeling for beauty, the courage to take risks, the discipline to tell the truth, the capacity for sacrifice." --Ernest Hemingway, American author