A Golf Blog

Eye Contact

Have you ever noticed that as people approach one another from opposite directions, one or both purposely avoid eye contact to avoid the uneasy situation of greeting a stranger? I wonder why that is?

It’s like I know you are there, I just won’t recognize it by not looking at you. That way everything will be fine.

The next time you pass someone you don’t know, try looking them right in the eye, smile, and say hi. It is especially fun at the office. Sabre is a big company and there are always plenty of people I don’t know. I’ve been trying this now for the past several weeks and I’ve met quite a few people I didn’t know and I’m sure I’ve creeped out some as well.

It could also be that as I get older, my values are changing from materialistic to meaningful.

G2 Switchworks Signs Seven Airlines

Does this signal the end of Sabre as we know it? At this point, it’s doubtful. But, it is a competitive move that we can not ignore. And, with existing DCA3 contracts nearing terms end, it is also very possible that the airlines are using this as something of a bargaining tactic for future negotiations. Clearly, the GDS', Sabre included, have their work cut out for them.

American Airlines said they were very satisfied with products from Sabre; it’s the economics that are troubling. G2 claims their fees will be as much as 80 percent below current costs. Now for this to work so the airlines can realize those savings, they are going to have to get travel agents on board to use the G2 system.

Of course, the “what’s in it for me” will kick-in and it’s likely the airlines will pass on some percentage of the savings back to the travel agents.

It’s kind of like re-introducing travel agent commissions. What goes around comes around.

Link - pesky registration (free) required.

Joe Leonard on Competition

Aviation Week hosted a conference last week at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Grapevine. About 1000 attended, among them was Joe Leonard, CEO of Air Tran.

He said competing with Southwest doesn’t bother him at all, as a matter of fact, “we don’t fear anybody”. For that matter, he said it’s easier to compete with Southwest than it is with other airlines.

Competing with airlines that are profitable make decisions so they remain profitable, not because they are desperate for survival. Remember when ATA said they were going to enter the Dallas/Fort Worth Los Angeles market? American Airlines responded with deep fare cuts to all five Los Angeles airports from Dallas / Fort Worth.

Airport Perimeter Security

CNN.com reports that the TSA will be equipping clam diggers that work the flats adjacent to Boston’s Logan International with GPS enabled mobile phones. It seems that the TSA is concerned that someone would/could use a shoulder mounted anti-aircraft weapon against a commercial airliner.

Also on tap for testing is RFID, finger print scanning, dual iris scan recognition, ultrasonic emitters, microwave sensors, video motion surveillance, and hand geometry readers.

Business Week on Corporate Blogging

Don’t know if you have seen this but nary has a day gone by without a mention of blogging in the corporate space.

Business Week checks in with six tips for corporate blogging. I especially like number six –

rethink your corporate secrets.

Once you enter the blogging world that which was once closely guarded may now be just the thing to disclose to foster a better working relationship, generate new ideas, and win new partners.

Link to full story.

Six Rules for Successful Leadership

Yesterday in a team meeting, Tony mentioned Jack Welch and his leadership rules. It got me thinking about how our new leader, Kim Farrow, is doing and I’m happy to report alls well.
1. Control you destiny or someone else will – spot on
2. Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be – pretty good
3. Be candid with everyone – two thumbs up
4. Don’t manage, lead – it’s working
5. Change before you have to – always one step ahead
6. If you don’t have a competitive advantage, don’t compete – can’t rate
Now I know some of you will think I’m sucking up – well that is about as far from the truth as it can be. I believe in feedback and besides, I’m at a stage in my career where sucking up no longer matters.

TSA Looking for More Passenger Names

It looks like the government is going to force foreign airlines flying over America to submit the names of passengers on board so the TSA can match those names against the no-fly and selectee lists.

Needless to say, this has European, Mexican, and Canadian airlines pretty agitated. Imagine flying from Mexico City to London – unless you can show that your passenger manifest does not include any of the “bad guys”, you’ll have to fly almost the entire trip over water.

Like I mentioned earlier, this whole thing is a huge no win for the TSA.

Full story courtesy of the Washington Post.

The Big Picture

Ever wonder about the value of seeing the big picture? Look no further than comedian Sid Caesar’s view – “The guy who invented the wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three, he was a genius.”

Hat tip – Dan Pink and A Whole New Mind.

Paper Tickets Being Phased Out

The International Air Transport Association (aka IATA) has set 2007 as a self-imposed deadline for doing away with paper tickets. The airlines are still going to have to implement it so we’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out.

I realize that there’s a cost associated with design and implementation but doing nothing is also expensive. When carriers first went ticketless, they agonized over their cost savings estimates and returns on investment. All it took was one or two to realize the savings and many more jumped on the bandwagon.

Based upon past success with ticketless travel and regardless of culture issues, I would have thought the worlds airlines would have capitalized on this low hanging fruit already. To give you an idea of what is being left on the table - each paper air tickets adds an extra $9US to the airlines expenses.

IATA is also championing bar-coded boarding passes, radio frequency identification (RFID) for baggage management, common use of self-service kiosks for check-in, and paperless cargo.

More at travelmole.

The Value of RSS

Have you ever wondered out loud about the business value of an RSS feed? Well, wonder no longer.

The NYT via Andrew and Richard, is reporting that their annual click through rate increased by 341 percent.

Yikes! Imagine what that could translate to in other businesses.

And if your knowledge about RSS is something of a bluff, see what Nick Aster has to say about RSS for the clueless.