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Solid and Scenic: The Hyatt Regency Cologne
I’ve used an image of this property for years as a file photo for all things Hyatt, but I only last week got to finally experience the Hyatt Regency Köln (Cologne) for myself. My expectations were admittedly not the highest, as several others in this space have written some pretty scathing pieces on this property in the past, citing maintenance issues and the property just generally showing its age. But I needed to be in Köln, and it’s been an incredibly slow travel year by my standards; without the elite nights from this stay, I would have needed to mattress run to renew my World of Hyatt Globalist status. So in spite of the negativity surrounding this property, I decided to give it a try.
Location
If scenic views of Köln are what you’re after, you’re going to be hard-pressed to do better than this property. I would estimate the Hyatt Regency likely has THE most prized and expensive views in the entire city. That said, in terms of actually being centrally-located, the property leaves a bit to be desired. It sits not in the city center, but across the Rhine in the borough of Deutz. From Köln’s central train station, you should expect to walk 10-15 mins to reach this property. It’s a very beautiful walk, around the cathedral, then crossing the Rhine via the famous Hohenzollern Bridge. But if you have heavy luggage in tow, and are okay with foregoing a breathtaking first impression of the city, you would be better served choosing a train that serves Köln Messe/Deutz Station, only about a 5 minute walk to the hotel; this station is served by many ICE trains direct from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Terminal 1. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to make that walk later, sans luggage. As far as local transit options go, look for tram lines 1, 7, and 9 from the Deutzer Freiheit tram stop, also about a 5 minute walk away.
Pricing
This property is World of Hyatt award category 4, meaning you’ll pay 15,000 World of Hyatt points for a standard award night, 18,000 for peak award nights, and 12,000 for off-peak. During Christmas market season, it is quite common to see cash rates go north of €300, making the use of points an even better value proposition this time of year. This property can be a great place to burn those Cat 1-4 free night certificates, which seem to get devalued every March as all the good redemption options seem to slowly migrate to Category 5. Out of my six-night stay, three of those were peak pricing; luckily, I had the same number of Cat 1-4 certs banked, and had my concierge strategically place those on the peak nights for maximum value. This was the first time in a while I’ve been able to get the full 18,000 point value out of those certificates; as I no longer go out of my way to maximize those, my lowest point was burning one on the then-Category 2 Hyatt Regency DFW Airport just days prior to expiration.
One could make the argument that this property likely offers the best possible view that can be obtained utilizing the humble Cat 1-4 certificate anywhere in the world, and I fear that if this property remodels in the future, it may move to Category 5 or even Category 6, rendering those certificates useless here.
Arrival and Globalist Recognition
I have gotten quite good (if I do say so myself) at navigating the logistics of traveling to Europe over the years; I gave my Hyatt concierge an ETA of 10:00am about a week prior to my arrival, and she worked with the hotel to try and have a room ready by then. As I walked through the doors at 10:01, I was quite impressed with myself for estimating my arrival time a week prior within a 120-second margin of error! While my room was cleaned by this time, it had not yet undergone Hyatt’s QA process. Being from the U.S., I fully expected to be told to go pound sand for a couple hours. However, I was granted access by the cheery front desk agent to wait in the Regency Club, and eat breakfast in there while I waited – and when my room finally was ready, the keys were personally delivered to me in the Regency Club, so I did not have to return to the lobby!
I did not receive an upgrade, nor did I really expect to, as the hotel was (verifiably) sold out at least one night of my reservation. However, the staff that I interacted with were incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful.
Rooms and State of the Hotel
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. There are some criticisms floating around about how dated this place feels. And there is some validity to that! The guest room floors feel like the year 2010 called, and asked for its hotel back. The power socket placement is… odd, and if you don’t have a Schuko (type F) plug adapter with USB ports on the side, expect any cords plugged into the front to be bent and possibly destroyed by proximity to the mattress as you toss & turn in bed – luckily, I’m to the point now where I always seem to have multiple travel adapters of varying styles in my backpack. Every lamp in the room seemed to have a different mechanism to turn on/off. I had to upload a picture of the rather antiquated thermostat to ChatGPT to figure out how to use it (meanwhile, the HP Frankfurt Airport had a QR code with instructions on how to use their much simpler digital thermostat… cue eye roll). The bathroom door wouldn’t stay shut unless I slammed it. The Wi-Fi could be better, and logs you out after precisely 24 hours, even if you are actively connected.
But all that said, it was spotlessly clean, and perfectly adequate! In fact, dare I say that I actually kind of liked that it was a little bit dated. Hotels in Western countries have been in a race to the bottom for years, featuring ever-smaller rooms, weird “barn” doors (or no doors at all) on bathrooms, and eliminating closets and storage in favor of open-air “landing zones” for your luggage. It seems that memo has not reached Köln yet. The rooms were spacious, even by American standards; in fact, I am having a hard time thinking of a standard room I’ve received in Europe larger than this one. The bathroom was large too, featuring a separate bathtub and shower (with some of the best water pressure I’ve ever had, albeit lacking a handheld sprayer like most European hotels). But perhaps the most unique feature was the walk-in closet with a little bench to sit on. As I was staying for a week during a German winter, having this closet enabled me to fully unpack, organize myself, and truly feel at home; contrast this to my most-frequented property in EMEA, where I’d be living out of my suitcase and packing cubes due to the open-concept “storage.” And as I previously mentioned, I like being able to burn my Cat 1-4 certs here; a remodel would likely trigger a change to a higher category.
My one small complaint about the housekeeping: once I ran out of shower gel, it was never refilled. None of the housekeepers seemed to check if it was empty, and even when I specifically requested more, it never came. Luckily there was good ol’ fashioned Pharmacopia bar soap left near the bathtub (and this was replaced daily!), so I was still able to shower and get clean, albeit not in the way I preferred.
Food and Beverage
This is one of those rare properties where Globalist members can choose whether they want their complimentary breakfast at the Glashaus restaurant on the mezzanine level, or in the Regency Club. In practice, I suppose you could have both, as there’s no real enforcement mechanism here. That said, the spread is largely the same core items in both locations. The restaurant has slightly more variety, but you’re not going to be missing anything major if you opt for a quieter breakfast with a better view in the Regency Club. Despite Hyatt being an American brand, this specific property seems to serve largely regional guests, and the breakfast reflects that; while a few hot items such as (very good!) bacon are on offer, you should expect a more continental breakfast focused on bread and fruit, because, well, you’re on the continent. Contrast this to someplace like the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam, which has an incredibly diverse selection of items on offer to cater to a more global audience. All that said, the quality of everything was very much on-par with expectations for a European Hyatt.
It appears Hyatt knows the location is rather out-of-the-way, with few off-site dining options nearby… and they charge “captive market” prices accordingly for F&B. Of course you’ll pay €39 for breakfast (if not Globalist or Guest of Honor), because going out to eat locally is going to require a good trek, likely to the city center. Expect any food & beverage not comped via elite status or access to the Regency Club to come with some of the most egregious price tags I have ever seen from a Hyatt – even worse than most in the USA. And keep in mind, trams to the city center are available behind the hotel every few minutes, even if this isn’t immediately obvious approaching via the bridge… so you’re not as much of a captive audience as it might initially feel! There are lots of great local dining options in Köln; go into the city center and take advantage (if it’s Christmas Market season, go get a steak near the Cathedral and thank me later).
Regency Club
The Regency Club is located on the 6th floor of the hotel. The layout is a bit odd, as instead of a discrete room, the club is really just the elevator lobby for the hotel’s club level; this means you have guests passing through with their luggage, and housekeeping passing through with carts, especially at peak hours. That said, the views of the Rhine from the Regency Club are absolutely incredible, the staff are very helpful, and even at the busiest times, I was always able to find a clean table near the windows. Access is available 24/7, though most food and beverage is promptly put away by 10pm.
Bottom Line
Do you need to manage your expectations a bit? Perhaps. Is it nearly as bad as some bloggers say? Absolutely not. Hyatt spoils us, and it leads to some just looking for something to complain about. Even the worst European Hyatts are probably better than the ~30th percentile of American Hyatts, and it’s important to keep that in perspective. Köln is an absolutely wonderful city, and the Hyatt Regency is a perfectly serviceable option with spectacular views to stay while visiting. In my opinion, it is one of the best remaining options to burn those Category 1-4 free night certificates we all seem to accumulate each year, and for that reason, I kinda hope they don’t remodel or change for a while. All of the shortcomings here are really relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, and I mention them not to complain, but purely in the interest of giving an honest, transparent take. None of these issues are show stoppers, and I’ll definitely be back.
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Sticker Shock: Gas Station Near DFW Airport Charges Over $5 a Gallon
Traveling can be stressful enough without the added pressure of avoiding exorbitant gas prices near the airport. Unfortunately, if you’re refueling your rental car near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), you might encounter just that. A gas station near the airport is charging upwards of $5 a gallon, and it’s causing quite a stir among unsuspecting travelers.
It’s no secret that gas stations located near airports tend to charge above-market prices. The principle of supply and demand is at play here, with lots of people needing to refuel their rental cars before returning them. Business travelers, often on their company’s dime, might not pay much attention to the price per gallon, making them an easy target for higher charges.
The mantra “location, location, location” reigns supreme. Travelers are often in a hurry and prioritize convenience over cost, opting to fill up close to the airport even if it means paying more; after all, missing your flight could be significantly more expensive than overpaying a bit for fuel. Some gas stations take advantage of this urgency to an extreme, and that’s where the problem arises.
If you need a notorious example, look no further than Suncoast Energys near Orlando International Airport (MCO). This gas station has become infamous for charging unsuspecting travelers upwards of $5.50 a gallon, earning it a one-star rating on Yelp. Such predatory pricing exploits travelers who might not have the time or knowledge to seek out more reasonably priced gas stations.
The Valley View Shell: A Case of Overcharging at DFW
Enter the Valley View Shell at 4900 W Airport Fwy (SH-183) in Irving, TX. Situated between the southern entrance to DFW Airport and the President George Bush Turnpike, this gas station has recently come under scrutiny. According to recent Google reviews and social media posts, the station is charging upwards of $5 (and in some cases closer to $5.50) for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel.
Some reviews suggest that the station management is turning off their electronic signage, so you won’t know the price until you get to the pump. It’s a tactic that preys on hurried travelers who may simply pay the inflated price out of necessity.
Comparing Prices in Irving
To put this into perspective, at the time of writing, many stations in Irving are selling gas just below $3.00 a gallon, with the lowest prices ranging between $2.80-$2.90. Remarkably, the “DFW Mart” Shell station on airport property by the Rental Car Center was charging $3.29 a gallon, which while higher than prevailing prices in the local area, is still almost $2.00 per gallon cheaper than this station just outside the airport perimeter.
While Shell stations are generally known for being slightly more expensive than their competitors, the prices at Valley View Shell are beyond the pale. Although this station is likely an independently-owned franchise, it’s surprising that Shell would allow its brand to be associated with such predatory pricing practices.
Tips for Avoiding High Gas Prices Near Airports
As always, be vigilant when refueling your rental car. If possible, use an app like GasBuddy to plan your refueling stop at a gas station away from the airport to avoid inflated prices. The complimentary Walmart+ subscription provided with certain Amex cards can help save money (and avoid having your card skimmed by using Walmart as an intermediary). If you can find a Costco near the airport you’re departing from, even better.
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T-Mobile Puts a PIN in It: Inflight Wi-Fi Loophole Reportedly Closed
The days of freeloading on T-Mobile’s inflight Wi-Fi are coming to an end. It was a good run while it lasted, wasn’t it? For years, T-Mobile’s offer of complimentary inflight Wi-Fi to those on qualifying 5G plans was a standout feature, but it also opened the door to a glaring loophole. The system’s lack of verification meant that anyone armed with a T-Mobile customer’s number could access the Wi-Fi without paying a cent.
But a screenshot shared on /r/AmericanAirlines shows that the free ride is no more. Now, a one-time PIN sent via SMS is required to connect, which effectively shuts down the exploit. It’s a simple fix, one that’s surprising in its lateness given the potential revenue lost by airlines and Wi-Fi providers like Viasat due to this oversight.
For legitimate T-Mobile subscribers, this means a bit of prep is in order—make sure Wi-Fi calling is enabled before your flight to receive that crucial PIN. While iMessage works with just a simple Internet connection, SMS does require Wi-Fi calling to be enabled.
Let’s just hope we soon see the day that T-Mobile’s free Wi-Fi is extended to long haul international flights using Panasonic’s offering – or, better yet, airlines ditching Panasonic altogether.
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Hilton Guest Discovers Crystal Meth in Room
A guest at a Hilton property made a discovery that’s sure to raise more than a few eyebrows – and possibly the blood pressure of hotel management and guests alike. Tucked away under the iron, of all places, was crystal meth. Yes, you read that correctly. Not the remnants of the last guest’s room service or a forgotten sock, but methamphetamine.
Now, while the poster joked as to whether this unexpected find qualifies them for an upgrade to “Crystal” status, let’s not gloss over the gravity of the situation. This isn’t just a case of poor housekeeping or a forgotten item; it’s a very serious health hazard and a safety risk. The very idea that the iron in the room could have been used to heat crystal meth is alarming. While I’m no expert on the consumption methods of meth (other than that there’s often a heat source involved, and admittedly I don’t know if an in-room iron would be hot enough), the thought alone raises significant concerns about the contamination of the room. Meth residue can linger on surfaces and in the air, posing serious health risks. The process to make a former meth lab safe for habitation again is extensive and costly, often involving a partial or complete gutting of the building that once housed the meth lab.
Moreover, there’s the unnerving possibility of the previous occupant – or their acquaintances – attempting to reclaim their forgotten stash. The implications for the current guest’s safety are deeply troubling. Imagine the scenario: you’re enjoying what you thought would be a peaceful stay, and the previous guest breaks into your room in the middle of the night to retrieve their drugs. They notice you, and bad things happen.
This incident is reflective of a broader issue that I’ve touched on before: the decline of the Hilton brand, particularly in the U.S. Housekeeping and maintenance standards seem to be slipping, and not just in the form of minor oversights. Crystal meth left in a hotel room isn’t just an oversight; it’s a glaring red flag that signals a need for immediate and sweeping action.
Chris Nassetta, Hilton’s CEO, needs to take this incident as a wake-up call. It’s high time for a chain-wide review of housekeeping and security procedures, with a keen focus on ensuring something like this never happens again. While this is a new low for Hilton, this incident should not be seen as just an isolated event, but as a symptom of larger systemic issues within the brand’s operations in the U.S.
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Hilton Potentially Experiencing Major System Outage, Check-Ins Affected
In a day already marred by technical mishaps, with Microsoft’s Azure cloud causing a nationwide ground stop for Frontier Airlines, it appears the tech gremlins weren’t done just yet. This time, the hospitality giant Hilton found itself in the crosshairs of technological turmoil, potentially affecting guests chainwide and complicating the check-in process – a scenario that’s enough to fray the nerves of even the most seasoned traveler.
Reports began surfacing on Reddit, where a user by the name FuzzelFox shared an intriguing and somewhat alarming experience. According to the post, multiple Hilton property computers simultaneously suffered the dreaded “blue screen of death,” a term that sends shivers down the spine of anyone who relies on technology for their day-to-day operations. The issue wasn’t isolated, as it seemed to ripple across the street to another property, hinting at a larger, possibly systemic problem. The immediate suspicion? A rogue update dispatched across Hilton’s IT infrastructure with less-than-desirable results.
Amidst the chaos of rebooting PCs and guests waiting to check in, another piece of the puzzle emerged. Crowdstrike, known for its endpoint security solutions and widely adopted in various enterprise environments, rolled out a bad update today that is allegedly causing blue screens across many different companies – not just Hilton.
Hilton has yet to release any official statement on the matter, but my educated guess here is that Hilton is likely a customer of Crowdstrike (edit: a commenter on the original Reddit post indicated this is indeed the case), and likely has the Crowdstrike endpoint security agent deployed to their front desk computers. As that software “checks in” with Crowdstrike’s cloud and pulls down updates, bad things are going to happen.
Imagine, if you will, the added frustration for travelers who, after facing delays and cancellations courtesy of the earlier Frontier Airlines debacle, find themselves unable to check into their hotel rooms. If anyone is checking into a Hilton property tonight, we’d love to hear from you.
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AA Award Map Shows Offensive Names for European Capitals
UPDATE: It has been pointed out by some Reddit users (and confirmed by me) that Los Angeles is now showing the R-word.
American Airlines’ Award Map tool has become an essential resource for travelers seeking to book award flights. However, users are noticing something unusual tonight: some European capitals are appearing with incorrect and offensive names.
If you zoom in and out at very specific levels, you’ll see London listed as “Allahu Akbar,” and Paris labeled with a term referring to male anatomy. It’s worth noting that while “Allahu Akbar” isn’t inherently an offensive term, one can safely assume whoever uploaded this edit likely didn’t do so with good intentions.
Offensive names shown on AA Award Map in place of European capitals (C) 2024 Points & PDBs Now before we start staging boycotts of AA, let’s examine the facts. As an IT professional, I can tell you this isn’t a direct failure of American Airlines. The tool relies on data from OpenStreetMap, a community-driven geographic database similar to Wikipedia (but for mapping!), where edits can be made by volunteers – in fact, Wikipedia features OpenStreetMap data within many articles, and you can log in to edit OpenStreetMap with your Wikipedia credentials! I went straight to the source to confirm that OSM was showing the same data, and sure enough, there it was, clear as day.
Right from the source… (C) 2024 Points & PDBs OpenStreetMap’s open-source nature allows for this kind of mischief, and while AA has been caught in the crossfire, I wouldn’t point fingers directly at the airline in this instance. That said, one has to question the wisdom in using mapping data sourced from the general public (and editable at any time!) on a production, public-facing tool. That, to me, just seems like asking for trouble. Even when I was a student at Oklahoma State, publicly-editable sources like Wikipedia were never acceptable to cite in one’s own work, due to the possibility of inaccuracies. Pony up & partner with a more professional source such as ArcGIS, where the data can’t just be edited by anyone with an Internet connection.
All that said, I’d hate to be on AA’s PR team tonight…
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Can You Go Into MCO’s New Terminal if Your Airline Isn’t There?
In Fall of 2022, Orlando International Airport (MCO) opened Terminal C, a stunning, spacious new terminal that’s a stark contrast to the confusing, crowded, and cramped Terminals A & B. Truly, it’s hard to walk through the new terminal and believe that you’re at MCO – yes, that MCO. Making it even less believable is the terminal’s location on the airport grounds – which based on the hike from Terminals A & B, appears to be somewhere near Miami.
That said, if your airline is in a different terminal, can you walk through the new terminal at all? And are you able to visit the Plaza Premium Lounge, which is likely the nicest on the airport grounds? The answer is yes, you can! You just need to know the right words to say.
The trick is to tell the TSA agent checking IDs that you are “going to the lounge.” This seems to be TSA’s way of looking out for passengers, and making sure you’re fully aware that you are at the wrong terminal, and that getting to your flight will involve going through yet another TSA screening (as there is no airside path to the other terminals). I’d imagine the majority of domestic passengers (with the exception of JetBlue) showing up at the C Terminal are in fact lost, and need to be redirected to the correct terminal. But using these magic words in conjunction with a Southwest boarding pass, after verbally confirming that I was fully aware of what I was doing, TSA allowed me to proceed, with a friendly reminder to make sure I left enough time before my flight to change terminals. The staff in the Plaza Premium Lounge didn’t seem to bat an eye at my Southwest boarding pass, and happily granted me entry.
There is another way to enter the terminal – the terminal offers gate passes to almost anyone via the Experience MCO visitor pass program. However, this is subject to restrictions and capacity restrictions, won’t allow you to utilize your TSA PreCheck or CLEAR memberships, and requires you to apply at least 24 hours in advance. Additionally, you presumably would not be able to use a gate pass to enter the Plaza Premium Lounge, even if you possess a qualifying credit card.
Speaking of leaving enough time, you should absolutely do that. While the APM ride to Terminals A & B only takes around 4 minutes, said APM actually departs from the Brightline station, which at present requires walking through the longest exit lane I’ve ever seen at a US airport, taking an elevator, walking through the rental car center, and then taking a (temporary) marked path through the parking garage. I’d conservatively estimate 25-30 minutes being sufficient if you have PreCheck (and potentially CLEAR).
It’s important to be aware that each airport individually sets their own policy around if this is permitted. Just down I-4 at “rival” airport TPA, this is forbidden, and the electronic gates won’t even allow you to board the shuttle to the “wrong” terminal. On the other side of the spectrum is DFW, where not only can ticketed passengers enter through any TSA checkpoint, but AA passengers can check luggage at any of the five terminals (yes, even the E terminal). DFW also has all terminals connected airside by the speedy and reliable Skylink APM, as well as pedestrian walkways connecting terminals A, B, C, and D (but not E).
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Amex Centurion Lounge at DFW Adds Homemade Ice Cream
While generally considered some of the best domestic airline lounges, Amex’s Centurion Lounges have been victims of their own success since the first location opened as Las Vegas’s McCarran (now Harry Reid) Airport in 2013. With Amex’s lax underwriting standards, it seems anyone and their dog can get approved for the bank’s Platinum Card, and their lounges in the US have suffered from overcrowding and long waits for entry in some cases. New restrictions on guest privileges added in 2023 didn’t really seem to help all that much. Meanwhile, with the rising food costs across America, Amex has diluted the quality of their food at US lounges, ranging from “mid” to totally inedible.
Well, it does seem Amex has made an improvement, and it’s one I’ve not seen in a lounge before. I decided to pay a visit to the Centurion Lounge at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and the cheerful agent manning the desk let me know they’ve added an ice cream cart, serving fresh-churned ice cream in the lounge. Sure enough, just past the entrance was a cart decked out in Amex’s signature blue branding, equipped with some devices to churn ice cream fresh right before your eyes, as well as a range of toppings from chocolate chips to coconut (though you aren’t allowed to touch them yourself for health & safety reasons, you can ask for whatever you want and an attendant will add your toppings).
Ice cream cart at DFW Centurion, (C) 2024 Points & PDBs The cinnamon vanilla ice cream was extremely tasty, and its freshness was evident. The attendant let me know they’ve been doing this in the DFW lounge since earlier this month, but he wasn’t aware on if other locations were following suit or if this was unique to DFW (nor would I necessarily expect him to know, as he was likely a contractor from the likes of Sodexo or HMSHost). Of course, just like everything else inside the Centurion Lounge, there is no additional charge for the ice cream.
Fresh food made in front of you in-lounge isn’t a new concept, but this is the first time I’ve seen ice cream offered in this manner. In 2023, American Airlines added guacamole carts to select Admirals Club lounges, which have been a big hit with passengers. It’s perhaps no surprise another lounge network is trying to put their own unique spin on the idea.
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Charge Your Phone at the Airport? You Could Soon Have to Pay for That.
Back in the day, Wi-Fi at airports was largely a paid service, but now nearly every major airport offers some form of free Wi-Fi to all travelers. Now it seems we’re seeing the exact opposite phenomenon with power outlets in airports, with reports on Reddit suggesting that Memphis International Airport (MEM) is trialing monetization of power outlets with Japanese startup company Vidergy Networks. Yes, seriously.
Vidergy describes itself on LinkedIn as a “trailblazing advertising technology company that is disrupting the energy and adtech industry.” Their payment-based “energy exchange platform” aims to monetize previously-free public power outlets in high-traffic locations like airports, malls, cafes, hotels, and other venues. Translation: “We’re a startup focused on finding new ways to force captive audiences with few or no alternatives to pay for convenience.”
The implementation at MEM appears to involve scanning a QR code on or near the outlet to access a web portal, where travelers can watch a video advertisement to activate the outlet for just 15 minutes, or purchase a ChargePass for 60 minutes. The cost of the ChargePass at MEM is unclear, but after doing a little research, it appears Vidergy intends to charge roughly $2 USD for 60 minutes of charging based on my research. It’s also unclear what options you’ll have after your 15 minutes of “free” charging from watching the advertisement expires. Will you be able to simply watch another advertisement to renew your charging session for another 15 minutes? Or will you be asked to pay up at that point? I imagine if there is such a restriction, given that (unlike a public Wi-Fi network) the outlet wouldn’t know your device’s MAC address, I’m betting it would be easily defeated with a private/incognito browsing session.
Sample Vidergy payment portal (courtesy: Vidergy) It’s uncertain if this is every outlet in the terminal at MEM, or just select outlets. One has to wonder – does the cleaning crew have to enter a promo code to plug in their vacuum cleaners? This trend is troubling, indicating a race to the bottom of nickeling and diming travelers at every turn. What if your phone is completely dead, and you have no way of scanning the QR code and entering your payment details? Will you have to beg a stranger in the terminal to watch an advertisement on your behalf?
Vidergy is also a startup, and my research suggests they don’t even have 10 employees. Startups are known for taking a “go fast and break things” approach to engineering, and aren’t exactly renowned for adhering to engineering best practices. What happens when their systems go down, perhaps due to a bad change being pushed to production? Does that just mean nobody in the terminal will be able to charge at any price? Will we start seeing a trend of rogue passengers unplugging equipment at gates just to charge their phones?
Vidergy’s hardware as shown on their datasheet. We have some questions about this… The QR code-based setup could also open up passengers to quishing attacks, skimming their credit card details virtually through fake Vidergy portals. Juice jacking is a big enough issue at airports (and is why you should always use your own AC adapter, not public USB plugs), and this could just add one more layer of security issues with public outlets.
The only silver lining I could maybe see here is that it may encourage airports with limited outlets to expand their charging options (MAF, I’m looking at you). However, the best course of action is never to assume there will be outlets available and always have your own alternative power source, such as a portable power bank. Even if you’re flying an airline with outlets at every seat, there is no guarantee the outlet won’t be INOP, or the prongs won’t be so loose as to allow your adapter to slide out (this is why I always fly with my UK plug adapter, even when flying domestically).
In the future, we might see “free charging” advertised as a perk of airport lounges, just as free Wi-Fi was a heavily-advertised perk back in the day. Let’s hope that’s not what our future holds.