Travel Technology - Using Twitter for Airport Wait Times/Incidents

It looks as if one can consider using twitter (http://twitter.com/commuter) to report near real time tactics for finding shortest security checkpoint lines.

The method would require prior reporting travelers, similar to the logic of Dash Express (http://dash.net/product/traffic.php), without the historical component. Yeah, a certain critical mass of reporting travelers would be required, twitter would have to have better service availability, filtering of the feed for specific sites would have to be implemented/improved...

For instance, a simple case would be OAK, where the Terminal 2 checkpoint can be a zoo. If T1 checkpoint wasn't similarly a disaster, one could get a report from an earlier traveler through T1 and choose the T1 checkpoint, then walk airside to T2.

Of course, this method could also be used for early warning about expert/casual/family lane issues, doing time and motion studies of ID checkers, avoiding checkpoint closure because of pepper spray discharge, etc.

Isn't Orbitz trying to do somethnig similar with their Traveller Updates (http://updates.orbitz.com/)?

Ultimately all of these services rely on having accurate and sufficient input. Otherwise it is just GIGO, which is moslt likely what they'll remain.

Several travel sites are trying to do something similar. I've tried a couple of them and made a few updates myself. Typically I can't remember the magic words/site the next time or I can't update using web or IM or SMS, all of which are supported by twitter.

So one difference is that, since twitter is a general purpose platform used for micro-blogging, I can at least conceive of generating an update without having to remember the pointer.

Another barrier to twitter, though, is that those most likely to generate a useful airport update are frequent travelers, who tend to be older. Twitter users tend to be younger.

Another barrier to twitter, though, is that those most likely to generate a useful airport update are frequent travelers, who tend to be older. Twitter users tend to be younger.

I am an "older" traveler (OK, not old in the usual sense, since I am not yet 40, but old in the social-networking sense) who has been trying out a Twitter client for my Blackberry and hasn't thought of any real use for it. This might actually be helpful. (@:-) Real-time road-traffic updates too--if you're stopped, you can text...)