Your luggage, their profit/loss

It’s luggage to you, it’s profit or loss for the airlines, per New York Times:

At the same time, passengers are now checking fewer, and lighter, bags to avoid the extra fees for heavy suitcases. As a result, the airlines have not been losing as many bags, and baggage handlers appear to be suffering fewer injuries.

In addition, the airlines now have more space available for cargo, which sells at a higher rate than a checked bag. “Freight makes a significant contribution to the bottom line of passenger airlines,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, chairman of the International Air Cargo Association. The revenue potential “cannot be ignored,” he added.

A baggage report released last month from SITA, an aviation information technology company that studies trends in passenger baggage, found that one in four passengers chose not to check bags last year, compared with one in six in 2008 — the first year virtually all the major airlines imposed the fees.

Waterfield iPad cases/sleeves

Update on April 7, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

http://sfbags.com/products/ipad-cases/ipad-cases.php

Travel (drink) light, pay to pee is back?

“Ryanair is determined to incentivise passengers to travel light this summer by increasing our checked-in baggage fees for the months of July and August only. These baggage fees, which are avoidable by passengers, will apply to bookings made after midnight (24:00hrs) Wednesday for travel in July and August.  From 1^st September the checked-in bag fee will return to its current level of €15. Over 70% of all Ryanair passengers will be unaffected by these changes because they travel with no checked-in bags.” - Ryanair’s Steve McNamara

All well and good, compared to Spirit. But…

In an interview on BBC television this morning, Mr (Michael) O’Leary said that the low-cost airline was looking at the possibility of installing a coin slot on the lavatory door so that “people might actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny.” - telegraph.co.uk

But, consider the source, says O’Leary’s flack:

Later, Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: “Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and, while this has been discussed internally, there are no immediate plans to introduce it.

I won’t believe it when I don’t see it. There’s more than one way to skin an airline customer.

Update on April 7, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

O’NO - click pic to ready Daily Mail blog slam

TSA love for the iPad, readers, netbooks

This should add to the iPad user smugness quotient: The TSA says it’s so special that it can stay in carry-on bags for screening at security checkpoints. This a nice plus, I must say.

This just in - it’s not just iPads. I quote the TSA blog:

E-readers, Net Books and other small gadgets are becoming more and more popular for travelers to bring along in their carry-ons. (iPads, Kindles™, Neos, Nooks™, Sony® Readers™ etc.)

Not only are they essential to those who need to stay connected and work or study on the go, but they are also fantastic time killers, which makes these gadgets extremely popular carry-on items. I’ve read many a post from people wondering if these items should be treated like a laptop and removed from their carry-on bags for checkpoint screening.

Great question! Electronic items smaller than the standard sized laptop should not need to be removed from your bag or their cases. It’s that simple.

Probably not that simple, based on our experience. Expect this to be an evolving policy, meaning many TSA employees will NOT have heard about it the first time you try to go through.

Update on April 7, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

This policy does not yet appear on the main TSA website - only the blog. Don’t be surprised if the blueshirts howl when you try to slide your netbook through…

Travel suit option?

The colors are neutral, the cut is simple, and the fabric appears to be wrinkle-free and quick-drying. And the wearer is touted by his own people as an inspirational fashion plate. Could this be just what you’re looking for, light traveler?

OLD FART, BAD OLD FART!The trademark suit sported by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is now in fashion worldwide thanks to his greatness, Pyongyang’s official website said Wednesday.

Uriminzokkiri, quoting an article in communist party newspaper Rodong Sinmun, said the modest-looking suits have gripped people’s imagination and become a global vogue.

“The reason is that the august image of the Great General, who is always wearing the modest suit while working, leaves a deep impression on people’s mind in the world,” it said. - AFP

Update on April 7, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

KimJVest travel coat:

Six days late…

OBOW tweets @1bag1world

Mostly just notifications of blog posts, no inane “what I’m doing now” rubbish.

Jet Blue skewers Spirit scheme

USA Today:

JetBlue also suggests – tongue in cheek – that when customers can’t use JetBlue, they should consider “our expertly-crafted Extrago Sherpa Shirt special outerwear” for flying an airline like Spirit. JetBlue says the shirt – which it points out is a joke and is not actually for sale – is designed to hold “an entire trip’s worth of necessities, including the money you’ll save by not checking or carrying on your bag.”

Gee, Jet Blue’s sense of humor makes me think they’ve been reading OBOW:

CLICK IMAGE TO VISIT JET BLUE BLOG

Tom Bihn gets personal with the Co-Pilot

The next big thing from Tom Bihn is…quite small. The Co-Pilot shoulder bag is Tom’s attempt at creating the ultimate personal-item/seat-side bag for the iPad/netbook era.  The 12” x 10” x 5”, 600-cubic inch bag is available in 1050 ballistic nylon or ultra-light Dyneema ripstop nylon, weighing in at 17 and 11 ounces, respectively. Like all TB products, it’s just a little bit different and truly multi-purpose.

The bag’s front panel is divided into three vertical compartments. The left compartment has a nifty ultrasuede-lined pocket for iPhone or other mobile device. The center compartment is made for a water bottle (up to 20-ounces, at least) and even has a grommet at the bottom to allow for spills to drain. The right compartment has pen slots.

The unpadded rear compartment is large enough for an iPad, netbook, printed material, or folded clothing. This compartment includes two large pouch pockets. On the bag of the bag is a flat magazine compartment.

This back should work well as a personal item for many and may serve as an everyday bag for netbook or iPad users, provided they have  a low-profile sleeve.

The bag’s Seattle pedigree is evident in its gasketed, splash-proof zippers.

Price is $110. Details from TB website.

BALLISTIC (LEFT) & DYNEEMA

REAR COMPARTMENT

WHAT IT HOLDS

 COMPARED TO WESTERN FLYER

SUEDE MOBILE POCKET!

EATING A NETBOOK

Update on April 6, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

I don’t have an iPad so the TB crew sent this picture:

Update on April 6, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

More thoughts:

• After heading to the coffee shop I’m thinking the Co-Pilot is not as “pursey” as I first thought. The Tom Bihn standard strap has been improved, but a more macho strap like the TB Terra Grip or Red Oxx Claw might “man” it up a bit. The Absolute strap would be overkill for a bag of this weight.
• My wife likes it and she’s a hard sell. 
• This bag will be easily scalable if conditions (like today’s carry-on charge news) necessitate. (Alan and I must think alike - scary).
• Does anyone want to try 10 days in Europe - with just the Co-Pilot? I think I could pull if off since I have the Touch.
• I packed: netbook & charger, Touch, phone, wallet, camera & cards, raincoat, ExO undies, s/s undershirt, magazine, and a 20 oz. bottle — room to spare, especially in the front “gadget” pockets
• 3-1-1 bag could fit in any of the front three pockets if not stuffed.
• The Dyneema nylon is really not much more liable to bulging than Cordura, if at all.
• The TB backpack cubes (and here) are made of Dyneema as well. Paired with this bag you’d have a really nice, ultralight, minimalist outfit with more clothing capacity. I’ve done some short trips with the cube pack but haven’t written about them.
• The Dyneema version of the Co-Pilot would be great to stuff in a main carry-on as a day bag.
• Why the Co-Pilot instead of vertical messenger like the Cafe bags? The horizontal design, being less deep, is easier to get into quickly. The lack of a flap top also speeds entry. The vertical bags are better for carrying lots of printed material (magazines, notebooks, newspapers). The Co-Pilot accommodates 8.5” x 11” with little room to spare.

Update on April 6, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Update on April 7, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

TB says the center front pocket will fit a 1-liter Sigg bottle. I tested it with a 20 oz. plastic bottle.

Update on May 13, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

The Co-Pilot’s rear pocket is now zippered at the bottom to make it possible to slide over the handle of a rolling bag.

Paying for overhead, oh no!

It has begun: carry-on bag fees. Spirit will begin charging for bags that will not fit under the seat:

Not a good trend; this will open the door for the rest of the carriers to do this. Click here for the fairly complicated policy. They’ll have fun enforcing it!

The free under-seat bag must be 16x14x12 or smaller.

USA Today Today in the Sky blog:

Basic carry-on items — things like a purse or laptop bag — can still be brought on for free, but only if they measure 16” by 14” by 12” and can fit underneath the seat in front of you. The carrier apparently will have new bag sizers at its gates to help enforce its policy,  The Wall Street Journal reports. 

Scott McCartney, The Middle Seat columnist at the Journal, explains what boarding will look like: “Passengers who have paid for carry-on bags will board first. Those that haven’t paid will be warned–their boarding pass will say ‘No Carry-On Bags.’ Once the first group has boarded, it will be easy for gate agents to police the fee rule during boarding, Spirit says.” Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza tells McCartney:  “After Zone 1 is on, there are no more carry-on bags. If you have one, you’ll have to pull out your credit card and pay at the gate.”

WSJ Middle Seat:

One advantage of fees for carry-on bags is that they’ll likely discourage fellow passengers from boarding planes like pack mules. Spirit’s chairman and chief executive, Ben Baldanza, says fees for checked baggage upset the balance between carry-on and checked items as passengers tried to avoid checked-baggage fees. The carry-on fee, he said, “will make our boarding faster and easier.”

Thanks, Ben. No, really - thanks alot. We all grant the “pack mule” problem, but there are rules to deal with that. Apparently enforcing rules is more attractive to the carriers when the penalty for violation is a hefty charge, er, profit.

—

(Thanks to Buzz for the tip on this one)

Update on April 7, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Three reasons we should be thankful for this? Maybe, if it really drove down ticket prices and emptied bins. My fear is it just opens wide a door that cannot be shut.

Oh, my!

Leather is never light, but it is almost always beautiful - especially if formed in Firenze:

The Pratesi COSTANTINOPOLI costs a little over 100 euros per pound. The price is hefty but, for a leather bag, the weight is not, at about 5 1/4 pounds. I believe I poked my head in this shop in Florence last year. The prices, I’m sure, left me light headed. Suffice it to say there’s a lot to tempt anyone at Pratesi.

Brit geeks' Pad gab

Some good back-and-forth on the iPad from/compiled by the Telegraph of London, including these interesting remarks:

“The iPad isn’t just for couch computing when you want to look something up on Wikipedia or send a quick email. It’s a perfectly usable business device. And the form factor just happens to work far better for cramped places like airplanes than a normal laptop. I doubt I’ll ever open a laptop on a plane again after tomorrow.

“I am easily able to type 50 words per minute on the large virtual keyboard. A physical keyboard is a nice add on when I’m in my office or hotel room, but it works just fine without it, too.” - more

(LINK FOR MOBILE DEVICES)

Aeronaut: Strapless no more

Tom Bihn’s outside-the-box Aeronaut carry-on has never lacked for fans and devoted users. It has lacked compression straps in the large center compartment, until now. You can read more about then new version here.

Update on April 5, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

And Tom has built a pad for your iPad (or netbook) — a special Ristretto messenger — and Gadgeteer has reviewed it. I have an old TB Cafe bag in the same brown and I like it.

Ultralight bag debut Tuesday

Check OBOW tomorrow for info and first-take on a new ultralight carry-on from a US manufacturer…

iPad release sked

Word is that the much-vaunted, much-ridiculed iPad (wifi version) will hit Apple stores and many Best Buys this Saturday. The 3G version is to follow later in April. Whether to be excited about this or not is entirely up to you. It will be nice to be able to see one, I guess. I believe they’re actually smaller than the one pictured below:

Site problems

I’m sorry some of you were unable to view the OBOW site for the past few days. I had some bad code which has been deleted. I could only replicate the problems in Explorer, which I never use. I use Firefox and Chrome, depending on the machine and what I’m doing. Both are customizable and economical with screen space, musts for the netbook. Try the “Tiny Menu” add-on for Firefox to save even more space.

How do you pat down for this?

The British Sun tabloid says MI5 has some really bad news: Terrorists may employ explosive breast and buttock implants. This renders nearly every detection device and technique useless…

The shocking new al-Qaeda tactic involves radical doctors inserting the explosives in women’s breasts during plastic surgery — making them “virtually impossible to detect by the usual airport scanning machines”.

It is believed the doctors have been trained at some of Britain’s leading teaching hospitals before returning to their own countries to perform the surgical procedures.

MI5 has also discovered that extremists are inserting the explosives into the buttocks of some male suicide bombers. - thesun.co.uk

Update on March 29, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

This just in from the Dept. of the Bloody Obvious:

“Napolitano acknowledged that intruding on air travelers’ privacy could be interpreted as a propaganda victory for terrorists.” 

Sporkulous

If there’s demand for a travel plunger, why not a travel spork (spoon/fork/knife, actually). This indestructible plastic wonder from Scandinavia is practically weightless and is popular with backpackers. Great if your travel is not only light but also cheap. For in-room food prep, stirring a beverage, or when that takeout place leaves out the cutlery (arghhh!) — Spork to the rescue! I keep one in my desk, but I’ll be taking it along on trips, too.

LIGHTMYFIRE corporate site - lots of cool stuff

Update on March 25, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Netbook envy

I love my year-old Samsung, but Asus — the company who pretty much invented the netbook — has some very tempting new models. The 1005PE is under three pounds, has a 250GB drive, and boasts up to 14 hours of battery life. I’m a little skeptical of Windows 7 OS for a netbook though. There’s a cheaper version, the 1001p, with 11 hours of battery for under $300. Any netbook user should consider down(up)grading to XP. The current version of my Samsung comes with XP, which saves you the trouble of re-installing when you dump 7. It’s a little pricier than the ASUS models but the N110 should be a solid machine.

Update on March 25, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Men, some hard-won advice: If you buy a netbook, get a black one. I’m absolutely sick of hearing how cute my white Samsung is! I thought things looked larger when clothed in white. It’s enough to make me consider covering it in skull-and-crossbones stickers or something. To be honest, I got a white one just to aggravate my Mac-using son. I should have known.

SAMSUNG N110

What kind of person?

Who makes a determined effort to travel light? And why? Interesting questions. After five years of traveling like this and three years of blogging about it I have a few observations. First, what a resourceful lot. There's hardly a travel question one of us hasn't considered (witness the travel plunger thread). And there's almost no question, once posed, that we won't comment on. Creative, inquisitive. Probably boring at dinner parties too, unless we have the sense to talk of something besides our travel proclivities. It's fine to weigh your underwear. I salute you for it. Just don't expect normal people to.

News nuggets

• Obama’s TSA pick favors Israeli-style profiling
• The TSA may be tracking your phone/mobile device — all in the interests of better service