Shoes in hand, do the security dance

Tyler Brule is not enjoying the workout he’s getting at airport security checkpoints.  His take on the stripping, frisking, and queuing is funny, sad, and dead-on. Some excerpts from the International Herald Tribune:

Which of the following do you prefer? “The Barcelona Way,” “the Finnish Body Punch” or “the Hounslow Conga”? If you’re not familiar with these various regimes, let me explain. In the Catalan version of the airport security check you have to take off as many articles of clothing as possible, fill up as many plastic bins as you can balance in one arm while towing a wheely suitcase in the other and then deposit all of them on a conveyor belt…The Hounslow Conga is an Anglofied version of this ’50s party classic, only slower and without a theme tune. Like a regular conga line, lots of people (in this case thousands), all squeeze together in a long snake and dopily follow the person in front them…Having sampled all of the above over the past two weeks, I found Heathrow airport’s Hounslow Conga to be by far the most soul-destroying. — read the entire piece here.

You know it was bad flight when...

…you have to get a polio shot when you land - yikes!

‘Passengers on a flight to Melbourne from Bangkok are being vaccinated against polio after doctors detected the paralysis-causing virus in one of the travelers.

A 22-year-old student was found to have the disease shortly after returning to Melbourne on a July 2 Thai Airways International flight from a vacation in Pakistan. Health officials are tracing all 238 passengers on flight TG999 to vaccinate them against the virus, which is spread in the feces of infected people. So far, 59 passengers have been immunized and no new infections have been reported, said the Department of Human Services for the state government of Victoria in Australia.

“We’re being ultra-cautious here,” said Bram Alexander, a department spokesman. The infected passenger told officials that he had used the plane’s toilets to urinate only, Alexander said.’ — AP via IHT

Saluting the stranded

…I’ve noticed that passengers comport themselves remarkably well on stranded planes, even amid appalling conditions like backed-up toilets and a lack of food.

“Because things are so bad right now with the delays and missed connections, I really feel it’s become an ‘us against them’ attitude.” Ms. Ogintz said. “I think people actually tend to be nicer to each other than they used to be.

- The New York Times has kind words for stranded summer travelers 

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Strap up & go

Whatever carryon, briefcase, or computer bag you carry, there’s a simple upgrade you can make: a new shoulder strap. The Claw by Red Oxx (upper photo) and the Absolute Shoulder Strap by Tom Bihn  (lower photo) are probably much better than what your bag came with. Each is American-made and built to last.  And each has a particular virtue which will recommend it to the serious traveler.

The  Claw is not overly wide and has a super-tacky polymer-based rubber pad which just will not slip off your shoulder. Also, the pad is two-sided so no matter how you grab the strap it’s right-side-up. I learned long ago as a news photographer that narrower straps bite and hold better than wide, super-cushy ones.  So if grip is your concern, check out the Claw.

If your shoulder is a little softer and you’re willing to trade a little grip for a little more comfort, Bihn’s Abolute Shoulder Strap is the ticket. The wider neoprene pad has an internal control-stretch system which makes a bag give or bounce a little, which can make it seem lighter. One side of the strap pad is quite tacky and provides a secure (if not claw-like) grip on most fabrics.

Both straps need a D-ring type connection to clip on to. Each has metal hardware: The Claw’s is chromed and the Absolute’s is double-plated black finish. My guess is the Claw is just slightly more durable than the softer Absolute, but either should last for many years. and — at $25 or less — you can always afford to replace a strap. 

Worldly, weighty info

Ever wondered what the carry-on allowance was for Air Malta, Aeropelican, or Flybaboo? Find out at flylite.uk.com with their seemingly exhaustive list of links to luggage info for airlines from around the world.

Airport Wi-Finder

Given this summer’s routine airport delays, wouldn’t it be nice to know if the next place you’re getting stuck in has wi-fi - before you get there? Here’s a list of airports with Wi-Fi from USA Today.

Plethora of personal items

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has nice set of links for personal item providers to make it easier to carry on under the 3-1-1 liquid rule. The assortment includes refillable bottles, solid shampoo, and dental items.

Advice for the fairer sex

One-bag travel is not just for men. There’s no law that says women must have three heavy suitcases. But, I don’t feel fully (or even partially) qualified to pontificate on packing — to the fairer sex. Hence, this link to blogher.org for carryon packing advice for women, by women. In a way, I think females may have it easier than men in this carryon business. Their clothes are usually lighter, more interchangeable, and probably more often synthetic than mens’. And most women are just plain resourceful - which helps a great deal.

Adam likes his Boss

Adam at travelgearreview.com has reviewed the Red Oxx Air Boss carryon and says he liked it so well he ordered one. The Air Boss is a tough, versatile bag and my review contained many of the same conclusions. I’ll have reviews coming soon of two great convertible carryons - the Tom Bihn Aeronaut and MEI Voyageur - but a couple of little things have slowed me down: little things like a son getting married and renovation of an old house!

Like the plague...

“I’m not flying anymore this summer, except in extraordinary and absolutely unavoidable circumstances.”

So says uber-traveler Joe Brancatelli, prefacing a portfolio.com article on airlines and airports to absolutely avoid this summer…if possible. 

More noise-killers

If my cheapo suggestion for travel headphones that reduce noise was a little down-market for you, here’s a review of 10 more expensive — and probably better — options from gizmowatch.com.

Zonkers for Tom's Zephyr

“Realize that I had never reviewed the Empire Builder bag, so I had never seen the clever filing system Tom Bihn utilizes. On either side of the bag, there are 0.5″ bumpers which have been sewn in. These bumpers catch the special hook on each side of the three dividers (see photos below), so it’s like the inverse of a hanging file: the dividers can easily slide wherever needed in the compartment to keep files crisp and undamaged, or they can simply be removed. This is one of the coolest specialized features I have ever seen in any bag.” - Jodie Hughes (geardiary.com) raves about the Tom Bihn Zephyr an excellent, slightly down-sized briefcase/computer bag  that would make an ideal traveling companion for the light traveler. It could be your new best friend if your a fast-moving business traveler or compact notebook toter.
 
Another reviewer likes it too (especially with the excellent Absolute Shoudler Strap) - at notebookreview.com:
 
Even when I loaded it up with my laptop, power cord, mouse, purse, paperwork, and a large novel, it didn’t feel too bulky. And thanks to the Absolute Shoulder strap it didn’t hurt my shoulder like my old backpack use to. No more strap marks!”

 
 
 
 

UK baggage nightmare, status quo

The Telegraph says thousands of checked bags are languishing at Heathrow, most the result of missed connections.

BA (British Airways) says it is currently handling 23,000 transfer bags at Heathrow each day, using a system designed for 18,000 bags. Overall, the number of bags being checked in as hold luggage has increased by 25 per cent since the introduction of the “one cabin bag” ruling by the Department for Transport (DfT) last August.

Passengers flying into Heathrow from other European countries and the US, where they are allowed two pieces of hand baggage, are being made to check in one item before continuing their journey. It is these transit passengers who have been hit hardest by the ruling.

And, unfortunately, rumors of the demise of the one-bag rule are premature:

The Association of European Airlines is lobbying the EU for a pan-European policy on airline hand baggage. But the DfT is adamant that the one-bag ruling must stay for now.

“We are responsible for making sure that every flight is safe and secure,” said a DfT (UK Dept for Transport) spokesman. “The best way to help those doing the screening is to restrict passengers to one bag, as staff have to check carefully for liquids and other items that may pose a security threat.”

 It’s gotten bad enough in Britain that travelers — especially business travelers — are beginning to avoid flying to, or through, the UK unless absolutely necessary.

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Two new sites

Adam at travelgearreview.com tipped me off that MEI, maker of the legendary Voyageur travel pack, has finally launched a web page. It’s not the greatest site but it’s a lot better than nothing. I’ve been in contact with MEI about testing some of their new bags and packs, and I have a Voyageur in my possession (thanks to Adam) which I hope to write about soon.  Some of the listed models are just barely out of prototype stage and some are non-stock/build-on-demand.

Air travel guru Joe Brancatelli has launched a great blog (The Summer of Our Discontent) on the free side of his joesentme.com site. The blog’s basic premise is that the summer of 2007 has been the worst period ever in the history of commercial aviation!

Let 'em eat BBQ...and cake

Here’s a jewel of an example from a New York Times story on the airlines’ horrendous summer of delay, disappointment, and cancellation:

Virginia Russell, a packaging designer who lives in Brooklyn, officially had just a two-hour delay on her evening flight from Newark to Cleveland in February. But after missing her connection to fly on to New Orleans, where she had landed an invitation for the first time to attend the elaborate Zulu Coronation as part of the Mardi Gras celebrations, her actual delay was about 13 hours, Ms. Russell said.

Unable to put to use the Greek-goddess-style ball gown she had hand-sewn for the occasion, Ms. Russell consoled herself with a pulled pork sandwich and a piece of seven-layer chocolate cake from room service at a Holiday Inn near the Cleveland Airport.

 I hope it was good…

More elegant than a sandwich bag

Here’s a more elegant solution to the 3-1-1 liquid travel hassle: the classy, reusable 3-1-1 Travel Bag, complete with containers. From the company website:

“Shortly after the new regulations were imposed by TSA, I took a weekend trip to Dallas,” said Linda. “I found myself at the security checkpoint, fumbling with all of my things falling out of a zip-top baggy, and people behind me getting frustrated. It was very embarrassing and inconvenient. I decided that something needed to be done about this problem.”

Linda began her mission by traveling to New York City to investigate options for bags, pumps, and containers that met the regulations set by TSA. Within a few months, she presented the Clear Bag System™ toiletry case to TSA, who approved the 6x8 clear cosmetic bag and airless pumps. She then added matching jars to be used for heavy products such as cold cream, or Vaseline.

“Customers really like the strong vinyl bag because it stands up on its own making it easy to access the airless tubes and any additional items packed in the bag,” said Linda. “People need a practical solution to keep travel easy and abide by the rules. The Clear Bag System™ toiletry case is meant to eliminate extra hassle and re-introduce flexibility to the independent traveler.”

More reviews of designer 3-1-1 baggies here from portfolio.com.

How the Oxx was born

Long before he jumped into the travel bag business, Jim Markel packed parachutes during his four-year tour as a Marine. Rigging ‘chutes wasn’t going to be a career, but it had a powerful impact on his mind.

“The rigger’s motto,” he said, “is ‘I will be sure — always.’ It’s a matter of life and death.

— a revealing look at the genesis of the Red Oxx luggage company, its product line, and its founder Jim Markel

Joe on UK's travel woes

Ubertraveler Joe Brancatelli has London on his mind, and his complaints are simlar to mine:

But Heathrow, the world’s busiest airport, is a nightmare: crowded, congested, and dilapidated. And travelers are hamstrung by a recent British security edict that limits passengers making connections to just one carry-on bag, even if they’ve arrived from America with the standard complement of two pieces of hand luggage.

“The one-bag issue is really a competitive problem for us,” admits Robin Hayes, a native Londoner and executive vice president of the Americas for British Airways, by far the largest carrier at Heathrow. “We’ve definitely noticed that business travelers who would normally connect in London for an onward flight are now flying through Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, and even Paris.”

But with Heathrow, at least, there’s hope for improvement. Led by airlines that have a vested interest in keeping it Europe’s primary connecting hub, groups are lobbying the British government to allow travelers to carry on two bags again. (Last week’s terrorist incidents in London and at Glasgow Airport may have slowed down that momentum, however.) - portfolio.com

As we reported recently, the Brits may be close to scrapping the no-personal-item one-bag rule, but — as noted above — recent events aren’t helping.