Blogging with the TSA

Ever wanted to ask the TSA why they do what they do? Now you have your chance: the TSA has its own blog for interacting with travelers - “Evolution of Security”. They say “This blog is sponsored by the Transportation Security Administration to facilitate an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process.” I’m not optimistic but it bears watching.

 

This just in - the TSA says comments on the blog have already affected their operations:

 

Posters on this blog have had their first official impact on our operations. That’s right, less than one week since we began the blog and already you’re affecting security in a very positive way.

On Monday afternoon we began receiving questions about airports that were requiring ALL electronics to be removed from carry-on bags (everything, including blackberrys, iPods and even cords). This practice was also mentioned on several other blogs and left us scratching our heads.

So…we checked with our security operations team to figure out what was going on. After some calls to our airports, we learned that this exercise was set up by local TSA offices and was not part of any grand plan across the country. These practices were stopped on Monday afternoon and blackberrys, cords and iPods began to flow through checkpoints like the booze was flowing on Bourbon Street Tuesday night. (Fat Tuesday of course).

Me & Tom in London

Back in January I took a quick museum-hopping trip to London and good old Tom Bihn was right there with me. At least it felt that way. We took three TB bags: the Aeronaut, new Western Flyer, and a Large Cafe Bag (borrowed from my son) for everyday use.  It was my wife’s first one-bag experience. Usually we’re leading student trips and they all check bags, so she saw no point in going carryon-only. But a rare trip when she’s travelling only with me meant she could give one-bag a try. She’s sold. Skipping baggage claim and jumping straight onto a train from Heathrow was a delight. Crowded lifts, stairs, and escalators are much less hassle without a 30-pound rolling bag in tow. Ditto for wet streets and uneven sidewalks. Watching others struggle with their own personal baggage train on the Underground was further confirmation. Carrying everything on our backs or shoulders (at about 15 pounds per person thanks to her heavy textbooks) meant we could shop hotels. I wouldn’t recommend it in peak season, but we were able to get a much better rate by walking up to half-empty hotels than by reserving online. And the less you’re carrying - meaning you can turn and walk down the street - the easier it is to get a good rate.

 

Future posts will include a long-term test update on the Aeronaut, new review of the the Cafe Bag, and thoughts on winter clothing. 

Tom Bihn Western Flyer - Full user review

TOM BIHN WESTERN FLYER: Review summary – Unique, less-than-maximum-size two-compartment carry-on bag with built-in sling strap. Handmade in the USA. System design approach: packing cubes available, may be fitted with the highly-regarded Tom Bihn Brain Cell computer sleeve/bag. Versatile, may double as briefcase or everyday bag. High points: Perfect size for the ultra-light traveler or for anyone as an overnighter, adaptable to a variety of needs, low profile/high utility. Reserved good looks.

RATING: 4.5 stars, a One Bag, One World top pick.

I’m convinced that iconoclastic bag man Tom Bihn does things differently just because he can. And different is good in this case. The Western Flyer rises from the pack of bulging, cookie-cutter, maximum-legal-size carryons and heavy, over-padded, too-many-pockets laptop bags — and just sails away. Its compact profile means you can slice through the thickest crowds and navigate the narrowest aisles, then slot your bag in the slightest places. This is light travel.

 Getting acquainted

The Western Flyer is really different so it needs a full introduction. The basic shape is that of a traditional rectangular suitcase, divided into two equally-sized zippered interior compartments. At 18” x 12” x 7” it is well below the maximum carryon size of any airline I know of (Even the tiny Embraer 145 regional jet’s overhead compartments swallow the Western Flyer, and it may fit under some airline seats). The TB website lists the weight at 2.53 pounds but my luggage scale read barely over two pounds – very light indeed.

Each interior compartment is about 3.5” deep zips around three sides. Though of the same depth, the interior compartments differ significantly. Here’s how: The rear compartment has buckles (on the center wall) that will attach many of Tom Bihn’s Brain Cell armored-yet-compact computer sleeves. And they’re not just sleeves; they may be carried by a shoulder strap as stand-alone cases, adding utility for the traveler. Using an unpadded bag like the Flyer with a well-padded, removable sleeve like the Brain Cell makes for a flexible, multi-purpose solution. (We tested the Brain Cell for the 15.4” MacBook Pro), The rear compartment has semi-rigid foam padding on the outside wall. This adds structure and cushions the back when the bag is carried sling style (more on that below). The opposite compartment has a lightweight zippered nylon panel that turns it into two compartments. You can’t open the compartment like a book with the nylon panel zipped but it does give you two nice vertical sections which you can use for a pair of shoes (but maybe not bulky hiking boots), hair care stuff or toiletries, or bulky clothing items like a sweater or raincoat. The only minor hitch I experienced with the Flyer involved this panel. I hurriedly tried to zip it and boogered it up - finally freed it. This is probably normal for lightweight zippers; they just take a little more care.

The bag holds its shape and stands up nicely. This was especially convenient in our tiny London hotel room. With the long top side unzipped I could work out of the bag (which was standing against a wall) without lying if flat on the bed and opening it up. This may sound insignificant, but if you’ve ever stayed in one of those micro rooms you’ll understand.

The bag’s three front exterior pockets seem to have been specially designed to meet the challenges of the 21^st century airport experience. The open pocket with the scalloped opening is ideal for tucking boarding passes or guidebooks into. It has no closure so you must be careful of what you put in it if you are carrying the bag on your back or in crowds. The other two pockets are zippered. The smaller one is ideal for a phone, wallet, car keys, or small electronics that you want to keep handy. The larger pocket is perfect for a one-quart 3-1-1 liquid carry-on baggy. These pockets aren’t deep – so they can get tight – but that very tightness helps prevent bulging.

How does it pack?

The Flyer is incredibly versatile and I can imagine lots of uses for it, but let’s examine how it packs when used primarily as a suitcase. The two main compartments lack hold-down straps, but this is not as big a deal in a small case which will typically be tightly packed. Tom Bihn has introduced three zippered packing cubes just for the Flyer. There’s a full-size cube made of 200 denier nylon ripstop fabric and mesh which will fill an entire interior compartment, and two half-size cubes – one of fabric/mesh and one all-fabric. The half cubes are useful for holding shoes or extra clothing when the front compartment is divided by the zippered panel. I’ve found bundle packing techniques work about equally well at reducing wrinkles whether you use a bag with hold-downs or cubes. The Flyer is just large enough to use a slightly modified version of the best bundle packing method. If you wear XL-sized clothing the Flyer may not be large enough for bundle packing but for most of us some careful folding will result in reasonably presentable duds.

Carrying on regardless

There are three ways to carry the Western Flyer. There’s the old-school top handle which is nicely padded and easy on the hand. There are D-rings for attaching a shoulder strap. And I wouldn’t dream of purchasing a Flyer without the Tom Bihn Absolute Strap which is – hands down – the most comfortable shoulder strap available. The third way is the sling strap which folds and stows in a zippered compartment in the rear of the bag. The sling strap is an example of Tom Bihn’s non-traditional approach. Why the sling and why not backpack straps? Well, the sling is quick to attach and looks may have a slightly less scruffy, slightly more sophisticated look than a traditional backpack. The sling has another benefit: You can quickly pull the case around to the front of your body and access the front pockets – a nice benefit. Getting a traditional backpack off your shoulders can be a cumbersome operation. Also, the sling (which must go over the right shoulder) keeps your other shoulder available for a purse, briefcase, or computer bag. I’ve found that using a shoulder strap on top of a backpack strap is a pain. The sling solves this problem.

Is the sling strap comfortable? It depends on how heavily you’ve packed the bag. Under 15 pounds isn’t bad; over 15 pounds gets a little uncomfortable. The sling material is padded but still can cut into your collar bone or shoulder. Varying the length of the strap from time to time helps. It would be nice - but probably not cost-effective – to make the sling strap from the same stretchy material as the Absolute Strap.

NOTE - Something I didn’t originally notice is that, while the sling is meant to go over the right shoulder, it also works passably well as a shoulder strap on the left shoulder. This may help shift the burden if carrying a heavily-loaded bag. Just remember the sling isn’t tacky like the Absolute Strap, so it’s more likely to slip off when used on the left shoulder. In sling mode it can’t slip off - provided you stay upright!

I prefer the shoulder strap to the sling, but the sling is great for airplane boarding since it narrows your profile and makes that long shuffle back to economy easier. Again, I wouldn’t purchase it without the shoulder strap. Most travelers will use both methods – shoulder and sling – at one time or another. The sling strap folds and tucks neatly away in its own zipped pocket and the buckle on the bottom of the case disappears into a hidden fold. Another nifty point is an elastic pocket on the sling for a cell phone – nice touch.

Stealthy and speedy

The sling strap is part of what makes the Flyer so agile. The slim profile is another. To be honest, most soft-sided bags will bulge about two to three inches in width when fully packed. Since the Flyer starts at seven inches it bulges to more than nine. Maximum-size carryons often bulge to 11 or 12 inches. The bag’s 18” x 12” x 7” dimensions mean that, whether you carry on the hip or the back, the Flyer doesn’t add significantly to your width. This means less bumping and quicker transit. In London, the Flyer was a perfect for crowded Underground trains and escalators.

The slender Flyer looks more like a briefcase than a lumpy pack or suitcase. This means that if you arrive in a city before hotel check-in time and have a few hours to kill you can take your luggage with you for sightseeing or shopping without looking like a pack mule or a lost tourist.

Multi-tasking

How many uses might the Western Flyer have? That’s hard to say. It can be a primary one-bag solution for the ultra-light traveler, an overnighter for anyone, a highly-protective laptop bag with the addition of a Brain Cell, or a jump bag to keep packed with essentials for spur-of-the-moment, unexpected trips. Technicians might find it to be a good catch-all bag for tools, parts, and cables. Beauty queens might fill it with their coiffure kit. And some folks might make it an everyday briefcase or book bag.

The Flyer will hold enough clothes for a long trip for those who launder as they go. I found the Flyer to be fully adequate for a four-night trip to London in the dead of winter – which required bulkier clothing than I’d normally carry. The bottom line is this: If you often have much room to spare in your maximum-sized carryon the Flyer will probably work for you. Even if you often fill up a max-size bag, switching to a smaller bag may be just the thing you need to make you carry less. And you’re unlikely to regret carrying less.

I’ve resolved not to travel regularly with a laptop until I can get one in the three-pound range. Mating a slender Vaio or wispy MacBook Air with the Flyer would be an incredible combo that would allow you to travel with a computer and several days worth of clothing at under 15 pounds in one bag. That’s an enticing idea.

Bihn-built

Tom Bihn’s handmade bags are neatly finished and don’t look overbuilt even though they are. Heavy, hidden, well-turned seams are the norm. The look is modern without being flashy, cool without being trendy or cheap. The USA-made 1050 ballistic nylon has a nice stiffness which helps the bag hold its shape, and it has high abrasion resistance. The zippers are a gasketed waterproof-type. While not as silky smooth as regular heavy-duty zippers they make the bag virtually rainproof. What would you expect from a bag that hails from Seattle? And an excellent warranty means the bag might last as long as you will.

Size: WF vs. Aeronaut Dollars and sense

The Western Flyer is available direct from the Tom Bihn factory store for $150. The $25 Absolute Strap is a must, and I guarantee you’ll use it on another bag when you’re not using the Flyer – it’s that good. A packing cube or two at about $15 each is also a good idea, so the total cost of a well-equipped Western Flyer is about $200. This isn’t cheap, but it may be a good investment for the serious traveler. It’s hard to put a price on the time and aggravation a well-chosen bag may save.

Did I mention?

• The WF is available in only three colors: crimson, steel (gray), and black.

• The zip-divided compartment is excellent for shoes (might not be adequate for a large pair of hiking boots though).

• With a Brain cell in the rear compartment, about half of that section’s capacity is lost.

  However, there’s still plenty of room for computer stuff or printed material. You can also stow some flat stuff in the rear pocket that stows the sling strap.
  

• The front zippered pockets have o-rings for attaching TB’s key snaps and small pouches.

• The ends of the case sport low-profile padded handles that make it easy to retrieve the case from luggage compartments.
  

(Still to come: more pictures, Western Flyer in London, Tom Bihn Aeronaut test update, reviews of the Tom Bihn Cafe Bag and Brain Cells) *Thanks to Tom Bihn for the top set of pictures

Getting personal in the UK: one bag, two bag?

As you’ve heard, some UK airports now allow a personal item in addition to one carryon, the determining factor being the availability of the new 3-D luggage scanners. I flew out of Heathrow on January 8 - day two of the relaxed rule - with no hassle at all. The screeners seemed quite relaxed; in fact they didn’t seem to be giving the bags a great deal of attention. My wife’s bulging 3-1-1 baggy, however, did attract the screeners’ attention. She was pulled aside for about five minutes while all of liquids were litmus-tested. I can’t say if this was because she had lots of liquids (though all under three ounces)  or if it was because most of here containers were unmarked; it may have been random. At any rate, it was painless and pretty quick. One difference between US and UK procedures has to do with shoes. In most US airports your shoes go through the main scanner in a bin. At Heathrow we cleared the carryon scan only to shuffle through another line for  a separate shoe scan. All in all, Heathrow was less hellacious than usual. The staff was pretty helpful; we witnessed very little drama.  That’s a good thing since the Heathrow can often feel like a second-rate disaster movie.

NOTE: If traveling to the UK, check with BAA for the latest implementations of the personal item allowance. At the moment it’s apparently inforce only at LHR, Manchester, and Glasgow.

 

London bound

We’re off to London with some Tom Bihn bags to test. The new Western Flyer would have packed at about nine pounds, but my college instructor wife decided she needs to get a little work done in the evenings: so add six pounds of MacBook Pro and a TB Brain Cell to my bag. The Brain Cell snaps in nicely but takes up a good bit of space. My bag is tight; hers is two-thirds full at best. She’s carrying the Aeronaut (which she packed to about 15 pounds) so I’ll do an update on it. Reviews expected by next weekend. Both of these bags will get a real workout since we have no reservations and will have to carry them around for a few hours.

Also - we’ll depart Heathrow on the second day of the new UK policy that will allow a personal item in addition to one carryon  (provided the terminals have the new x-ray scanners in place). I’m guessing Terminal 3 will have them, so we’ll have a report on how the new system works. 

The London weather won’t be great, but it was 10 degrees at my home this morning… 

UK airport strike averted

Late word from the BBC is that the strike planned for January 7 by workers at the UK’s largest airports (BAA-operated) has been averted. The two other “scheduled” strkes for the 14th and 17th are technically still on but are also expected to be cancelled as BAA and Unite union are expected to reach a resolution. The 24-hour strike would have resulted in a week-long cataclysm of delay and misery for anyone transiting through the UK.

Wishing you a mime-free New Year!

K.C. Summers of the Washington Post is, like me, a little dubious when it comes to the TripAdvisor site - where anyone can say anything as they rate hotels and the like. Check out the TripAdvisor ten funniest comments of 2007. Here’s my favorite:

“The neighborhood is filled with aggressive mimes, including one sitting on a toilet bowl (how creative). Room cards are changed for no reason and you cannot understand why you can’t get into your room. All in all it was a very unpleasant stay.”

Maybe any trip involving a mime encounter would be unpleasant. Quoth Summers on the TripAdvisor experience:

What inanities have you noticed on the site? And do you find it useful, or are you (like me) sometimes flummoxed by the wide disparity in opinions, and come away more confused than when you started?

Not stupid at all

Words of wisdom from a nice Stupid American Tourist post about what to keep, what to scratch off that packing list.

I carried a lot of useless excess crap with me to Japan. It’s the sort of stuff you’ll see in a catalog, and think, “Wow, that looks really useful!” when in reality you may use it once the whole trip, and still end up lugging it all over the place.

“But it’s so small, and folds away nicely. It’ll hardly take up any space at all!” Sure, that one thing is small, thin, and light, but when you add 10 or 15 of its little friends together, they start to take up a lot of space and add a lot of weight.

Think logically, and take only what you absolutely know you’ll use repeatedly with you.

White noise & plastic bags

Transportation security agencies are talking, but is anyone listening?

In the thick of the holiday season when thousands are packed into Terminal One of Pearson International Airport, the buzz of their collective chatter is overpowered by a voice over the intercom, reminding travellers what they cannot pack in their carry-on luggage.

But the message seems to have become white noise to many passengers.

Each week, more than 600,000 containers of liquids or gels - one for each passenger passing through the airport - are confiscated, said Yves Ducharme, director of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. — Canada’s Globe & Mail

One confiscated item per passenger? Wow - I thought my kids had hard heads. 

And - concerning the US 3-1-1 rule - here’s evidence of spotty enforcement and the trouble sometimes associated with unlabeled containers. 

London calling: not so fast

News of the imminent, widespread return of the personal item to carry-on travelers in the UK has been greatly exxagerated:

A plan to ease the one-piece cabin baggage restriction for airline passengers in January could lead to mass confusion, airport officials say.

The Department for Transport has said more than one piece will be allowed after 7 January, provided airports have purchased improved security scanners.

Yet airport operators say it is also up to airlines to decide if they want more cabin baggage on board flights. - BBC

Did you catch the poison pill? UK airports must have the new 3D-imaging x-ray scanners in place to allow the personal item. I’ll bet that means the change will come slowly to Heathrow and who-knows-when everywhere else. In the meantime assume that one bag really means ONE bag. 

Denierly going ballistic

Do you know the difference between Cordura and ballistic nylon? What’s “denier”? This thread from the Tom Bihn forum is very helpful in explaining the mystery of common luggage fabrics. One point is made that I can back up from personal experience: Don’t just buy by the numbers. Good American-made 1050 ballistic nylon is much better than the supposedly heavier Asian “1680” stuff. One of my co-workers bought a 1680-weight laptop bag from Amazon and it was frayed in only a few months.

Coming attractions

Coming my way in the next week are two exciting new bags that have engendered a good bit of discussion - the Red Oxx Sky Train and the production version of the Tom Bihn Western Flyer. The carry-on traveler’s options are increasing all the time and this specialized market is being driven largely by customer feedback and demand. And that’s a good thing. Wal-Mart doesn’t really care what you think. The much smaller travel goods manufacturers are typically very responsive.

MEI Executive Overnighter - Reader Review

(Thanks to OBOW reader Paul for this review of a bag we haven’t yet seen: the MEI Executive Overnighter - photos below) 

MEI Executive Overnighter - First impressions

Summary:

Well-designed 3- zip carry-on, similar to the Tough Traveller Tri Zip. Comfortable, well thought out shoulder straps. Hold-downs in main compartment. Outside snug straps to lessen bulge. High quality materials, handmade in the USA. Excellent packability.

Suggested improvements (note: I can personally live without these, but the Red Oxx Air Boss has addressed these items correctly and they would really work wonderfully with this product):

- make the front ‘outer’ pocket fully unzip (similar to the rear )

- The photos on the MEI website show the side handle(s) as two webbing loops, sewn down the side of the bag, meeting and joined by a leather ‘snap’ wrap (a la the Air Boss). However, the version as supplied shows a arrangement identical to the Voyageur, a molded plastic and web handle that is (heavily) sewed to the side of the bag (on top of one end of the outer snug straps). I don’t believe this is a bad design - I’m not seen any complaints in my research - but the other design would seem to bear the packed load better. I would perhaps suggest returning to that design. Time will tell if this is an issue or not.

- Add a discreet handle on either (or both) end(s) of the bag, to facilitate extracting from an overhead storage bin.

Like many readers of OBOW, I am a frequent carry-on business traveler in search of a well-made bag that will carry all of my business kit. My requirements were narrowed down to a carry-on sized, 3 compartment bag, that not only can be carried by a handle or shoulder strap, but has backpack straps, which I use frequently and is a prime requirement of mine, both for business and leisure travel. For biz travel, my Victorinox 2-zip carry on worked adequately, except that I could not include my laptop inside the bag - so I carried a separate laptop bag, which is what I wanted to eliminate.

In short, I researched and reviewed the alternatives as much as I could, and dropped them one by one. The current king, the Red Oxx Air Boss, would have been perfect, save that it did not have the backpack straps (I also eliminated the new Sky Train, both because it’s a 2 compartment zip - like the Victorinox - and I was not pleased with the non-ergo backpack strap design). I next considered the Tough Traveller Tri Zip, but after the excellent review on OBOW, reading Maharashii’s forum on his carry on search, and reviewing the basic backpack strap design, I eliminated it. I also eliminated the Easy Going Carryon, due to lack of backpack straps.

What I settled on is the MEI Executive Overnighter. This seemed to fit my requirements, (although the MEI website is somewhat limited on details, and shows only 2 photos) so based on reviews of the MEI Voyageur I decided to purchase.

Dimensions (approximate per my measurements):

Length 19.5 “

Width 11”

Height 14”

Rear Compartment 6”

Mid Compartment 3.25”

Front Compartment 1.75”

First impressions are very favorable. The bag is very nicely constructed, in 1000 D Cordura with a lighter internal material in black. (A note here about MEI customer service: Ahmed, the owner was excellent, calling me on a number of occasions to keep me abreast of the status, and on one occasion to tell me that the fabric in the khaki color I ordered was actually delivered to him in ‘taupe’ - a sort of medium brown / bronze - and he offered me the choice of this or another color. I elected to go with the taupe, and am very pleased with the appearance. It’s distinctive enough to be very recognizable at a glance but still understated, the way I prefer. I can say that I am very pleased with their service.)

The rear compartment is 6” deep and is the primary place where clothes go. In a ‘test pack’ I conducted, based on my usual 10-14 day complement of ‘business casual’ attire, it swallowed everything with room to spare. Also, there are 2 compression straps that snug everything tight against the inner wall (which is reinforced with a layer of foam). I use both packing cubes and Eagle Creek folding squares, which I definitely recommend.

The mid compartment is 3.25” wide and is perfect for carrying my Dell laptop, in it’s Tom Bihn Brain Cube (another excellent product….) with plenty of room for PC accessories packed in a Eagle Creek ‘half cube’, along with my gym shoes in a shoe bag. (A hint for TSA inspections: I was ‘inspected’ twice on previous trips until I figured out that the blocky Dell power supply was the object of the TSA search. Now, I not only put the laptop in the inspection bin but also the half cube with the power supply. Bingo, no more rifling through my bag.)

The front compartment is 1.75” in width, and I put one of my 2 folding squares there (with room left over for thin/small odds and ends) which adds a bit of protection for my laptop (as if it needs more than the Brain Cell). However, I could easily place this in the back and save this room for my book, magazine / newspaper, etc. that I generally carry for amusement. In addition, there are some smaller zip-pockets inside this compartment that can hold some smaller odds and ends.

On that score, there also is a fill length zip lengthwise across the front, that creates another space perfect for the aforementioned magazines, airline tickets etc. This pocket sits to the outside when the bag is carried via the shoulder strap.

As to the backpack straps, they are a duplicate of those on the Voyageur, with a nice sternum strap. The only difference is the waistband is a pair of webbing straps, with a large plastic clip to connect them together, different from the Voyageur design of 2 padded ‘wings’ either side of the waist. Not as comfortable, but saves a lot of space that I personally like. The straps are easily the most comfortable of the designs I have experience with, although slightly thicker than most.

The bag came with a nicely designed shoulder strap, with a thick pad and length adjustment from both ends of the strap. I currently have a strap with a gel-based pad that I prefer, but the included one is better than most I’ve seen provided as standard.

The bag comes standard with a MEI-made suiter accessory, but Ahmed indicated that he currently did not have any of them in stock and will send this accessory to me as soon as they become available, so I cannot currently comment on that function. However, the bad requires no modifications to use it and no extra charge.

All in all, I feel that this bag is a high quality, practical alternative in this market, given the limited amount of available products in the 3-zip category. For me, this bag is better overall than the Tri Zip, although the Air Boss has some features (not to mention it’s truly bulletproof construction, which really seems to be in a class above) that would adapt to this bag beautifully.

 

Update on March 29, 2008 by Frank@OBOW

Click on the photos to see a larger version. These illustrate Paul’s comments below:

 

Update on July 7, 2008 by Frank@OBOW

Here are pictures of the updated EO from Skip:

“Here are some new shots of the MEI Executive Overnighter I got.  I tried to get shots of the changes…showing that all 3 compartments open out flat, the new second pocket on the outside, the new handles on the end (cool pattern on the fabric), the “key clip”, etc.”

 

 

 

 

 

Ten Travel Commandments

Leah McLaren of Canada’s Globe & Mail has some tips, er commandments, for the forlorn traveler - some serious, some comically anti-social. A couple of excerpts:

1) Wear a hoodie. Preferably a cashmere hoodie, but any old hoodie will do. The deeper the hood the better. Pull it up whenever you want to sleep or dissuade others from taking the free seat next to you. For best results, accessorize with a scowl.

2) Eschew all silly travel accessories and accoutrements. Beanbag neck pillows, travel blankets and book lights are all more trouble than they’re worth. Comfort is about avoiding hassle, not creating more of it, and that’s exactly what you’re doing while fiddling with your portable Obus Forme 10,000 metres above sea level. Leave such stuff at home, or, better yet, don’t buy it in the first place. The one exception to this is a sleep mask, but most decent airlines provide them anyway.

7) Do carry-on only wherever possible. Pack lightly and stuff everything into the smallest possible container. Hide overflow in a giant handbag and hold it over your shoulder and behind your back to avoid having your hand luggage go over the weight limit. Ignore people who give you dirty looks for filling up the overhead locker.

Dress for travel succes with beltless Joe

Joe Brancatelli is a gem. His advice is always witty and wise. Joe on dressing for checkpoint success:

“I’ve found that the fastest way through security is to go plastic. I switched the brass buttons on my blue blazer for plastic ones. I bought a plastic Swatch watch specifically for road trips. I’ve even gotten rid of my belt. Needless to say, I wear only slip-on shoes, and I check my socks for holes before I leave home. 

“I won’t argue that this all sounds a bit unstylish. If you want to don jewelry, sport your favorite chunky metal watch, and wear your lucky running shoes, and if you really need a belt, do what I do: Stow these possessions in your carry-on bag, then put them on once you clear security. And here’s an incredibly useful tip: Stash potentially problematic items in zip-top plastic bags. Before you reach the checkpoint, dump everything-keys, jewelry, pens, handheld computers, cell phones, loose change-into a bag and place it in an exterior pocket of your carry-on. When you escape the clutches of the T.S.A., fish out the zip-top bag and return everything to your person.” - washingtonpost.com

More tips from Joe on minimizing your sartorial load:

• Limit your color palette so your clothes match easily - maximizing their utility
• Accessorize - create the illusion of more outfits with different ties, scarves, etc.
• Buy clothing on the road
• Use hotel laundry services - “Lugging around dirty laundry is, needless to say, counterproductive.”  (I might add that the non-business traveler can easily wash their own clothes in-room, provided you’ve chosen the right clothing)  

Class warfare & air rage

The New York Times sees class war in the air and finds that it contributes to air rage:

“There is no question the cattle-class experience has contributed to the rise and intensity of air rage incidents all over the world,” said Andrew Robert Thomas, an assistant professor of business at the University of Akron, who has written books about air rage and maintains the Web site airrage.org.

“More people in a smaller space experiencing a naturally stressful environment will trigger different reactions in some folks, and a number will be violent,” he added. “With the cutbacks continuing and the number of air travelers projected to triple in the next 20 years, air rage will be a problem for the foreseeable future.” 

Forlorn flyers will find more likeminded souls at these websites: flyertalk.com, airlinerage.com and flightsfromhell.com.                                       

Bundle wrapping bliss

Let me say this about bundle wrapping: It works. It works very well. On my last trip I made a more serious effort than ever to exactly follow the instructions from the Red Oxx website (in the form of a diagram based on Doug Dyment’s method.) I was astounded at how well the bundle system prevented wrinkles in my cotton and cotton-blend clothing.  Click on the bottom photo below for an image file which explains the system. Better yet, download the PDF from the Red Oxx site, print it, laminate it, and tuck it in your bag. You’ll be glad you did.

This method can be used in bags with or without hold-down straps and with or without packing cubes. The bundle helps keep everything together which decreases the need for hold-downs if the bag is snug and tightly packed . I believe I got better results in an undersized bag without hold-down straps than I ever did with the straps. Why does it work? Read Doug Dyment’s explanation here.

 

Riding the Sky Train

Adam at travelgearreview.com has reviewed the convertible Red Oxx Sky Train. We’ll be reviewing it ourselves in the next few weeks. We’ll also have a reader’s impressions of an MEI travelpack in the next several days. Stay tuned (or RSS’ed).

Carry on divas

This site proves that not all carry-on travelers are slightly scruffy and perpetually ruffled, nor are they mostly men. Diva in a carry on is a feminine look at one-bag travel. There are lots of ads and links but if you scroll down far enough you’ll find plenty of tags for luggage and packing - and more than any man ever wants to know about cosmetics and pretty things. Carry on divas!

And the Divas have linked to OBOW so we display the pink badge of honor. I feel more sensitive already…

TSA's holiday checklist - check the pies & beer!

Memo to Santa: In case a  French reindeer strike causes you to have fly commerical, here’s what you can and can’t carry on.

 
Some samplings from tsa.gov (no kidding):

“Not sure about what you can and can’t bring through the checkpoint*? Here’s a list of liquid, aerosol and gel items that you should put in your checked bag, ship ahead, or leave at home:

• Gravy

• Salad dressing

• Oils & vinegars

• Cranberry sauce

• Salsa

• Sauces

• Creamy dips

• Wine, liquor & beer

• Other beverages

• Jams & Jellies
  

• Soups

• Cakes & Pies”
  

AND REMEMBER, NO WRAPPED GIFTS!!!!