Baggage/Luggage
New Suitcase Trend? Not for Me!
Aug 5th
I have recently read news articles about these “suitcase stickers” that are causing a lot of disturbance at some airports. I know waiting in line at the airport for your luggage to come out can be a hassle, especially when everyone’s suitcase pretty much looks the same. However, I don’t think these suitcase stickers are the best solution. The stickers give the illusion the exterior of the luggage has been ripped off and inside it looks like the suitcase is full of either wads of bills, a captured flight attendant or even bags of drugs. The idea was created by two Vancouver entrepreneurs who made a website called TheCheeky.com to sell novelty items. They wanted to make luggage appear interesting and stand out. The stickers are selling for $15 each.
In my opinion, this is a sure way to ask for trouble at an airport. Even though most airports probably know about the stickers by now, I can’t see security letting people walk around with stickers of drugs attached to their bags. This must cause some sort of security breach or other hold up.
It’s common travel knowledge to do special little things to luggage to make it stand out from the crowd. Couldn’t they make stickers with bright, fun designs or more normal, legal objects? I don’t know about you, but this is one trend I won’t be following. I’m going to stick with the purple polka dot ribbons I have wrapped around my luggage and avoid the captured flight attendant sticker.
– Amanda Smith, advertising and editorial coordinator
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way from Beijing
May 10th
As I take care of some work around the house — a little planting for spring — I needed to take a little break to tell you a funny story.
On my way to the airport in Beijing, I was on the main drag outside of the Grand Hotel Beijing, on East Chang’an Avenue, and just in front of the Beijing Hotel, my taxi was stopped at a red light. I was anticipating my flight to Hong Kong and the many meetings ahead of me. Not to mention enjoying the city’s restaurants and shopping!
Suddenly, there was a big bang and a jolt forward. I looked to the cabbie who was as shocked as I. We immediately realized we had been rear ended. The driver put the car in park and got out to assess the damage. As he opened the door, another unmarked car pulled up and the two drivers began talking.
In a few seconds, the trunk of the cab was opened and my luggage and golf bag were transferred to the other car. My driver said “airport,” which I took to mean the other driver would be taking me to the airport. In the “rescue” car, there was another passenger in the front seat. I learned that the passenger was staying at the Beijing Hotel and the two drivers were friends. I went along with the whole ordeal.
Maybe this was not the smartest thing to do. In fact, and in retrospect, this could have been the perfect kidnapping ploy. But it was not — it was simply two guys helping each other out. The taxi had significant damage; the bumper destroyed and the trunk smashed in. It was funny, standing in the middle of the street and watching my things being transferred.
En route, I talked to the other passenger, who was from Jerusalem, and we laughed at the entire event. At the airport, I was taken to the terminal for my Air China flight to Hong Kong. I think I paid a bit more for this ride, but considering the events, I did not quibble.
It is always interesting traveling to China. I would recommend wearing your seat belts (I was not)!
– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO
Happy Jetting!
Apr 16th
On my recent trip to Miami, I had the pleasure of flying JetBlue. This was my first time on the airline; my traveling companion, however, is a JetBlue frequent flyer. For her and her family, JetBlue is always their first choice — particularly because they frequently make trips between New York and Florida.
I honestly did not realize JetBlue offered service from Newark or I might have checked them out sooner. I knew they flew from JFK as I have driven past the new terminal the airline recently opened at the airport. However, I do whatever I can to avoid JFK, instead opting for Philadelphia or Newark. JetBlue was just never on my radar. Now that I have flown them, they are definitely on my radar for the future.
Judging from my experience on JetBlue, I never would have guessed I was on a discount carrier. Unlike many of the other U.S. airlines, JetBlue still offers passengers complimentary amenities. I didn’t check a bag, but if I did, it would not have cost me a dime. With JetBlue, the first bag is free. Both my departure and return flights left on time, and boarding — from the back of the plane forward — was quick, efficient and painless.
The seats are roomy and there was plenty of overhead space for passengers. Each seat was equipped with an individual TV screen, offering a wide range of viewing options. It’s quite rare to find economy cabins equipped with individual monitors, especially on short jaunts (such as the Newark-Florida leg). Snacks are complimentary, and the airline offers a nice selection of cookies, snack mixes, chips and nuts.
Somehow JetBlue has found a way to make it all work, even in the turbulent times of late, and I was definitely impressed!
– Kimberly Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive
And the Charges Carry On…
Apr 14th
In January, I wrote a blog about the great luggage debate. Do you check in or carry on? My old friend, Sky Torvis, asked me why airlines don’t charge for carry-on luggage.
Maybe someone at Spirit Airlines read that blog, because they just announced that they will be charging $20 to $45 for items placed in the overhead bins. I am not sure how the exact charge is determined, but it is most likely size- or weight-based. Also, there are still going to be restrictions or else everyone will just carry everything on.
It doesn’t surprise me that Spirit has been blitzed with complaints. Surprisingly, they have also received a lot of support. The website endcarryoncrunch.org is one such supporter.
Passengers trying to avoid the cost and inconvenience of checking in their luggage have resorted to overstuffing their carry-on bags, despite supposed size and weight limitations. We have all seen bags the size of small refrigerators being hoisted and crammed into the overhead bins. This is in addition to the computer bag, personal bag, incidental bag and whatever else someone could possibly bring on board. It is ridiculous.
Spirit is the first airline in the United States to charge for carry-on luggage. The rest of the airline industry will surely be watching to see how this plays out. Others must be waiting to follow.
Like my role model and GT big cheese, Fran Gallagher, I always try to carry on my luggage. However, my bag is usually a well-stuffed duffel bag, about half the size of most carry-on bags. Despite it possibly costing me, I still don’t mind the charge to carry on. It makes sense. You pay for convenience.
I know this is probably an unpopular opinion, but I am surprised it took this long. Maybe if passengers hadn’t turned storing bags in the bins into a feat worthy of Strongman competitions, it wouldn’t have come to this.
– John Wroblewski, distribution specialist
