The Travelite® FAQ

Pick up the current issue of Consumer Reports (June 2010). Besides a great article rating the current computers on the market, the issue has a special travel section where it rates the best and worst hotels; very helpful if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed trying to figure out what works best for your travel needs.

Tucked in the article, though, is a great little graph called “What Annoys Travelers Most.” People sure get annoyed at a lot of things, but the top annoyance is luggage charges. Those $25 fees sure add up.

Take a look further down on the list, though. In at #8 is something of particular interest to those of us who travel with just a carry-on: “People who hog carry-on space.”

Although I espouse traveling with just your carry-ons, I have to agree—it’s pretty obnoxious when people bring Jabba the Hut overstuffed carry-ons on board and try to squeeze them into the overhead. Unless you’re an elite-status frequent flier who gets early boarding privileges, you’ve probably boarded aircrafts where all the overhead space above your seat was already taken by other people’s luggage. As annoying as it is, that overhead space is a free-for-all; passengers can put their carry-ons in any space they wish, and there are those truly annoying ones who will purposefully stash their luggage in the overhead bins closer to the front of the aircraft for their convenience, even if they’re sitting towards the back of the plane. How rude and selfish can you get?

Remember: The Travelite philosophy is not how to take on board with you as much as you can get away with. People who use marginally acceptable luggage, overstuff then, then try to cram them into the overhead space, still fall into the “traveload” camp and they besmirch the good name of those of us who travel lightly.

Here’s a couple of real easy tips to remember, as you pack your carry-on for a trip:

• Will this thing fit my airline’s carry-on bag sizer contraption at the airport?
• Can I actually carry this thing around a block? Yes, even if it’s a rolling upright. I said “carry,” not pull on its wheels. Is it too heavy? Am I too out of shape? Does it not have a shoulder strap or a handle?
• Can I actually lift this thing high enough that I can put it in the overhead bin by myself?
• And most importantly: Is it soft-sided, pliable, or not overstuffed, so that when I put this carry-on in the overhead bin, I can slide it straight in, instead of spreading it out sideways and taking up more space? Extra points if you can actually place your carry-on on the floor under the seat in front of you.

It wasn’t but a couple of months ago that Spirit Airlines caused travelers to gasp in horror when it introduced a new $45 bag fee–for carry-on luggage. Their logic was that the aisles would be less crowded during boarding, and there would be a lot of room in the overhead bin.

Personally, I thought it was a horrendous idea. In my opinion, the solution was not to charge people to use the overhead bin; it was to strictly enforce the size rule for carry-ons. How often do we see people with rolling uprights that are obviously too large; their hard-sided structures not allowing people to slide their bags in sideways?

Well, perhaps the inane rule wasn’t the only thing they mismanaged. Apparently they didn’t treat their pilots well, either. As of today, Spirit flights are grounded due to a pilot walkout, and Spirit just announced that they’ve cancelled all their flights for the next couple of days due to the walkout.

Time for new management, I say. And while we’re at it, repeal that stupid carry-on fee.

PS: For those of you loyal readers, my apologies for being absent these last months. I’m still around!

Stuff is flying (and I don’t mean airplanes) since the foiled bomb attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Northwest Airlines flight 253, specifically on how the government and airlines are reacting.

The Transportation Security Administration under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security umbrella issued Security Directive SD 1544-09-06, which it sent to all airlines and airports on the same day as the incident. In it, the TSA outlined what was not allowed in air travel. The directive, which was to be in order through December 30, required that flight crew could not make any announcements regarding the position of the aircraft. And beginning at an hour before landing, passengers were required to remain in their seats beginning, could not access their carry-ons, nor have any blankets, pillows, or personal belongings on their lap. And worst of all for many electronically savvy travelers, the directive banned the use of all “aircraft-integrated passenger communications systems and services” during all phases of the flight (such as phones, Internet, GPS, etc).

Travel writers Christopher Elliott and Steve Frischling were sent copies of the directive from industry sources, and representatives from the TSA came down with a hammer in the form of a subpoena to find out who their sources were. Fortunately for both of them, calmer heads prevailed, and the subpoenas were withdrawn after a few days (I’m sure in no small part to the people who came to their support). Talk about a terrible way to spend one’s holidays.

Security policies by the airlines however, seem not to have calmed down yet. I have heard a number of reports via email and on various online posts that airlines are imposing new policies that make you scratch your head.

I have read some accounts of airlines only allowing travelers to take on a small personal item, requiring them to check in their larger carry-on bag. If I were to travel with just my carry-on bag, and it’s not at maximum size, I don’t know what they would do.

Most recently, Nate Silver of the FiveThirtyEight.com political statistics Web site tweeted that on his flight today from Montreal to JFK (New York City), Delta Airlines prohibited all carry-on—and oh-by-the-way, you have to pay $20 to check in your carry-on! Because you know, it’s now a check-in bag.

Silver amended his original tweet to say that :

Correction: you’re allowed to bring on a carry-on bag if it contains a computer but **not if it doesn’t**. Wish I were making this up.

The only reason for this that I can think of is that Delta doesn’t want the added responsibility for being liable for people’s laptops, since people typically don’t (or lack the ability to) lock their carry-ons. If Delta decides to continue with this security theater, might I suggest you buy yourself a very cheap netbook to slip into your carry-on? For giggles, try the pink Disney-branded ASUS netbook with a Hannah Montana screensaver.

I read an account online where some TSA agents are not allowing unbranded bottles of toiletries. Because you know, someone who wants to use the same method Abdulmutallab used, would never think to decant bomb-making chemicals into an empty bottle of Head & Shoulders. Right?

By and large (in case you haven’t noticed), I am opposed to the way governments have tried to implement air travel security. I think most of it is based on knee-jerk reactions, and are a dog-and-pony show designed to deter only the casual troublemaker. This country is not willing to use profiling and probitive questions the way it’s done in Israel because we aren’t supposed to pick on people based on their race or national origin. Yet the government thinks it’s OK to introduce highly intrusive whole-body scanners that do what was promised by those cheap “X-ray glasses” you could buy years ago from the back of comic books: See through clothing. My husband and I disagree on this one—he thinks they’re fine and there’s nothing wrong with me. I, on the other hand, think they’ll be misused (there are no laws nor technological limitations) in place that prevent the images from being saved, for example. I can see a huge market for full body scans of celebrities. These scanners can also show if you’re wearing more than what’s expected. Is your baby wearing a soiled diaper? Is your grandfather wearing a pair of Depends undergarments? Maybe you wear extra padding to hide your mastectomy. These will all show up as anomalies, and you may likely be pulled aside for a secondary screening. Can we talk about invasion of privacy here? The ACLU agrees.

In a recent Morning Edition on NPR (“Passengers Cite Inconvenience as Main Concern“) Robert W. Mann Jr., one of the country’s leading airline industry consultants, put it best when he said travelers are more concerned with the inconvenience added security brings, not fear:

“Even for a trip of six hours like London-New York, the idea that you would lose three hours on each end of a trip makes it questionable,” Mann said. He said he is pleased that the Obama administration is conducting a top-to-bottom review of the Transportation Security Administration. Up to this point, Mann said, the agency’s security processes largely have been a failure. [My emphasis.]

“I would go further to say that I’d like to see the next billion dollars invested not in technology with X-rays and puffer machines, but rather with essentially police work done offshore to locate people who would do harm—whoever they may be, wherever they be—and before they ever get to an airport,” he said.

Mann said he worries about the soft underbelly of the nation’s airports, with their long lines of tightly clustered people waiting to go through security and into the safe side of the terminal. He believes more puffer machines—screening devices that the TSA says are capable of detecting traces of explosive residue on a person’s body or clothing—will not stop suicide bombers wrapped in vests of C-4 plastique.

In the meantime, what can do you as a traveler?

Consider leaving your rolling upright at home. It’s very convenient but carry-on policies are changing as quickly as today’s weather, and the rolling upright is likely a very easy target for airlines to ask to check in. Don’t forget, most airlines will then get to earn an extra $20 just by making you do this! If you are on airlines like American that charge even more for a second check-in item (and even more for a third), imagine how much more they can make! More than ever, keep your carry-on as light and as small as you can make it (even if it means wearing two layers of T-shirts to lighten your load!)

Stay away from unlabeled toiletry bottles. Or if you’re like some people, print your own professional-looking label to make it easier to identify the product you decanted into your small toiletry bottle. These days it’s very easy to find the product’s logo online for such purposes.

Consider paring down your purse to the bare essences and transferring the items to a travel wallet. Travel wallets, like the Baggallini Teenee bag I’ve reviewed, are a little bigger than a wallet, but have removable (or hideaway) straps so you can wear these on your body for security. Your other option is to use a security wallet to wear under your clothes (and there are versions with straps so you can wear it like a travel wallet). At minimum, your travel wallet should be able to carry your passport and ID, as well as credit cards and your boarding pass (which you can fold in half). Everything else you normally put in your purse, like a folding umbrella, make-up, compact mirror, hairbrush, etc. should go into a zip-lock baggie that you can stash in your carry-on. If all you have is your one carry-on, it is easier to claim it as your personal item.

Ship stuff in advance. This is actually quite feasible now. Flat-rate Priority Mail boxes mean you can ship quite a lot of things in the box for under $11. Even an overnight FedEx package will barely cost more than the cost of your check-in fee. If you are on your way home with a lot of newly acquired souvenirs, seriously consider shipping all of this stuff home. Or be like me and just buy small, flat things.

Reader Brian wrote:

I am 72. My wife and I are going to Spain, Portugal and then Morocco. She is concerned about what to wear in places like Fez, Casablanca, etc. She is deathly afraid of people “hissing” at her, as she has been told will happen.

Dear Brian,

I’m sorry to hear that your wife is afraid of being hissed at during her overseas travels. Although I have not traveled to the places you mention, my general rule of thumb when traveling overseas is to dress as modestly as the people do in the places you plan to visit. My suggestion is to pick up a travel guide book for the area and see what they have to say about the culture as well as how the people tend to dress. If the books mention things like “women should not show their bare shoulders with a tank top” or “women should avoid wearing shorts,” then those are good clues as to what you might expect.

If I had to make very broad generalizations, when traveling overseas outside of the U.S., I would avoid:

• T-shirts bearing political or religious statements – you are bound to run into some people who disagree with whatever the shirt says, and choose to communicate this in some way.
• Clothing bearing very large clothing manufacturer logos – that may be a sign of economic status in some countries
• Clothing bearing cartoon characters – not so much an issue for children, but some people may consider this either disrespectful or childish when worn by adults
• Bearing too much skin – for women, halter tops, spaghetti-strap camisoles, midriff-revealing low-cut pants, mini-skirts, and so on (in general things young people tend to wear)
• Flashy jewelry, very large rings – these can imply that you are showing off your wealth; not only could they be considered garish and uncouth; you might also become a more attractive target for pickpockets
• Very brightly colored or colorful clothing – these tend to appear garish and touristy. Instead, go with neutral colors like black, brown, tan, or navy so you don’t stand out. If your wife likes a bit of style, she can accessorize with a small brooch, a scarf, or some other small items.
• Very brightly colored running shoes – stick with neutral tones, or go with comfortable walking shoes in neutral colors from companies like Hush Puppies, Ecco, or Rockport.

One common theme among the items I list here is that they all stand out in some way. Although you don’t mention your wife’s age, assuming that you are close in age, I’d say none of the above items are in her regular wardrobe. If she wears regular, modest clothing (longer skirts, regular blouses, scarves, lower-heeled shoes and so on), I have a feeling she will be absolutely fine.

There are some occasions, such as at places of worship, where the custom will require things like wearing a head scarf or removing your shoes. If you plan to visit such places, make sure you are wearing socks or stockings, and that your wife has a scarf to cover her hair.

In my experience, politeness and a smile go a long way. Please tell your wife that she shouldn’t let her concerns about the reactions of local people sour her travel plans. If she is an inexperienced traveler or she is traveling to some places for the first time, it may just be her way of telling you that she is feeling a little insecure. Sit down and read some of the travel guides with her, or visit Web sites with travel information about the area. The more she knows about places, and the more photos she sees of the places and people she will see, the more at ease she will become. Learn some basic phrases in the local language. Simple greetings and phrases such as “thank you” will garner smiles and good feelings all around. Consider practicing saying some of these phrases out loud with her for fun.

Have a wonderful trip!

When looking for airline tickets, do you think about all the hidden fees or whether you’re allowed to sneak your super-sized “carry-on” onto the plane?

Travel clothing seller Travelsmith has published a very handy spreadsheet online called “Carry-On/Check-In Luggage Guidelines.” You can get it in PDF form, which means you can easily view it on the Web and print it to your printer directly with all the margins and text set correcty.

The checklist from Travelsmith makes checking airline luggage fees a snap. Click on the image to go to the Travelsmith site.

When seeing all the information presented in one sheet of paper, you can really see where some airlines are just digging their fists into travelers’ wallets. American leads the pack with fees of $20 for your first checked bag, and $30 for your second. If you’re the type to travel with a lot of extra luggage, you’re looking at $50 per person one way. That adds a jaw-dropping $100 per person to your trip, and certainly something to be aware of when trying to decide which airline to use to book your trip. Most others aren’t much better—with the notable exception of Southwest (which doesn’t charge for checking in bags at all), and Jet Blue, which lets you check in one bag for free—all other domestic U.S. airlines charge fees for both the first and second checked bags.

In addition to fees for checked luggage, this spreadsheet has other helpful information. What is your maximum allowable size for a carry-on, for instance?

When trying to figure out the maximum-allowable size of bags (whether for carry-ons or check-ins), you want to add up the height, length, and width of your bag. Image courtesy of Travelsmith.

In domestic travel, Airtran wins the carry-on category. At a maximum allowable size of 55 inches and no weight restrictions, that’s almost as big as the allowances for check-ins. On the other end of the spectrum is Malaysia Airlines and Italy’s Alitalia, which restrict carry-ons to no more than 45 inches total, and no heavier than 11 pounds. I thought I had to be creative to travel for my two-week European vacation with just 13 allowable pounds (see “The Ultra-minimalist packing list: How I packed for Europe” for details); shaving 2 pounds off of that would’ve meant I would’ve had to sew in pockets throughout my in-flight clothes so I could remove even more stuff out of my bag. Eek!

One really noticeable thing in the checklist is that the checked bag fees are almost strictly a domestic thing. Although some U.S. airlines like Continental charge for both the first and second checked bags at home as well as abroad, most of the other domestic airlines don’t charge a fee if you’re flying outside of the U.S.

The bottom line here is that Southwest continues to be the only domestic airline that charges nothing for checking in your bags. At all. Nada. Zippo. Zilch.

If you need to travel with a lot of checked luggage in the U.S., these days I really recommend Southwest. Sure, your flight will feel like a commuter bus ride. But they don’t try to pretend to be something more. The no-frills airline is simply prompt and friendly, with up-front pricing and an open seating system that rewards online check-ins (you get a better spot in line to board). You don’t have people trying to sneak on huge bags so the aisles don’t get unduly clogged, and they can depart right on time. So what if you don’t have the choice to purchase a $6 boxed lunch? Soft drinks are still free, and even their frequent flyer reward system is easier to track. How can you go wrong?

One thing about women: our clothes don’t always come with pockets. Or if they do, they’re small and more for aesthetic purposes. Unless you wear cargo pants with huge pockets, chances are, you carry a purse in order to keep your wallet, phone, and other items near you. But what if you don’t want to carry around a purse all the time? The product I’ll review today is the Baggallini Teenee wallet purse.

The Baggallini Teenee wallet purse.

The Teenee is a simple flap-based wallet with multiple pockets and a detachable adjustable strap that lets you carry it as an across-the-shoulder purse or as a belt bag. As wallets go, the Teenee isn’t tiny. Unless you have really big pockets, you probably won’t be able to tuck this into a pocket easily.

This wallet is deceptively simple. Before you even open the wallet, you can see that it has a zippered pocket in the front flap. It’s not huge, but it’s big enough to hold credit cards, change, bills, and so on. So let’s take a look inside.

The Teenee when you open its main flap to reveal the inner pockets.

The flap snaps shut with a little magnetic button. There’s convenience to that, since you don’t have to fuss to get the snap parts to match exactly in order for this to shut. The down side however, is when you have your Teenee stuffed to the gills so the magnets don’t quite touch.

I told you the inside was deceptively simple, yes? Let’s take a look at the actual pockets.

The transparent ID card holder.

First, there is the transparent ID card holder on the flap itself. The holder fits a standard driver’s license or credit card. You can choose to have your ID card faced up or down depending on how you’d like to show your ID to whomever you’re showing it to. I personally prefer to keep my ID in there so that the top of the ID is near the magnet. Since I wear my Teenee with the flap side out, when I open the flap to get to my money, all I have to do is present the flap to the cashier without flipping the flap or turning it around.

You can actually fit a few cards in the transparent window, so if you have things you like to get to easily, like an ATM card, the window may be a convenient place for you.

Note the little pen holder. Most retractable pens should fit in it just fine, with a couple of caveats:

• The elastic loop is quite loose, so if you have a very narrow pen, it may slip out.
• The elastic loop is centered on the wallet, so if the pen’s clip is short, you will need to slide it in considerably in order to clip it to the loop.

In my case, I use a Pilot G2 mini pen, as its clip seems to be at the right place to be able to clip onto the loop. I’ve never lost a pen this way yet.

Now let’s take a look at the pockets.

The internal pockets in a Teenee.

Hopefully you can see all the layers of pockets in the photo above. The very front pocket, where my pink cell phone is, is gusseted. It means you can fit items that are thicker. Cell phones certainly work, as do MP3 players. I’ve tested an iPhone in the gusseted pocket, and it fits just fine. If you have a thin digital camera, you may even get those to fit as well.

The pocket layer right behind the cell phone, if you look carefully, is the layer where I keep my money. I fold the bills in half and they fit just fine. I normally keep my change in there as well but be aware that because that particular pocket has no zipper, you might risk occasionally losing some change. I’ve gotten into the habit of taking out my change every few days to keep the wallet light, and it’s also one way to prevent loose change. There is a zippered pocket (we’ll get there in a moment) you can use to stash your change as well.

It’s really hard to see, but behind the pocket with the bills is another unzippered pocket layer. In my case, this is where I keep a tiny notebook (if you care, it’s a Moleskine Volant Mini extra-small softcover notebook). These are perfect for jotting down notes. It’s too small that you can’t see it in the photo, but you could also use a small Post-It notepad or something similar as well.

The back zippered pocket is large enough to easily fit a passport.

Finally, there is the zippered pocket at the very back. There is a ton of room back there, and for travelers, the most relevant is the fact that you can fit a standard-sized passport in that pocket. Because you can zip it up, it provides a little extra security as you hide it away. By the way, the zipper hides pockets on both the main body and the flap. I rarely use the flap side, since I’d hate to unzip the pocket and have whatever I’ve got stashed in the flap side fall out, but it’s additional space if you need to keep important things somewhere.

If you think we’re done, you’re wrong! We haven’t looked at the back of this thing.

The back of the Teenee has its own zippered pocket.

As you can see in this photo, the back of the wallet has an additional zippered pocket. This is very convenient if you need to keep something in your wallet that you want to get to relatively easily. Maybe you can keep your change there?

Now, let’s look at the rest of the back of this thing. There’s so much going on, I’ve actually labeled the parts for you:

The back of the Teenee wallet, with parts labeled.

In addition to the zipper you see running across the back for the pocket I just mentioned, there is a super-secret unnoticeable card slot right in front of the zipper. If you didn’t know it was there, you’d assume it was just the hem for the zipper! The clever thing is that this little card slot is sized to fit a credit card. Once I realized the convenience of this little card slot pocket, I’ve used it to stash BART (train) tickets and bus tranfers. Visiting a casino? I stash my loyalty card and hotel key in there. Visiting a Disney theme park? I put my Fastpass tickets in there. The Teenee would’ve been a full-featured wallet with everything else; there was no need for Baggallini to add this little card slot, but they did, and it’s quite handy (not to mention clever)!

Finally, let’s look at how you carry this thing. Each Teenee comes with a very thin adjustable strap made of the same color and fabric as your wallet. For most people, if you wore it across the chest with the strap fully extended, it will reach your thighs. The strap is that long. If you shortened it as tight as it would go, you would wind up with a tiny over-the-shoulder purse that lands around your elbow level.

If you want to carry this as a sling of any sort, you will want to put the strap on the D-rings on the top. If you want to shorten the strap and wear loosely around your waist, you will want to snap the straps onto the lower set of D-rings. Actually, you could really snap the strap on either set; it would be a matter of personal preference whether you want the wallet riding higher or lower on your waist.

If you are slender, you will find that the strap (even adjusted as short as it’ll go) is still too long for you to wear the Teenee straight across your waist. You will likely wind up wearing it on a slant. And if you’re very slender, you will need to make sure the strap doesn’t fall down past your hips. If this is the case, there are a couple of tricks you can use; the easiest being that you can just tie a knot into your strap to take up the extra length.

See that pair of vertical strapping you see going down the back of the wallet? Those are actually belt loops. So you can go without the strap altogether, and just loop your belt through it and wear it as a true belt bag. Obviously you won’t be able to access the back pockets easily, but wearing it this way (especially if you wear your shirt and jacket over it) would provide some added security.

Finally, since the strap is completely detachable, you could carry this wallet as a real wallet if you have a larger purse to put it in. It’s still smaller than some wallets I’ve seen, full of bulk and taking up a ton of space in the purse. If you want to switch between using it as a wallet-in-your-purse and carrying it as its own little wallet purse, I suggest you always keep the strap and wallet together. In my opinion, the best place for it is that back zippered pocket. It will add a little bulk to your wallet, but that way you will never lose the strap.

This wallet comes in a myriad of colors.

Promotional photo from Baggallini showing all the different colors available for the Teenee.

You could really have your pick of what color you want. There are some pretty neutral travel-friendly colors like black, brown, and khaki. There are some very springlike pastels, robust fall colors, as well as some fashionable colors like that bright red you see in the front. Regardless of the color you pick, all the zipper pulls, D-rings and other components use a brushed silver-toned metal, making these wallets nice enough for going out with. OK so it may not work for the most formal of parties or dinners (although you could probably easily replace the strap with your own wrist chain strap to get it “all dooded up” for a fancy event).

This particular wallet has been in the Baggallini line-up for quite some time. Periodically, they will introduce new fabrics and new colors. The ones they’ve offered in the past (and which you may still find some remaining stock online or in some travel stores) are microfiber, ripstop nylon, and an eco-labeled one that used a couple of plastic bottles each to make. The current fabric with the largest color offering is “crinkle nylon” (that’s the one you see in these photos).

Deborah wears a Teenee across the shoulder (the design is a harder-to-find giraffe print).

With all of these great pockets and features, though, I do have two very specific druthers:

#1: I am not pleased with the placement of the top set of D-rings on the back. I know why they did it. They wanted the short (quarter-inch long) strap that connects the top D-rings to be aligned with the belt loops below for aesthetic purposes. But I’ve actually taken the top D-ring straps apart (all in the name of research!), and there is no actual connection between those D-ring straps and the belt loops. The problem I have is that the top D-rings are very close together. When you wear the wallet across your chest, the straps look “cross-eyed” (for want of a better term) because they are knock-kneed and too close together. I would really prefer that they splinter off from trying to align the D-rings with the belt loops, and simply sew them at the very top of the wallet right into the exterior piping along the edges.

#2: As much as it can hold, it’s still a wallet and not a purse. I really wish they had a slightly larger size that would fit slightly larger digital cameras or a small Moleskine notebook. I’m thinking just an extra half-inch in width would do a lot to open things up, and still have it be small enough to be considered a wallet. [Hey folks at Baggallini, how's about a slightly larger version to augment your existing model?]

All in all, this is a wonderful little wallet for women. It’s great for everyday use, you can wear it as its own wallet-purse or stick it in a larger purse. Wear it at work so you don’t have to worry about leaving your wallet in your purse as it sits unsecured under your desk. Or tuck your passport in there and head out the door for some hands-free travel.

Guys could even use this as a belt bag. After all, guys often wind up with a wallet in the back pocket, spare change in the front, and cell phone in another pocket or clipped to the belt. You could use a neutral-colored Teenee to keep all of that in one place!

Best of all, you can buy the Teenee at most places for under $20. Whether that’s a special treat splurge or cheap enough for you to buy several different colors to match your outfit, I give the Teenee a huge “way to go” for designing so much creativity and practicality into such a “Teenee” tiny package!

Baggallini Teenee online at a glance:

• Official Web page at Baggallini
• Various models at eBags (they are often on sale for well under $20)
• Various models at Amazon

Are you are the type to always travel with check-in luggage? Do you always take along a few extra things just in case? Do you feel insecure when you don’t have everything in your packing list included in your luggage?

Today, let’s look at some basics of traveling light.* Even if you might not be ready to shed all your extra bags, you can incorporate some of these into your philosophy for a less stressful way to travel.

Most travelers I’ve encountered seem to fall into two categories: The “bring everything you might need” traveload camp, and the “bring only what you use” travelite camp. I’ve talked extensively with those that fall into Group 1 to try to find out why they like to take everything. Oftentimes, it is because they like to be prepared for all types of situations. I can think of a few. How about losing your luggage? Or having your luggage broken into? How about having to go to the airport earlier than the traveliter, or having to wait around the luggage carousel long after the traveliter has caught a cab (or better yet–the swift train system for a fraction of the cost) to town?

What most people don’t realize is that a seasoned traveliter is just as prepared for most situations as the “traveloader.” For example, a trip to New Orleans to visit my in-laws a few years ago included attending a wedding I did not know I was attending. Instead of going out and buying a new outfit, I simply wore a set of black coordinates that I accented with a pretty scarf and I fit right in!

Reason #10: Nobody can steal your luggage

Don’t have to worry about someone stealing your checked luggage when your bag is always in your possession. Every so often we hear stories about checked luggage that is ransacked by airport personnel. Although you still have to put your carry-on through a security check, it will always be within your sight.

Reason #9: Be independent

By being light on your feet, you can get around everywhere on your own without trying to find luggage carts or someone to help you. Traveling lightly means being independent.

Reason #8: More time to get to the airport

These days, you can print out your e-ticket and boarding pass from home. And if you don’t need to wait in line to check in your luggage, you can save yourself as much as an extra hour before you have to head off to the airport. This is true going home, too. Enjoy the extra time soaking in the last hour of your tropical vacation instead of rushing off to the airport.

Reason #7: Volunteer to be bumped

Your flight is full, and the gate agents start asking for volunteers to be bumped. Maybe you’re on a connecting flight and you can only assume your checked luggage is already on this flight (since checked luggage doesn’t always travel on the same aircraft as the passenger), but are you eager to be bumped? If you just had your carry-ons with you, you can quickly hop over to the gate agent and let them know you’ll gladly wait for the next flight (even if it’s the next day).

Reason #6: Catch public transportation

You reach San Francisco International Airport and if it’s just you and your carry-on, you can easily walk over to the BART station connected to the international terminal, and before you know it, you’ll be checking in to your downtown hotel, and hopping on a cable car to visit Ghirardelli Square. OK, so BART will allow you to take your luggage… but do you really want to lug around all your check-ins and stick out like a sore thumb? Or maybe you’re going to Waikiki. You can take your carry-on from your arrival gate at Honolulu International Airport and walk outside to the hop on The Bus. And The Bus doesn’t let you take big luggage, so you’d have to catch a cab for $20 when that could be going towards paying for your mai tai.

Reason #5: Don’t wait

You know what I’m talking about. You get to the airport and you wait in line to check in your bag. Depending on the day of the week and time of day, this line could get massively long while you enviously eye those people who can just check in electronically from the automated machines nearby. To add insult to injury, when you arrive at your destination, do you get to immediately hit the BART station? No. You get to go to the luggage carousels, where you wait. And wait. And wait. Is your check-in a black rolling upright? Then you combine the wait with checking to make sure it’s your bag and not someone else’s. This could easily add yet another hour to your trip.

Reason #4: Avoid tipping

When you don’t have to check in your luggage, you can save on tips all over the place. You don’t have to tip a porter at the airport. You don’t have to tip the cab driver when he takes your luggage from the trunk of the cab. You don’t have to pay the bellman when he carries your luggage to your room. If you’re pinching pennies and being careful where all your vacation money goes, avoid taking check-ins.

Reason #3: Be environmental

Believe it or not, traveling with just your carry-on is actually being environmental. By traveling lighter, the airplane doesn’t use as much fuel. Same with the cab (or rather than catching a cab, by taking the city bus that runs anyway, you’re really saving on fuel). If everyone starts to travel lighter, just think about the lighter load on an aircraft.

Reason #2: Avoid fees

These days, airlines have been charging fees for a lot of different things. But charging for the privilege of checking in luggage (some airlines, for even just a single check-in) seems to really rile people. Now, trying to avoid check-ins by forcing your too-big carry-on onto the airplane is not the solution. The thing to do is to learn to travel without your check-in luggage. What a way to stick it to those airlines! By traveling lightly, a person can easily save $40 or more.

Reason #1: “Lost Luggage”

For some, this phrase evokes nervous smiles and sympathetic nods. For others, it’s no laughing matter. The thing is, this doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of air travel. If you don’t ever give your bags over to the airlines, you aren’t giving them the chance to lose your bags. You stay in control.

Just last week, a good friend of mine traveled to the Midwest, but his check-in luggage didn’t make it. He was very lucky; the airline found his bag just 5 hours after he landed. Even then, he had to wait for his luggage at the luggage carousel, file paperwork, phone the airlines, etc. He was on a business trip, he had to do this in addition to whatever work he flew there to do. Then, when they found his bag, he had to travel back to the airport to retrieve it. The airline may have given him the option to deliver it to his hotel room, but he may not have trusted the extra time that may have taken.

I’ve had other friends whose luggage has been lost, and they have not been so lucky. They lost their luggage on their way to their destination, and their luggage was not found for a couple of days. This can be extremely inconvenient when the checked in bag contains all the things you hope to use on your trip. In one friend’s case, she wound up going to the hotel gift shop and nearby convenience store to buy all the basics, and she was able to live on those for the few days until her bag showed up. By then, she was almost ready to go home.

If there is a best-case scenario for lost luggage, it’s when they lose your bag on your way home. Maybe it’s wintertime and your lost bag only contained tropicalwear from your Caribbean trip. So the airline takes five days to get your bag back to you; who cares, right?

But what if they never find your luggage?

*The basis of this blog post is one of my original introductions to my Travelite FAQ site here.

If you read travel guru Christopher Elliott‘s writings as I do, you would think that the entire travel-related industry is going to hell in a handbasket when it comes to customer service, be it airlines that routinely institute new fees, or hotels that regularly overbook and then send unwary customers to lower-grade motels (if at all).

You would think that in these tough times, businesses would be bending over backwards to provide good customer service, to maintain a good reputation, retain loyalty, and reap long-term benefits, yes?

Well, it turns out that there are some bag/luggage manufacturers that fall into this category. Today, let me showcase Tom Bihn Bags.

Tom Bihn Bags

Based out of Seattle, Washington, this small bag manufacturer still makes all of its products in the USA. If you’re American and you prefer to purchase products that are made in-country, Tom Bihn bags are a keeper. All of the products they make are heavy duty and hold up well to everyday use.

What makes them a standout in the customer service realm, however, is their direct interactivity with customers:

• Blog: You can expect new blog entries on an almost daily basis, and they include everything from reader-submitted videos to information about new inventory. If you use an RSS feed reader like Bloglines or Google Reader, it’s a great way to see what’s going on in the world of Tom Bihn.
• Twitter: These days it feels like every company (and celebrity) has a Twitter account, and Tom Bihn is no exception. You’ll get updates when they post a blog, but they also follow their own subscribers, and they will actually respond to your queries on Twitter! Talk about feedback.
• Forums: Finally, they have a active discussion board at their Web site. They use vBulletin, a bulletin board system familiar to many. Here, people can post photos of their own Tom Bihn bags, ask questions, discuss the merits or problems with products, and so on. The membership hovers just below 3,000, which, while not huge, means there is a very loyal core following that has direct input into product design and redesign.

What’s impressive is how much direct feedback the people at Tom Bihn actually take into account in this interactive environment. It is not uncommon for company staff to post a teaser about an upcoming product or ask people for opinions about specific features about upcoming items, with a photo or two. At that point, the loyal readers respond with honest feedback, and there can be a lively exchange over the merits of various features, until the designs are tweaked to better meet customer requests.

A good example of this is in the board thread entitled, “TriStar day!!!!” where a reader was disappointed that the photos of this new pre-production travel bag indicated zipper pulls that were cords instead of metal tabs. After some back-and-forth exchange, company rep Darcy announced a change to metal tabs, with a package of cord pulls for people who prefer the latter. How many companies do you know that work so closely with their customers to hone their product design, and actually respond to them?

Many manufacturers simply hire out marketing researchers or leave it to their own staff for opinions, but by listening to their own customers, the folks at Tom Bihn can introduce new products that actually fit the bill for their market. What a concept!

For a small company, they are constantly working on research and development, coming up with new products or tweaking their existing line. They are adding new colors and new sizes and so on, and they try to coordinate products, so that small internal packs fit in large bags, colors match, and whatnot.

Listening to customer feedback? Seems like it!

The Wall Street Journal has a new article out today called “What It Costs An Airline to Fly Your Luggage,” which concludes that it costs the airlines about $15 to carry your check-in luggage for you.

However, it’s not until you scroll well into the article that you see a couple of whoppers.

First, take a look at their chart.

Wall Street Journal’s at-a-glance chart showing current luggage fee charges by major U.S. airlines.

Currently, only Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, and AirTran charge nothing for the first bag (although Delta charges a whopping $50 for the second bag; and that will change on December 5 when Delta starts charging for the first bag, and lowering the price for the second), and Southwest is the only airline that doesn’t charge for a second bag. If you are flying any of the other airlines, checking in two bags can easily set you back $40.

There’s one more whopper in the article, though:

This summer, Delta Air Lines Inc. Chief Executive Richard Anderson said he thought it was fair for the airline to haul one suitcase free for passengers.

But earlier this month, Delta said it, too, would begin charging $15 one-way to haul the first bag, effective Dec. 5. (At most airlines, elite-level frequent fliers, first-class ticket-holders and international passengers are exempt from many of the fees.)

What changed? Customers were paying the fee at other airlines without a backlash. Delta said it wasn’t getting any benefit from not charging the fee. So why not charge it?

Can you believe the gall of these people? How much research did they do? Did they do any market surveys to find out if people were choosing to fly Delta because the first bag was free? That’s not the kind of thing crew members would hear, so I’m really curious how they came up with this cockamamy notion.

And does anyone remember all the big whining excuses the airlines gave earlier this year about why they needed to charge for check-in luggage? Because oil prices were spiraling out of control. When’s the last time you filled up your car in the U.S. for over $3.00? Even in the expensive San Francisco Bay Area, prices are amazingly below $3.00. Has even one single airline used it as a marketing tool to say, “Hey, we want your business back; don’t drive, fly with us for the holidays and you can check in your bags for free!” Nope, no such policy change. We knew they weren’t going to remove those fees, didn’t we? I’m just waiting for airline executives to go begging for relief money from Congress just like the automotive industry CEOs did last week. Let me tell you, they are simply out of touch with the public.

I don’t know about you, but this just raises my hackles.

Of course, the best way to counter this is to travel light! Lift up your fist, stick out your chin, and give those luggage fees the old heave-ho!

…that said, it might be a little tougher if you’re visiting relatives for the holidays and you plan to take gifts with you. As we head into December, you’ll see a lot of these kinds of stories in the media, but here’s a really simply list to remember as you start holiday shopping:

• Shop online and have the company mail the item to your destination. You can spend a bit extra for gift wrapping, but you can also let your family members know to immediately place the mail under the tree.
• Buy something that’s flat, small, and lightweight. Small electronics are fine but be mindful that many of them are overpackaged (iPods use minimal packaging). CDs and DVDs come in pretty small boxes now, and they’re also pretty easy to tuck in your carry-on. Silk scarves, fine jewelry… be creative!
• Remember not to wrap your gifts before you fly. The TSA reserves the right to open everything, including your boxes.
• Don’t buy any stocking stuffers that are liquid, like hand lotion. All liquids still need to go in your 3-1-1 baggie.
• If you’re staying in a hotel at your destination, you can ship your packages to the hotel directly, so that you can take your time to do your gift wrapping once you get there. Beware that not all hotels accept packages for guests, so check in advance. Make sure to ship it well in advance so it gets there in time, and make sure you clearly mark your package with your check-in date, as well as confirmation number.
• For a big splurge, consider buying someone a trip! You can tuck a guidebook to that destination under the tree, be it a weekend getaway to a nice B&B, a trip to Disneyland or the Mediterranean.

One more thing (that most people don’t think about): You have to convince your relatives that you only want small, flat, light items as gifts—because you’ll have to fly home after the holidays, too. This one is the true challenge. Many years ago, a relative gave us a huge tin of popcorn for Christmas. We just opened it immediately and shared it with everyone so we didn’t have to take the tin home. Another year, that same relative gave us a very large kitchen appliance (I think it was a large crock pot) knowing we’d flown thousands of miles to visit. We promptly returned it to the store and exchanged it for something smaller and flatter.

It took a few years, but people finally started to remember. As a result, we got things like calendars and muffin top pans… stuff you can actually pack in your carry-on! Things that will help:

• If you get any electronics, make sure everything works before you lug it home.
• Make sure to remove any extra packaging. Do you really need the big case that comes with the watch, or do you just need the warranty card?
• If you get a lot of stuff, just mail everything home.
• If you get any food, share it with everyone so you don’t have any left over to lug home.
• If something is really too cumbersome, go to the store and exchange it before you go home.

Although I keep politics out of the Travelite FAQ, the past year and a half or so has been a truly eye-opening experience for me as America prepares to vote for the next leader.

If you are registered but have yet to vote—especially if you’re in a swing state like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida—you should expect lines to be very long. Don’t let the long lines discourage you; please stay in line, and please vote. It is the one voice you have, and together, our country is a wonderful choir of different voices.

Today’s post is a very different kind of packing list published at the Jack and Jill Politics blog:

Before you go to vote

• Confirm polling location: not always same as primary / caucus location. Check @ http://govote.org
• Print out voting rights: know phone numbers, rules, etc. Check out http://bit.ly/print-voting-rights
• Save election protection numbers in your cell:
  • 866-OUR-VOTE / 866-687-8683
  • Espanol 888-VE-Y-VOTA / 888-839-8682
  • Asian languages: 800-966-5946
• Check weather
• Note nearby public bathrooms

Voting day packing list

• Avoid political buttons or campaign-related clothing
• Bring I.D. just in case — see your state’s ID requirements here

(for yourself or others)…

• Bottled water. snacks
• Umbrella / trash: bags in case of rain.
• Jacket: in case of cold or to cover campaign clothing
• Folding chairs: for the tired, the injured, the elders
• Camera: to document fraud or simply history. share with Video The Vote or YouTube’s Video Your Vote project.

Activities to pass the time waiting in line

• Be alert for scams! for example, if somebody suggest you can “vote by phone” to avoid the line, they’re lying—call the hotline to report it
• Play six degrees of kevin bacon
• Remember favorite campaign moments
• Sing civil rights songs
• Make up new dances
• Meet your neighbors!

Finally…

• If you have problems voting, call the hotline numbers (1-866-OUR-VOTE / 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA)
• Femember that voting with a provisional ballot is better than not voting at all
• If you are in line when the polls close, you are still allowed to vote

Go vote, America.