Today in travel history

On this day -- today, 2010 -- Spirit Airlines announced that they will now start charging up to $30 for carry-ons that do not fit under the seat in front of you.  Damn you, Spirit Airlines.  Now everyone will start copying.   Looks like I'm going to have to start using my backpack again.  Looks like I'll be ruining my clothes again, too.  damn you...

 BUSINESS   | April 07, 2010
Fewer Bags, More Revenue
By CHRISTINE NEGRONI

Airlines in the United States started charging for luggage in 2005 by instituting a fee for passengers with more than one bag to check. Soon, even the first bag wasn’t free. Now, Spirit Airlines says it will charge as much as $30 each way for carry-on bags that are too big to fit under the seat. 

np:

Fly, Lamb

Lobo, Ali Farka Toure

No Mind, Happy Campers

Under-the-seat carry-on

[in progress]

1. Computer bag from Target that cost about $30-something dollars.  It has a center zip for a laptop.
2. Lightweight wrap (I can't live without my modal wrap from Banana Republic.)  I zip that into the center section for its own protection.  I've ruined too many nice things from indiscriminate stuffing.
3. quart-sized baggie of goodness
4. work stuff
5. entertainment stuff
6. water water water

Current travel purse

[in progress]
SLIM PURSE (It will fit in the Target bag, if I don't have too much crap in there.)

1. slim wallet
2. Lysol Spray To Go
   
3. SwissCard
4. iPod + earbuds
5. ear plugs
6. Listerine PocketPak
7. paper soap that smells nice
   
8. mirror, lipstick, cell, whatever else...

In the quart-sized bag

 

[yes, this all fits in a quart-sized ziploc]

1. My moisturizer - travel bottle
   
2. My conditioner - travel bottle
3. Any liquid makeup that I happen to be wearing at the time
   
4. Evian mineral water facial spray
   
5. Toothpaste
   
6. Top coat [1] -- although Essie has this nice-looking little set.  hmmm.

 [1] I may say in passing that the OPI topcoat is one of my very favorites; however, it travels *horribly*.  It keeps unscrewing open.  grrrr.

Overhead carry-on

[This post is a work in progress]
Here is what goes into the Brookstone bag:

1. One medium-sized roll-up bag for dirty laundry
2. Clothes that take up as little air as possible - like Underwriters' Skinny Rib nightgown or any kind of matte jersey dress.
   
3. Individual packets of nail polish remover
4. Shaving paper
   

I can smash my laptop in the back of this thing, so after security, it goes in, unless I need it on the plane.

My carry-on

I fly a LOT.  I had one bag for about 12 years.  It fit in every overhead compartment and was virtually bottomless.  Recently I changed to a much smaller bag because overheads are smaller and if you are not within the first two groups to be seated, all of the overheads will be full and then you have to gate check it anyway.

So I went to this little Brookstone rolling briefcase thing.  (Pics and packing process to be posted...)

I try not to bring a big heavy coat, but sometimes I have no choice.  Right now I'm wearing the VS Classic wool coat everywhere.  It's not too bad to fly with.

This list to be clarified next time I pack (IOW, shortly).

np:

The Running Board, The Dillinger Escape Plan

Mary of Silence, Mazzy Star 
Next Message, De-Phazz