Extra Baggage
I usually groan when a major airline announces it's found another way to charge a fee. However, having just returned from a trip to Boston, I applaud American Airlines decision to charge passengers $25 to check a second bag. You know why --- people take entirely too much shit with them when they travel. I saw one couple who were chatting about their weekend getaway, and both of them were lugging two huge rolling bags each.
Listen up travel jackoffs: unless you are relocating to a foreign country for six months, you shouldn't be carrying a second checked bag. In fact, you probably shouldn't even be carrying a first checked bag.
Convert to the religion of john_clarke. I haven't checked a bag in at least five years. If I can't fit it in a medium-sized backpack, fuck it, I don't need it. Well what about bringing enough clothes? Clothes are meant to be worn at least twice when john_clarke travels --- I'm going on a vacation, not a fashion show. And guess what, if my six-year-old Muddy Waters t-shirt starts to reek, it could be washed. The payoff of carrying my crap on my back is that the check-in procedure is a breeze --- I get in and out of the airport as quickly as possible. And better yet, it's impossible for my luggage to get lost because it never leaves my side, figuratively.
However, only about 5 percent of the American traveling public is like me. This became extremely apparent when the cheapo airline I was using did not have an automated kiosk allowing me bypass the ticket counter beating. I had to wait in line for about 20 minutes with all of the sheep who were towing rolling bags the size of Chevy Yukons behind them. The 95 pound female ticket agent look exhausted from having to lug those beasts onto the conveyor belts.
So, go for it American Airlines. Charge $100 per checked bag if you want. It might be the only way to force people to downsize their oversized lives.
Listen up travel jackoffs: unless you are relocating to a foreign country for six months, you shouldn't be carrying a second checked bag. In fact, you probably shouldn't even be carrying a first checked bag.
Convert to the religion of john_clarke. I haven't checked a bag in at least five years. If I can't fit it in a medium-sized backpack, fuck it, I don't need it. Well what about bringing enough clothes? Clothes are meant to be worn at least twice when john_clarke travels --- I'm going on a vacation, not a fashion show. And guess what, if my six-year-old Muddy Waters t-shirt starts to reek, it could be washed. The payoff of carrying my crap on my back is that the check-in procedure is a breeze --- I get in and out of the airport as quickly as possible. And better yet, it's impossible for my luggage to get lost because it never leaves my side, figuratively.
However, only about 5 percent of the American traveling public is like me. This became extremely apparent when the cheapo airline I was using did not have an automated kiosk allowing me bypass the ticket counter beating. I had to wait in line for about 20 minutes with all of the sheep who were towing rolling bags the size of Chevy Yukons behind them. The 95 pound female ticket agent look exhausted from having to lug those beasts onto the conveyor belts.
So, go for it American Airlines. Charge $100 per checked bag if you want. It might be the only way to force people to downsize their oversized lives.
posted by john clarke at 1:17 PM
1 Comments:
I agree with the "second bag" thing: probably better for the environment, too (less weight, so less fuel used?). But I disagree with the "no checked luggage".
I actually use my multitool every second day (tightening loose screws on restroom door latches; using the knife to open plastic-wrapped packages). But apparently, my multitool (and my nail clippers) are "potential weapons".
So, if I want any of that with me -- and I do -- then I gotta check them in my bag.
Oh, yeah: and any liquid that's more than whatever ounces.
--GG
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