The Luggage Blog

Message In a Carry-On - TSA Communication Plates [Evolution of Security]

Image by Evan Roth

Images by fotopusch and dragonroy

Concierge.com is calling out for travel tips from seasoned travelers.  The best entry wins one million OnePass Miles from Continental Airlines and travel gear from Vivre.  They’re also giving away a Heavenly Bed from Westin Hotels & Resorts and a $500 gift certificate from Vivre to weekly winners.

Send in your travel tips today at Concierge.com

As if we need another reason to love Southwest Airlines, Forbes just named Southwest America’s Most Reliable Airline.  Forbes points out that one would usually assume that the cheapest fare come with a price… but Southwest proves that low fares don’t have to mean poor service.  So not only are they the only airline that’s not charging you to breathe, they’ve risen to the top when it comes to quality service.  Forbes measured each airline based on delays, arrivals and of course, mishandled luggage complaints.  Over the last 5 years Southwest rose to the top with on-time flights more than 80% of the time and a low cancellation rate of 0.65%.  Congrats Southwest and keep it up!

Picture by GirlieErin

Rooz Mousavi’s OBAG is definitely different that any other luggage on the market.  It’s designed to be easy to maneuver—even up and down stairs. And it’s compact to make storage much easier. And as a bonus it has a sort of futuristic appeal so you’d look pretty snazzy rolling it along in your silver plether speed-suit.  It’s just a concept design right now but it paints an intersting future for luggage design.

See more about the OBAG

Well it seems as though Tumi is always doing their best to come up with new and exciting collections.  Believe it or not, luggage can be pretty exciting and I think Tumi has done just that with their introduction of the new T-Tech Adventure Collection.

One of Tumi’s newest is the T-Tech Adventure Collection.  T-Tech Adventure is full of bright colors and the name says it all with the adventurous styles and designs that went into this collection.  The entire collection is made from Tumi’s exclusive X-Tech fabric, which is extremely durable, abrasion resistant and soft to the touch! Oooohhh you might just have to get one of these new bags!

Tumi has even created a new informational website, designated to the T-Tech label only.  This website explains all of the collections under the T-Tech label.  The new outdoorsy yet urban look of T-Tech separates itself from the oh so modern classic iconic style of Tumi.  Judge for yourselves!

View the T-Tech Adventure Collection on Luggage Online.

The liquid ban got some attention recently when Virgin Airways called for a review of the carry-on limits, particularly concerning liquids.   At the time the Department of Transportation said it had no intentions of changing the restrictions stating “…a generic capability exists to create liquid bombs from domestic items.”

Not even a month later the TSA sings a different tune.  They’ve announced that they foresee the liquid restrictions to be more relaxed.  ” TSA Chief Kip Hawley says,

“I think realistically in one year we, the TSA and foreign colleagues, will be a position to relax liquids restrictions. We are within a year of having the ability to differentiate threat liquids through the screening process.”

The reason for the change of heart? A new X-ray machine that can detect explosives.  The machines are already in use, but the software that detects the bombs is still being tested.  With the new technology liquids will most likely still have to be removed first, but the limits on quantity may be relaxed in ‘09.  In the meantime? Get out your 1 qt baggies and 3oz bottles.

TSA Likely to Relax Liquid Ban in 2009 [MSN Travel]

Photo by msmail