My wife and I travel a lot. Recently, we’ve been to Hawaii, Europe, on Caribbean cruises and to cities on both coasts. We dread the usual airport hassles with increased security concerns. But we’ve figured a way to make most of it bearable. It all stems from the amount of luggage you bring. And that is determined by knowing what to take and how to pack. We went to Europe with a single 22″ carry-on bag each and that included a tour of the Mediterranean over ten days. So how did we manage to cram all those clothes into that tiny space? If I told you I invented an incredible shrinking machine would you believe me? Okay, I’ll come clean.

My wife and I got smart. We didn’t want to have to check bags through the system at the risk of them being lost, broken, or stolen. And we both already own wheeled, carry-on luggage, with multiple compartments that have the expandable feature. So we decided to re-think what we really need for our travel. And that’s the operative word: ‘need.’ Now my wife is a lovely lady with a penchant for shoes and handbags. She also has a sizeable wardrobe. But, when considering the requirements for a week and a half trip, she has become ruthless in her decisions. For instance, does she ‘need’ five pairs of shoes and five matching handbags? How about five or six complete outfits?

So, instead, she starts with the absolute essentials. It begins with toiletries and cosmetics and the very basics of each. Toss in any hair care devices and we have a foundation. Of course, we now have to remember the TSA exceptions like toothpaste and liquids. Then she considers the weather and what is appropriate. I must add that we went in the spring when the European temperature was in the low seventies. Otherwise, we might have brought coats as well, but they would have been worn onto the plane. Continuing, she picked several mix and match tops, pants, and skirts that could be used several times. Finally, she finished with undergarments and any small extras that could be squeezed in. The bag and compartments were full, but not bursting at the seams, either.

It takes courage to weed out the non-essentials and force yourselves to live with the same clothes for that long a time. But, we made the choice and were happy with the result. Just learning which shoes, are both practical and comfortable, makes a huge difference as they take up so much space. We try to keep the clothes equally appropriate to our needs and pack the bare minimum. Our only exception is a small tote that can carry purchased souvenirs and our portable DVD player for viewing our own movies on the plane. It also accommodates our his-and-hers MP3 players and earphones, that can also be used with the DVD.

Having one piece of luggage per person makes getting through security a breeze. We also have the peace of mind that all our possessions are with us at all times. We’ve even thought of washing some things if necessary, because every hotel has facilities available for that very purpose. But the convenience of carefree travel is the reward.

So, the next time you plan your vacation, consider how much better it might be with single carry-ons. Otherwise, you’re back waiting by the luggage carousel hoping to spot that bag of yours. Because, in that case, I can almost hear you saying, “Is that the right one coming up over there? Gosh, I hope it’s not the one that’s already popped open.”

Jeffrey Hauser was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for nearly 25 years.
He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising and has a Master’s Degree in teaching. He had his own advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design firm, ABC Advertising. He has authored 6 books and a novel, “Pursuit of the
Phoenix.” His latest book is, “Inside the Yellow Pages” which can be seen at his website, http://www.poweradbook.com. Currently, he is the Marketing Director for thenurseschoice.com, a Health Information and Doctor Referral site.

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USAirways to Add 150 Workers

The fortunes of USAirways continues to improve ever since the company merged with America West and emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2005.

To that end, the airline is expanding its Reno, NV reservations call center by 150 employees adding to the 200 workers already employed at the facility. Most of the new positions had previously been outsourced by the airline; the move is a bid by USAirways to bring its reservation system back in-house.

America West purchased USAirways in 2005, jettisoning its own name in favor of USAirways.

MAF Heads For Idaho

A long time Redlands, California evangelistic organization, the Missionary Aviation Fellowship, will be leaving “the city of churches” for cheaper pastures in Idaho.

Citing the growing expense and burden of maintaining operations in California, the missionary organization will be relocating to Nampa, Idaho in a bid to cut costs. Indeed, missionary leaders have calculated that the organization can save as much as $800,000 in operating costs annually by making the move to Idaho. The organization has purchased nine acres in Nampa and is leasing another nine acres from the city.

Missionary Aviation Fellowship {MAF} operates 56 aircraft in 16 countries with three airplanes currently based in Redlands. The organization is noted for its members sharing their faith in Jesus Christ in word as well as in deed. MAF is presently very active in providing earthquake relief assistance in Pakistan.

Ryanair Socks Bag Fee To Pax

Ryanair, Ireland’s budget airline, is causing quite a bit of controversy with its plan to start charging passengers a check-in fee.

To be implemented in March, the Euro$2.50 fee will be assessed to passengers who bring more than one light bag with them on a flight.

BTW, the airline is hiring pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and sales staff.

Copyright 2006 - Matt Keegan is a blogger and aviation writer for Jet Movements a blog covering airline, aviation, & airport news, views, & rumors.

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Despite the anguish being felt because of ultra high fuel prices, many airlines are still offering deep discounts on flights as the busy holiday travel season approaches. This is good news for consumers, but bad news for struggling carriers who absolutely cannot sustain this practice permanently. Consumers should take care how they book and pay for their flights and be careful which airlines they choose to fly with. Although no carrier appears to be ready to shut down altogether, consumers must remain informed in order to avoid being left stranded.

The carriers most likely to find the going to be the toughest are the legacy carriers, which are defined as those carriers that have existed since before the current era of deregulation spawned competition in the early 1980s. Legacy carriers include: American, United, Delta, Continental, Northwest, and USAirways. There are many more discount carriers, but the major ones include: Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit, AirTran, ATA, and America West. America West and USAirways recently merged, however.

If you are planning a trip, always pay with a credit card to ensure that if your carrier does go belly up you aren’t left holding the bag. Credit card companies will refund your money if the airline goes bankrupt, but if you pay in cash you will have to get in line with all the other creditors. Good luck, in that case!

Some of the best deals for the fall/winter period involve flights with discount carriers. The following list will give you a sample of just how good prices can be. Always check directly with the carrier for the latest prices as fare changes can occur overnight. Fares do not include taxes or security fees, refund policies vary, and restrictions apply.

AirTran: Atlanta based AirTran is currently running numerous specials, particularly out of their home base in Atlanta. One way fares include: $249 to Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Much lower fares can be had for flights originating from other bases by visiting their “Web Deals” section of their site for last minute bargains.

ATA: Indianapolis based ATA recently instituted an across the board sale on flights starting as low as $44 from Midway to Sarasota. Other great deals include an $89 fare from Chicago to San Juan, PR and just $249 from New York to Honolulu.

Spirit Airlines: Miramar, FL based Spirit Airlines has flights starting as low as $49 each way from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando to Nassau. The airline recently expanded its presence in the Caribbean so much of their current specials are geared toward encouraging travelers to go to this region. Visit Spirit’s “Syber Specials” section online for last minute deals too.

Many of the legacy carriers do match the fares being touted by discount carriers. Currently, United, Delta, and Northwest are all in bankruptcy, while USAirways recently emerged from bankruptcy protection. Current labor problems at Northwest are also impacting the carrier, making flying with Northwest a truly “iffy” proposition.

Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful article writing, web design, and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to review selections from his portfolio.

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