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I'll be the first to acknowledge that this topic is unrelated to Amtrak, and is tangential at best to a forum that discusses travel, so therefore I'll understand if it goes "deep six" on its own or that The Moderator (appears to be Moderatrix) chooses to kill the subject in its entirety.
Today's column in The New York Times by their Business Travel columnist, Joe Sharkey,"turned me off', but somehow to many here I think it would have the opposite effect:
MANY thousands of years ago, there were two important inventions, the wheel and the sack. As a traveler, I can’t help wondering why it took so long to put rollers on that sack to create wheeled luggage.
In short, I hold that wheeled luggage is one of the biggest impediments to efficient commercial travel - mode notwithstanding. All too many travelers seem to think "hey I don't have to carry it"; I'll just bring the Kitchen Sink (and I'd swear some do)!!!
I remain astounded at both airports and stations when I see the amount of luggage all too many people have and I wonder "how much of that stuff do they really need?'. When I fly (two of my eight overnight trips this year: others; two Amtrak, four auto), I could care less about priority boarding, as I know my over the shoulder bag fits quite nicely under the seat. Overhead racks, airplane or Amtrak? who needs 'em.
There was one fairly recent trip I did on the Corridor WAS-STM. Traveling Regional Business Class and having gone to the Snack Bar for my 'freebie", I return to the BC car to find the door blocked by a piece of wheeled luggage at least 4ft tall. Could have I moved it myself? of course. Did I? no; I found a Conductor and asked HIM to move it - just to send him a message what kind of crap people are bringing on his train - and presenting a safety hazard at that.
I personally thought the 2009 movie "Up in the Air" was just great; I think the best scene was where Ryan (George Clooney) is giving his young colleague, Natalie (Anna Kendrick) the "packing lesson" @ KOMA.
All told, whatever happened to my long standing travel motto? "If you can't carry it, don't bring it".
Rant is over
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Thanks, Mr. Norman, for an interesting read. I knew about Bob Plath's invention but not Mr. Sadow's. Travelpro remains the luggage of choice at many airlines.
Having a 40 year veteran F/A in the household, I can tell you that there is nobody who would like to see regulation of carryon luggage more. The "templates" and "boxes" have been tried and then abandoned because nobody wants to be the bad guy. IMOHO, I think this screening should take place at security. Oversize bags should never make it past that point.
And if you are amazed by what people bring on planes and trains you should see what people bring on cruise ships!! The last night when bags go out in the passageway is truly an amazing sight. The most I've ever taken (for two cruises back to back totaling 29 days) was a 22 inch Rollaboard (Briggs and Riley because it was on sale) and a wheeled tote and half of a garment bag.
Frank in soon to be wet SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Then there are the folks who, for whatever reason or another (bad back, bad knees, osteoporosis among them) cannot carry more than a few pounds. The wheeled Travelpro and its ilk is a godsend for them.
Aside from this, I too wonder about those who must take steamer trunks on airplane trips.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Exception duly and respectfully noted, Mr. Kisor.
But did it appear in "Up in the Air" that "Natalie" had any disabilities?
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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For those of us who haven't seen the movie, could you please explain the reference, GBN?
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Mr. Kisor; from the Plot Synopsis appearing at IMDB (no spoiler material included IMHO):
At the airport, he checks in with his usual efficiency, and then sighs when he sees Natalie arriving with a large, impractical suitcase. He forces her to buy a suitcase that will fit in the overhead compartment, telling her that he flies over 370 days a year, and that not checking luggage saves him the equivalent of a week a year. He ruthlessly pares her packing, tossing things he deems unnecessary into the trash. In the security line, he gives her the benefit of his traveling experience: Never get behind families or old people and try to find an Asian, because Asians travel light, wear slip-on shoes, and therefore move through security faster. Natalie: "That's racist!" Ryan: "I stereotype -- it's faster."
"Up in the Air" is a great movie, currently making rounds on the HoBO channels as well as their On Demand service, and includes a most unexpected "twist" that only O'Henry could top. The only negative I can report is the array of product placement arrangements. It would appear that the Producers obtained promotional consideration from American, Hilton, Hertz, and Chrysler. This means that any other airline, lodging, and auto rental concerns metioned were fictional - and everybdoy drives a Chrysler!
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Thanks, GBN. "Up in the Air" is now on my must-see bucket list.
I spoze you read the item in the Times travel section a few weeks ago in which a flight attendant told how she packed for a trip by rolling her clothes into tight cylinders, rather than folding them flat. Avoids wrinkles, she said, and the compression of the textiles enables the traveler to tote more duds.
By golly, she was right. I do that now.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Mr. Kisor, "waddayatink" I did back in my "road warrior" days (five flights four hotels per week; kept it up for a year before I cried "Uncle")?
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I've got a pro-grade wheeled piece that fits perfectly into the OH bins of the SWA 737s, the craft I am usually fated to fly in. I learned a lot from a seasoned ex-TWA FA I once stayed with in NYC; she worked int'l flights out of Kennedy and knew exactly how to put a flying kit together--
Other friends that go to Asia several times a year NEVER check any bags at all-- this astounds me that you could go on a 2-3 week overseas trip with just what you can take into the cabin, but these folks ride up in Biz class, so they get more accessible space and relaxed carry rules, I believe.
I've wondered for years why Amtrak doesn't more strictly enforce its lax "carry-on" rules-- they have been doing a little better lately, but as I recall it was a "conductor call" as to what a psgr. could bring on board; still is to a certain extent.
The most egregious violation I ever personally observed was a gentleman at Albany, OR on the Starlight's route who presented himself with 9 huge barrels of clover honey that he wanted to put in the coach car! Each weighed at least 90-100 lbs. The sorry excuse for a conductor ordered me to "handle it;" and not "offend" our valuable customer-- it was an old ATSF Budd hilevel- so somehow it fit. But-- that was just WRONG.
*no "tip" either from this guy- not even a pint of the sticky stuff! Maybe it was moonshine whiskey and some sort of end run around the "reve-nooers?"
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: I could care less about priority boarding
So you do care a little about priority boarding then? David Mitchell explains, roughly 55 seconds until 2 minutes 13 seconds.
Anyway, unsurprisingly my wife is terrible at packing. Not just last minute, but "throw it all in, just in case". A couple of weeks ago my son went to stay at his grandmother's for a few days. One huge suitcase packed by my wife, swiftly halved by myself into a smaller suitcase - but then outwitted at the door by an additional bag literally thrown into the car as it pulled away.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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My close friend's husband is in the foriegn service and with each move she asks my help in packing. Why? Because I am known for getting more in one case than most people do in two. I have always rolled everything that is possible It takes less space and you have fewer wrinkles. also using the dry cleaner bags for blouses and between layers does likewise. Put things in things that is stuff shoes with hose etc.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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I don't see the difference. Before wheeled luggage, there were baggage carts. You park your car, then you end up running to the baggage cart corral to pay whatever fee, and then run the cart back to the car and load the luggage on the cart.
I do wish we had transcontinental HSR in this country (I'd certainly be partial to a 16-hour NYP-LAX trip, with sleepers or even in coach); it'd be interesting to see what a much larger contingent of "red caps" would have to say on the subject.
Posts: 566 | Registered: Mar 2002
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Yes the wheel luggage allowed to carry more. First they put rescrictions on the size you can carry on. Then the airlines charged you for large or extra bags plus. And using ones brains the people learned how to pack, and found that it might be cheaper to wash clothes when on vacation.
Posts: 516 | From: New Haven, CT USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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I guess I'm "picking nit", but what caledar did the chap in Mr. Norman's movie use that added nearly a week to our currently popular version?
Best regards, Rodger P.S. In all the travels during our nearly 50 years of marriage I've been able to get the bride to take one underseatable bag for a trip ONCE; no matter if it's for a weekend or a fortnight and that was in '85 when we had to carry our bags on the back of our bicycles. As much as I agree with Mr. Norman's dictum, in the name of family peace I've chosen NOT to make that point one upon which a war is started.
Posts: 112 | From: Merrimac, MA | Registered: Nov 2007
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