Comments on: It's not a bag, it's a coat

It's not a bag, it's a coat

GuyZero — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:37:46 -0800

It's not a bag, it's a coat. Tired of extra airline fees even for carry-on luggage? The Jaktogo is a bag that tuns into a... stylish coat.

By: tel3path

tel3path — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:39:24 -0800

Doubles as a flotation device!

By: Drumhellz

Drumhellz — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:39:53 -0800

I can't wait to wear this coat with many hidden pockets to an airport. It should end very well.

By: Kitteh

Kitteh — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:40:12 -0800

Wow, you can look unflattering and be cheap at the same time! (baggage fees are bullshit, though)

By: Foci for Analysis

Foci for Analysis — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:43:26 -0800

"stylish"

By: The Deej

The Deej — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:44:49 -0800

I just had pockets surgically placed into my skin. More attractive.

By: theodolite

theodolite — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:44:54 -0800

It's not a coat, it's a duffel bag with arm holes.

By: mosk

mosk — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:45:33 -0800

When cargo jackets are outlawed, only outlaws will wear cargo jackets. OK, outlaws and people who like fashion that screams, "look what I made at Craft Day!"

By: maryr

maryr — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:45:37 -0800

Product price: $ 109.99 So I guess it pays for itself in only four rather uncomfortable flights.

By: axiom

axiom — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:45:52 -0800

No way I'm walking into an airport wearing something marketed as a 'smuggling coat'. And paying $110 for the privilege.

By: MCMikeNamara

MCMikeNamara — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:45:54 -0800

I'm suddenly feeling less stupid about the cargo pants I'm wearing today.

By: troika

troika — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:46:58 -0800

The last time my mom flew to Poland her checked bag was a hair overweight, so she stuffed her jacket pockets and sleeves with whatever she could dig out of the suitcase until it made weight, so she didn't have to pay extra. I think she also wore a significant number of shirts for the journey. This bag/jacket was made for people like her. I would not want to sit next to someone in one of these, though. I am already annoyed by the people that bring two huge carry-ons and stow them both in the overhead compartments. I totally get that legroom is limited and baggage fees are shitty, but then the other half of the people on the plane have to gate-check their bags.

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:47:35 -0800

Makes an ideal gift for: -Shoplifters -Pickpockets -Suicide bombers

By: MCMikeNamara

MCMikeNamara — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:47:56 -0800

For ultimate air travel comfort you should look into the Jaktogoslanket -- it's a jacket and suitcase and a blanket that you wear over your whole body. Lots and lots of pockets for storage but shitting is a problem.

By: theodolite

theodolite — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:48:18 -0800

It's confusing that the Jaktogo logo incorporates the flag of Côte d'Ivoire, but its name references the nearby country of Togo. I know that West African francophone nations are trendy now, but pick one!!

By: notyou

notyou — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:48:34 -0800

Crikey. Just factor the baggage fees into the cost of the ticket, check your bags, board the plane, and relax, smugly, as everyone else fusses and sputters with carry-ons and overstuffed overhead bins.

By: maryr

maryr — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:48:51 -0800

This is all going to end with me not being able to bring my coat on a plane, isn't it?

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:49:21 -0800

Think of all the liquid bomb handgun explosive knife drug assault weapon contraband electronic illegal immigrant you could carry in one of those!

By: mosk

mosk — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:49:51 -0800

Also, I want this in a Snuggie-sized version, so I can essentially carry my entire wardrobe and the bulk of my possessions with me everywhere, like a bulky cotton-and-polyester turtle.

By: allkindsoftime

allkindsoftime — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:50:01 -0800

There's better looking products out there in this category. These ones look like a bomb vest from The Hurt Locker or something which is gonna go over just splendid with your average TSA agent.

By: Bulgaroktonos

Bulgaroktonos — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:52:44 -0800

I honestly don't get the big deal about baggage fees. You're asking the plane to carry more stuff, it's not crazy to have to pay extra for that. Obviously, it can go overboard, but as theory it makes total sense.

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:54:45 -0800

Obviously, it can go overboard But I guess that's true for both passengers and luggage.

By: troika

troika — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:55:00 -0800

I think it's more of just that they didn't exist for a long time, and now they do. Personally I don't care, but I rarely fly with more than a backpack (and that huge chip on my shoulder).

By: Think_Long

Think_Long — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:57:57 -0800

Are those models wearing any clothes under their Jaktogos? OH jacket+to go = JaktogoIGETIT

By: Mrs. Pterodactyl

Mrs. Pterodactyl — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:58:04 -0800

I honestly don't get the big deal about baggage fees. You're asking the plane to carry more stuff, it's not crazy to have to pay extra for that. I disagree in that I base my flight selections largely on price and I can't really compare prices when there are unannounced fees or fees not mentioned in price comparisons. Factoring in baggage fees to one ticket is fine but I can't go looking up various airlines' baggage fees to see how much it will add to the ticket every time I price a flight. Admittedly this is because I am constantly pricing out flights to all sorts of parts of the world even if I am not really capable of traveling there.

By: carter

carter — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:00:46 -0800

These should be allowed, as long as you have to wear them for the whole flight, and not block up the aisles at boarding time, as you struggle out of them and the attempt to stuff them into the overhead bins, where they will take up twice as much space as a packed bag.

By: ricochet biscuit

ricochet biscuit — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:02:27 -0800

There's better looking products out there in this category. Indeed, some of them have been mentioned on the blue for years.

By: The Deej

The Deej — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:02:27 -0800

Fluffcoat Mafia.

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:04:59 -0800

I honestly don't get the big deal about baggage fees. You're asking the plane to carry more stuff, it's not crazy to have to pay extra for that. Every taxpayer in America was charged a baggage fee already in 2002. This was a free service until four years ago, which was a year or two after stocks in several airlines declined dramatically, which was two years or so after the government bailed them out with half a trillion dollars.

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:05:30 -0800

on one end of the hallway is a woman in a jaktogo on the other end of the hallway is a man in a utilikilt in the center of the hall is the corpse of gianni versace hooked up to a generator the man and woman take turns advancing on the corpse the corpse spins free energy for all tesla's ghost weeps ionic tears

By: The Deej

The Deej — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:06:56 -0800

KICK VERSACE CORPSE

By: mazola

mazola — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:07:18 -0800

You know what else should work? If your buddy sits on your shoulders and you put on a trenchcoat, you should totally get on by paying just one fare.

By: mazola

mazola — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:10:14 -0800

Also: this is why we can't have nice things. Like coats.

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:11:43 -0800

versace corpse awakens at your kick fueled by ruinous powers eldritch glyphs cover wizened skin each glyph denotes a pocket to a new hell all the pockets are open now versace corpse howls songs unsung since before creation armageddon is its carry on

By: Bulgaroktonos

Bulgaroktonos — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:12:40 -0800

I disagree in that I base my flight selections largely on price and I can't really compare prices when there are unannounced fees or fees not mentioned in price comparisons. Factoring in baggage fees to one ticket is fine but I can't go looking up various airlines' baggage fees to see how much it will add to the ticket every time I price a flight. This is the internet, which means if there's information, there's a chart of it. Comparing prices would be an issue if the fee changed between ticket purchase and boarding (I have no doubt that this does happen because business are slimy like that), but otherwise it's just another price factor to consider. Given that it also tends to be a tiny fraction of the cost of a ticket, it's also a slight one. Either way, bags cost money. Heavier planes use more fuel, it takes more employee hours to load them, and they take up space which is a limited resource.

By: pernoctalian

pernoctalian — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:14:41 -0800

Meh. In winter, a regular down coat/vest carries almost everything I need on board except for my laptop. In summer, an oversized hoodie with sewn-in pockets does the same thing. Easy to take off and send through the checkpoint, no overhead baggage compartment nonsense. I *love* checking bags and not having to drag all of my crap through multiple airports. Also I fly Southwest whenever possible.

By: 2bucksplus

2bucksplus — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:16:39 -0800

We should just start moving to a model where passenger weight + weight of all stuff = ticket price. It's the only fair way to charge for the cost of fuel and it would serve as an incentive to pack lighter. Maybe checked stuff costs half as much per pound or something.

By: ilana

ilana — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:16:43 -0800

If only this man had obtained one of these coats; perhaps his strip-search would have gone far more quickly.

By: Metroid Baby

Metroid Baby — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:21:17 -0800

This is perfect for me! Finally, I can replace that Hefty bag I've been using as a jumper for the past ten years. It's flattering and comfortable, but I'm probably due for an upgrade. *garbage bag dress suddenly gives way, dumping clothes, electronics, foodstuffs, large bottles of liquids and gels onto floor; enter TSA agent, stage right*

By: Kabanos

Kabanos — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:23:52 -0800

We should just start moving to a model where passenger weight + weight of all stuff = ticket price. I'm gonna hit the sauna tonight. Gotta make weight for my flight tomorrow morning.

By: MCMikeNamara

MCMikeNamara — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:25:12 -0800

14 pockets, while useful for some, seems like a nightmare to me. Where'd I put my boarding pass? (checks 13 pockets before finding them in the last) Damn it, where's my ID? (13 + 1 final pocket check again) Wait, where'd my boarding pass go? (repeat)

By: jeather

jeather — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:28:52 -0800

I am rather fond of the dress version because it doesn't have any redeeming features. Are you going to just pull it off in the middle of the flight? And the x-ray images with your iPad and two pairs of jeans and three shirts are really amusing.

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:30:34 -0800

Looks like a meat stealin' coat. You could steal a whole lotta meat, in a coat like that. It's got steak pockets and ham pockets and chicken pockets and bacon pockets. PAYS FOR ITSELF.

By: HuronBob

HuronBob — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:30:47 -0800

Really, nobody has used the word ugly yet? Let me be the first. DAMN those are UGLY!

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:32:02 -0800

OOOH THEY HAVE DRESSES TOO DRESSES FOR STEALING MEAT

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:35:17 -0800

I honestly don't get the big deal about baggage fees. You're asking the plane to carry more stuff, it's not crazy to have to pay extra for that. I feel like all the issues with muffinheads bringing on "carry-on" bags they can't even lift and stuffing two huge bags into the overhead bins &c. would be solved if flyers got a discount for having smaller carry-on luggage.

By: Night_owl

Night_owl — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:36:11 -0800

Oh man. Read the article on the shop page, if you can. Terrible translation. And stabbing.

By: The 10th Regiment of Foot

The 10th Regiment of Foot — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:42:08 -0800

In related news...

By: KokuRyu

KokuRyu — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:44:12 -0800

For this to truly take off in North America, it needs a coffee cup holder, or at least a USB charger.

By: The 10th Regiment of Foot

The 10th Regiment of Foot — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:45:46 -0800

We should just start moving to a model where passenger weight + weight of all stuff = ticket price. The only result of that would be a lot more fat people in thongs.

By: goethean

goethean — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:46:10 -0800

We should just start moving to a model where passenger weight + weight of all stuff = ticket price. Is that in dollars or Euros?

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:58:08 -0800

>ASK WOMAN ABOUT VERSACE CORPSE

By: Samizdata

Samizdata — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:59:20 -0800

maryr: "This is all going to end with me not being able to bring my coat on a plane, isn't it?" So, what you are really saying, and let me see if I am getting this right, is... You want these motherfucking Jaktogos off your motherfucking plane?

By: East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94

East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:02:43 -0800

We should just start moving to a model where passenger weight + weight of all stuff = ticket price. This is actually how it worked in the early days of flight. Then the airlines realized that they'd get more customers if they didn't force people to confront their weight every time they flew. The first airline to institute this policy today would be out of business shortly thereafter.

By: notyou

notyou — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:24:40 -0800

Baggage fees are kind of about getting more money from travelers, but given all the grief the airlines get because of them, and the transparency of the effort to gouge the customer, that doesn't really explain why they've persisted in the face of such widespread consumer scorn and anger. That bugged me for a while. People aren't persistently willful idiots, usually. Not even airline executives. So I poked around the Internet to see what I could find. What I found is that the airlines have discovered a way to reduce the amount of tax they pay by pulling the cost of hauling your bag out of the price of the ticket, and subsequently re-adding that cost (plus maybe a little extra gravy, for giggles) as a separate "fee." How does that work? The cost of the ticket is taxable, but many fees and surcharges aren't [PDF]:

The Internal Revenue Code imposes several excise taxes to help fund FAA, including a 7.5 percent tax on amounts paid for the transportation of a person for domestic air transportation. This tax applies to fees such as for peak/holiday travel and unaccompanied minors, but does not apply to many other fees, including fees for checked baggage.

Airline executives really aren't persistent willful idiots. They're clever, tax avoiding sonsofbitches.

By: P.o.B.

P.o.B. — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:25:13 -0800

I'd buy one. Then I would practice for hours on end to be able to transform from satchel to luggage to vest to jacket to dress to muumuu. I would be a master of the Jaktogo, but I would refuse to say that name outloud. If anyone asked about my stylish yet utilitarian clothing/baggage, I would simply smile and continue to display my near magical abilities of transformation and storage. But I promise you this: if I ever ran into the undead chanting corpse of Versace, I would lay down the swift vengeance of my Proton Pack and a ghost trap that I would have so handily stored in one of my many side pockets, and then I would light that mu'fucka up.

By: notyou

notyou — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:31:51 -0800

This is actually how it worked in the early days of flight. Then the airlines realized that they'd get more customers if they didn't force people to confront their weight every time they flew. Interesting. I had breakfast at IHOP the other week for the first time in ... decades ... and noticed that all the menu items included a calorie count. My plan to enjoy a hearty breakfast of chicken fried steak and eggs with a short stack of pammy cakes was quickly undone. One assumes the highest margin items are also the highest calorie items. Somebody must have some data on the effect those calorie notices are having on consumer choices (and corporate bottom lines). "Hashbrowns and eggs, no toast or pammy cakes, please."

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:41:28 -0800

Baggage fees are kind of about getting more money from travelers, but given all the grief the airlines get because of them, and the transparency of the effort to gouge the customer, that doesn't really explain why they've persisted in the face of such widespread consumer scorn and anger. Well the answer is both a rhetorical and defeatist question: what the hell exactly else is there to do? The airline industry has a oligopoly on pricing and an absolute monopoly on the physical practice of transporting people long distances in a short time. They haven't cared about their rankings in consumer surveys for decades. They give shit one that you hate their practices; they know you have to be in Duluth for Christmas and they'll sure as hell make you pay for it. One of the major airlines will simply eliminate overhead bins within the next ten years. I'd say invest in this jacket company now.

By: maryr

maryr — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:52:16 -0800

As one of those idiots staggering with an over-full carry-on bag, two things: 1) If they didn't charge me to check my bag, maybe I would have checked it. Except... 2) They can't lose my carry-on bag, stranding me in Indianapolis for four days without any clean underwear.

By: moshjosh

moshjosh — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:52:18 -0800

Jaktogo? Is that like Grindr?

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:53:20 -0800

Well the answer is both a rhetorical and defeatist question: what the hell exactly else is there to do? The airline industry has a oligopoly on pricing and an absolute monopoly on the physical practice of transporting people long distances in a short time. An industry cannot have a monopoly.

By: Uther Bentrazor

Uther Bentrazor — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:38:45 -0800

See, everyone calls Rob Leifield a lousy artist, but apparently he was a visionary.

By: Beardman

Beardman — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:43:38 -0800

You don't have to choose between looking like a terrorist and looking like a flasher.

By: Reasonably Everything Happens

Reasonably Everything Happens — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:06:57 -0800

You see, it would be this mat that you would put on the floor... and would have different CONCLUSIONS written on it that you could JUMP TO.

By: KokuRyu

KokuRyu — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:35:13 -0800

The airline industry has a oligopoly on pricing and an absolute monopoly on the physical practice of transporting people long distances in a short time. Not really - one of the reasons for these ridiculous baggage fees is competition itself, from low cost carriers.

By: Samizdata

Samizdata — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:32:09 -0800

KokuRyu: "The airline industry has a oligopoly on pricing and an absolute monopoly on the physical practice of transporting people long distances in a short time. Not really - one of the reasons for these ridiculous baggage fees is competition itself, from low cost carriers." But, but, I thought competition in the market would make EVERYTHING better, right?

By: snuffleupagus

snuffleupagus — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:44:16 -0800

I like the Darth Maul meets Neo at the Pic-n-Save configuration.

By: wildcrdj

wildcrdj — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:05:08 -0800

But, but, I thought competition in the market would make EVERYTHING better, right? Consumers have pretty consistently "voted" for lower prices over amenities when flying. Airlines that have tried the "higher service" model have mostly not been successful (for example, I fly Virgin often and find it much more pleasant than the big carriers, but they have been losing money for years). Competition gives consumers what they choose, not "everything". And for many reasons, people vote price >>> everything else (I'm not even sure this is wrong for most people, who fly rarely and can handle the occasional inconvenience to save some $ -- the ones who care more about service level are frequent/business travelers like me).

By: orme

orme — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:07:08 -0800

I like how one of the selling points is that you can argue with the person at the counter about having to wear your amazing coat on the flight.

By: naoko

naoko — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:27:29 -0800

I would be curious to know how much the boarding process has been slowed down by people dragging their massive bags onto the plane and standing in the aisle struggling to force them into overhead bins and then giving up and dragging them against the flow of traffic back out to gate-check them (and then at the end of the flight waiting to get their bags back in a massive blob right outside the door, making it difficult for other people to deplane). It kind of makes me hate humanity even more than everything else about air travel.

By: KokuRyu

KokuRyu — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:35:45 -0800

But, but, I thought competition in the market would make EVERYTHING better, right You probably enjoy relatively cheap tickets because of competition. I fly to Japan about once a year, and there is very little competition on the route between Vancouver and Tokyo, or between Seattle and various destinations. Generally, there are two carriers: Air Canada and JAL, or Delta and JAL. JAL, as a rule of thumb, makes fliers pay a 20% premium over other airlines (because service on Air Canada absolutely sucks; Delta is merely uncomfortable). So, Delta and Air Canada have no incentive to offer cheap fares. I don't see what the big deal is anyway. Flying is a total luxury that's bad for the planet.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:42:20 -0800

This is basically a photo vest (and a relatively expensive one at that) which has been a thing for air travel for decades. Mainly because of weight limits and the complete insecurity of the checked baggage system. My 35mm rig weighed something like 35lbs and the weight limit for carry on baggage is 22lbs (masses representational). So I'd load up my jacket pockets with my heavy glass; get my carry on camera back pack through check in and security (jacket goes thru the X-Ray Machine) and then reload my camera backpack. And I've done the same to circumvent the weight restrictions on checked luggage.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:59:36 -0800

Doubles as a flotation device! Doubles as a flirtation device, as well ... but not really as well.

By: loquacious

loquacious — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:12:28 -0800

Man, I love lots of pockets and being cheap but this thing is ridiculous. You'd be better off layering a few sets of clothes and just carrying your gadgets in a normal bag. Or taking up the fine art of uberpacking and using stuff like vacuum bags or rolling/packing techniques to stuff your carryon. This thing is so bad I think we might be getting trolled. At least it's one to add to the list of chindogu.

By: Divine_Wino

Divine_Wino — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:16:01 -0800

I want one of these to put you all in and take with me everywhere, when someone asks me what's in my nuts looking lumpy coat I'll say "nothin', just a bunch of hilarious motherfuckers."

By: Pudhoho

Pudhoho — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:19:23 -0800

We should just start moving to a model where passenger weight + weight of all stuff = ticket price. The only result of that would be a lot more fat people in thongs. And a new website is born...

By: 26.2

26.2 — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:00:02 -0800

Sure, this is fine on your outbound trip. On the way home you're going to be wearing layers and layers of your dirty laundry.

By: "friend" of a TSA Agent

"friend" of a TSA Agent — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:42:36 -0800

"I honestly don't get the big deal about baggage fees." posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:52 AM on December 19 [1 favorite +] [!] "Personally I don't care, but I rarely fly with more than a backpack (and that huge chip on my shoulder)." posted by troika at 10:55 AM on December 19 [1 favorite +] [!] My "friend" has seen a passenger being charged $50 to bring on a backpack. The passenger didn't know she would have to pay that until she got to the airport check-in counter. Would that be a big deal? My "friend" might watch with amusement as a passenger took one of these off or put one on, but as a TSA agent, this wouldn't register very high on the "weird" radar. One weird thing recently: a passenger with a pet *and* a baby. The pet and baby shared names that were practically homonyms.

By: Frowner

Frowner — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:02:48 -0800

This is actually how it worked in the early days of flight. Then the airlines realized that they'd get more customers if they didn't force people to confront their weight every time they flew. This is one of those ideas that appeals to a certain horrible "common sense" mentality..but consider this: 1. How would people pre-buy tickets? I can say that I weigh 95 pounds and will be flying with nothing but a wristlet clutch and a waterbottle, but how do I prove that online? If I do get some kind of acceptable biometric documentation thingy, will it be continuously monitoring my weight and updating the internet so that I can get more of a discount when I lose weight and pay more when I gain? 2. Do you really want to be in line at the airport while everyone gets weighed and charged accordingly? 3. What happens if you need to fly to see family - for example - and you mis-estimate the weight of things you'll need to carry, and you get to the airport and you can't afford the extra charges? 4. Won't this discriminate against pregnant people? And you know who it will really hit? The tall. The subtext of this proposal is always "lol fatties" but you can be a tiny rotund person and weigh substantially less than a fellow who stands 6'2". 5. How much more cost will the additional staff and regulation needed to weigh people on the spot and re-charge their tickets add to the cost of the ticket itself? In the early days of air travel, relatively few people flew and they were virtually all rich. A policy that works well for a small population with lots of folding money doesn't do so great when you're talking about a de facto mass transit system for everyone who isn't in poverty. It kind of annoys me as a suggestion because it has a strong undercurrent of "stupid fat people should subsidize the rest of us because they are lazy and greedy, lolz".

By: ubernostrum

ubernostrum — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:28:45 -0800

If you pick flights based on price, you will pay for it. And I'm not kidding. You are paying for the right to be on the plane as it goes from Point A to Point B. You will either end up paying the difference in fees for things you'd expect are just "obvious" parts of a flight, or you will pay the difference in misery and inconvenience. But airlines know enough psychology to know that advertising a low price, and then tacking on a bunch of fees, is more likely to get you to buy than telling you what it'd cost to just get everything up-front. Also: one of my absolute favorite things about frequent-flyer perks? The separate check-in, baggage and security lines. Not because the lines are shorter. But because those separate lines are entirely made up of people who know what they're doing. Though of course that stops once you're actually on the plane. For example, a few weeks ago I was on a flight out of Houston. I got on the plane, tossed my laptop bag in the overhead (bulkhead seat, so no under-seat storage), sat down and got belted in, all in about ten seconds. Everybody else in zone 1 was similar; you can tell when all the frequent flyers are getting on the plane because it goes so miraculously quickly for a little while. But after boarding was done, we pushed away from the gate, the attendant did the safety demonstration... and then we sat there. Turns out some idiot ten rows back decided that rules -- like the rules about not having anything tangling up around your feet or in the aisle during take-off -- shouldn't apply to her. After being asked multiple times by the flight attendant to stow her stuff properly, finally it took the pilot getting on the intercom and literally pulling the "I will turn this plane around and go back to the gate" routine. That flight, I really wished I didn't have to drive home after landing, because otherwise I would've started drinking right then and there.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:26:47 -0800

What KILLS me: All these people with suitcases on the plane, together with computer bags. But come along with a camera bag and computer bag, and suddenly you hit objections. Of course they aren't going to be liable for the real value of anything you check, oh no! They might loose your luggage AND their own money, that way!

By: colie

colie — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:27:31 -0800

Reminds me of the Brasseye sketch that featured a hopeful paedophile who'd disguised himself as a school.

By: sonika

sonika — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:37:00 -0800

Next up: the Jaktoga, wear everything you own while wrapped in your favorite sheet! Goes great with those trendy gladiator sandals!

By: maryr

maryr — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:12:10 -0800

Blackout dates may include the Ides of March.