No Pretzel Luggage

Never mind last minute packing; how about last minute luggage? During my previous trip to my home town this past Christmas, the luggage that greeted me at the carousel bore little resemblance to the luggage I started my journey with. Suitcase No. 1 sported a jagged split down one of its fronts while Suitcase No. 2's zipper gaped open where the handle had come away from the leather. I can't even in clear conscience blame air travel in general and baggage handlers in particular. I am a procrastinator and in all truthfulness, my luggage has needed to be replaced for awhile.

Now just under a year later, I am still victim of my own procrastination. I went to fetch my suitcases only to be reminded that I don't have any. But there's a silver lining; how to put this nicely? My old luggage was...well old. My suitcases were semi-soft sided and had wheels. But they didn't have retractable handles and while they could be wheeled through a busy holiday-time airport, I had to twist myself pretzel-like to do so. This apparent disaster presented the perfect opportunity to upgrade to upright luggage that looked like it belonged in the twenty-first century.

While it is fun in a desperate sort of way to sit on your suitcase in order to get it to close, expandable luggage is much more stylish and convenient to use. My new upright luggage set includes two suitcases of different sizes, a beauty case and a shoulder bag/carry-on with an adjustable strap. The retractable handles work like a dream and the wheels are so quiet I almost forget that my suitcases have wheels. In addition to having the confidence that my possessions are safely locked away and fully protected, the bonus to owning a new luggage set is knowing I don't have to roll it alongside of me twisted like a pretzel.

- E.L.

Air Travel Survival Trips

It's not just your luggage that you have to worry about. These days, air travel can be really stressful, what with long lines, crowds of people, flight delays and security checks. Here are some simple but effective ways of dealing with holiday travel that will allow you to survive gracefully and arrive at your destination (almost) stress-free.

Know the Rules

Before you even leave the house, the number one way to reduce holiday travel headaches is to plan ahead. Because rules and restrictions vary from one airline to another, check with your travel agent or the airline for a list of dos and don'ts including the size of carry-on bags, the number of pieces of luggage, the weight capacity of each suitcase, etc.

Ensure that nothing in your checked in luggage is carrying prohibited liquids such as lighter fluid or realistic-looking toy guns.

Be Flight Ready

Check in online 24 hours prior to your flight.

Print out your boarding pass before going to the airport.

Check online for any flight or weather delays about two to four hours before leaving for the airport. If you have a mobile phone, you can sign up for flight updates so you'll be notified of any last-minute changes or delays.

Be Prepared for Security Checks

Make sure that your carry-on luggage does not include anything that is going to get confiscated or ring alarm bells when going through security checks. And ladies, don't be like me and forget that your purse also has to go through security.

Use exterior pockets of your carry-on to keep your passport, boarding pass, ID, etc. handy.

If you can't shop for gifts and mail them ahead of time, plan on packing them into any suitcase you will be checking in. Should you need to take them with you in your carry-on, don't wrap them.


- E.L.

Orchids and Luggage While Walking to Work on a Fall Day

I noticed the second woman first. Actually, I finally noticed that I was about to trip over the back right wheel of her rolling suitcase. I was so busy enjoying the sights of a beautiful sunny fall day while on my way to work, that I wasn't really paying attention.

When I looked up, I saw that the woman wasn't alone. She was part of a party of three, another woman and a man. This woman also was trailing a rolling suitcase behind her. But the man was carrying a medium sized bag by its handle. I work downtown, an area not only overflowing with high-rise office buildings but one that is also heavily populated by hotels. So, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary to see a ragged line of three people walking down the street with suitcases. What did catch my eye, however, was, in addition to toting their luggage, each person in the group carried a potted orchid.

The orchids, one purple, one ivory, one reddish pink, suspended from green, knobby stems, gracefully danced in the fall morning air. It struck me as such a curious sight to see, just walking along on my way to work, that it set my writer's (overactive) imagination on fire. Maybe they were going to visit someone in hospital. Maybe they didn't know one another at all, but it was just a coincidence that all three were moving into new condos on the same day and taking a potted orchid with them. Maybe they were going to an orchid show. Flights of fancy aside, the latter was probably the most likely explanation for why three people would walk down a busy downtown street before nine in the morning, toting luggage and potted orchids.

If that had been me, I must confess, my poor orchid would have been a little worse for wear. But this group of three seemed to be savvy convention/trade show attendees; they had one suitcase each and appeared to be able to easily manage their other bags; a carry-on was attached to one woman's rolling suitcase, the other woman had an over-the-shoulder tote and the man wore a backpack over his jacket.

When purchasing luggage that will be used on a regular basis to get you safely to and from a business trip, trade show or convention, choosing the right style of bag can help reduce travel stress and allow you to use your time more efficiently.

A structured suitcase has a hard shell that will protect your belongings. A structured suitcase with wheels offers mobility and convenience. Hard-shell rolling luggage is especially useful for long treks through a busy airport or a convention floor. On the other hand, a roomy carry-on bag, one without structure and wheels, are easier to store under an airplane seat or in the trunk of a car.

Plan to pack light. The fewer bags you have to worry about, the better. Depending on the length of your trip and how much you need to take with you, a multi-compartment carry-on may be all the luggage you will need. A rolling suitcase that has separate compartments for a laptop, files and other business related items is also a good choice. Selecting lightweight, expandable suitcases with organizer pockets, tie-straps to secure clothing and built-in or detachable features like a valet tray will maximize functionality and help you to be better organized when you're on the go.

Since conventions and shows are well-known for hand-outs, freebies, samples and other curiosities, you might want to select a piece of luggage that includes plenty of pockets and compartments, both interior and exterior. Exterior pockets are especially useful for keeping your phone, ID and other necessities close at hand, eliminating the need to go fishing for them.

A combination of selecting the right kind of luggage and good planning will go a long way to making your business trip, trade show or orchid exhibition an enjoyable experience.