Airport reminder: Do not check-in people!

by Abha Malpani on

Authorities at Sweden’s Bromma Airport didn’t find it funny or entertaining when they were made the scapegoats of a stunt by private television station Kanal 5.

A heavy bag was brought to the check-in counter and during procedures, the bag was opened and a dwarf hopped out. A hidden crew was filming the incident, expecting to get a crazy reaction to the situation, something that could be aired on the comedy channel.

Other than feeling “shocked and humiliated” it is unclear how the airport staff actually reacted, and the channel promises that “extreme situation entertainment” footage is all they wanted.

I think it’s quite an original candid camera tactic, and since the airport isn’t pressing charges, looks like they’re not taking it too seriously either.

The things people do for a giggle. Sigh.

TSA-friendly wine bag

by Abha Malpani on

Everyone always asks me to bring wine from Spain which I’ve stopped doing since a bottle once cracked and left a unique and lovely red design on my new cream colored corduroy pants. Also, wrapping them is a headache: bubble-wrap, then paper, then wrapping paper, then a T-shirt, and you still need to keep your fingers crossed that you will have the bottle in one piece; and they are so heavy to carry in hand luggage!

Well, Bottlewise seems to have found a solution with their TSA-friendly wine bags. Each Bottlewise Duo (US$48.95) bag holds two bottles in well-padded, removable zipper bags, and can fit easily in your check-in luggage. This also means that you don’t have to buy your wine at Duty Free anymore, you can buy exactly what you want, gift-wrap it the way you want, and not worry about lugging it around in your hand-luggage. If you are still worried about cracks, you can opt for the Bottlewise Duo Plus (US$58.95), which comes with more padding.

[Via LA Times]

Remote Bag Check-in at LAX

by Iva Skoch on

In an effort to ease congestion and help travelers, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is experimenting with remote bag check-in, at locations around the city. The month-old program is apparently working well, and they’re adding locations.

The service, provided by BAGS, Inc., includes getting airline boarding passes and bag check in, for up to two bags, for between $10-15 per person. At the check-in locations, shuttle bus service ($6 round trip) is available to take you right to LAX. You can then proceed through security and right to your gate.

Check-in locations include the Van Nuys FlyAway bus terminal in the San Fernando Valley, the Union Station FlyAway bus stop at Patsaouras Transit Center, the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center. They hope to expand the program to major hotels as well.

Unfortunately, it’s only available to U.S. destinations at this time, and the airlines are limited to major U.S. carriers.

If this does expand to hotels and other locations, this would be a good way of avoiding nightmarish check-in lines, although you’re still stuck in security lines.