Daily gear deal – big Swiss Gear luggage clearance

by Scott Carmichael on

Today’s daily deal is for a spring cleaning sale of Swiss Gear bags over at Amazon. The lineup includes a bunch of backpacks, some rolling luggage, messenger bags and laptop bags.

The bags start just under $20, and the discounts range from a measly $10 all the way up to well over $250 on the more advanced bags.

All orders over $25 will ship for free. When you find a bag you like, be sure to check the pricing on different colors of the same bag, less popular colors can often shave up to $20 off the price.

Gadling Take FIVE: Week of April 11–April 17

by Jamie Rhein on

How wonderful to be in the middle of April when the flowers are blooming, the sun is shining. By now, you’ve noticed Gadling has a brand new look. Kudos to the design team! We’re pleased as punch. With wider photos, Karen can show off her photography expertise all that much more.

Along with the changes, we found out that Tynan, thankfully, survived a mugging. He has tips on what you need to remember to keep safe and to hold onto your belongings if you can.

Tynan is not the only one who offered tips this week.

Recycled leather unisex carry-on by Ashley Watson

by Annie Scott on

Maybe fashion is the last thing you think about when you’re going to the airport — or maybe it’s the second to last thing, right before the environment.

Well, if you’re cool enough to read Gadling, then you’re cool enough to travel in style, and why not be eco-conscious about it while you’re at it?

Pictured at right is the Ashley Watson Cormorant — a unisex, totally gorgeous 11″ x 16.5″ recycled leather masterpiece. The bag features soft, luxurious recycled leather in a rich brown, a comfy adjustable strap and handle, and a full hemp and cotton twill lining.

Ashley Watson designs, which we spotted at the Bagtrends Green Arm Candy Party in NYC, are made mostly from recycled leather jackets, and she incorporates the jacket details into the designs — very cool.

You can get the Ashley Watson Cormorant for $418 here, and check out these stores for more options!

Dangerous items the TSA does not like – water, knives and shock absorbers!

by Scott Carmichael on

Yesterday, I posted an article linking to the most up to date ways to be prepared for the security checkpoint at your airport.

One item missing from the lineup of things not to bring, was shock absorbers.

At least, that would appear to be the case after reading this story from a traveler who passed through LAX International airport.

After several delays, and a night at the airport, this passenger arrived home with his luggage, only to discover that 4 shock absorbers for his ’69 Mustang had been removed from his luggage, replaced by a note from the TSA telling him they had inspected his bag.

When he contacted the baggage agent for his airline, he was told that the TSA had confiscated them, but no reason was given for this.

Shock absorbers are not listed on the TSA site as prohibited, and I could not find any category of item that would give them a reason to simply take them. That said – the airlines do have a listing for pressurized items, and I could certainly understand if they consider shocks to fall into that category.

It isn’t clear whether he’ll ever get them back. Lesson for the next time – have them shipped instead.

More airline employees with sticky fingers

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Did you lose a bag at Philadelphia International Airport? Well, there may be a reason. An American Airlines baggage crew chief was arrested and charged with stealing clothes from the luggage he handled. The game appears to have been: (1) steal the clothes, (2) return them to a department store and (3) don’t get caught.

That last one’s the hard part.

A passenger on Flight 892 from Dallas to Philly noticed four articles of clothing missing – with a total value of $550. It was easy to reach that amount; the tags were still on the items. Later, the clothing, which was purchased at a Nordstrom in Dallas, was taken to a local Nordstrom.

If it seems to easy … well, handcuffs are there to tell you that it is.

This is just the latest instance busted up by police. A TSA official was fired from his job in Philly for lifting passenger belongings, and a theft ring in St. Louis was discovered – after around 900 items were alleged to have been stolen.