The Civilized Explorer aggregation

Okay, it’s a paid survey (sponsored by Dell), but the survey says 10,000 laptops go missing each week at larger US airports. Some are just lost and are recovered, but 65% never turn up again.

Some suggestions on avoiding theft: Use a stencil and spraypaint “Property of [your name here]” in dayglo green on both sides of the computer; there is also a suggestion on how to put your luggage on the conveyor so you get there in time to claim it before the thieves do.

So here’s my question: is the laptop you’re traveling with yours? Or your company’s (with company/client data on it)?

Ben Rothke reviews Terminal Chaos by Donohue and Shave. The book discusses why our airline situation is the way it is, and the authors offer some solutions.

Hold your breath.

Interesting cultural difference from the US: If a man has daughters but no wives, and he must go off on a trip, it is best to marry them to a responsible man.

A number of other views on marriage, age, and appropriate behavior. The concepts underlying the views are mind-broadening. There is a written transcript of the translation, so you can read it or follow the tape with subtitles.

Okay, so you’ve crammed a week’s worth of clothes, your laptop, recharger, camera, video cam, toiletries, and a few books into your carry on and now it weighs a ton.

Buy the LiveLuggage roll-aboard with motors built into the wheels so it rolls for you.

The cram begins. This short article talks about the struggle with carry-ons crammed with the stuff to avoid the checked bag fees. 

Tips on packing light are at “Packing light tips from the pros,” but there’s nothing really new there: Don’t have kids, use packing folders and compression bags, and just pay the checked bag fee and avoid the stress of competing for overhead bins.

The Wall Street Journal’s update to using luggage shippers. With airlines now charging for every bag we check, using a service isn’t as expensive as it used to be.

The test case is one bag weighing 40 pounds, shipped from Florida to Manhattan. Four of the five shippers used Federal Express or UPS; shipping directly by Fed Ex or UPS cut the cost from $200 that the most expensive service charged to $40. (The cheapest service charged $120.)

The advantage of the services is - wait for it - service. One gives you a two-hour window for it to pick up your bags; one set a specific time and came on time. Some label your bags for you, follow up by phone to assure your satisfaction, arrange for replacement rentals in the event of delays, file paperwork for shipments to foreign destinations, and so on.

The article has a nice table of companies, prices, delivery, and how things went.