Before the security crackdown in August, travelling for an overnight trip was very straightforward – throw a clean shirt and toiletries into my normal work rucksack, check in online, walk on the plane, avoid any baggage queues.
That has all changed, certainly for the long term, probably for good, by the banning of all liquids and gels in British airports. The only alternatives for an overnight trip are a) to check in a bag, b) buy toiletries at the destination or c) post toiletries to the destination in advance.
So I have an idea for the airlines: a “Fast Toilet Bag Drop” (modelled on the popular Fast Bag Drop offerred by many airlines).
A person could check in online or at the self-service machines, then take their toilet and/or make-up bag to the FTBD point. The check-in staff would put the toilet bag in a plastic bag, seal the bag, affix a label and hand a receipt to the traveller. All the toilet bags would be placed in a dedicated tray or box, separate from the rest of the baggage. When check-in closed 30 minutes before the flight, the airline would take the box of toilet bags to the aircraft and place it in the hold or in a locked area in the cabin.
When the flight landed, the ground staff would quickly take the box of toilet/make-up bags to the baggage area, and hand the bags back to the travellers. This could be done in a similar way to the way US and Canadian airports manage duty free at the gate.
This suggestion would meet security requirements, in that liquids and gels would not be available to passengers within the secure zone. Airlines would have less hold baggage to carry, thus reducing their costs, and passengers would get through the destination airport more quickly.
I’m waiting now for the calls from the airlines, I wonder who will be first? Any idea what a good marketing label would be?
Of course, once trains get quicker, maybe we won’t need domestic airlines any more?
