Fast (Toilet) Bag Drop
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?
I’ve never been able to walk on/off planes with an overnight bag as I invariably have something weapon-like in my washbag. It was tweezers last time. So I gave up ages ago and also put most of my luggage (be it a washbag and clean undies) in the hold. I usually don’t have to wait too long and, I must confess, have never flown in/out of London like that unless on a long haul.
I suppose because I’m that much closer to London that you I train in/out of the capital rather than fly. It’d be cheaper to fly tho!
A few of my colleagues have started taking the train. It only takes 4 hrs 40 mins between London & Glasgow, and they get 4hrs work done during the journey (I managed 30 mins on the plane yesterday between the seatbelt lights). So I might give it a go the next time.
What’s the door-to-door for each journey?
I left the office tonight at 5.10pm and have just arrived home (9.51pm), so that’s 4 hrs 40 minutes door-to-door by plane. OK, the plane was 50 minutes late, but there was a lot of hanging around and waiting. The security queue at LHR tonight was 40 mins.
I believe there is a train from Euston at 5.15pm that gets into Glasgow at around now (9.51pm), add 30 mins to get to Euston and 10 mins to get home from Glasgow Central and that’s 5 hrs 20 mins. Not much in it, really, and the train may be a better way to travel?
Certainly environmentally sounder. You’d get more work done. A bit more leg room.
But about 3x the cost?
Not 3x compared with flexible air fares. Train can be cheaper. But I’ll reserve judgement until I’ve done it a couple of times. The grass is always greener…