Matthew Olivolo June 26th, 2009

In the relentless pursuit to give our customers the tools they need to travel smart, and comfortably while looking good, here are some new travel tips I found posted in the Long Island Daily Newspaper, Newsday.

The Associated Press

You’ve got to stop by the bank, pick up your dry cleaning and put gas in your car. That’s a lot to do and still make it to the airport two hours before your 11 a.m. flight.

But what if you could cut that time in half and not miss your flight? Here’s a cheat sheet to help you navigate more quickly.

1. Take public transportation No car means you don’t have to spend time looking for a space and trekking over to the terminal. It usually costs less to take public transportation than to park.

2. Pack light The fewer bags you have, the quicker you can get past security and on board the plane. Try to avoid checking bags, which will probably save you at least $15. Don’t forget your new Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bag which helps get you through security checkpoints faster while leaving your laptop inside your bag.

3. Use self-service Print your boarding pass online the night before your trip. Otherwise, check in at a self-service kiosk at the airport.

4. Breeze through security Have your ID and boarding pass in your hand as you walk through the security line. Separate liquids and remove your laptop from its bag. With your TSA compliant laptop bag, you will fly through security like you own the airport. Choose from Backpacks, Messenger Bags, Briefcases and Totes.

5. Eat later Wait until you get through security or you may miss your flight. On the other side, you can grab some food and take it to the gate.

6. Upgrade to business class It costs more, unless you use reward points or credits, but you’ll be the first to get on and the first to get off.

7. Consider an alternate airport Flying out of secondary airports can save time, since lines can be shorter, the terminals less crowded and parking easier.

8. Know where you are going If you are connecting, map out the location of cross-terminal transportation ahead of time, suggests Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com.

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Matthew Olivolo June 23rd, 2009

Mobile Edge ScanFast Element Checkpoint Friendly Briefcase, the TSA approves…and so will you!

I don’t know if you’re aware, but brown and pink is the new black. It’s true! It’s taken me awhile to come around to the brown/pink combo – I’m still scarred from the last time it was popular. But I must admit, I’ve wholeheartedly embraced it – ever since Matthew from Mobile Edge sent me a pink and brown ScanFast Element Checkpoint Friendly Briefcase.

Such a vibrant pink! Such a rich brown! Such a delightful inner lining! I’ve been quite the smitten kitten with this bag.

I posted a review of Tom Bihn’s excellent CheckPoint Flyer men’s laptop bag on my Cool and Stylish Laptop Bags for Men lens, but this was the first time I’d had a chance to try out a TSA-approved laptop bag for women.

I tested the ScanFast Element out on a recent business trip and was very pleased with its performance in the security check. A quick unzip and the bag glides right through the x-ray machine, my laptop securely in place, the rest of the bag undisturbed. Very handy.

I felt quite smug being able to skip the “stuffing my laptop back into my bag” ritual that my fellow travelers were performing – in fact, the Element and I strutted all the way to the gate (with only a brief stopover at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory – I did have all that extra time, you know).

Like all of Mobile Edge’s bags, the ScanFast Element is extremely well-made and designed with your needs in mind. You can carry it by the handles, or use the nicely padded shoulder strap to carry it messenger-style.

The bag itself is divided into three main sections. The front area unzips to reveal:

• A pretty, colorful striped satin lining that makes it easy to see what’s inside the bag

• A pocket featuring Wireless Security Shield technology, which keeps your Bluetooth Phone/PDA safe from spam, hackers and viruses (Love this!), Pen and business card holders made of sturdy faux-leather material and a zippered area for your wallet/credit cards, etc.

• There’s a place for everything in the front section, but in case anything shifts during the flight, there are nice deep gussets on either side to keep the contents from spilling out.

• The laptop area is nicely padded and offers great protection for your machine – both my MacBook Pro and Rosemary’s ginormous Dell Inspiron 1520 fit in there with ease (not, obviously, at the same time).

The ScanFast also has plenty of room for files in the third zippered section, behind the laptop – great for documents, keeping receipts and whatever else you need. And at the very back of the bag is a pocket big enough to slide a magazine or slim book – easy to access without having to unzip the bag.

To read the full review visit Kate’s Blog Site Funky, Chic and Cool Laptop Bags on Squidoo by clicking here.

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Matthew Olivolo June 5th, 2009

Traveling is great, but sometimes packing for trips can be a tenacious task. Here are a few helpful tips on how to pack the right way. Keep in mind several airlines now charge for the first checked bag in addition to a second checked bag. When traveling with a friend or spouse, double the charges for everything.

I found this checklist on a terrific website called Hitched.com. They offer great advice on a variety of topics. Here are a few packing tips they recommend.

1. Bring it on board. Unless you are going for an extended vacation, consider traveling with a carry-on and an oversized purse or tote bag (2x if you are traveling together). Put your wallet and personal belongings in the tote, along with any magazines, a pair of comfortable shoes for your trek through the airport and anything else you will need during your flight.

2. Check it off. Make a check list of the basics; pj’s, reading glasses, medications, contact lens case, make up, underwear, band aids, etc. Don’t forget to review the list before leaving the house.

3. Is that regulation? Make sure your carry-on suitcase is FAA regulation size. Regardless if your suitcase is made of leather, aluminum or sturdy cloth, or even a duffel-style carry-on, make sure it has wheels. Throw your tote bag over the handle of the wheeled case and off you go. If you need to bring a laptop make sure you use a Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bag. It makes traveling much easier. Click here for more info.

4. Easy access. Store your larger suitcase in the overhead and keep your tote under the seat in front of you for quick access to magazines, tissue, hand sanitizer or your laptop.

5. Wrinkle-free tip. Recycled dry cleaning bags works miracles for wrapping sweaters, skirts, shirts, trousers and assorted articles of clothing. This tip is the key to your clothes arriving wrinkle free.

6. Bag the footwear and get them in position. Place your shoes in old grocery bags, wrap them in dry cleaning bags or professional shoe bags and line them around the perimeter of the suitcase. This will create a sturdy shell, allowing you to place your garments in the middle and preventing them from shuffling during the flight.

7. Keep ‘em separate. Use small travel bags or zip lock storage bags to separate undergarments, belts, inexpensive jewelry (wear the good stuff or keep it in your tote—never check it), toiletries, medicines, computer and cell phone chargers and all other miscellaneous items that inevitably get lost or sink to the bottom of the suitcase.

8. Wrapped up. In your tote, pack an oversized scarf or pashmina that can be used as a blanket for the frigid plane trip. Nothing is worse than feeling chilled and your only option of warmth is the dirty airplane blanket that is crumpled up next to the earlier passenger’s old newspaper.

9. Keep it identifiable. Label your luggage with a distinct luggage tag and before you zip it up, throw in a couple of empty trash bags for dirty clothes. Bags don’t weigh a lot and you can use them to separate your smelly gym socks from your delicate lingerie.

10. Travel ahead. Finally, consider pre-shipping any gifts that may be fragile or breakable. Better safe than sorry and it will be one less thing to worry about.

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