Lifestyle, Travel

How to Choose Carry-On Luggage that Will Pass Airline Inspection

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First, the Rules (Updated 2018)

Each airline publishes size limitations and often change these to force passengers to pay more. Check with your airline directly. However, the general rule is that a bag cannot exceed 45 linear inches, according to the FAA. That means that if you add up the length, height and width, the total inches cannot be more than 45 inches. These airlines fly to Hawaii:

Air Canada21.5″ L x 15.5″ W x 9.5″ H
(23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm)		22 lbs
(10kg)
Air New Zealand46.5″ (linear)
(118 cm)		15 lbs
(7kg)
Airtran Airways24″ L x 16″ W x 10″ H
(61 cm x 40.6 cm x 25.4 cm)		n/a
Alaska Airlines24″ L x 17″ W x 10″ H
(61 cm x 43 cm x 25 cm)		n/a
American Airlines22″ L x 14″ W x 9″ H
(56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm)		n/a
Delta Airline22″ L x 14″ W x 9″ H
(56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm)		n/a
Frontier Airlines24″ L x 16″ W x 10″ H
(61 cm x 40.6 cm x 25.4 cm)		35 lbs
(15.9 kg)
Hawaiian Airlines22″ L x 14″ W x 9″ H
(56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm)		25 lbs
(11.5)
United Airlines22″ L x 14″ W x 9″ H
(56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm)		n/a
US Airways22″ L x 14″ W x 9″ H
(56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm)		50 lbs
(22 kg)
Virgin America
24″ L x 16″ W x 10″ H
(61 cm x 40.6 cm x 25.4 cm)		50 lbs
(22 kg)

TSA has rules about carry on luggage. Each airline also has its own rules for carry on luggage. You need to be familiar with both. TSA’s rules for carry on luggage mean that you cannot bring any liquid or gel in greater amount than 3 ounces (100 mL), and those 3 ounce bottles must fit into one quart size plastic bag. You also cannot have anything sharp, like scissors or knives.

Next, the Luggage

Three brands of luggage offer the best warranty service, including guarantees against damage done by the airlines: Eagle Creek, Patagonia and Tumi. I have successfully used all three and used their lifetime warranties. As an elite flier, I personally use:

Other companies, such as TravelPro, Hartmann, Victorinox, Swiss Army and  Samsonite, sell solid luggage sets with good warranties. I have traveled with all of these brands as well. However, these don’t guarantee against damage done to your luggage by the airline. Only Eagle Creek and Patagonia offer this type of warranty. And let’s face facts, most of wear and tear on luggage comes from the airlines’ luggage handlers and sorters.

Whichever bag you choose, I hope you find one that really works well for you!


Culture, humor, Random

Cycle 13 of Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model on location in Maui, Hawaii

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Tyra Banks chose Maui, Hawaii, as the “exotic” location in the second half of season (or cycle) 13 for “reality” show about becoming America’s Next Top Model. Previous Top Model exotic locations include Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, and Brazil. US destinations include New York and Los Angeles.

Top Model first aired on the CW channel in May 2003. Since then, every season features an airplane ride across an ocean to some faraway destination for the top 5 or so contestants (out of 14). This season, the top 6 were flown to Maui and lodged in a private vacation rental in the resort area of Ka’anapali.

Tyra_Banks_Maui_Hawaii
Tyra Banks shooting model contestant Erin on location near Kahului, Maui. Erin muddles through portraying someone who is "hapa" Tibetan and Egyptian, while "working it" in a hot sugar cane field in Pu'unene near the mill

In episode 9, the remaining 6 contestants squeal almost continually while in Hawaii, even while learning to surf near Lahaina.

Next Top Model cycle 13 surfing in Maui
Nicole of ANTM cycle 13 eats it surfing near Lahaina

After surfing the girls go to a photoshoot, where Tyra and Jay explain the theme: hapa. In Hawaiian, “hapa” means half. Famous people who are hapa include President Barack Obama, who is hapa haole and papolo. Tyra mentions this factoid to the girls. They squeal. So far so good.

But in a bizarre twist, Tyra and Jay assign each of the 6 girls hapa characters to portray in their fashion shoot. This has nothing to do with reality of being hapa. For instance, Erin must portray someone who is Tibetan and Egyptian, but the clothing is costume reinterpreting some historical style. Fashion, it’s not.

Makeup artists paint Erin’s skin and hair dark, and wardrobe people put on a cleoptra-style gown with some kind of funky chunky gold headress. No wonder she’s confused. The other 5 girls suffer a similar fate. Not so much squealing now.

The best thing about this hapa Halloween photo shoot on this “reality” show are the moody Upcountry clouds and the gorgeous magic hour light from Maui’s sunset.

food, humor

Recipes for Avocados

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It’s avocado month at my house, where the 20-year old tree in my backyard has begun to drop 10 to 20 fruits per day. Judging by the height of the tree and the number of green fruits still hanging, I’m guessing my avocado tree could easily “rain” about 250 pounds of fruit over the next 30 days.

The avocado tree in my backyard, loaded with fruit and starting to drop
The avocado tree in my backyard, loaded with fruit and starting to drop

So I’m undertaking an avocado eating challenge to see how many avocados one person can eat safely. My tally this week: 15 avocados eaten. So far the only side effect I’ve noticed is that certain biologic functions run a lot smoother.

I’m also giving avos away to friends and neighbors, knowing that I can’t possibly eat the whole tree’s worth. But in order to enjoy so many avos that remain and avoid avo burn out, I’ve begun searching for new recipe ideas. Apart from slicing the fruit and adding it to sandwiches, salads, soups and stir-frys, I’m in the process of perfecting my guacamole recipe.

Other recipe suggestions that I’ve received so far include avocado cream pie, avocado ice cream, avo smoothies and if those don’t sound strange enough, avocado hair conditioner.

If you’d like to share your favorite “killer” guac, or any other avocado recipe, I’d love to give it a go.