Random Thoughts

[Max Rockatansky]

What has me scratching my head is the some of the stuff being sold at the airport. For instance, does anyone purchase their luggage at the airport? I usually order my luggage through Amazon which is cheaper.

Making money off stressed and absent-minded people who may have forgotten something in the rush to get out of the house, or may decide they need more capacity for holding their souvenirs or clothes or whatever.

I think ZLoth might be greatly overestimating how organized the average person is for travel.

[ZLoth]

Making money off stressed and absent-minded people who may have forgotten something in the rush to get out of the house, or may decide they need more capacity for holding their souvenirs or clothes or whatever.

I think ZLoth might be greatly overestimating how organized the average person is for travel.

I guess fortunes are to be made from the unprepared. This goes into the percentage of travelers who make a airline round-trip every two-three years verses the percentage of travelers who make one or two airline round-trips verses the percentage of travelers who make several trips each year.

[Molandfreak]

The only reason I could see myself buying luggage at the airport is if something on my carry-on suitcase breaks unexpectedly, which has happened to me at a destination before.

[kphoger]

The only reason I could see myself buying luggage at the airport is if something on my carry-on suitcase breaks unexpectedly, which has happened to me at a destination before.

But how else will you be able to transport all the books, magazines, cell phone chargers, wristwatches, fancy chocolate bars, neck pillows, coffee mugs, t-shirts, and Brooks Brothers suits that you bought at the gift shops to your destination?

[kphoger]

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it...  Let's say I'm flying somewhere and expect to bring a bunch of stuff back with me that I didn't take down there.  Like, maybe I'm visiting family and there's a bunch of stuff in their house that I'll be bringing home after I visit.  In a situation like that, I might just buy an extra piece of luggage upon arriving at the airport.  Fly down with one suitcase, fly back with two.

[Molandfreak]

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it...  Let's say I'm flying somewhere and expect to bring a bunch of stuff back with me that I didn't take down there.  Like, maybe I'm visiting family and there's a bunch of stuff in their house that I'll be bringing home after I visit.  In a situation like that, I might just buy an extra piece of luggage upon arriving at the airport.  Fly down with one suitcase, fly back with two.

I just take a foldable duffel for those situations.

[TheCatalyst31]

The only reason I could see myself buying luggage at the airport is if something on my carry-on suitcase breaks unexpectedly, which has happened to me at a destination before.

But how else will you be able to transport all the books, magazines, cell phone chargers, wristwatches, fancy chocolate bars, neck pillows, coffee mugs, t-shirts, and Brooks Brothers suits that you bought at the gift shops to your destination?

I assume a lot of airport stores, especially the ones selling those fancy watches and Brooks Brothers suits, make their money off of wealthy frequent flyers who either have more money than sense or who don't blink at throwing money at a travel crisis. I suspect we don't have many of those on the forum.

[kphoger]

I assume a lot of airport stores, especially the ones selling those fancy watches and Brooks Brothers suits, make their money off of wealthy frequent flyers who either have more money than sense or who don't blink at throwing money at a travel crisis. I suspect we don't have many of those on the forum.

Well, it definitely isn't me.  Last time I flew, this was my transportation from the airport, because I decided to spend 65 cents getting to my within a few blocks of my destination instead of wasting money on a taxi:

[formulanone]

So, airports.... are they travel hubs or overpriced shopping centers? From my experience, they're both. After all, they have a captive audience, and the premiums paid by the business is passed along in higher pricing to the customer. I would much prefer that more of the restaurants are either local chains in the area or a regional chain. But, the bills have to be paid, so that is a smattering of national chains as well.

What has me scratching my head is the some of the stuff being sold at the airport. For instance, does anyone purchase their luggage at the airport? I usually order my luggage through Amazon which is cheaper.

It depends on the kind of store; the numerous snack shops that act as convenience stores? I'd imagine a lot of people pick up an item or two, sometimes because you have a long flight, or sometimes just to placate children or just to "treat yourself". But if you bring a reusable water bottle or buy a few snacks ahead of time, you'd pay half as much than in an airport store.

As for the suit stores? I'd never quite understood it, but there are a handful of individuals who will buy something right off the shelf before an interview or meeting just so it's not folded up and might even be tailored somewhat. Clothing has lots of impulse buyers.

Luggage is another thing that makes almost even less sense, unless you bought a lot of items in the airport, why would you need more luggage? Either somehow broke it between hither and tither (this does sometimes occur to us frequent flyers) or if you have the really fancy stuff like Tumi or Briggs & Riley. Some of those places actually serve as a "service center" where you could exchange worn luggage/baggage or have it serviced (so as long as you plan on picking up later or maybe having it shipped). Keep in mind, that sort of luggage starts at around $600-800 and sets off in price from there...if you're a frequent flyer that's good sturdy luggage backed with a real warranty and guarantee. (Personally, I have not pulled the trigger on new luggage over $200.)

But if you fly once or twice per year, or would rather just tote it in your car, you might as well get extra luggage at Walmart or a thrift store if the need arises because then the build quality doesn't matter as much. You're never going to beat up your luggage all that much from the hotel to your vehicle and back to your doorstep. Heck, if you rarely plan on using it again then thrift stores have plenty of extra luggage. Personally, we under-pack for some places by taking carry-on luggage for one extra outfit apiece, in case we're stranded somewhere, and load up the checked luggage to about 80-90%. This way there's room in case we buy something and the carry-ons have some space for the rest (though I have the luxury of free checked bags).

Not every airport has a jewelry, electronics, clothing, luggage, or fine art shops; that's mostly your hubs and large international airports. Expect your airport's shops to be at scale with how many domestic and international flights it might have.

Lastly, there's some people with deep pockets, expense accounts, and even those with foreign currency to use up. Sometimes it's cheaper for them to overpay at the airport than pay for it back home; sometimes duty free shops are like that (I've personally not found any incredible deals, don't care much for alcohol, tobacco, and perfumes anyhow). One perk with work is that I don't have to scream when I pay $40 for a meal at an airport which would normally be $20 everywhere else, or "need" emergency rations when my flight is 5-6 hours delayed.

The theory is that people have lots of boring downtime in an airport and people find things like souvenirs or clothing or knick-knacks while they wait; there's not always a lot of seating and sometimes there's even neat stuff that's hard to find elsewhere (would almost always get an album or two at the Sub Pop store in Sea-Tac, but I heard it recently closed).

[Molandfreak]

Those of you on Reddit, there is a tier list being finalized for state highway shields:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TierlistFills/s/pCZxo8ZkvQ

[Scott5114]

Those of you on Reddit, there is a tier list being finalized for state highway shields:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TierlistFills/s/pCZxo8ZkvQ

I spread the word about Sad Nixon.

[Takumi]

Those of you on Reddit, there is a tier list being finalized for state highway shields:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TierlistFills/s/pCZxo8ZkvQ

I spread the word about Sad Nixon.

I can't explain why, but Hawaii's looks like it has a receding hairline.

[kphoger]

Those of you on Reddit, there is a tier list being finalized for state highway shields:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TierlistFills/s/pCZxo8ZkvQ

I'm disappointed at how many shields with tiny digits are in the S, A, and B tiers.  They might have somewhat cool designs, but they fail at their one job.

[Molandfreak]

Those of you on Reddit, there is a tier list being finalized for state highway shields:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TierlistFills/s/pCZxo8ZkvQ

I'm disappointed at how many shields with tiny digits are in the S, A, and B tiers.  They might have somewhat cool designs, but they fail at their one job.

I pointed that out in the New Mexico thread, but to no avail.

[PColumbus73]

Appreciate the forum posts while you can. Any moment they could be Thanos snapped, creatively snipped, bagged and disappeared.

[Max Rockatansky]

Appreciate the forum posts while you can. Any moment they could be Thanos snapped, creatively snipped, bagged and disappeared.

Blame Lord Baltimort for that.

[kphoger]

Appreciate the forum posts while you can. Any moment they could be ██████ ███████, ██████████ ███████, bagged and disappeared.

REDACTED