Four major U.S. airlines, United, Delta, Northwest, and US Airways, are tinkering with the idea of following American’s lead in adding a charge for checked baggage, according to Bloomberg. Experts insist it’s inevitable that large carries—all floundering under the skyrocketing jet fuel prices—will have to take drastic measure to stay afloat. Replica Franck Muller watches Analysts and consultants worry that the added bad charge will drive more flyers to carry-on bags they would otherwise check, crowding planes and boarding painfully laborious. If you can get a ticket at all – some suggest the industry as a whole is going to have to cut service and capacity by 20 percent to cut costs and raise ticket prices enough to stay in the black. -Claire Napier Galofaro
Sir Richard Branson plans to hop onboard Virgin Galactics inaugural journey, scheduled for November 2010, accompanied by his two children, mother, and 90-year old father, according to British tabloid, the Sunday Mirror. My wife is staying on the ground,” Branson told the Mirror. “Shes not terribly keen on the idea of the kids coming up with me although I think shes not too bothered about what might happen to me!”The British mogul plans to unveil the “mothership” rocket in July, and the passenger shuttle sometime next year. Replica Zenith watches The tourist flights will travel 50 miles in three-hours, and cost somewhere around $200,000 a head. Until then, Branson’s throwing his weight towards peacekeeping efforts in Kenya, warning the country’s government that he’s willing to pull out millions in investment and reconstruction dollars if the violence returns. Sir Richard topped our list of 2007 greatness. Find out here what Decembers cover boy does when not saving the world or inventing inter-galactic tourism.
That quilted nylon sleeping bag is getting old, and you need something new. So give your old gear to a group that actually needs it: the homeless. A new organization, Homeless Gear, collects donated camping equipment, mainly sleeping bags and backpacks, for people whose home is a car, under a bridge, a campsite by an urban river. While sleeping in a replica Cartier watch shelter would be preferable, a segment of the homeless population still winds up out-of-doors. Even people who do spend the night in shelters may shiver on the streets during the day, and could use a hardy bag to transport their belongings. Can you think of a better destination for your old North Face gear? --Emily Matchar
