WARNING - size does matter
Low-cost airlines are off the hook for this Blog. Instead, it's airport security that I have in my sights.
Now, we all know that liquids are not allowed through security at any airport unless they are in small containers (less than 100ml).
Well, all except the idiots I see on most of my trips, happily putting their bags on the conveyor system while clutching their bottles of water. Have they never travelled before or don't they realise water is a liquid?
I digress. The subject of my wrath this time? Plastic bags. In particular the clear, plastic bags you need to contain all your under 100ml liquids, if you want to take them onboard.
This has been the norm for several years now across Europe. I had a clear plastic bag. It travelled with me everywhere for almost four years, a safe haven for my shaving gel, toothbrush, razor, toothpaste etc.
It felt like part of my travelling family - always there. It won't let you down. It doesn't require nourishment. And it won't jump the boarding queue (unless I do, of course).
Until a recent sourjon to sunnier climes, when a security person at a regional UK airport informed me that the bag was too big. "OK - so what do I need to do?" I enquired.
"You'll need to go out of security, buy another (correct-sized) bag from one of the vending machines and then go back through security."
Yeah, right - having taken 25 minutes to reach the body scanner, I had no intention of repeating the exercise. "I'd like to speak to a supervisor, please."
To cut a long story short (I can hear the cheers from here) I left my toothpaste, shaving gel and the offending bag on the supervisor's desk. and placed the non-liquid items in my trolley-dolley bag.
I am sure she gave them a good home.

Spaced out, man
In the constant drive for efficiencies (or profits, as I like to call them) most low-cost airlines are doing more and more to encourage people to travel with carry-on baggage only.
They have encouraged this by introducing high charges for checked-in bags, high penalties for not checking bags in at the time of booking flights online and generally making it a fairly difficult process.
I travel regularly and for short trips, so I am a low-cost airlines dream - well, in this matter at least.
My trolley-dolley bag is wheeled, has a secure laptop compartment and a sizeable section for clothes etc. Sorted. To date, this has worked well. But I see a problem looming.
What are the airlines going to do when all passengers follow my example?
I was on a full flight recently and had boarded early on in the process. I like to get on early - I just LOVE people-watching.
Anyway, one of the last people to join us was a cabin-baggage-only traveller. One of those relaxed, "there's a seat for me" people who avoids the stress by hanging back and casually sauntering on board.
Yep, there was a seat for him. But no space ANYWHERE in the overhead lockers for his  bag.
"I'm sorry, sir," said a crew member, "but your bag will have to go in the hold."
Much to his credit, he stood his ground and refused the order/request (delete as applicable).
After a great deal of huffing and puffing, the crew managed to move things around (primarily, it seemed to me, toilet rolls and serviettes) and found some space.
So, we all look forward to the day when EVERYONE takes hand baggage only.
Especially the low-cost airlines. Because then another revenue stream will open for them - a super, pre-paid, cabin-baggage charge.
How long before we have to pay for everything we carry on board apart from our clothes?
Mind you, there's a thought.