E-MAIL CHRIS   PRINT   2008 COLUMNS   ARCHIVES   SEARCH ARCHIVES MY KINGDOM FOR A TICKET JACKET By Chris Barnett December 4, 2008 -- Airline buffs have a new collectible: the ticket jacket. They're a vanishing breed if you fly economy class. Now you're not going to miss the ads and the tiny print that spells out the airline's "contract of carriage." But they are handy organizers for your ticket confirmation, boarding pass, receipts for the pesky extra baggage fee and the luggage claim checks. Recently, a United Airlines check in-agent handed me a fistful of papers--after I checked in my garment bag and fetched my own boarding pass. But no ticket jacket. United doesn't give them anymore. How many times have you frantically rooted through your coat and pants pockets, overcoat pockets, briefcase, purse or carry-on bag trying to find your boarding passes and other flight documents? And that's when the airlines did give you a ticket jacket to organize the mess. Now try searching for that boarding pass without a ticket jacket. Root around the stack of files in your computer case--or in pockets jammed with papers, itineraries, receipts, a mobile phone or a BlackBerry, directions to your first appointment and other notes scribbled along the way. The disappearance of the ticket jacket is a sure sign that on-the-road civilization as we know it is in irreversible decline. Some low-cost airlines give you a boarding pass that looks like a cash register tape or a single card with all the information you need. You don't expect more when you fly them. But now giant United, which charges top fares and has already slashed so many passenger conveniences, has found another way to cut costs and take away the most basic "perk"--a piece of folded paper to hold your tickets. Delta and several of the other Big Six carriers do it, too. It's a real slap in the face to business travelers (like me) who are disorganized, absent-minded and anxiously stuck in traffic on the way to the airport. And how about those times when you're traveling three weeks straight and carrying a sheath of airline itineraries, hotel and car rental reservations and other documents? That's the stuff that usually gets stuffed in the now-disappearing ticket jacket. Not all of us have those cool, black, leather, James Bond-like organizers. Most of them are too long to fit comfortably in a pocket. That's why an airline ticket jacket is so vital. For most of us, it's our on-the-road organizer and a handy-dandy filing system. Lest you think this is much ado about nothing, consider: United Airlines, at least, is only eliminating the humble ticket jacket for their coach-class passengers. Business- and first-class flyers are "jacketed," no questions asked. Even if you're in steerage, however, you have an option: Make a fuss. At the ticket counter, say something like: "Excuse me, but where is my ticket jacket to hold all these travel documents?" You'll get one, albeit grudgingly. I did it in Boston the other day. Meanwhile, just think about the inane possibilities the disappearing ticket jacket could unleash. United (and other airlines) might start charging economy passengers for a piece of paper with a pocket glued to it. A dime, a buck, 250 frequent flyer miles? United's folks are pretty clever when it comes to annoying fees. They invented paying for food in coach and this year were the first to charge for checking a second bag. And you just know what happens next: Once United imposes the ticket-jacket fee on coach flyers, it will announce that elite Mileage Plus members would get them free as a new benefit. And they'll say it's all because United "listens to its customers." In these hardscrabble times, as companies tighten their travel policies, more and more of us will be sitting in coach. And if you thirst for an in-flight libation to relax--perhaps from all the stress of finding all of your travel documents without a ticket jacket--be ready to pony up 17 percent more for a screw-top wine, a beer or a miniature bottle of hooch. United recently boosted the price of its alcoholic drinks to $6 a pop. I suppose it could be worse. US Airways is gouging passengers $7 for a hard drink and $2 for a soft drink or a small bottle of water. It even charges for a cup of its atrocious, watery coffee. Pocket flasks anyone? Unless they're a small goatskin bag, you'll never get them past security.

ABOUT CHRIS BARNETT Chris Barnett writes about business-travel tactics and strategies that save time and money and help minimize hassles. He is based in San Francisco and has written for a wide variety of major newspapers and national magazines. Barnett on Business Travel is syndicated by Creators Syndicate. THE FINE PRINT Joe Brancatelli makes this space available to Chris Barnett in the spirit of free speech and to help encourage editorial diversity and the wider discussion of important travel issues. All of the opinions and material in this column are the sole property of Barnett. This material may not be reproduced in any form without the express permission of Chris Barnett. This column is Copyright © 2008 by Chris Barnett. JoeSentMe is Copyright © 2008 by Joe Brancatelli. All rights reserved.