FlyLite & PlanetTran

Convenience for the Jet Setters

By Jialin Luh (Mar 15, 2007 )  

With all the new safety regulations and restrictions, traveling by plane today is a far cry from the glory and glamorous days of the jet setting era. Alas, dry your tears, weary travelers. Flylite and PlanetTran are two companies striving to maximize convenience and minimize the headache for you when it comes to air travel. FlyLite suggests: “Never pack or carry another suitcase again”, while earth-friendly airport shuttle service PlanetTran offers a green alternative to car services and taxis.

Flylite: Luggage Hassles Solved

Anyone who has tried to cram too many garments into a bag and arrived with wrinkled business suits and squashed shoes, or who has had to part with their $30 shampoos, lip glosses and deodorants may get excited about Flylite’s service. This Virginia-based company is determined to make traveling more efficient for frequent flyers. After registering at Flylite, a representative contacts you to arrange a date and time for receiving an empty suitcase. Fill the suitcase with items you frequently travel with and call Flylite to arrange a time for pickup. Your suitcase is couriered to Flylite facilities for cleaning, cataloguing and storage in a system dubbed “iCloset”.

Flylight provides you with secure online access to your private iCloset, where you can view, sort and manage your items. The interface is designed so that you can drag and drop items from your inventory into your virtual suitcase for your next trip. Once you’ve “packed” your bag, simply select your hotel and date of arrival. You can expect your items to be delivered to your hotel, clean and neatly packed. Specify your departure time, and Flylite arranges to have your suitcase returned to their facilities for cleaning and storage until your next trip. There is a seven-day turnaround for your items once it has been picked up from your hotel (this includes laundering, dry cleaning, pressing, etc.!).

At $100-200 round-trip depending on destination, this service is not for everyone but may be well worth looking into for business travelers and/or the true jet setters. You know who you are.

PlanetTran: Airport Transport Solved

Tired of being the first person picked up by the airport shuttle service and dozing while the driver packs the rest of your fellow travelers in like sardines along the way to the airport? Not really willing to fork out the dough for an executive car service or limo but not wanting to deal with taxis and the BART? With its fleet of Toyota Prius sedans and Lexus RX400h SUVs, PlanetTran is the nation’s first all-hybrid public auto service.

R. Seth Riney, “a Yale-trained systems engineer inspired to build an operationally efficient, logistically challenging, and environmentally responsible transportation company,” founded PlanetTran. Originally only serving Boston, the company recently expanded to offer transportation to and from San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose airports. PlanetTran justifiably touts its service as a great alternative to the fuel-hungry high-emissions of traditional black car sedans. But in addition to being environmentally friendly, the hybrid fleet is equipped with Wi-Fi access so you can stay connected and keep working through your commute.

With online reservations and real-time vehicle tracking, you can now book your next pickup at your convenience and track the moment of your car’s arrival. The QuickQuote feature on web site indicated that service may be a little more expensive than the standard cab fare, but in these times of global warming it’s a price well worth paying.