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the magical world of airsickness bags

Welcome. This is what my wife calls "a bunch of stupid jokes and pictures of paper bags." She's right about the jokes. She's wrong about the bags: some of them are plastic.

What the critics say: "Utterly unnotable" (Wikipedia editor). "Ridiculous collections #4" (Buzzfeed). Other comments: "As complete wastes of time go, it's a very high quality complete waste of time... An entirely dispensable source of inane comments about a truly trivial subject... A monument to the planet's worst corporate design... An unwelcome reminder of some of the more unpleasant moments in our lives."

Donations (unused, please) of bags not represented in the bag gallery are welcomed -- please mail to this address, and I'll credit you on this site! I am happy to trade any extras that I have. Check out the links to other bag sites, find out how you can use your spare bags, and explore the fascinating world of bag manufacturers

Highlights: The design features page reveals the secrets of professional baggery, and the logos page analyses the enigma of airline corporate identities. Search for your favourite bag, browse the bag gallery by country and airline, and check out the biggest, best and worst bags!


News

Bags meet music

Celtic guitarist and raconteur Jackie Leven opened a concert in Berlin in 2005 with a story about an airsickness bag.

No, I don't know what he said. But if you hurry and bid for a CD of the concert on eBay, you can find out and tell us. The auction ends on 1 October 2006.

Thanks to Homer Goetz for this item.


Saturday, September 30, 2006 


New: flushable dogbags!


What dogpoo looks like in a Proudly bag


Proof that Proudly's bags do indeed dissolve

Finally, a way to dispose of your dogpoo in the comfort of your own home!

Just scoop up your dog's do-do in one of Proudly Eco-friendly Products Co.'s bags, roll the bag lengthwise, drop it in the loo, and pull the chain.

Proudly's bags are formulated to dissolve when flushed. They are "100% degradable, safe to flushaway, never block the pipes, easily pick up, no leaks and protect well", according to Stephen Huang, Proudly's Regional Manager.

Tired of carting around bulky paper bags full of dogshit? Can't decide whether to put your plastic bag full of dogpoo in the Recycling container or the bin for organic waste? Then Proudly's bags are what you need.

For the fashion-conscious, they are available in "milk" and pink. Proudly can also manufacture bags according to your specification and design.

Another useful disposal tip: why should you roll up the bag lengthwise rather than tying a knot in it? "So it will not inhibit the flush", says Stephen.


Saturday, September 30, 2006 


Bagsite of the month

Bagsite of the month for October 2006 is Walter Brinker's new site, bagstage.org.

This is the official website of AIPhKS, the "Association Internationale des Philokinetososakistes", a hitherto unknown association of francophone baggists led by Walter, who styles himself "Hauptsackwart" of this shadowy group.

This site is still undergoing construction: the Gallery lacks any images, for example. But there is a listing of Walter's extensive collection, including bag description, manufacturer and material (paper or plastic), plus a lengthy swap list and a handy list of airlines and countries.

A welcome addition to the bagsite pantheon, and well worth a visit if you're in search of a rare item.

If you want to know what Walter does when he's not collecting bags, check out www.brinker-wehren.de. He says he gets lots of bags from his patients.



Saturday, September 30, 2006 


eBag trading archives

As part of bagophily.com's continuing services to baglovers worldwide, I've created an archive of Gerd Clemens's eBay bagreports. Access this archive by clicking here or through the menu above.


Wednesday, September 20, 2006 


Grab 'em while they're young

Here's the ideal present for future bag collectors: a Real Ghostbusters Air Sickness TM Haunted Vehicle.

"Change Aeroplane and Pilot into Airsickness" says the lurid purple box. However, it's unclear how this transformation actually occurs.

The plastic pilot lacks a barfing receptacle, but is dressed in a waistcoat, gloves and boots, ready for a quick scrubdown after a hurling incident.

Thanks to Chris Hays, who spotted this item on eBay (doesn't he have anything better to do?)


Tuesday, September 19, 2006 


The €201 bag



Got a couple of hundred euros (US$250 or £135) to spend on the most important woman in your life?

Then get her a barfbag. This vintage 1962 Interflug item (top photo) sold for a record €201 on eBay on 20 August 2006.

If you can't find a barfbag that matches her outfit, then you might consider a Louis Vuitton pochette (bottom photo). This item retails at €166 - somewhat cheaper than the Interflug bag.

Like the Interflug bag, the Vuitton can be used to hold a range of items, including keys, credit cards, money, makeup and regurgitated stomach contents. Plus, it is made of monogram canvas with leather trim, so is reusable.

Buy the Vuitton, and you'll still have enough change from your €201 to to take her out to dinner.


Tuesday, September 19, 2006 


The Clemens eBay Report for July/August 2006

"As the market during July was very low, I thought to combine these 2 months July and August, as number of auctions would not be enough for a report and nothing spectacular will happen during summer", says our special eBay correspondent Gerd Clemens.

"What a false estimation. Today I can report about some sensational auctions with the highest bids ever made. You can show your wife now how valuable your collection is.

The big bang and number 1 is a bag from the former East Germany and its flag carrier Interflug from 1962. This was really a time when it was very remarkable for Germans to take a plane and even more remarkable for people in the German Democratic Republic. So it was to expect high bids but the final price of €201.00 is astonishing. If you are interested to make a copy of this bag and if you want to know how the sales process was running please have a look on Ebay. The number of the article is 180017035282.

Runner up during these 2 months was a bag from Cameroon Airlines at a price of €100.49.

Brazil is the country where the bag #3 comes from an airline with the name Navegantes at a price of €84.73. Eight different bidders gave their offers. [a small air taxi, operated some light planes in the past, the complete name is Navegantes Taxi Aéreo, and the base is in the airport of Navegantes - State of Santa Catarina, South Brazil. The Brazilian government aeronautical department has suspended its operations - Denir Camargo]

On #4 an old bag from North America from an airline with name North Central Airlines at a price of US$ 103.50 or €81.46. This airline was formed on acquisition with Central Airlines in 1953. In 1979 North Central merged with Southern Airways as Republic Airlines which was finally acquired by NorthWest Airlines in 1986.

Uni Air from Taiwan came on #5. Ok, the bag was something different to the other bags from this airline, but it was enough to start a fierce competition between just two bidders, which brought price up to a level of €70.00.

IZair, this small just recently founded Turkish airline from Izmir was attractive to 6 bidders leading to a final bid of €57.10.

Air Tahiti Nui closed at #7 at a price of €49.07.

The French airline UTA came in as #8 at a price of €46.50.

A vintage German bag from 1958 came in as number 9. Deutsche Lufthansa is the airline and price came up to €41.60. Exactly the same bag was on sale last year, at this time at a price of slightly above €100. You should not tell your wife how fragile the value of your collection can be.

Number 10 an Indonesian bag from the airline Dirgantara at a price of €38.17.

Jeju Air is a fairly new Korean airline founded in January 2005 connecting mainland Korea with the island Jeju. Price came up to €37.50.

An older bag from Thai Airways was #12 at a price of €36.60.

Paramount Airways was launched in Oct. 2005 by Paramount Group a leading Indian textile producer based in Madurai. So it serves the southern part of India. The final offer for this bag was at €35.50.

EXCELLENT a old and very rare bag comes from Japanese Kinkyor Airways at a price of €34.73. [actually Nihon Kinkyori Airways that started in 1974 and was renamed Air Nippon Kabushiki Gaisha in 1987 and then renamed again to the present ANK Air Nippon in 2002 - Bruce Kelly]

Two slightly different bags from Sabena from Belgium came in as number 15 and 16 at the same price of €27.60.

Chinese Shenzhen Airlines is changing their design very often, and each time collectors are fighting for the newest edition. Seven bidders brought price up to €24.69 giving it rank #17 and later rank #25 at a price of €16.99.

And old Canadian bag came in as #18 at a price of €22.83.

Also Air Zimbabwe seems to be a must. Despite the fact that bags with a green logo were on sale very often during the last 8 months, six bidders made their offer and the lucky winner got it at €22.03.

A plastic bag in green and blue from AeroSur from Bolivia was won at €21.18.

Bag #21 was offered as 'The next biggest pile of crap on Ebay'. It was an ordinary bag from British Dan-Air, which most of us have already. Offers were given by names I never saw before, but good for the seller, price was €18.62.

A plastic bag from an airline I could not find any information came in as #22 at a price of €18.41. Who or what is Dhinpoabia Air, can anybody help me?

An old bag from TAE from Switzerland or Belgium? found its final bid at €17.49.

COPA, the acronym for Compania Panamena de Aviacion is the national flag carrier of Panama, which seems to be very successful. In the meantime they became an associate member of Skyteam Alliance. We find their bag at €17.30, which is rank 24 and later at €12.05 which is #37.

Chosonminhang is the name of a North Korean airline which changed their name to Air Koryo in 1993. The price of this old bag was €16.05.

On rank #27 we find TAA Trans Australia Airlines, which was founded in 1946 and became one of 2 major Australian airlines. In 1992 TAA was acquired by Qantas. Price was €16.02.

Dubai Air Wing is a very prestige airline which is used exclusively by the sheiks of Dubai. This bag with a small logo came in at €15.83.

Air Madrid was founded in December 2003 and serves Madrid with destinations in South- and Central America. Price of the plastic bag was €13.52.

On rank #30 we find another bag from Taiwanese Uni Air which has a round flap on top. Price was €13.33.

Chunqiu or Spring Airlines was very often on sale during the last months. But not everybody seems to have a bag from this Chinese low cost carrier. This time it went at a price of €12.94.

Indonesia is an Eldorado for airlines, who can count the number of different airlines in this huge country? Here another one Duta Boga Sarana; their bag was sold at €12.85, which is rank #32. [This is an Indonesian-based ground service caterer who supplies their bags to airlines that do not have their own bags in Jakarta - Bruce Kelly]

After a Chinese bag from Xinhua Airlines at €12.85 we find a further Indonesian airline with name Bali at a price of €12.73.

Turkmenistan Airlines, guess where it comes from, donated a bag at a price of €12.70, which is #35.
Libyan Arab Airlines came in at €12.25.

A newcomer is Hongkong Express at a price of €11.60 followed by another new Chinese airline namely Great China at €11.00. [not a new airline... formed in 1966 and merged with Uni Air in 1998 - Bruce Kelly]

On rank #40 the Swedish airline Linieflyg at €10.75
Rank#41 and #49 we find Northwest Orient Airlines at €10.57 and €10.19.

Korean Airlines KAL was founded in 1962. In 1984 name was changed in Korean Air. The former was bought at €10.52.

From 1961 to 1997 VIASA was the flag carrier of Venezuela. After a difficult co-operation with Iberia, which let to a lot of financial problems VIASA was forced to stop their operation in Jan 1997. Their bag came in as #43 at a price of €10.51.

The Egypt carrier Luxor Air came in at the same price.

U-Land Airlines is a frightening Taiwanese airline. In 2000 U-Land was closed due to its failure to meet minimum requirements because of financial troubles. Maybe this is the reason that bag is larger than others, price was reasonable at €10.31.

Air India in red orange came in at €10.25 and at the same price we find American Air Florida.

With Helikopter Service, again at a price of €10.25, which is #48 it is not easy to determine where it comes from. Scandinavia is my guess whether it is Denmark, Sweden or Norway, I do not know. Maybe somebody can help. [Norway to be exact, and is involved in North Sea oil operations - Bruce Kelly]

I could inform you about 49 bags for July and August, not too much in number, but in value!

In case of any questions please do not hesitate to contact me."

Thanks, as always, to Gerd for this report, and to Bruce and Denir for the clarifications.


Tuesday, September 19, 2006 


Do they really exist?



Don't go booking JAS flights - or trying to find Dropping Anvil Airlines - in the hope of finding these bags.

A shame - they would make nice additions to a collection.

These images from Worth1000.com's Engrish 3 and Engrish 5 Photoshop competitions.

Engrish? Click here for more.

Thanks to Steve Silberberg for this tip.



Wednesday, September 06, 2006 


Bagtrading in Beromünster



Fancy combining a leisurely bagtrade with an opportunity to make an emergency landing on a glacier?

Then you need to get in touch with Swiss baggist Fredy Thürig.

Fredy has lots of bags, and lots of swaps. But they're not sorted, so he trades only at fairs like the annual Frankfurt-Schwanheim boondoggle.

Or you can visit him in scenic Switzerland. Bring a box of extra bags with you, and maybe you can strike a deal.

After a successful trade, Fredy has been known to take baggists up in his glacier-hopping light aircraft.

Our photos show German baggists Thorsten Hecht and Gerhard Lang arriving laden with loot, and Fredy looking for his plane atop a mountain.

See Fredy's website for more info on how this unique trading mechnism operates.



Tuesday, September 05, 2006 


Guinness gets its baggists in a twist

The Guinness World Records site recognizes Niek Vermeulen as the world's biggest baggist.

But click on the "play video" link on Guinness's site, and up pops a video of New Zealand-based baggist David Bradford puking into his Finnaviation bag.

Have David and Niek swapped places? Have they exchanged collections? Or can Guinness not distinguish between a retired British doctor and a retired Dutch businessman?

Thanks to Oliver Conradi for drawing our attention to this glitch.


Tuesday, September 05, 2006 


Get paid for collecting bags

Tired of shelling out your hard-earned cash so you can buy plane tickets just so you can steal bags?

Fed up with suspicious looks from fellow passengers as you stuff bags into your cabin baggage?

Caught red-handed by security personnel wanting to know what that bulge under your jacket is?

There's a better way to collect bags.

One where you actually get paid for stealing bags.

Just get a job at an airport. One that takes you past security barriers, onto the apron, and inside planes. One where you get to earn the trust of cabin crews from across the globe.

This modus bagperandi was pioneered by German collector Oliver Conradi, who finances his bag habit through a job at Hamburg Airport.

Now up-and-coming British baggist Chris Hays (currently Number 21 on bagophily.com's Bag Rich List), has landed a job at Stansted.

Expect some choice new trading items from Chris as he finds his way around the back corridors and catering departments at London's third airport.


Tuesday, September 05, 2006 


Be careful when opening the overhead locker

You never know what may fall out.

Thanks to Oliver Conradi for this item.


Monday, September 04, 2006 


Baggist smashes 5000 mark

It's official: the 5000 bag barrier has fallen.

The 2007 Guinness World Records website lists Dutch baggist Niek Vermeulen as owning 5,006 airline sickness bags from 1,000 different airlines.

The photo on the left shows Niek at a Guinness photo session at London Gatwick. The 2007 Guiness record book is expected to contain a feature on Niek and his habit - under "Human Achievements".

Such publicity is a welcome boost for world baggery: it introduces the twilight world of barfbags to new collectors, and stimulates airlines to produce exciting new bag designs for passengers to savour.

Thanks to Niek for this item.


Monday, September 04, 2006 


Want to educate your kids on the joys of barfbags?

Maybe you'd like to persuade Junior that bag-collecting really is more fun than Nintendo?

Or your Significant Other says you spend too much time with your bags and is complaining of neglect?

Then this is just the gift for you: "My little Murphy mit Kotztüte" (that's "Mein kleiner Murphy with barfbag" if you don't speak German).

Made by German soft toy maker Plüsch Heunec, this item will cost you €14.95 plus shipping. Order direct from the manufacturer, or on eBay at the same price.

Thanks to Jürgen Klein for this tip.


Sunday, September 03, 2006 


Lufthansa bags avoid retro look

Stewardesses with German carrier Lufthansa will don dirndl dresses for the duration of the Oktoberfest.

Stewardesses will wear the traditional togs only on certain flights to and from Munich - home of the Oktoberfest (which, confusingly, is mostly in September).

The uniforms are not as deep cut as those worn by barmaids in Munich's Biergärten.

In a second disappointment for baggists, Lufthansa is not expected to provide retro-look barfbags during the beer festival. Queasy revellers will have to make do with standard blue Lufthansa bags.


Saturday, September 02, 2006 


Sculpture, architecture, furniture...



...art galleries, animation, music... bags have finally made it to the exalted halls of high art.

A report on the Area of Design website features hitherto unknown baggist Hal Watson, who has plastered the walls of his lake house with some improbably large-looking bags.

Anyone know Hal, or have an idea where he got his huge bags?

The site also quotes airsicknessbags.com proprietor Steve Silberberg as condemning US domestic carriers for their plain white offerings: "It's a bag wasteland out there right now".

Area of Design has "the goal of elevating American art and design to reflect the individuality and passion of our country's creative base".

Looks like it has a lot of work to do if it wants to raise the standard of American bags to levels seen in the rest of the world.


Saturday, September 02, 2006 


Underbagged

What do Latvia, Liberia and Lesotho have in common? Yes, they all start with an L. What else? They're all missing from my barfbag collection.

What's the biggest country not represented? Chad. In terms of population? Burkina Faso. Other prominent absentees (coloured red in the map): Georgia and Rwanda. 

Major underrepresented portions of the globe are a swathe of Africa and chunks of Central Asia and Central America.

Donations from these areas especially welcome!

Centres of megabagdiversity are the USA (though many US bags are distressingly plain), China, the UK, Canada, Germany, Brazil and Indonesia. 

Click here for details.


For new baggists only

 

New to the world of bag collecting? Want to get a head start on your collection? Then send me an email, and I'll send you a randomly selected free starter pack from my surplus bag stock. There won't be anything rare, and you may end up with some duplicates, but at least you'll be able to show your friends a few more of these lovely cultural artefacts. Make sure you include your mailing address in your email. Offer good as long as stocks last.


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