The 'Airport Jacket' has 14 deep pockets in which you can carry 15kg worth of items. Photo / Kickstarter
The 'Airport Jacket' has 14 deep pockets in which you can carry 15kg worth of items. Photo / Kickstarter
Worried about incurring excess baggage fees before a flight?
Then why not wear your luggage instead of checking it in?
A new coat dubbed the 'Airport Jacket' is being billed by the designers as the answer to your excess baggage woes, because it has 14 deep pockets in which you can carry 15kg worth of items, the Daily Mail reported.
The coat can be worn three ways, including hip length and full length. Photo / Kickstarter
The coat can be worn three ways, including hip length and full length, with the manufacturer, Juice Promotions Australia, claiming that it allows you to "beat the baggage queues, escape excess baggage fees and eliminate lost luggage".
Juice Promotions Australia said: "It totals 14 deep pockets, including eight pockets at hip length, 11 pockets at three-quarter length and 14 pockets at full length. It includes two detachable pocket panels, and a carry-on size duffle bag.
"When worn at full length the Airport Jacket is capable of concealing approximately two laptops, an iPad, two pairs of shoes, a pair of jeans, five T-shirts, a jumper and a camera.
"Wearers need simply slide their luggage into the jacket pockets when checking in and boarding the flight, and once safely off the plane the jacket can easily be unzipped and transformed into a duffle bag capable of holding both the jacket plus all items in the pockets."
The jacket can easily be unzipped and transformed into a duffle bag capable of holding both the jacket plus all the items in the pockets. Photo / Kickstarter
Product designer Andy Benke said: "Essentially this coat would allow you to carry onboard everything you would need for an overnight or long weekend stay without worrying about your luggage getting lost or paying excessive baggage fees.
"It also saves time in that there is no need to collect checked-in baggage. Perfect for the business executive, mums on-the-go or anyone in a rush."
The idea first emerged when designers Benke and Claire Murphy, partners in both business and parenting, were travelling home from Hobart Airport with a newborn child.
Murphy said: "We had so much extra carry-on luggage because of our baby that the airline tried to charge us $140 - more than the cost of our flight! We started jamming clothes, computer chargers, nappies and toys into my pockets until we were right on the weight limit, but everything was spilling out of my pockets and the journey was pretty uncomfortable.
"We thought - wow, there is definitely a massive need for a better solution than this. And so The Airport Jacket concept was born."
Benke told MailOnline Travel that travelling around with the jacket has been 'seamless'.
He said: "As long as you stick within guidelines around what type of luggage you can take on board, there is not an issue. This has been a practical idea designed for all the low-fare economy travellers who pile on clothes and stuff in as many gadgets and items in their pockets as possible to minimise excess baggage costs.
Benke and Murphy are currently seeking funding for putting the coat into production on Kickstarter. Photo / Kickstarter
"With airlines beginning to charge for overhead carry-on baggage and other low fare airlines severely restricting baggage allowances for the low fare economy traveler, we feel this is a stylish solution for frustrated travellers who cannot pay for all the additional costs. The experience of travelling with an Airport Jacket has saved us a lot of money."
Some passengers have raised concerns that the coat will attract attention from security officers, but Benke said that passing through checkpoints is not an issue.
He added: "Walking though airport security is not an issue. The Airport Jacket only needs to be worn when checking in and at the boarding gate.
"When passing airport security, items that need to be taken out of the Airport Jacket are usually a laptop and electronics, which you can easily pull out. Airport security are not looking at how you store your luggage, they are checking the contents of your luggage so we have not experienced an issue as long as you follow guidelines for carry-on luggage."
