In the wake of an announcement last week that it will begin charging fees of up to $85 per bag for carry-on luggage, Spirit Airlines is now offering a new promotion to help offset the high cost of air travel: naked travelers get a discount. The airline, in cooperation with the Transportation Security Administration, is offering fare bargains for passengers who board without wearing or carrying clothing. The idea is that clothing-optional travelers will save the airline - and the TSA - lots of money.
The TSA is even setting up special “express” lanes for nudist travelers at all major airports.
“It makes security screening much easier,” said Enrique “Ricky” Marquez, a TSA employee at the Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport. “No bags, no clothes, no problem! Naked people can head straight for the metal detectors…most breeze through here in about 15 seconds. With the exception of the occasional body-cavity search, of course!”
T
he TSA claims that nude passengers will eliminate the need for body-scan equipment.
“We can see everything we need to already,” added Marquez. “Which isn’t always a good thing, by the way.”
Spirit Airlines is getting into the…er…spirit by encouraging its flight attendants to show up for work in the buff, and many are already taking to the skies au naturel. In the words of a Spirit spokesperson: “take your nakations with us!”
Other airlines, including American, United and Delta, are also eyeing the novel travel idea. Airlines could then use the overhead bins to carry mail and other light cargo, generating additional revenues.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security is considering a plan to eventually require all U.S. airline passengers to board in the nude by 2012.
“You won’t have to worry about taking off your shoes,” Marquez quipped.
