Toothbrush Not Included

Lost luggage, security checks, extra-bag fees and spilled shampoo make suitcase stress one of the worst parts of traveling, but Flylite thinks it has the solution. The two-year-old Massachusetts company is a clothing butler for frequent business travelers. New customers pay an initial $500 fee and pack their bags. Flylite workers then clean, press and store the clothes, polish shoes and scan everything into a virtual "iCloset." Each trip, travelers can virtually "pack" their suitcases by dragging and dropping clothing icons, after which Flylite delivers the bags to any U.S. destination. After each stay, Flylite picks up the bags, cleans the clothes and stores everything for the next trip. With two days' notice, it costs $100 to get the bag packed and sent anywhere within 25 miles of a major airport. Typical customers are road warriors who travel three to five times a month and store a dozen suits and assorted shirts, ties, recreational wear and golf clubs, says marketing VP John Walsh. "Time is a luxury to them," he says. The company, which says it's already profitable, isn't yet set up for travel outside the United States, but has many foreign clients who travel here. It plans iClosets in London and Dubai, and will soon start selling shirts and shoes to clients who are so busy jet-setting that they can't take time to go shopping. The new clothes will simply show up in their suitcases on the next trip—along with a bill.

© 2008