Flight 001 — a boutique for the traveler

updated 4:06 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2007

NEW YORK - Call this a one-stop shop for time-pressed travelers: a boutique stocked with fashionable and chic — but still practical — merchandise, ranging from 3-ounce bottles to brightly colored suitcases on wheels.

Flight 001 (pronounced Flight One) has everything a traveler needs before boarding: a dental kit, paper shampoo, travel guides, and pocket beach towels. The store also carries Flight 001 Spacepak Clothes bags, so travelers can fit more in their suitcase. Among the most popular items: products in the Jet Comfort area, such as sleep masks, neck rests, ear plugs.

"Our second-best area is travel IDs, that's passport covers, luggage tags, because when you think about where you are going to buy cool luggage tags, we're kind of the place to go," said Brad John, co-owner of Flight 001. Luggage is also a big seller.

John and his partner John Sencion came up with the idea for Flight 001 nine years ago en route to Paris. The two, who were menswear designers, were exhausted from running around to several stores to purchase items for the trip. Sencion said: "Wouldn't it be great if there was one place where we could get everything?"

The creatives came up with a business plan upon their return and opened their first store in 1999 in New York City. The company has grown to eight stores, in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Chicago, two in Brooklyn (including one scheduled to open Nov. 10), and Dubai.

The store is named Flight 001 for a legendary Pan Am flight that flew westbound around the world, from San Francisco to New York. The inside looks like an airport cabin with curved walls and storage bins resembling overhead compartments.

"We wanted to recreate the thrill of an international airport lounge, so we used walnut paneling," said Sencion. "The curved bins ended up becoming part of the whole interior of the plane feeling. We wanted the same intimacy that you have inside an airplane."

If you go Flight 001: 877-354-4481. Stores in Los Angeles at 8235 W. Third St.; San Francisco at 525 Hayes St.; Berkeley at 1774 Fourth St.; Chicago at 1133 N. State St.; Dubai, at Harvey Nichols, Mall of the Emirates; Manhattan at 96 Greenwich Ave., and Brooklyn, 132 Smith St., and 58 Fifth Ave. (opening Nov. 10).

John and Sencion didn't want the products in Flight 001 to be boring — black luggage, black luggage tags, basic toiletries. After all, those things are all in Target. The goal was to make traveling easier and to offer stylish travel goods, such as a piece of white luggage that proved to be a popular item or a bright orange overnight bag for toiletries.

"I think we were one of the first people to offer colorful luggage, colorful passport holders," John said. "It still is very much black, all the luggage is black. I really feel like Flight 001 started the trend that you can be fashionable while traveling and comfortable."

December is the store's biggest sales month, and not surprisingly, frequent travelers are the store's best customers — more so than people who take a vacation once or twice a year. But there are family friendly gifts, such as magnetic Scrabble, penguin backpacks and an F-1 Plane Pal Kid Kit, with a tic-tac-toe board, compass, 6-in-1 crayon, mini binoculars and more.

Deal of the Day Newfoundland and Labrador Explore World Heritage sites, glimpse into the life of the Vikings, more, from $1,635.

"I travel totally with Flight 001 products," said Kay Hayward, a frequent traveler who lives near the West Village store. "I love the look of the store. All their products are beautifully designed. They have got a focus and an approach that I think is unique."

Even non-travelers catch the travel bug while browsing the store. The store, with its wallpaper guides to cities, world travel adapters, and bright luggage, makes you want to take a trip around the world.

The owners are planning to open more Flight 001 stores, including possibly in airports. While Sencion doesn't want to the store to be solely identified with airport locations, he said: "We have such tremendous synergy with the whole process of traveling — preflight, in-flight, arrival — our stores are so integral to that point that I think it would make sense."

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