Best plane trip ever.

[tannedbum]

I recently was on a long flight and had just pulled out my book to start to read when a man smiled, said hello and put his brief case overhead and stuffed a Speedo duffle bag under the seat in front. We exchanged normal airline amenities as flight attendant took his suit coat to hang it up as another arrived with our drinks. As we settled in with our drinks waiting for take off he spotted the Speedo hang tag I was using a a bookmark. He asked if I wore speedos. I was a bit taken back til I realized he was looking at the tag. I told him I found time I hadn't expected so went out bought a couple pair - one brief one board short. He went on to tell me he was a marketing VP for Speedo and was returning from a photo shoot for new designs and patterns. We discussed the suits (he showed me pics) and even went into care. (I remembered the question on the board) He looked at the hang tag to see what suit I had bought and then commented on the size 32. "Is this your regular size?" I said that for the briefs it was, but I didn't like the boardies too tight so wore 34 in them. He said he was the same. Then he asked if I like the new bag design pointing to the bag under the seat. Of course I said I thought it was great. By then we had taken off and dinner had been served. As the wine was poured he asked if I got a lot of use out of my suits and I told him I had a pool and swam almost daily and lived in swim wear most of the year since I worked out of my house in the desert. "Here's an idea" he said "you wear the same size as the model, if you don't mind used and dirty suits, that bag is full of the suits from the photo shoot - interested?" Of course I said "Sure. After the meal is over and I can stow the tray and foot rest, I'll go through the bag and pick out one." He shook is head and said "No, you don't want to rummage through it here, just take the whole bag with you" To be sure I repeated -"The whole bag?? You can't be serious." He shrugged,"Why not? I'm done with them and don't need any more suits and you will get use out of them - take them. I am just sorry that they are dirty from the shoot so you'll need to wash the models sweat, sun oil and make up out of them." Still not believing my luck I told him that washing them was a small price to pay for such generosity and thanked him profusely. He kicked a Speedo duffle from under the seat in front of him over to my side of the space. "That bag is full of the suits and stuff from the shoot. I have two more stops before heading home and I don't want to haul dirty model laundry around - they are yours. One less thing for me to carry." After all the idiots I have had to sit next to, this guy made up for all of them. When I finally got to my hotel I opened the bag and dumped it on the bed. He was right -- they needed washing, but what a collection. Ended up with 8 speedo cuts, 9 "beach shorts" 3 pairs of flip flops, a beach towel and 2 t-shirts.(one model must have gone home commando since there was also a pair of underpants in the bag) One speedo still had the tags on so I clipped them off, put the suit and headed to hotel pool. After a few laps of the pool I ordered a drink and sat on the lounge chair celebrating my good fortune. The pool attendant said he liked the suit and the waitress commented I was in a good mood -- even after a day of travel. I just told her I had a great seat companion on my last flight. And damn, was I in a good mood! I have a much better attitude about travel and also thanking the speedo gods that I consented to swap sides of the plane so a guy to look at a particular view.

[HIspeedofan]

Will we be seeing pictures of you modeling your new collection?

[JohnC]

"I don't want to haul this dirty model laundry around, take it." If this happened to me I would have a heart attack and they would have to land the plane

[Justin88]

This is the most amazing speedo story I've ever heard.

[Diveguy]

I imagine it would have been difficult or even impolite to ask him in the midst of his tremendous genrosity if speedo ever planned to bring the super brief narrow sided suits to the American market? Did anything like that ever get mentioned? Do you think he is aware of this website? We are all fans of their product!