Flight 001 | About Us

About Us

OUR BRAND

FLIGHT 001 (pronounced flight one) was conceived in 1998 aboard Air France flight 023 somewhere between New York and Paris. John Sencion and Brad John were two business travelers who had spent far too much time preparing for their trip envisioned a travel store as streamlined as flight itself. Luckily for travelers of every kind, their mid air detour resulted in a jet setter's dream: an all inclusive, retro modern retail experience that satisfies the frequent traveler's every need. For over 10 years now Flight 001 has been scouring the globe for products as functional and unique as the travelers that frequent the stores. When not curating the best travel products in the world, Flight 001 has and continues to develop travel products for the world.

CREW

Tahnee Agbunag

Left coast born Tahnee has lived in New York for 2.5 years and says "Nothing comes close". She is the holder of various nicknames (Tahn, Tiny Tahnee, Teeny Tahnee or Nee), and has made the move from our stores into Control Tower.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Tahnee: Nothing too out of the ordinary: tongue, frog, sweetbread, pork blood stew.

Window seat or aisle?
Tahnee: Actually I prefer the middle. I enjoy the awkwardness of being stuck between my traveling partner and the stranger next to me. But when traveling alone, window always. Nothing beats touching down and seeing the landscape of a city that you have never been to.

What kind of luggage do you travel with?
Tahnee: . Brown Mandarina Duck File Carry-On, always and only a carry on. Also the Freitag BOB bag; the best personal item you can have since it fits all that extra stuff you cannot fit into your carry on.

When you're not traveling, what do you do?
Tahnee: Working and exploring, every weekend I try and hit up the Chinatown and green markets to food shop and get my grub on.

If you had one super power what would it be?
Tahnee: Teleporting

How long have you been working at FLIGHT 001?
Tahnee: This month I celebrate 5 years. From San Francisco to New York, it has been one long ride.

Rosalie Seidel

Rosalie has been with Flight 001 for 2 years and has worked in 2 different countries and 3 cities. She has recently moved to Australia where she helped out with our Melbourne pop up shop. She loves live music and her Mom calls her Rosarika.

If you had to be named after one of our world's countries which would it be?
Rosalie: I would not mind being called "Luxie" or "Luxe" after Luxembourg. Since the third grade, the names always stuck with me.

What is your favorite city?
Rosalie: Right now I'm going to say Melbourne, because I just got here only two month ago and it's blowing me away. I am living by the beach, which is a dream. Yet I'm right next to the city, which is filled with awesome graffiti, bars down hidden alley ways and unique street fashion. You get to experience it all while running around in warm weather, even at night. I'm in love!

What makes you a unique traveler?
Rosalie: I never end up going to the usual spots that people like to go to. For some reason, it just doesn't do it for me. Of course, there are certain "tourist" spots I go to, but for me I am most happy when I get to visit and experience the day to say and pretend I am living there.

You are going on a trip, what luggage are you carrying?
Rosalie: My Bree carry-on in grey and yellow. It's my baby. Durable, spacious and most importantly, cute!!

What’s your favorite airline?
Rosalie: . Virgin, hands-down. It's like a disco party with your own personal sound track. My friend has even gotten asked out when she was flying down to visit me! What more could you ask for?

One more question, what is your favorite mode of transportation?
Rosalie: My legs.

Jared Hatch

Chicago native Jared Hatch is one of FLIGHT 001's most traveled crew members. He shared some of his favorite travel stories and tips with us.

What makes you a unique traveler?
Jared: I don't believe that I am a unique traveler. I believe I'm an adventurous person, which can get dangerous.

If you could have any accent, what would it be?
Jared: I really thought Braille was a nifty language, but there is no accent to it.

What is your favorite airline and why?
Jared: Jet Blue: Direct TC, leather, unlimited snacks, trendy and friendly. Anti-favorite? Delta.

What cities have you lived in and what is your favorite?
Jared: Chicago. I love it because it is east to get around. The whole city is set up on a Cartesian grid system so you know how far you destination is. Eight Chicago blocks = one mile. Also the boulevards are wide enough so that you can admire the architecture from the other side of the street.

What's the best way to relax on vacation?
Jared: Recently, in Asia, I've discovered the pleasure of having blind people massage your feet. I know it sounds funny, but it really is a respected profession over there.

One last question, what kind of luggage do your travel with?
Jared: Silver 20" Rimowa. I do also have a bright orange Samsonite Clam, but I've never used it at an airport, I would hate to get it dirty. I also don't like waiting for the check baggage at the carousel, so the carry on Rimowa is my go to.

Lis Smith

3 and 1/2 year Flight 001 veteran Lis Smith has lived in New York, San Francisco and Oakland (the latter being her favorite) and she sat down with us to answer a few questions about traveling.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Lis: Generally "strange" is exactly what I try and stay away from when eating, but I'm up for anything once and had some blowfish tendons on a date in NYC years ago.

What's your favorite city?
Lis: Paris. I was in love before I even left the Gare du Nord.

Do you have any money saving travel ideas??
Lis: Street food! Go anywhere the locals go; look for the long lines and standing room only joints filled with happy regulars. It'll be tasty and much cheaper than anything you find in a guide book. I can draw you a map to this stellar torta vendor in Mexico City.

When you're not traveling what do you do?
Lis: Photographing, biking, monster-cat wrangling and trying to find the ultimate paint color for my apartment.

What is your favorite way to relax on vacation?
Lis: Pick a spot, beach park, cafe: grab some food, drinks and friends, and don't do anything in particular for several hours. Then get more food and drinks.

One more question, if you could have any super power what would it be?
Lis: The metabolism of my co-worker August.

Jesse Johnson

Midwestern born Jesse Johnson aka Johnson Controls aka Crazy Dreams has studied music, art history, and religion and has been working at Flight 001 in New York for the last 7 years. When he’s not traveling he enjoys writing and recording music as well as taking advantage of all the food and drink New York City has to offer. We caught up with Jesse for a quick travel Q&A.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Jesse: I would have to say a pig eye balls. Didn't taste like much to me. The consistency was very strange, like the gum with the liquid center.

What type of luggage do you travel with?
Jesse: I use a Mandarina Duck carry on for domestic trips. Rimowa salsa carry on for international. Anything that gets checked goes in a Rimowa salsa 26". My companion bag is usually a Jack Spade coal bag.

Are you a window or aisle seat kind of guy?
Jesse: I prefer the window, but typically travel with my fiancee and give up to her. I love the land shapes. They remind me of the guts of electronic equipment.

What was your worst travel experience?
Jesse: Recently I was traveling home to Ohio. I was flying out of LGA on American Airlines to Pittsburg. I got to the airport in plenty of time, but was told at the check in they could not find my ticket. After a very uncomfortable amount of time I was told that I would need to take the bus to United Airlines terminal since the ticket was booked through them. I still do not understand this. So, I go go there, they tell me that whomever I was working with was insane and I need to go back. This required then walking or half running because the bus went only one way and I was running out of time. I return and the person I was speaking with is nowhere to be found. Two new people are trying to resolve the problem at a pace that would make a saints blood boil. Finally my info is found with no logical explanation given or appropriate apology. I then ran to my flight, which was now boarding and sat in front of a kid who kicked the back of my seat the entire flight. Miserable.

What’s your favorite airline?
Jesse: Midwest Express. Warm chocolate chip cookies! Need I say more.

One more question, what punctuation or diacritical mark best represents you?
Jesse: ?

Ivana Jane Xavier

Ivana Jane Xavier aka Ivy aka Chicken aka Master Blaster Queen Bee has been holding down Flight 001 San Francisco for the last 3 years. Her favorite spot in the world is Buenos Aires and when she’s not out traveling she’s daydreaming about traveling. We caught up with Ivana for a quick travel Q&A.

What is the best way to relax on vacation?
Ivana: People watching at an outdoor cafe in a foreign city, drinking cafe con cremas and eating empanadas.

If you could have any accent in the world, which would it be?
Ivana: New Zealand. Because people would ask me where I was from, and I would say, "New Zealand"

What type of luggage do you travel with?
Ivana: I heart my Hideo Wakamatsu carry-on. Leopard print!

What makes you a unique traveler?
Ivana: I like to over prepare myself with phrase books and language cd's. If I'm going to a country where I don't speak the language, I always try to learn as much as I can months in advance. Although there was this time when I asked a policeman where he was from, instead of what time it was...whoops.

What’s your favorite airline?
Ivana: Virgin Airlines. They have great deals on flights, a convenient touch screen in all seats, and mood lighting....I dig the mood lighting.

One more question, what punctuation or diacritical mark best represents you?
Ivana: !!!.........?