I have often said that with security measures being what they are in airports, we should simply all fly nude. Of course, I meant it as a joke, but Ossiurlaub, an east German travel company is actually offering nude flights. The company will start taking reservations on February 2 for a day trip from Erfurt, Germany to the island of Usedom on the Baltic Sea.

East Germans have long been known for being great naturists so it seems natural that nude flights should originate there. The cost for the tickets is a little high - 499 euros for a round-trip flight on a 50 seat plane that will fly to Usedom in the morning and return the same night. There will be no "coffee, tea or me" - the stewards and stewardesses will remain clothed and no hot drinks will be served. Passengers will be given their own seat covers and are expected to behave with proper decorum, which, based on FKK enthusiasts, will not be a problem as the Freikoerperkultur (free body culture) is a way of life for many German vacationers.

Passengers, alas, cannot go through security naked, they have to remain dressed until they are on the plane and dress once more before they get off the plane. It seems like a lot of work for a one hour flight, but so far, it looks as though it is a very popular idea. The first flight takes off on July 5, which is great as when I first saw they were taking bookings starting on February 2, all I could think of was goose bumps.