Choosing the Right Luggage

by Willy Volk on

I’ve always been of the mind that one piece of luggage is NOT as good as the next. In fact, I generally feel that the uglier the piece of luggage, the better. This thinking is based on the following:

  • If it’s ugly, it’s less likely to be stolen.
  • If it’s ugly, it’s easier to spot on the carousel.
  • If it’s ugly, it probably doesn’t matter if it gets dirty or beat up.

Consequently, updating luggage is not a priority to me. (If you don’t believe me, then consider my current bag: 2 of the bag’s 4 wheels are missing, and the stupid thing won’t stand unless it’s propped against a wall. Who’s going to take it?)

However, if you are quite unlike me — and I presume most of you are — here are some things to consider when selecting luggage:

  • What kind of traveling are you most likely to be doing in the coming year(s)? Jet-setting through Europe’s finest hotels will necessarily require different baggage than back country camping.
  • What’s your budget? You could shell out hundreds or even thousands on a suitcase. Me, I bought my last carry-on bag for $10 at a flea market. (Of course, as I mentioned, the wheels recently fell off. Cause and effect? You be the judge.)
  • Size matters. Are you a thrifty packer, or do you bring every pair of shoes you own?
  • Does the bag really have to have black? A non-traditional color will make spotting your bag much easier.
  • Where are the wheels and/or shoulder straps? Although the prefix of luggage is “lug-“, it’s surprisingly un-fun to lug luggage, especially if you have a long distance to walk.

Packing List Advice has some other tips for helping you to choose the right luggage. However, I’m curious as to what tips YOU have.

10 Myths About Luggage and Carry-On Baggage

by Jonathon Morgan on

While I’m a relatively well-traveled person, I have to admit that when I fly from one place to another, I have more or less no idea how my luggage makes the journey. I’d cobbled together some misinformation and plenty of assumptions, to arrive at a series of beliefs, that, thanks to this list from About.com, I’ve now realized were almost unanimously false.

You can read the full explanations here, but for starters, here are the top 10 myths about luggage and carry-on baggage:

1. You will be reimbursed for all the items in a lost piece of luggage
2. If you are connecting to another airline your luggage will automatically be accepted by another
3. Baggage allowances are the same on airlines
4. If you travel on more than one airline your luggage can be booked through
5. People won’t steal your carry-on items
6. Your luggage will automatically get checked through if you are connecting
7. If you are willing to pay extra fees you can check in excess luggage
8. Only checked baggage will be heavily scrutinized at customs
9. If you change airports in the same city your luggage will be transferred for you
10. Lost luggage will always be delivered to you when found

Intrigued? About has also compiled lists of the World’s Favorite Airports, Top 10 Myths About Air Travel and Airports, and Top 10 Myths about Airfares and Airline Tickets.

Stolen Luggage Found in Houston Trash Bin

by Adrienne Wilson on

Um, this bothers me. A LOT. According to this story found in the Seattle Times, 68 suitcases which were taken from George Bush International Airport were found outside of a pet store dumpster in Houston earlier this week. The stolen baggage apparently came from nine different airlines and from destinations such as France, UAE, and domestic locations. Investigators are trying to determine now if it was an inside job or if some punks walked into baggage claim and casually walked off with bags without anyone noticing. Imagine waiting for your bag to come around the carousel when somebody has already successfully snagged your panties, boxers, toothpaste, Craisins, jewelry and other novelty items for their own personal pleasure. Ugh!

News like this really stinks to hear considering how much paper is wasted printing your baggage claim tickets and no one is ever there to check. I think I’ve been checked only once in all my travels before walking off with my bags. That’s pretty sad folks. If you’re heading through Houston it might be time to start making a mad dash to the claim area or just check-in nothing and buy when you arrive.

Run Rabbit, Run!

by Iva Skoch on

I was just about to write a posting about those 80 rodents who escaped from a bag on board of Saudi Arabian Airlines, but Neil beat me to it. Not only that, he completely ruined it for me!

I first read the story in the Czech media and they reported it was actually 80 rabbits, not mice. (I guess translators from Arabic to Czech are hard to find these days. Either that or this is a good example of journalists creating news.)

Here I was, trying to figure out how a passenger could fit 80 rabbits into a carry-on bag, ready to vote for Saudi Airlines as having the most liberal policy for cabin baggage…and “fact-obsessed” American media report it is mice. Mice? Any schmuck could fit 80 mice into a convenient Samsonite roll-on. With all those handy compartments, they could even be quite comfortable. Now, pulling 80 rabbits from a bag, that’s a magic trick.

Makes me wonder, whether we can expect rodent detectors to be introduced at airport security in the near future.

On Luggage

by Adrienne Wilson on

The handling or mishandling of luggage when traveling has been quite a conversation piece here on Gadling. I’ll probably be doomed forever on for saying this, but I’ve been quite fortunate in this area during my domestic and international travels. Sure TSA may have ruffled through looking for dangerous, hyper-active, liquid toothpaste, left a note and zipped it back up, but they never found any of my items worth, well, mishandling. Now before I go knock on every single piece wood in sight allow me to provide some solutions to your luggage woes. Better yet, I’ll point you to this Nat Geo piece which goes over common luggage concerns like surcharges on weight and size, whether to lock it up or not, where your valuables should go and when all else fails how to get your darn baggage back! Is their plan full-proof? I doubt it and most of it sounds like common knowledge. You know — don’t put your expensive digital camera or diamond rings in your check-in luggage. I guess some people don’t get that one, but just because it’s there doesn’t mean it’s there to take.

And while there is never any excuse for the numbers we’ve heard in Neil’s piece which stated 437,000 pieces of baggage lost, damaged, or mishandled in one month or the figures Iva reported (as she waited on lost luggage of her own) that of the 3,7 million bags that were lost last year 420,000 were permanently lost I guess this should help save some poor Louis Vitton bag or High Sierra backpack. Take a look at their rec’s and give us your two cents.