Luggage for Carryon-only business trips - Air Boss bag?

[Dbx160x]

Hi Frequent-flyers....I've recently become a bit obsessed with carrying-on luggage only, no check-in. My research led me to onebag.com, where a lot of the discussion was about managing weight (7kg limits around APAC), and how wheeled bags were too heavy. I got hooked on this and followed the recommendations on the site, buying a red-Oxx Air-Boss bag from the US, which doesn't have wheels, is the max int carry-on size, and only weighs 1.4kg, leaving the most weight for clothes etc. However, after using this for 6 months, I've become a bit disenchanted with carrying it while also juggling a laptop bag, so I've just bought an Antler Size Zero 56cm wheeled carry-on (max int size), which weighs in at 2.4kg...heavier but at least I can stack the laptop bag on top.

My question..is anyone else using and having success with the Air-Boss bag, and should I perservere with it, or was my return to a wheeeled bag inevitable?

Follow-up question: Does anyone else's partner not understand why frequent travellers can become a bit obsessed about finding the right bag, or is this just me???

 

[markis10]

My question..is anyone else using and having success with the Air-Boss bag, and should I perservere with it, or was my return to a wheeeled bag inevitable?

Follow-up question: Does anyone else's partner not understand why frequent travellers can become a bit obsessed about finding the right bag, or is this just me???

Welcome to AFF, and yes I understand the obsession bit, and its worth making sure you have the right gear if you are using it enough. I have not gone down the Air Boss bag router but have been very happy with my Antler carry on.

 

[Dbx160x]

Thanks for the welcome to the forum Markis10....reassuring feedback on the Antler and my luggage obsession!

hmmm...gotta get a cool avatar....

 

[medhead]

I have recently got an airboss and have only been using it for 2 weeks. I have been putting my laptop bag inside the middle pocket of the airboss, hence getting clothes and computer into one bag. I also have to carry a medical device so I still have 2 bags.

I'm struggling to work out how tight to have the straps to hold down the clothes. Too tight and it seems to make the zip on the middle pocket difficult to close. I also tried the bundle packing method and that seems like rubbish. Have you used it? Anyway it's early days and no doubt I'll get use to it.

Oh and my wife got it for me for Christmas so she understands the search for the perfect carry on bag.

 

[Dbx160x]

Glad to hear from someone else with the Air-Boss. It is a great bag, and if I could get everything into it alone, I think I'd be OK, but the weight of all the laptop stuff, chargers etc. makes it too heavy to carry any real distance, and often pushes it over the 7kg limit I'm trying to stick to.

I've had success with the 'bundling' method of packing. My advice is to ensure you take up the entire length of the bag with your folds, and also make sure you have enough in the middle to allow for round ends not creases. I've successfully packed a 2-trouser suit, and by packing the jacket inside out and folded, been able to wear it the next day no problems. I think the straps need to be just firm enough to hold in the clothes, but not so firm that they 'pinch' the clothes. Hope this helps....

 

[nlagalle]

Hi Frequent-flyers....I've recently become a bit obsessed with carrying-on luggage only, no check-in. My research led me to onebag.com, where a lot of the discussion was about managing weight (7kg limits around APAC), and how wheeled bags were too heavy. I got hooked on this and followed the recommendations on the site, buying a red-Oxx Air-Boss bag from the US, which doesn't have wheels, is the max int carry-on size, and only weighs 1.4kg, leaving the most weight for clothes etc. However, after using this for 6 months, I've become a bit disenchanted with carrying it while also juggling a laptop bag, so I've just bought an Antler Size Zero 56cm wheeled carry-on (max int size), which weighs in at 2.4kg...heavier but at least I can stack the laptop bag on top.

Follow-up question: Does anyone else's partner not understand why frequent travellers can become a bit obsessed about finding the right bag, or is this just me???

I still use my Antler bag and will continue to use it. I just purchased an antler suit bag as well, but I can't see myself using beyond a 2 night stay.

In relation to your last question, my now ex couldn't see it.. however she was obessed with the right "designer type bag"!! :mrgreen:

 

[Dbx160x]

Thanks for the feedback....feeling pretty comfortable with my Antler purchase now. And wrt designer handbags, copy that, but of course that makes perfect sense!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Glad to hear from someone else with the Air-Boss. It is a great bag, and if I could get everything into it alone, I think I'd be OK, but the weight of all the laptop stuff, chargers etc. makes it too heavy to carry any real distance, and often pushes it over the 7kg limit I'm trying to stick to.

I've had success with the 'bundling' method of packing. My advice is to ensure you take up the entire length of the bag with your folds, and also make sure you have enough in the middle to allow for round ends not creases. I've successfully packed a 2-trouser suit, and by packing the jacket inside out and folded, been able to wear it the next day no problems. I think the straps need to be just firm enough to hold in the clothes, but not so firm that they 'pinch' the clothes. Hope this helps....

Hi and Welcome. You are a high status flyer so is it really necessary to stick to 7kg?

I am more conscience of carryon weight as are some airlines! Have you ever been denied carry on?

Some airlines now weigh carry on. I have found that at the pointy end they are less. Strict, unless of course you are flying a full QF737.

Your experience kind sir?

 

[medhead]

To tell you the truth I've given up on the 7 kg limit over the last year. Mainly because sticking to it means I'm carrying 2 bags, a 85 cm and a 105 cm, because of the 2 piece limit. This involves putting the laptop and medical device in the 85 cm bag. Trouble is that means I need a lot of overhead space. Much better to take 3 bags that need less overhead space, 105cm and 2 smaller bags, but I've been pulled up on that in the past.

It's a long story but I basically go about 9kg in the airboss and then about 2.5kg for the medical equipment. They both stack in the overhead and so only take the footprint of a 105cm bag. Overall I think a good compromise.

As another part of my decision I had a chat with the FAs one night while weighting the 105 and 85 cm combination to make sure both were <7kg. Both FAs basically told me that I was fine as my luggage was well within the limits, based solely on looking at the bags and not seeing the weight (both under 7 kg anyway)

 

[simongr]

Only had carry on weighed once - was flying in J but had a whY style BP (DOM -> INT connection). Once I was very clear on the J seat they let me though. Bag 1 was 12kg min....

 

[medhead]

Have you ever been denied carry on?

Some airlines now weigh carry on. I have found that at the pointy end they are less. Strict, unless of course you are flying a full QF737.

Your experience kind sir?

As mentioned I have been pulled up with 3 items, but not denied as I explained I had medical equipment. I have seen someone else denied with 3 items.

My take on a full 737 is that you are going to be much better off with less bags that weight more, IMO the critical problem becomes the physical space for carry on luggage and not so much the weight. Of course, one still needs to be able to lift the luggage up into the locker.

 

[Dbx160x]

Some good points made by Sprucegoose, Medhead and Simongr....this really is a question on the likelihood of getting pulled up and weighed I guess. As my sales territory is India - Sth Korea, and we have a policy of J for flights >7hrs, I am J for most of the legs aroung APAC. I stick to CX for Greater China/Korea, and QF/SQ for South Asia, with Jet as my India preference (points accrue for QF). Out of these 4 airlines, CX is the only that officially gives a larger weight allowance for J (7 becomes 10kg), but just 1 bag. QF and SQ will allow 2 x 7kg bags, but I'm really trying to get to one 7kg 115cm (max) bag, and one 4kg laptop bag, so I can be 100% confident I can pass any weight inspection anywhere...eternal quest for zero disruption/confrontation, and the most efficient/low-stress travel experience

Probably low risk in general, but <warning> have found CX check-in at BNE now weighing carry-on...doesn't happen in Asia yet in my experience. Only rejection I've had was on QF AKL-BNE some time ago, on a 737-4 so I can see the reasonong here. As Medhead says, if it doesn't look overweight that's a good start.

 

[simongr]

I have probably flown 20+ segments on CX in J with a rollaboard and a trifold suit bag - both around 12KG.