Luggage [and how long it lasts]

[horseman]

So I've been looking at my luggage thinking about my next trip. It's got handles missing, and half duct tape, but part of me thinks I can get another trip out of this gear.
How bad do you all let your luggage get beat up before you replace?

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Mine is wearing thin as well.
I did manage to use a screw from the garage to fix the handle that fell off last week.

 

[tuapekastar]

So I've been looking at my luggage thinking about my next trip. It's got handles missing, and half duct tape, but part of me thinks I can get another trip out of this gear.
How bad do you all let your luggage get beat up before you replace?

Not sure I'll use my 'main' bag again...starting to 'split' near the zip. Would probably go around a few more times with appropriate maintenance but the last thing I want is to have it fall apart mid-trip and spill the contents somewhere random. Bought it (I think) in 2004 for AUD49 (on mega-special) so I guess it has lasted OK.

 

[Cynicor]

My bags by Victorinox have a lifetime warranty that includes carrier damage.

I've used it 4 times for 3 bags so far and it's a real life saver.

1- big bag. Broke somehow on a plane. Only noticed when home and shop said it wouldn't be covered. Emailed Victorinox and <24 hours later had a reply saying to just show them the email and all damage is covered.

2- carry on lost a screw from the collapsible handle. Replaced with no issues at shop.

3- medium bag got crushed by Emirates and burst a zip. Fixed by Emirates.

4- big bag lost a wheel on JAL. Flight was late and we literally ran out of the baggage collection area to the transportation, no time to tell JAL. Not a hassle, emailed and wheels and bolts mailed directly to me. Good as new again!

 

[vetrade]

How bad do you all let your luggage get beat up before you replace?

Before it needs duct tape to hold it together.

 

[chelzmalee]

Before it needs duct tape to hold it together.

Pretty much. As soon as it becomes too heavy (eg there is cheaper lighter cases on the market) or structurally damaged I throw it out and get a new one. Last case lasted 10 years, so not too bad - had some structural damage but mainly threw it because it weighed 6kgs on it's own.

 

[Revolio]

I'm gunna plaster all my cases with "is that the best you can do?" stickers to encourage baggage handlers to lift and toss from an even greater height. Pretty sure most of my case damage is incurred by handlers trying to achieve Olympic status in the high jump toss and drop event. Entertaining to watch though ........

 

[PLANT]

My flight gear has gone back for repairers to standbags 6-7 times, handles, material ripped and zipper pulls..... 10 years warranty use it regularly for $80 bag

 

[pythonisman]

My last bag I used pretty regularly had a 10yr warranty (Freeport? now Flylite I think?). It got destroyed once when QF didn't load it onto my plane, so it entered the country separate to me and customs destroyed the zippers when they opened it. Fixed by QF. Then had an issue with a part breaking on the retractable handle which was fixed under warranty. The zipper was starting to fail on the 10 year mark again so I decided to upgrade to an antler which weighs about half as much.

I like the Antler a lot but it cops an absolute beating whenever I fly and I reckon I'll be lucky to see it last the 10 years, but time will tell.
Carryon bag I only upgrade when the leap in technology (weight) is compelling, I'm happy with the one I have. Have another checked bag I alternate with (mid size v large) which seems to be holding up nicely but it's only a couple of years old at the moment.

My Ski bag is getting more and more destroyed every time I take it somewhere. It's only about 3 years old but has some seriously worn corners, I reckon I'll be lucky to get much more than 5 years out of it!

 

[Mattg]

My flight gear has gone back for repairers to standbags 6-7 times, handles, material ripped and zipper pulls..... 10 years warranty use it regularly for $80 bag

I bought my previous suitcase from Strandbags about 3 years ago. Fast-forward to last month, and it had a handle torn off (half-torn by baggage handlers in China, and finished off by handlers in France), was ripped in some places and was obviously in desperate need of replacement. When I took it back to the shop they told me that the warranty only covered "regular" use. I didn't push, the bag had indeed been through a lot. I'd say I'd already got my ~$100 worth. But either way it was definitely time for a new suitcase by that point.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

What is considered to be the best brands for suitcases and hand luggage?

Is there much difference between very expensive and cheaper?

 

[Cynicor]

What is considered to be the best brands for suitcases and hand luggage?

Is there much difference between very expensive and cheaper?

That's a divisive question!

I will submit that Rimowa, Crumpler, Tumu and Victorinox all get some love on this forum.

Samsonite is a personal dislike of mine but has many fans here too.

 

[Foreigner]

I reckon I'll get few more years out of Antler used for domestic flights. Time to bury it when handle snaps or wheels fall off.

 

[vetrade]

What is considered to be the best brands for suitcases and hand luggage?

Is there much difference between very expensive and cheaper?

This has been discussed ad nauseam in other threads

 

[Steady]

I'm curious how many flight segments have people have managed to get, or expect to get out of their checked luggage?

Does it make a difference if it is a hundred 1-2 hour domestic legs or the same number of long haul?

 

[Cynicor]

Like wear and tear on the planes, I guess short haul checked luggage would fare worst!

 

[JohnK]

Bought a couple of very cheap suitcases from Flemington markets 7-8 years ago. Both have been replaced by the airlines with American Tourister suitcases free of charge due to damage caused on trips.

The suitcases do have a lot of wear and tear. The hardest part to keep on are the zipper handles making the zip very hard to open. I am waiting for any airline to damage the suitcases so I can get another replacement out of them although they have become stricter recently offering to repair the bag rather than replace.

 

[RAM]

Being a sentimental soul - I still use a 1981 expanding hinge large suitcase. Three years ago running across 300m of cobble stones to catch a train saw one of the wheel axles get so hot it seemed to melt the plastic bracket and come out. I retrieved it but not fix possible. So it gets carried now.

After reading an article about how easy it is to open any suitcase whether locked with zips or hinges etc, I decided to truss up the large suitcases with climbing rope. No, it was not to make it easier to see the bags coming off - the 1981 one is especially noticeable as is.

It takes 5 or 6 minutes to tie up if I've got a helper and about 10 minutes a bag if I don't. One thing is for sure - the bags can never come open and it has the added bonus that I can pick them up from whatever angle they come out onto the conveyor. The '9 square' pattern or like a noughts & crosses grid also acts as some additional cushioning for the bumps and thumps. Successfully brought back numerous steins from Europe in them.

One piece of advice I've been given by a number of check-in agents is NOT to put a fragile sticker on any bag. It just makes that bag a target for a bored minimum wage worker if you are unlucky.

The 1981 bag has been on every international flight I've had since 81 and apart from the loss of the wheel still works its magic fully expanded.

With modern bags - overloading near a zip is guaranteed to shorten their life. A mistake I made with an early 2000s el-cheapo after 8 years of use. And no I hadn't hog tied that bag unfortunately.

It didn't come open but the zip had started to tear away from the fabric. Used it for two more European trips before retiring it permanently to the red bin. {Sniff, sniff}.

 

[Jungking]

I remember buying this plastic rolling luggage in Bangkok for around $40 AUD, it fell apart towards the end of the trip, I remember seeing it at the luggage compartment with sticky tape all over it. I guess it must have fell apart while they were moving it from the plane...
Moral of the story, don't buy cheap stuff

 

[c814875]

I have a small light American Tourister (made by Samsonite I think) Spinner that has been with me for years and taken a beating. My toddler loves sitting on it while I wheel him around the airport and it hasnt complained yet. Love the look of the look of the Tumi but cant justify the cost premium. I would also only consider hardcases these days - they dont get ripped.