Flight Bags

I'm on my second Briggs and it's 5 years old. It's seen a lot of commuting abuse ( RJ's, on and off buses, winter parking lots) and I've replaced the wheels once. It probably could use a trip to the overhaul shop to fix some issues like the sewn-in bag strap that's really beginning to show wear, but until it legit breaks, it's fine. My other bag served me for about 5 years before suffering irreparable damage. They gave me 50% off a new bag, which is my current one. I've been pretty happy with it and the brand.
 
What model Brightline works for all of your stuff?

I have the Aerocoast Cooler. I typically carry:
- a couple of Kinderfluf shades
- iPad EFB
- Clarity Aloft headset
- Sunglasses, cleaner etc
- flashlight
- passport/license/medical
- Kindle
- Notepads, pens, pencil
- RainX + rag
- Small first aid kit + basic otc medications
- Backup efb battery brick
- assorted snacks

It's a lot. It's heavy and fat and really doesn't fit all that well in the space next to the seat on the guppy that was built to contain the old school chart/catalog case.

Would love something that also has a clip for car keys, external water bottle holder, etc

My big objection to the Brightline is not being able to access from the top - like when I’m in my seat reaching in and grabbing snacks, a farmers fridge salad, etc.
 
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killbilly said:
Some as-yet-unidentified vendor will solve, once and for all, the cooler/flight bag/4 days of food option. I stand ready with credit card in hand.
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Just carry 2 of the roll-a-boards of your choice, with the 2nd on the J-hook or strap. In the second one, put a headset bag (ASA's is good) with all the flying stuff, and use the rest of the space for the travelling kitchen. You'll have room for the personal pepper mill you left out. :)
 
drunkenbeagle said:
Just carry 2 of the roll-a-boards of your choice, with the 2nd on the J-hook or strap. In the second one, put a headset bag (ASA's is good) with all the flying stuff, and use the rest of the space for the travelling kitchen. You'll have room for the personal pepper mill you left out. :)
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You laugh but that’s basically the Paradox setup I have. The flight case is large and has its own wheels and handle.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
When you are all done solving the rollaboard problem, I'm still not finding a flight bag I like that fits next to the seat in the guppy and manages to hold all the junk I bring. :(
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Never crewed a guppers, but my Aerocoast flight bag is just fine. I was using the cooler as a flight bag for a long time, and I realized I might as well just get the flight bag version.

Consider it as a possibility, anyway.
 
🦈💜 said:
I was surprised when I saw my first Brightline bag in the 121 world. I see them a lot more than I used to, but it still screams kneeboard, calling for an I. F. R. clearance, and writing "CRAFT" on the scratchpad while picking it up.
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I had a Brightline for years and I kept getting "lost" in the pockets. I tried to have a system with the color coded zippers but then I'd forget, which I get is more of a me problem then the bags fault.
I liked the modular idea, but as a commuter and trying to keep to the "two bags max" for commuting purposes, the Brightline jammed full of stuff didn't hang right on my rollaboard and would fall off to one side. This would cause an imbalance and just annoy the crap out of me.

I'm using a Contrail FL390 that was given to AA new hires by the union (not sure if that's still going on) and I like it for its simplicity and its been durable so far. Even survived a washing after a cup of coffee launched out of my cupholder on takeoff in Punta Cana DR and upside down into my bag.
 
By consistently loading my brightline the same way every time, I basically trained myself to find anything in the bag I needed by feel. It took a little bit, but I could grab anything in any of the pockets without fail.
 
Here is my ridiculous brightline

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Pouch on the “forward” side has a USB power hub. And a flashlight. I just take the cord out and plug it into the aircraft then plug all my UsB cables into it. iPad phone watch and personal iPad and AA batteries for the headset and the flashlight can all be charged simultaneously

pouches attached to the other side “the aft side” can carry 2 1-liter water bottles. Either the company provided 1-liter bottles or a commercial 1-liter Nalgene bottle. Or one of those stainless steel coffee mug or a sandwich from jimmy johns subway Jersey mikes Or a medium fountain soda

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Stupid expensive overpaid way too much. It’s $162 from Brightline and then about $250 in pouches from Amazon
 
word302 said:
My problem is the main compartment is just a giant cavern and they don’t offer any options to keep food cold. I’m not annal about organization but I can’t stand digging around in a bottomless pit.
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My exact thoughts. I’m on flight bag iteration number 5 and nothing is quite right. Basic non aviation Samsonite laptop bag worked at the regionals till I figured out what I needed, then an e-bags that was useless. I moved to the big aerocoast ii on the CRJ and it was overkill, plenty of food storage but not the right mix of flight bag storage. Got a LW cube that was almost right, but went to the guppy and it’s just too wide and my seat can’t slide all the way out to gain easy access. Currently running a contrail 410 and it’s good, but the lack of organization in the main compartment is its huge drawback.

I’m also weighing what to replace my LW stealth brick 💩-house with. It’s just too heavy, and I don’t even pack that much crap. Paradox was a contender but the lack of J hook sealed that. Just had an FO who had a B&R spinner that annoyed the crap out of me trying to stack my bag around it, it was massive. Looked at strong bags but it doesn’t appear to give me much in weight savings. In my 3 little bears story, my porridge keeps being too hot or too cold.
 
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