Pilot suitcase

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Pilotcollin

Well-Known Member
I had a Travel Pro suitcase 10 years. It survived everything I through at it. However, one gate check with United and it’s no longer usable. There is now no handle left on it.

What luggage do you recommend? I need something durable
 
Almost everybody will tell you to get the Luggageworks. I carry a LW flight bag, but my contrarian opinion is that the LW roller is an overpriced, stupid and hideous dinosaur bag.

I would tell you to get another Travelpro. The Flightcrew 5 line is an excellent value.

People with extra money will say Briggs and Riley. People with no money will say go get the cheap bag at Costco.

You’ll probably end up with a LW because its what the majority has.


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Flyinthrew said:
People with extra money will say Briggs and Riley. People with no money will say go get the cheap bag at Costco.

You’ll probably end up with a LW because its what the majority has.
Click to expand...

I've had the Briggs and Riley and the Costco. The current job issues us a Travelpro. And I've thrown my back out with other dudes' LuggageWorks bags to know I don't want one of those. The Briggs and Riley was really well made and seemed very sturdy in the aggregate (without being a 30 ton tank like the LW). The only problem for me was that it's not particularly workable to get that legendary warranty service where I am. I think I figured out that the best I could do would be to jumpseat somewhere with it to get major service. This negates the biggest advantage, may be different for the OP.

The Costco bags used to be of pretty good quality as well. I think this may have suffered more recently, not sure. I was pretty happy with the arrangement where I bought one for $130 then traded it in every few years when something broke. They finally started walking sideways on warrantying the bag, which I mean I get it, but that's not the obligation they touted when I bought the thing. So the days of having an eternal $130 bag may be over.

The LW is...I dunno, it's fine. I don't airline much, so I can't say I've torture-tested it, but it seems reasonably sturdy. It's got pockets and zippers and wheels and stuff. It's reasonably light. It's a bag. It does bag things just fine.
 
Flyinthrew said:
Almost everybody will tell you to get the Luggageworks. I carry a LW flight bag, but my contrarian opinion is that the LW roller is an overpriced, stupid and hideous dinosaur bag.

I would tell you to get another Travelpro. The Flightcrew 5 line is an excellent value.

People with extra money will say Briggs and Riley. People with no money will say go get the cheap bag at Costco.

You’ll probably end up with a LW because its what the majority has.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Do you commute at all? My bag ends up in the belly on probably half my commutes, and I am not sure I trust the Travelpro with that amount of abuse.
 
ASpilot2be said:
Do you commute at all? My bag ends up in the belly on probably half my commutes, and I am not sure I trust the Travelpro with that amount of abuse.
Click to expand...

I commute, but must qualify it that it is almost always mainline and with our positive space agreement (and also being extremely nice to people when off-line) it has been in the belly exactly once.

I also have the somewhat up-armored “Pilot” model.


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Boris Badenov said:
I've had the Briggs and Riley and the Costco. The current job issues us a Travelpro. And I've thrown my back out with other dudes' LuggageWorks bags to know I don't want one of those. The Briggs and Riley was really well made and seemed very sturdy in the aggregate (without being a 30 ton tank like the LW). The only problem for me was that it's not particularly workable to get that legendary warranty service where I am. I think I figured out that the best I could do would be to jumpseat somewhere with it to get major service.
Click to expand...

This review will be very similar to @Boris Badenov's. I just sent my Briggs and Riley off for service for the 3rd?!? time. It took about 3 months, but was necessary, as airlines were refusing to check or gate check it based on condition without signing a waiver (condition that they caused). Otherwise, great bag, reasonably light, mostly sturdy. The months long turnaround on repair requires that you have some other bag anyway. If you live near one of their service locations (lucky me, I do) - repair is slightly more convenient. Still cost $20 in shipping. They did offer $200 towards a new bag instead, which isn't a great deal at all.

But back to needing another bag while it is under repair. The Luggage Works 22 I have is still serviceable 12 years later. Since you are going to need 2 bags given the eventual need for service, just buy one of each.
 
I have a strongbags. It was cheaper and every part can be replaced easily. With that said, on the bus living in base, I am thinking about something lighter.
 
Flyinthrew said:
Almost everybody will tell you to get the Luggageworks. I carry a LW flight bag, but my contrarian opinion is that the LW roller is an overpriced, stupid and hideous dinosaur bag.

I would tell you to get another Travelpro. The Flightcrew 5 line is an excellent value.

People with extra money will say Briggs and Riley. People with no money will say go get the cheap bag at Costco.

You’ll probably end up with a LW because its what the majority has.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I liked this not because I agree about the LW bag (I don't. I absolutely love mine), but because of how accurate the whole post is aside from that
 
My LW plastic frame is going on 7 years with zero issues. My backup is a TravelPro, which the company provided.

If I was to buy a new bag tomorrow, it would more than likely be another plastic frame LW.
 
I had a bearing fail on my LW Stealth that I got second hand from @milleR. It came to me well loved, and I got another 4 years of trouble free use out of it. LW’s are heavy, but they’re tanks. I did the math and shipping my LW back to the factory to get repaired was still cheaper then a new Strongbags or TravelPro. I was pretty blown away tbh. I only told LW to fix zippers and the bearings (I couldn’t get 1 wheel off since the bearing had come off on the axle and the axle screw threads were stripped.) it cost me 180 bucks, plus something like 50 bucks in shipping for the loaner bag and mine to get returned. I got instead of just that, new frames, new zippers, basically a brand new bag for a song. They had to replace my kick plate with all my flair, but they sent me the old kick plate which was a nice touch.
All this to say LW gets my vote. They’re heavy yes, but they take abuse well. I was inches from pulling the trigger on a strongbags helix. But the cost delta was too great for me.
 
Get a Tumi. One with the coarse black fabric sides not the smooth hard shell. I became a believer after my briefcase got stuck in a G-IV door as it was closing because I'm an idiot and forgot it was there. Not even a scratch. So then i bought the rollerboard too to have a matching set. I like 4 wheels so LW is out for me. Tumi's wheel bearings are amazing the thing rolls smoother than anything I've tried even a few years later. Now I commute for 121 and it still looks brand new. People think I'm bougey but I honestly bought it for the amazing build quality and durability. Plus their warranty is amazing take it into any store and they'll take care of it no questions asked. I think it's worth every penny
 
I've been happy with my LW. Had it 10 years now and refrub only once. Pain in the booty hauling it up and down the 747 though.
 
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