Missed Appch

Stick with the metal frame. I bought the plastic one and wish I wouldn't have been so cheap.

at6d

I have had the international for 15 years. It's a tank, but doesn't fit the 737.

You may want to try the Strongbags line. Great bags, less pricey, started by a pilot.

http://www.strongbags.com

TerrainOnND

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the newer "Stealth Air"

All New STEALTH AIR - Browse Products

Metal frame, but same weight as plastic (aluminum in place of steel). I've been eyeing it. Anyone had experience with it?

tacamoflyer

I have it.
It is still pretty heavy, but definitely lighter than the standard bag.
I have had it two years of heavy use and commuting. It is holding up well. The Luggageworks metal tag fell off the front, a couple of screws worked loose from the curb protector plate thing at the bottom, and it has the standard dings and scratches. The wheels are squeaky, but I haven't done a lick of maintenance on them and I drag it through mud in Houston walking to a crash pad.
All in all, I would buy another one. Decent product and you can't beat the LW solid handle vs the telescoping one other bags have. That is generally the first failure point in any bag.
I called the company direct and got a 10 percent airline employee discount and free shipping. That was a couple of years ago though.

silver fleet

Tacamo: you contacted LW direct and got a discount?

Thanks all: I think I'm gonna go with the old wrecking ball or stealth 26"....cheers for all the input!

e6bpilot

Yes, called the number on the website. Told them I am a current airline employee and gave them my ID number. 10 percent and free shipping. That was a couple of years ago though.

webecheck

I have the stealth air. Very first gate check resulted in a bottom plate cracked. Got bag replaced. Recently had the metal side frames bent enough to need repair....this is all in 7 months time frame. If I could do over, I'd accept the weight penalty and get the sturdier option.

ufgatorpilot

That is disappointing since I was just about to purchase that one. I just looked at the Costco bag since it seems to get good reviews, but it weighs 11.25 pounds. That's heavier than the Stealth Air, which I think is 10.6 from what I remember. I don't want the weight penalty of the regular Stealth anymore, but I'm having a difficult time finding good alternatives.

Trail Blazer

Does the new Stealth Air (No Side Pocket option) fit in the B737? Thanks!

HTBH

My opinion: copied from another message board.

I had the 22 inch suitor luggage works with the metal frame for two years. Finally gave up and bought a Briggs and Riley. Here's my issues with the Luggage Works.

The good:

It does carry a lot and the side pockets are nice. That's it...

The bad:

1. The suitor pockets does nothing but get your shirts and suits more mangled. Because there isn't any solid frame around, any bag you hang from the hook just rubs up against whatever you have in there and mangles it.

2. The thing is heavy. Doesn't seem too heavy when you first get it. When you drag it all over the place, it gets heavier. When you keep putting it in the overhead, it gets heavier, etc...etc..etc..

3. Had one of the rollers got mangled. Tried to send it in. That wasn't as easy as it sounds. I tried both in MSP and ATL. They NEVER have spare bags for you to use. I finally gave up and just took it into a place in SLC (International Luggage in North Salt Lake...they are awesome) and they fixed it and showed me how cheaply it was made. Was actually cheaper than mailing it in.

4. Int'l Luggage also put a handle on the bottom that tilted the bag slightly. Cost me 25 bucks but kept the bag from falling over every time I connected a bag to hang on it.

5. I actually did end up sending it in to LW when the handle wouldn't stay out any more. (I never got a loaner, just used a crappy extra bag I have). Took about 2-3 weeks and some cash to send it in to get fixed.

6. The metal frame is now bent inwards. The sides bow in. I asked about that (can't remember who I spoke to about it) and they basically said, "yeah, that's a known issue". Will they fix it? No.

7. I've gone through 3 of the velcro thing that holds the metal handle in place. They actually sent these for free to me. But I was deadheading the other day and the 3rd of them gave way when I was getting the bag out of the overhead. Metal handle goes flying out and missed a lady's face by about an inch. That was the final straw and I knew I wanted to get rid of the thing. Last thing I need is to be in uniform and knock some lady in the teeth with the metal handle of my bag....

I expressed my frustration with all the issues I've had with the bag and they really, really, really didn't seem to care about my frustrations or the fact they sell what I consider to be a terrible product. I had an old TravelPro that I had in the Air Force that I drug all over the world for much longer than I owned the LW. It is in better condition than the LW.

I have since purchased a Briggs and Riley. Lifetime warranty, no questions asked for anything and everything is what they assured me. It wasn't cheap, but compared to what I spent on the LW, it would have been easier to just buy it the first time. The one I bought has the compression system, which works extremely well. I know they do the hard push on the LW stuff when you go through indoc, but I'd pass on much of what they are selling.

My 2 cents. YMMV.

HTBH