Shirts, slacks and luggage
 

Thanks TQ. Went to the local Kohl's last night with no luck.

Try Pilot shirt and pilot uniform manufacturer, buy direct. . Just received the tapered 2G shirts in the mail. To me, they seem to be of higher quality compared to the crew outfitter shirts you can get at the flight academy. Looks as though you can order slack from the company as well. They claim to match AA's uniform. Might be worth a shot to those that are looking.

I've had a 22'' Luggage Works bag for about fifteen years but it's time for it to retire. I'm thinking about getting the LW 26'' stealth NG but am afraid the bag will be too big to commute with i.e. I'll end up having to constantly check it at the gate. Any thoughts or commuting experiences with the bigger bag?

Thanks,

Kid

Kid, my buddy commutes with the long LW bag (I have the shorty) from the FL panhandle to MIA, so he gets a combo of RJ and 73/S80 flying with it (he's on the 76). It obviously can only fit the overheads sideways, which he says he has received some flack for from FA's, but it's never NOT got on with him.

Obviously neither the shorty nor the long will fit in an RJ overhead.

He likes the extra room (who wouldn't). I don't know how well or if it fits in a smaller-than-76 cockpit at all.

As a commuter I would NOT get a 26" bag unless I only planned to commute on RJ's where they check your bag on the jetway/ramp and get it right back on the other end.
A 26" bag is great in terms of what you can carry, but for commuting it would suck big time. Better to get a smaller bag and then a second "fit under the seat" bag if needed.

I went with the Strong Bags Vortex II, 22.75"
Fits lengthways in everything 'cept some early 73's that WN fly.
Fits under the jumpseat(s) in a 73.
Lighter empty weight than the LW, cheaper than the LW, and all parts are user replaceable and available for order on their website. (no sending the bag in for repair).
I recently changed the whole skin on mine.
The early version got a bad rap, but the II version is spot on.

I have the 26" and check it at the gate about half the time. If on the AB with just one jumper in the cockpit it is easy to stack. I never take it into the cockpit of a Boeing.

I like the extra room and don't mind gate checking on our airline (I only commute on our airline and I can take it down myself or drop it down the chute. At destination I can go down to get it but often the rampers have already delivered it up top by the time I get off the plane.)