You're a pilot. LW bags all the way.. Why is this a question??

 

I'm a long-time loyal LW customer. But their QC has gone down hill the last few years. Ceramic zipper handles? What were they thinking?

And they reversed the front zipper sides. Six months later and I'm still putting it on the hotel luggage stand the wrong way!

 

Got an email about the new LW bag. It’s still a whopping metal frame, with a chunky overbuilt design. I really wish they’d try something that doesn’t weigh a ton.

 

Do they still make a carbon fiber frame model? I remember it being much lighter.

 

LW has had a plastic framed bag for years. I bought one open box in 2019 for $120. They've raised the price and now it's $190/$200 (expandable) but still a good value IMO. It's a quality bag, and super light.

Aurora Series (luggageworks.com)

 

FYI, local Briggs and Riley dealers can give up to 35% off for crew and will ship from Briggs directly if they don't have it in stock. I just found one on their website nearby and they were very friendly. I'm not a J-Hook guy, just rock the baseline 2 wheel B&R with a backpack for a flight bag that slides over the handle when I'm rolling.

 

The zipper reversal drives me nuts.

 

Agreed and funny you should mention that. My 10 year old bag finally got to me when the handle would no longer go up and down, coupled with side pockets that wouldn't zip (broken) and a few good bends in the frame from our "gentle" rampers. Think it was $199 for a refurb. Got my bag in a timely manner and it wasn't a refurb, it was a new one. First thing I noticed was the reversed front zipper pattern. Completely threw off my feng shui with the hotel room luggage rack. Had the bag about a week before I had a tear along the bottom seam of one of the side pockets from an overhead bin/pax luggage meeting. I do, however, like the new handle and the snap to hold it down. But yup, it ain't the Purdy Neat bag of olden days.

 

I’ve had the luggage works plastic bag for 4 years and been a commuter the whole time. I bought some sort of discontinued line that’s not available now. I believe it was the “executive series” plastic bag. I recently did a refurb myself. I replaced the handle with the stainless and put new wheels on. I removed everything and spray painted the screws and metal corners. I have one screw removed due to the backing breaking but it has no issue without it. Bag has no rips or tears. I cut the businesses card slot off the back as that was falling off. After my “DIY” refurb the bag looks new. I never understood why anyone bought the metal one. After lifting other people’s metal bags I couldn’t believe the weight. Also the plastic bag sides do not permanently deform or bend like the metal bags. Overall satisfied with mine. But would change bag brands before I bought a metal one. Also the plastic ones are half the price.

 

Guess you've never seen a plastic frame LW bag (or those fancy new ones all the kids have) run over by a tug or thrown down to the tarmac next to the belt loader "because it's a yellow tag". The metal frame gets a little tweaked but lives to fight another day. The plastic is DOA.