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What luggage to get?

Old 04-14-2023, 06:53 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by highfarfast View Post
I have a Briggs and Riley and I have a LW Aurora (which is NOT the clunky boxy one you see pilots lugging around).

I like them both. But I do prefer the Aurora. The Aurora rolls smoother and has a more logical layout as you open it out.

Both don't exactly look like the typical pilot crew bags which I like for traveling out of uniform.

I do recommend having an extra bag on hand to use while you send the other one off for warranty repair. Both my bags have had to be sent off once each on warranty in the last 6 years.

Both fit into overhead bins fine as long as you don't overstuff them. Most pilots won't. Most flight attendants will.
I have a Briggs and Riley and I have a LW Aurora (which is NOT the clunky boxy one you see pilots lugging around).

I like them both. But I do prefer the Aurora. The Aurora rolls smoother and has a more logical layout as you open it out.

Both don't exactly look like the typical pilot crew bags which I like for traveling out of uniform.

I do recommend having an extra bag on hand to use while you send the other one off for warranty repair. Both my bags have had to be sent off once each on warranty in the last 6 years.

Having said that, if you're going to be DFW based, Crew Outfitters has an airport location there and will give you a loaner while your bag is being repaired, under warranty or not, if you purchase from them. This is particularly great when your bag breaks mid sequence. I have no idea if they have other airport locations. You can also order online from them. The store will have records of your original order when you show up for repair.

Both fit into overhead bins fine as long as you don't overstuff them. Most pilots won't. Most flight attendants will.
Aurora does look good, I got one for my wife (non airline) and it seems to hold up well. I guess that’s my caveat to ABLW!
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Old 04-14-2023, 09:07 AM
  #32  
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Man, that is NOT what it looked like on my phone when I hit submit. Oh well.
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Old 04-14-2023, 06:27 PM
  #33  
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Five years ago I bought a Briggs spinner domestic carry-on expandable with the flight crew discount. At that time they did not require a crew ID but non-crew apparently started taking advantage of the discount and they put a stop to it by requiring a crew ID, so you can't get the Briggs discount until you have your ID. After using my Briggs on countless trips over the years I can't imagine lugging a two wheel around. I just rest my hand on the top of the handle and the Briggs just glides alongside me. I convert to two wheel operation when coming up jet bridges or on any unstable surface (like cobblestones / bricks at some hotel entrances) but the spinner normally puts all the weight where it belongs...straight down to the ground.

I load my Briggs up with a heavy flight bag and cooler. This puts a lot of weight on the wheels, which tend to wear to the point that I replace them once a year. These are relatively easy to swap out at home so I just order them when I feel the bag starting to drag a bit and they are always sent to me free under the lifetime warranty. They even enhanced the wheels at one point. My original wheels wore out relatively quickly but the new / current wheel design is much stronger and they cause the bag to roll so freely that if I let go of the bag on even a slight incline it will roll away from me. That's actually a good thing as it means I have to apply less force to it to get it moving.

I have also replaced the handle once as it had worn out and started to bend, and Briggs would not let me replace it at home so I had to send the bag in. When I submitted the support / warranty claim request for this work they provided commercial (discounted) rates on a shipping label. It cost me around $20 to ship it to their repair facility. It was returned in less than five days.

All that said, I second the advice to have a backup bag just in case the primary breaks. I bought the Strong Bags Vortex 21 as my backup and find that it rolls as smoothly as my Briggs, but as a 2-wheel bag it places a lot of stress on my arm and shoulder over the course of a trip so I only use it when the Briggs has to be sent in. The quality of the Vortex is good for the money and I like the fact that the outer fabric shell can be replaced if necessary, as it wraps around the inner aluminum structure of the bag, rather than forming the structure of the bag like the Briggs.

My cooler is the Strong Bags Summit and it still looks like it did when I bought it four years ago. The internal coated liner and the beefy zippers have held up perfectly. Really a nice bag and worth every penny, assuming they haven't changed the design since I bought it.
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Old 04-16-2023, 06:59 AM
  #34  
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The idea behind the j-hook is that it locates the small bag aft so the whole rig is balanced, and you don't have to hold up the weight. You can adjust CG by relocating heavier stuff higher or lower in the suitcase.

If you put your small bag on top of the suitcase, yeah the handle will be heavy.
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Old 04-16-2023, 07:21 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by njd1 View Post
Five years ago I bought a Briggs spinner domestic carry-on expandable with the flight crew discount. At that time they did not require a crew ID but non-crew apparently started taking advantage of the discount and they put a stop to it by requiring a crew ID, so you can't get the Briggs discount until you have your ID. After using my Briggs on countless trips over the years I can't imagine lugging a two wheel around. I just rest my hand on the top of the handle and the Briggs just glides alongside me. I convert to two wheel operation when coming up jet bridges or on any unstable surface (like cobblestones / bricks at some hotel entrances) but the spinner normally puts all the weight where it belongs...straight down to the ground.

I load my Briggs up with a heavy flight bag and cooler. This puts a lot of weight on the wheels, which tend to wear to the point that I replace them once a year. These are relatively easy to swap out at home so I just order them when I feel the bag starting to drag a bit and they are always sent to me free under the lifetime warranty. They even enhanced the wheels at one point. My original wheels wore out relatively quickly but the new / current wheel design is much stronger and they cause the bag to roll so freely that if I let go of the bag on even a slight incline it will roll away from me. That's actually a good thing as it means I have to apply less force to it to get it moving.

I have also replaced the handle once as it had worn out and started to bend, and Briggs would not let me replace it at home so I had to send the bag in. When I submitted the support / warranty claim request for this work they provided commercial (discounted) rates on a shipping label. It cost me around $20 to ship it to their repair facility. It was returned in less than five days.

All that said, I second the advice to have a backup bag just in case the primary breaks. I bought the Strong Bags Vortex 21 as my backup and find that it rolls as smoothly as my Briggs, but as a 2-wheel bag it places a lot of stress on my arm and shoulder over the course of a trip so I only use it when the Briggs has to be sent in. The quality of the Vortex is good for the money and I like the fact that the outer fabric shell can be replaced if necessary, as it wraps around the inner aluminum structure of the bag, rather than forming the structure of the bag like the Briggs.

My cooler is the Strong Bags Summit and it still looks like it did when I bought it four years ago. The internal coated liner and the beefy zippers have held up perfectly. Really a nice bag and worth every penny, assuming they haven't changed the design since I bought it.
I wanted to like the Summit, but the sleeve to put it around the handle started to fail after 4 months, coming apart at the seam.
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Old 04-28-2023, 10:18 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by soksophara8 View Post
As someone frequently travels for work, I'd suggest investing in durable and easily maneuverable luggage. Look for suitcases with four wheels that can spin 360 degrees for maximum mobility. Choosing luggage with a TSA-approved lock is also important for added security.
Troll or serious post here? Opinions are like... well, you know. As your first post here, I would like to see your definition of "frequently travels for work." Are you a crew member or just a highly traveled businessman (or gal)?

Why do all the major luggage companies specializing in crew luggage NOT have 4 spinny wheels? Experience has shown they are more susceptible to breaking and typically not individually replaceable/repairable. Oddly, for all the broken external "spinny" wheel I've seen dismembered on the ramp, I've never seen an internal wheel all alone out there that fell out. Those kinds of wheels just do not hold up in the day-to-day use of flight crew.
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Old 04-28-2023, 12:11 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by QRH Bingo View Post
Troll or serious post here? Opinions are like... well, you know. As your first post here, I would like to see your definition of "frequently travels for work." Are you a crew member or just a highly traveled businessman (or gal)?

Why do all the major luggage companies specializing in crew luggage NOT have 4 spinny wheels? Experience has shown they are more susceptible to breaking and typically not individually replaceable/repairable. Oddly, for all the broken external "spinny" wheel I've seen dismembered on the ramp, I've never seen an internal wheel all alone out there that fell out. Those kinds of wheels just do not hold up in the day-to-day use of flight crew.
Exactly.....Two wheels for the win!!

#1 million....and not just I am old, but I do understand many younger people have never owned a non-4 wheel spinner or just terrible 2 wheel ones....the above the poster says it all!!
Plus you get more internal volume....and the wheel are typically bigger and higher quality, so they roll better.
A pilot with a 4 wheel spinner.... could say tons, it's certainly a choice, but I would recommend against it... STRONGLY.
A property adjusted J-HOOK or hanger straps to hang a bag on the front of you suitcase will balance the weight, and make it nearly weightless as you pull it (then pick... traditional handle or an extra one that sticks out can help if you have shoulder issues)....that being said, on a short walk with an escalator I sometimes put my small bag on top...same for shuttle buses/trains to save space when people are packed together.
Plus the typical Two wheel PROFESSIONAL LEVEL pilot suitcase can have the wheels replaced (often by the user) if they get worn (a good suitcase might last 6+ years....sand, dust, snow water, concrete, metal people movers and blacktop will eventually wear them down, even if you keep the bearing lubed up (yes, a good regular suitcase MX item, just like added soft wax to the zipper teeth to prevent wear, seriously!)
And one more thing to add...a TSA approved lock, 😂
Unless it's hard sided, all you need to get into a suitcase with a zipper and a lock is a ballpoint pen...but it might keep an honest person honest...but honestly will only slow a person down...your hotel maid I am sure knows the trick as does all the ramp rats....then just slide the locked zipper ends back...and a suitcase is zippered up AGAIN, no damage or indication anybody opened it, and no need to buy a TSA key on ebay....
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Old 02-03-2024, 11:24 AM
  #38  
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Default All new design pilot luggage.

I have been carrying a prototype from these guys and I am VERY impressed. It is a ground up new design for pilots. No need to choose between 4 wheels or 2, you get both with this design. They look like a million bucks too! paradoxaviationllc.com
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Old 02-04-2024, 07:46 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by joeblow View Post
I have been carrying a prototype from these guys and I am VERY impressed. It is a ground up new design for pilots. No need to choose between 4 wheels or 2, you get both with this design. They look like a million bucks too! paradoxaviationllc.com
What is that additional pocket on the top that is locked for? Seems unusual. Otherwise this bag looks pretty cool Price is hard to beat as well. As a Briggs and Riley carrier, I would give this a go if for some reason I decide to retire it.
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Old 02-05-2024, 04:12 PM
  #40  
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Just another LW hater here. Had wheel/axel issues within 6 months that I could not fix myself. Sent the bag out for warranty and heard nothing for a month and a half. I'm patient but sent an email inquiring about the status. Heard back immediately and they just sent me a knew one. I think they forgot about me. I don't think Ill be buying another luggage works when the replacement goes.
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