Overnight bags and Flight Cases
 

Maybe i'm missing the point about overnight bags and flight cases, but why on god's green earth would anyone spend $300 on an overnight and $200 on a flight case....sorry...just a random vent.

Because that is what a quality product will cost you - you sound eerily similiar to our Pax that whine about paying $50 NY-LAX round-trip because they don't get a meal ;)

This:
http://www.ebags.com/us_luggage_solo...?modelid=43469

Plus this:
http://www.ebags.com/delsey/helium_f...?modelid=90789

Has served me well for about 7 months so far...I don't commute though. Commuters probably need something tougher, but I still dont see shelling out 500 bucks for bags on 1st year pay...just doesn't make sense.

I would rather suck it up and drop a little more money and buy something quality that will last rather than a bag prone to have it's handle snap off in the terminal. I know there are many who will swear by their $40 bag they bought at Sams Club but I have always felt, on most occasions, that you get what you pay for.

Get a good quality bag. You're going to spend more time with your overnight bag then you will most any other person in your life.

Bags take a beating, and those flight cases are heavy. Sometimes they last, sometimes they don't, it's partly luck of the draw with the less expensive bags. After going through a bag every couple months though, you say "to hell with this" and end up getting one good bag that will last you more than a couple years. Yeah, it costs a little more, and it might cost a little more in the long run even, but there's something to be said about being able to rely on your bag and having the "luxury" of not having to deal with the hassle of replacing it every 6 months.

I agree with the "you get what you pay for" theory

that said, for a flight bag you might look for "sample cases". They often have the same dimensions, but since they are not designed for flight, you don't pay twice as much for the same thing. my "sample case" is the same quality as the company's "flight case" (except for the pencil holders) and cost about 60% as much.

just a thought

I was about to go the cheaper route until I found out that my bag was going to be thrown into the back every time. Once I heard this, it was a no brainier.

And the more expensive bags have a few features such as replacable wheels, longer handles and J hooks which make life a little better.

After two months my cheapie bag broke. Bought a new one from Strongbags and after three months it's just now starting to show a few scuffs.

Because they feel like less a pilot I guess. Like those kids in flight school that had the $100 aviator etc. in class. I don't know. I spent $40 on my flight case and $50 on my bag. It's a samsonite bag that still looks new. Of course there are those that will lecture you over the subject of how it's reasonable but they are as delusional as the next. Financially speaking there's no reason to spend 2% +of your income, pre tax mind you, on two bags. Wait till you make more. Most companies will give you an allowance after your first year to purchase clothes, or items, with. At RAH we get $200. I'll probably use that when my bag breaks. I guess there's a reason why I'm debt free, putting 30% in savings, and not worried about money while most of america is just the opposite. They have no problem trying to make you see otherwise but wonder why the economy is the way it is.

So to sum it up I'm a commuter. I've never been home based. My bag cost $50 from Marshall's. It's a Samsonite travel bag. On the back of it I carry my flight case which I even put my laptop in which adds another 6 pounds. My flight case tops 30+lbs. My bag is almost a year old and still looks new. All the crap people said about how it would fall apart, how it wouldn't last more than a few months, how it would look worn and old was just that. A bunch of crap. A desperate stab to justify spending all this money while making a poor FO's wages. Any financial planner would call it a horrible investment. I toss it, pack it in the back for most legs, stuff it full, drag it everywhere, commute with it for every trip, and it's still a champ. Plus it has a 5yr warranty. Should a wheel ever break or if a handle should one day break, they'll replace the bag. Use your head. If you have to put something on credit card then you shouldn't be buying it. I see these guys witch $600 in bags and another $600+ in headsets then complain about how they don't make enough and never have money. I have to sit there and try not to ask them what the hell they were planning on happening.