I had no plans on penny-pinching. I'm looking for the best bang for the buck that I will be happy with. Don't get me wrong, I know that there is a standard for a reason and I have nothing against that. Again, I'm just trying to make the most educated decision so that I can get what works best for me.

Yes, stereotyping and derogatory words directed towards Jewish folks on a professional pilot's forum is showing respect for our industry. However, we must be wary of pilots that have chosen to use a duffel bag for luggage....they're really bringing down the industry! "Man up!":rolleyes:

Ok for those of you who own a Purdy bag which size is the best to get....22", 26", Stealth????? I hear the 26" isn't legal carry-on size

Mmmm...I smell hypocrisy:rolleyes: I like the idea that you think you can get by with having only one uniform. Just wait till you hit some wake while you're at cruise about to take a sip of your coffee/diet coke/cranberry juice/whatever or when you're out doing a walk around in the morning and the CA fires up the APU and it pukes a few drops of oil onto you on day one of your 4-day. I bet you'd give your left nut to have a new shirt rather than have to look like a moron for the next 4 days:D.

Seriously friend, look at your contract. You might find a uniform allowance or payroll deduct section in it. If you are so broke that you can't shell out an extra $50 for a couple more shirts and maybe a pair of pants then you need to SERIOUSLY evaluate your financial position.

PS
What BLKflyer said about being somewhere cold is 100% true. I just finished a trip that spent all 3 nights in Canada and my bag was STUFFED with just a pair of jeans, sneakers, long-sleeved thermal, t-shirt, underwear, under shirts, socks, gym shorts, a warm jacket that I could wear out, toiletries and a few food items. I have the 22" PNT with the computer pouch. But go nuts with your 19" Cheapo or whatever it is. I'm sure you'll have a blast.:D

Yeah first of all I already said Experimental AB had made a valid point about the uniform, and thus I plan on purchasing backups. Before he had made that point, I hadn't taken the time to really look at the order form for my uniforms, so when I heard that I could expect to spend $750, I thought that was for one.
Considering how often pilots travel, I would have expected some of you might have discovered packing folders from Eagle Creek. You can pack up to 7 dress shirts into the smallest size folder offered, and they compress down to nearly flat, wrinkle free. That same folder will hold about 10 t-shirts or thermals. They have similar items for underwear and socks. It's nice for saving space, try it, seriously. My post about getting a smaller rolling suitcase rather than the larger one was not for cost implications, but rather for ease of transport and getting into and out of an airplane multiple time per day. Again, I'm not about being cheap, just getting the best item I can for what I spend. That sometimes means I'll spend a lot more than I originally planned.
It's disappointing how you can come to a place like this for friendly advice from your peers and instead be attacked and called a cheap moron. I try to value the opinions I receive on here. For those of you who are genuinely trying to be helpful and make valid points and give respectful advice, thank you. To the others, find something better to do with your time then come on here and make yourself feel better by attempting to belittle others.

I tried to help!!!:eek: I genuinely tried to help by offering you tips from my own experience (the 19" bag might be a tad small, one uniform is not gonna be enough). Now maybe if there was some good natured ribbing in there, too bad. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.:D If you're gonna take everything this personally, then you are going to have long, miserable experience in the airlines. Me thinks you should invest in some skin thickener NOW. It'd be pretty embarrassing to burst into tears the first time a pax or the FA makes fun of your landing:D

Seriously though, welcome to the gig. This job can be the most fun you have with your clothes on. It can also be a miserable, lonely, plodding existence. Its all about what you make of it.

I'm all about a good time and sure, I can take some crap. I guess I didn't see much advice included with your ribbing. Then again it's been a long day and perhaps I'm not as capable of discerning such information at the time. :) No harm no foul. Thanks for the hidden advice, my brain needed another workout today!

Dude...I discovered the Eagle Creek line at a luggage store a few months back...I was so impressed with the products that I spent $100 on them. They took my PNT 22" that was stuffed and unorganized, barely fitting in the overhead, and made it neat and trim...It doesn't balloon out one inch. Plus, I always know where everything is in it.

Ya'll oughta take a look at 'em next time you get a chance...good call on that av8or.

They're really great. My brother and I used them for a ten day trip to France in October and we could have easily carried on if we wanted to, even after buying stuff while there. I really recommend them. The small one you can get for about $18-25 and the larger ones for about $25-30. Like I said, they also have pouches for the underwear and socks etc that keep those all nice and compact. Glad you like them too, ExperimentalAB...I think they should be part of the "industry norm" as well!!

av8or519 is it Eagle Creek Luggage? I'm trying to search and find it so I can purchase some myself sounds like a great investment for the suitcase

http://www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/

That should take you to the accessories page of the site. The "Pack-it" folders are what ExperimentalAB and I were discussing. The "cubes" are also pretty nice for the socks etc. Rather than purchasing directly from the site, Eagle Creek links you to a number of vendors from which you can find the best price and go from there. Hope this helps. You won't be disappointed!

On another note, while I was on the Eagle Creek site, I noticed a new line of luggage. Their 22" upright comes with a built-in "Pack-it" 18 folder, removable garment bag, and much more. All of their luggage comes with a lifetime warranty as well as a damage repair policy, much like many of the other products that have been recommended. It looks like something to consider.

CRJ-200 cockpit question...

Jeppesen 2 binder, 4 binder or 6 binder leather case???

Max dimension 18x15x9" overhead bin?

I assume just get the 6 binder case and use extra room for headset, glasses, etc.

Your flight case is going to go in the bin next to your seat in the cockpit. You'll need the 4 binder. Get an overnight bag for your clothes and crap, that will go in back up in the overhead.

Wouldn't that be dictated by how many Jepps and pubs your company requires you to carry? I would say get the biggest thing you can fit. There is no such thing as too much space.

The biggest thing that will fit in the space for your flight kit in the CRJ is a 4 binder flight kit. Not to mention its a pain to get it in and out of there.

Any of these will do the trick a lot cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n...msonite&page=1

Any other CRJ drivers agree?
 

I wanted to hear what size would fit from a pilot who flies the CRJ. Thanks coldpilot. I haven't really found the information elsewhere.
But I agree with freezingflyboy, whats wrong with a little extra space? Will the larger bag really not fit? According to Jeppesen, the difference between the two bags is 1" (in width?).

6 binder 12" x 9" x 18"

4 binder 12" x 8" x 18"


edit: Or I could just wait to get to ground school in two weeks, find out what I will REALLY need, and decide then :P

For more clarification, where exactly on the aircraft do we store our luggage when on a trip and what are the max dimensions for a suitcase. I found one that i really like: dim 22x14x10, and I see that the purdy neat is 22x14x8...do those two inches put it over?

Your suitcase will go in the overhead in the back. That's where we put ours anyway. Two inches will put it over. I have the purdy neat and I don't jam it full of crap and its a tight fit.

Nothing is wrong with a little extra space, but it will not fit in the CRJ.

Make sure you get a PN bag or something of the same type. Nothing worse than watching the wheels catch on fire on a fellow crew members roll aboard, actually its pretty funny,.

I have had two leather flight cases in my 30+year career, but now I just get a $70 balistic nylon case from Office Max; it will last about 4 years, then I get another.
As far as suitcases go, I have a Purdy which I use and which is almost bulletproof. But the most bang for the buck IMHO is the Costco Kirkland 22 inch bag for $90 with a lifetime guarantee. The handles will eventually break or the wheel bearings will give out, but just bring it in to Costco, and they will replace it with a new one. I bought my Costco bag about 12 or 14 years ago when I sent my Purdy back to the factory to sew in a new zipper, and I think I have had it replaced twice now, handles and wheels.

What does "new hire" below my sign in name mean, and how do I edit that?

Thanks all for the help. alaska65, the "new hire" is APC's disignation of your time on the forums. As you provide more posts, your "seniority" will go up. Clever huh? :)

If you're on the ERJ 145 you get a pretty large closet between the flight deck and the galley to store your luggage in. I have seen 8 (yes EIGHT!!!:eek:) crew roller bags plus a couple smaller bags stowed in there so, needless to say, its spacious. Sounds like if you're on the CRJ you don't get that luxury. Score another one for the ERJ! Also, the bag hole on the ERJ is open on one side so no width restrictions on flight bags. Guess that's two for the ERJ:D

8 bags? What do you calculate as your weight for bags?

absolutely alaska! i swear by that costco bag. its the lightest bag Ive ever owned, and i beat that living ish out of it and when it wears out (usually the wheels start squeaking) i take it back to costco and walk out 5 minutes later with a brand new one NO QUESTIONS ASKED. go with the costco, its no surprise these are becoming more common in every crew room

20lbs each. They're gate checks, remember?:D It's less than the weight of a jumpseater or a pax in 1A so I wouldn't worry about it dude. If you're nervous about it, have the FA move someone to the back.

Is this the costco kirland 22" bag that everyone is talking about?

http://www.costco.com/Browse/ProductSet.aspx?Prodid=11102330&search=kirkland%20 22"&Mo=0&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=0&whse=BC&Dx=mode+ma tchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC& Ne=4000000&D=kirkland%2022"&Ntt=kirkland%2022"&No= 0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

Don't think so...it's a Duffle.

Site there you go

I bought a Samsonite 22" bag from Marshals. I've had it 8 months, never an issue. Works great. Doesn't really show any wear either. Paid $49 for it. I'll let the company purchase my next bag with the yearly allowance when this one breaks. People can argue how theirs last 7yrs and that's great. Yes purchasing another one in a year or two makes perfect sense. Why? Because you aren't making welfare wages anymore and can afford to do so. Live within your means. If I'm making 50-60K in another 1.5yrs then awesome. Then I'll spend more on something that might last longer. No reason to help starve yourself. There was another FO jumpseating with me the other day who spent $1500 during training on "quality" bag, flight case, and headset. We were talking about our weekends and he asked me how I manage to afford going out partying and play golf etc. when he can barely afford his bills. I just had to think maybe if he didn't toss money he didn't have around he could. If you can't purchase it with cash, even if you're going to put it on a credit card, then stay away. Don't throw yourself in the deep end when you don't have to. If you've got the money on hand then get what you want. If you don't have the money then shop smart and get what you can. Just because something is cheap doesn't mean it can't last a decent amount of time.

I don't know...wish I could be more like ya'll LoL. I just can't do anything without doing it how I think it ought to be done. Even if it means spending my entire paycheck on a rollaboard/flight case...arghh.

What about this one...
http://www.ubid.com/Vacationer%27s_G...53-c13-s1.html

Heck if it works for ya go ahead...but I've never seen a Pilot or F/A walk around with a rolling duffle.

This isn't it, but it's probably more along the lines of what you're looking for...

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...=1&topnav=&s=1

Christmas is the perfect time of year for a nice flight bag. :)

All I'm asking for this year is a good rollaboard. A Strongbags, or Steath will make the walk through the airport a little nicer.

True that. If you can get someone else to get it then flippin sweet. I'm getting my palm Treo(for logbook software), ipod for when I'm working out in the hotels or JSing to work and back, and an electric razor. All things I've wanted for some time so even though I know I'm getting them I'm just having to wait which makes me want them all the more.

Santa is getting me a Scott Leather case this Christmas...now if I can only be good for the rest of the month...haha

What I really want is a flight case but I'm going to get that as a present for myself when I either upgrade or move on to another company. Hand made leather one with a pic of the lone star state and a few other items. The guy does great work and doesn't charge much. Hell I had him resole a pair of my Iguana boots and it was only $12.

Guy down in Texas?

Yea an old guy in my home town. However I'm sure you could go to just about any leather worker and they'd be able to do a great job. Acuna or Laredo Mexico have several good leather workers.