Round luggage

Strongbags are way better bags. If you're planning on soon flying for an LCC that flies 737s, it's a no-brainer of a choice. The only downside is that it will not fit in a CRJ-200 without some modifications. If you're not going to fly a 200, then that's not a problem.

Not really anymore. We used to need those bags because of the 20 pound manuals we had to carry in the flight case. Now with everything on an iPad, you can literally get away with any bag. Just make sure it has sturdy wheels.

Pax luggage will generally not hold up over time. I've known guys who got COSCO luggage with some kind of lifetime(?) warranty... it would break every quarter and they'd take it back and get a new one. But for me the hassle of broken luggage on a trip isn't worth it. You sometimes literally walk a mile or more each day inside the terminals, especially at mainline where you're not isolated to an RJ ghetto terminal. That goes double if you commute.

Also off-roading... you bag will get dragged through water and slush on a regular basis. Pro crew luggage wheels will hold up better to that, and you can easily replace wheels/bearings as needed on most (I won't own a bag which I can't replace the wheels). 4-wheel luggage won't handle various defects in the sidewalk very well either. OK for Aunt Emma going to Orlando once a year, but gets annoying fast for crew.

Also storage... on some airplanes you want specific luggage which will readily fit into the area intended (or adopted) for crew luggage. If you have to stow it in the overhead in the cabin it will get stolen eventually... the criminal class is cunning, they know what that crew tag means: you're probably not in the row behind them watching. Unless you want to lock it with a bike lock, some folks do.

If you're new to 121, feel free to start with whatever beater luggage you happen to have, and talk to folks online to figure out what works best in your airplane.

Stang45Driver's comment has got to be an advertising post. Look at all those keywords they've inserted in there.

Anyways, when I started out I used the basic hard-sided Samsonite 4-wheeler I had in my closet. About the 1 year mark it gave up the ghost and the handle fell off when I was lifting it up the stairs.

I replaced it with a Briggs & Riley 2-wheeler and have been super happy with it for years now. I have a buddy with the same bag that broke it and replaced it with one of the pilot bags, but I think he was a bit harder on his bags than I am.

A lot of companies will give you 20% off - travel pro and Briggs & Riley do. I would recommend Briggs & Riley. I have used that and a Luggage Works metal frame case and Briggs is 10x better. Fits into overhead bins and is very light. Don’t get 4 wheels on any bag you get. Briggs > LW, don’t waste your money on that heavy eye sore. Lifetime warranty too on Briggs.

now for your Pilot bag with your iPad and headset, LW is good and not overpriced. They have good coolers too.

ABLW. Anything but luggageworks.
Gotta love it when your axle rusts into the frame and can’t get it out, cracking the metal plate and ruining the bag. Waste of money and weight.

Haha I can see why that might seem like an advertising post but I was trying to be specific about what I was considering as an alternative to getting the Briggs & Riley, LW, etc. Totally makes sense what you guys are saying about durability being an issue and will probably do as you and Rickair7777 suggest in getting a work-dedicated piece of luggage instead of subjecting my personal bag to the terrors of daily use on the line.

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.

I stand corrected! Haha wow I was 100% convinced you were a bot.