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I Hate TravelPro...

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ShyFlyGuy

Major Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Posts
539
I finally broke the last working handle on my TravelPro AND the extending handle on the same day. This is the second TravelPro I've been through in as many years. Is there a rollaboard out there that can take the beating that pilots give? I've seen a few out there, but I don't know where to find them... any suggestions?

Shy

P.S. Did I mention I hate TravelPro? If it isn't the handles, it's the zippers, or the liner, or the crewbag hook, or the wheels, or the bearings... You almost need a second bag so you have something to use while you wait 4 weeks for parts! POS.
 
ShyFlyGuy said:
I finally broke the last working handle on my TravelPro AND the extending handle on the same day. This is the second TravelPro I've been through in as many years. Is there a rollaboard out there that can take the beating that pilots give?
Click to expand...

http://www.luggageworksonline.com/

They were designed for this abuse. They're somewhat expensive, and heavy to lug because of their steel frame, but they're sturdy as all hell. (And when you do break something on it, you can replace just about anything with a screwdriver.)
 
I know what you mean. I had a bag's wheel lock up on me while I was in IAH. We parked at the Intl terminal and I had to get to B terminal. I was just short of throwing the thing against the wall but I remembered I represent a civilized group of professionals. I have one now, but you bet it will be the last. I want one of those fancy metal framed bags but I can't afford it right now. Good luck!

CM
 
What are you doing to your bag? I've had the same travel pro for seven years.
 
My TravelPro lasted 7 years as well...and I'm still using it for non-work travel. I'm rocking the Costco bag at work right now...it's holding up well.
 
FSIGRAD said:
TravelPro bags are for new hire flight attendants, suck it up and buy a luggageworks....
Click to expand...

Actually they are for new hire flight attendants and Flight Safety International grads.
 
I sent mine in last year for a broken handle, broken bag strap, popped button on the inside, and a few other things I don't remember.

The repair shop claimed the damage was the result of abuse and refused warranty coverage.

The best part about that bag was watching it go up in flames!
 
Travelpros are great...for folks who don't travel for a living.

Spend the coin and get a PNT bag, especially if your bag goes in and out of a cargo hold on a RJ or turboprop on a regular basis.
 
Costco's Kirkland brand, $99 (last I checked), lifetime warranty. I had my first for 5 yrs, had checked it as checked baggage maybe 50 times. One day I noticed one of the zippers were frayed. It still worked, but didn't zip smoothly. Took it into a Costco near a hotel a was staying, no receipt and showed it to them. They told me to go back and get another one. In 5 minutes I had a new bag no questions asked. Save your money and go to Costco.
 
Jet41 said:
Costco's Kirkland brand, $99 (last I checked), lifetime warranty. I had my first for 5 yrs, had checked it as checked baggage maybe 50 times. One day I noticed one of the zippers were frayed. It still worked, but didn't zip smoothly. Took it into a Costco near a hotel a was staying, no receipt and showed it to them. They told me to go back and get another one. In 5 minutes I had a new bag no questions asked. Save your money and go to Costco.
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9
I have a Costco also that was bought last year right after the price increase from $89 to $99. It still looks new and has worn well. However, on a visit to Costco last week, I checked the bags to see if they were still carrying them. What I found was that apparently they either respec'ed the bag or they changed vendors on the 22" Kirkland roller bag. The new bag appears to be much cheaper made and not the same quality as the one bought last year. I am not sure I would buy another one.
 
To those that have had there Travelpro's for many many years...

Compare your bag to the travelpros that people are getting new now, they look like entirely different bags. You can see the difference in quality by just looking at them. I also had a new travelpro and broke it twice in 6 months. Had the PNT for two years and zero problems.
 
I had the Costco. Used it on one trip and decided to get the Luggage Works and keep my Costco as a spare. Walking around on our ramp here, our cargo hold in the airplane, etc. That Costco special wouldn't have lasted a month. I can't remember how many severe knocks and slams my PNT has taken on the ramp, from curbs, etc... Thing's a bloody champ.
 
PositionandHold said:
I had the Costco. Used it on one trip and decided to get the Luggage Works and keep my Costco as a spare. Walking around on our ramp here, our cargo hold in the airplane, etc. That Costco special wouldn't have lasted a month. I can't remember how many severe knocks and slams my PNT has taken on the ramp, from curbs, etc... Thing's a bloody champ.
Click to expand...

Not to create a debate on a roller bag, but my Costco has been through hell - everything you describe, plus being checked at the counter more times than I can count. Nothing is harder on a bag than when you check a bag. I know, I worked the ramp for 5 years, anyway my Costco is working great, when it does crap out, I will not have to ship or send it anywhere, it will never have to be repaired and I'll not need any sort of receipt. I'll just walk into any Costco and get a new one in about 5 minutes.

TravelPro and PNT may be great bags, I'm sure they are, but they're not $99 and my guess is the getting the thing repaired or replaced will take more than 5 minutes.
 
One more vote for Purdy Neat/LuggageWorks, the AK-47 of airline luggage.

The Costco scam might be a "great deal" but is borderline dishonest/larcenous.
 
Costco/Kirkland...cheap and durable...I just can't stand how heavy and bulky PNT is...It would probably ding the hell out of the trunk sill on my Accord everytime I threw it in there.
 
Cardinal said:
One more vote for Purdy Neat/LuggageWorks, the AK-47 of airline luggage.

The Costco scam might be a "great deal" but is borderline dishonest/larcenous.
Click to expand...


Like most tight arse pilots, I shop for value.
Costco stands behind the products they sell. They issue the lifetime warranty. In most cases, a warranty and/or a rebate used as sales tools are a "Scam!" They know that only about 15% of sales ever follow up on warranties or rebates. However, it is a powerful psychological sales tool--well known in retail industry. They make the offer, not the consumer! They make it to greatly enhance the sale of the product.

Summary: Retailers know that warranties and rebates are only redeemed at about 15% of sales activities. What they don't know is that 100% of pilots will redeem warranties and rebates! We generally squeak when we walk. I am neither dishonest or larcenous. But if I buy something based on a warranty or rebate, I expect the seller to honor his part of the sale and sales contract. It's business!
 
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Briggs & Riley hands down. I've had mine going on 5 years now and it's been put through the wringer. It's expensive but has a lifetime warranty. The warranty does cover flight crews. :beer:
 
I'm shopping for a new bag too. I like the NG22. At Luggage Works it lists for $379, but at the Stopoverstore.com it is $269.
 
CA1900 said:
How do you figure? Does the lifetime warranty have an exception for people who travel for a living?
Click to expand...

I think it's disingenuous to buy a bag, knowing full well that it will be destroyed inside a couple years, with every intention of having it replaced over and over again. I don't know how CostCo writes the warranty, but it doesn't matter to me whether or not there is a flight crew exclusion.

LL Bean, a company I'm more familiar with, has a no-questions-asked, lifetime replacement policy. But even they inject some reality into the deal. If mom brings junior's backpack in every year, pointing to wear and tear, they will replace it. But they track customers, and after 5 or 10 instances they tell mom "It appears our quality does not live up to your standards, we'll replace the article now, but not in the future. Thank you for shopping with us, perhaps you should consider our competitors in the future."

I'm not a treehugger, but one could make an environmental argument for buying one good bag, versus multiple hunks of difficult to recycle, bulky luggage every year or two. The PNT bag is manufactured in Aurora, Missouri. I'm sure some parts originate overseas. I don't know, but highly doubt the Kirkland bag is even assembled domestically. Just minor justification, take it or leave it.

I'm not trying to be holier than thou or saying y'all should be locked up, I said "borderline dishonest." Hey, it's up to your conscience.
 
peripatetictravel.com has all the luggageworks items, with free shipping and free handle inscription..
 
Thanks for all the info, fellas! I don't know why my TravelPro breaks all the time on me, maybe I'm carrying too many bricks of coke from my vacations in Columbia. :nuts:

So I'm checking stuff out and I'm really tempted by the PNT, but it LOOKS a lot like the TravelPro, so forgive me for being suspicious.

Also, I'm not sure which TravelPro I've got (the 22 or 26), but I took my ProPilot mag and measured two lengths (anyone know how long a mag is? 11"?). So is the 26 a legal carry-on? Will it fit in the overhead? Do I need a 26" bag (if I don't already have it)? Maybe my TravelPro is overstuffed and THAT is why it's breaking. If it is legal to have the 26 as a carry-on on a 737, then that's what I'm going to get... I need all the room I can get.

Thanks for all the great info, boys (and girls).

Shy
 
Just click on the ad at the top of the page for strongbags.com. Aluminum inner frame, and all parts can be replaced if something breaks. They even sell the parts.
 
ShyFlyGuy said:
Also, I'm not sure which TravelPro I've got (the 22 or 26), but I took my ProPilot mag and measured two lengths (anyone know how long a mag is? 11"?). So is the 26 a legal carry-on? Will it fit in the overhead? Do I need a 26" bag (if I don't already have it)? Maybe my TravelPro is overstuffed and THAT is why it's breaking. If it is legal to have the 26 as a carry-on on a 737, then that's what I'm going to get... I need all the room I can get.

Thanks for all the great info, boys (and girls).

Shy
Click to expand...

Got a 22" Purdy Neat that fits in all overheads. The big 26 incher;) probably will go in the overhead only sideways. For what it's worth, Purdy Neat bags have a steel frame and a solid handle. Way more stout than the TravelPro.
 
Cardinal said:
I think it's disingenuous to buy a bag, knowing full well that it will be destroyed inside a couple years, with every intention of having it replaced over and over again. I don't know how CostCo writes the warranty, but it doesn't matter to me whether or not there is a flight crew exclusion.

LL Bean, a company I'm more familiar with, has a no-questions-asked, lifetime replacement policy. But even they inject some reality into the deal. If mom brings junior's backpack in every year, pointing to wear and tear, they will replace it. But they track customers, and after 5 or 10 instances they tell mom "It appears our quality does not live up to your standards, we'll replace the article now, but not in the future. Thank you for shopping with us, perhaps you should consider our competitors in the future."

I'm not a treehugger, but one could make an environmental argument for buying one good bag, versus multiple hunks of difficult to recycle, bulky luggage every year or two. The PNT bag is manufactured in Aurora, Missouri. I'm sure some parts originate overseas. I don't know, but highly doubt the Kirkland bag is even assembled domestically. Just minor justification, take it or leave it.

I'm not trying to be holier than thou or saying y'all should be locked up, I said "borderline dishonest." Hey, it's up to your conscience.
Click to expand...

Nothing about your argument is logical, it's not even "borderline logical". You say that you should use your conscience when buying a bag? It appears that your work for an airline, an excellent airline IMO, that uses a foreign made aircraft. Maybe you should use your "conscience" when it comes to the company you decide to work for and the equipment you fly.

Remember, we're talking about a SUITE CASE, it's not a political statement. Relax, my conscience is clear, my guess yours is too. That's a good thing.
 

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