Desperately Seeking a Suitcase
I often find myself checking luggage for two main reasons - 1) I don’t have a small enough suitcase in my luggage set to fit carry-on standards and 2) I never feel like dealing with the liquids issue in security. But, when I arrived back in Philadelphia from Los Angeles last week, I quickly realized I need to start carrying on, a practice most of my colleagues here swear by.
I flew Delta from LAX to Cincinnati, where my flight to Philadelphia was delayed almost two hours because of bad weather. Needless to say, by the time I landed at Philadelphia International Airport, I was tired and still had almost an hour drive ahead of me until I was home. One by one, bags came out at the luggage carousel and just as I saw my own bag beginning to peek out, the carousel stopped and service was halted for five minutes. It made me want to scream. I decided it was time to add to my luggage collection.
Then, this week I found I am going on a press trip with SWISS International Air Lines to Zurich next week. This being a quick trip, I really only need one or two changes of clothes and I do not want to check my bag. So, now this weekend I have to go buy a new piece of luggage. My current luggage set, a cute black and pink design by Diane Von Furstenburg, does not include a piece suitable for carry on, so I am open to luggage suggestions. What brands do you recommend? Have you found any sizes that are more manageable as carry ons? I know I want a piece with the rotating wheels, have any of you used one of those? As the most seasoned travelers out there I know you can give me some tips for finding the perfect carry on suitcase!
-Kimberly Krol, circulation and public relations executive
May 15th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Fran always whines when we check in our luggage, but sometimes the amount of days or varying needs require too much stuff. Checking in really isn’t nearly as bad as it used to be (or else I am just lucky…and I am never just lucky).
May 17th, 2008 at 11:05 am
It’s too bad you’re so far from me, Kim, I have quite the carry-on collection. Often when I’m in TJ Maxx or Marshall’s or Tuesday Morning I’ll see a carry-on that has some feature I don’t already have. The latest one I bought was only $29 and had a hard-shell outside pocket for my laptop. It’s pretty great in that you can put your wires and stuff inside, and it makes it really easy just to zip open the pocket for security.
But my favorite (you can tell because it’s getting all worn and beat up) is a Geonardi I paid about $200 for in a luggage store about 5 years ago. I’d love to replace it but I haven’t found anything like it since. The “lid” side is a little deeper than normal, and it’s for garments! It has a fold-out piece, and a contraption for holding hangers, and then stretchy straps hold your garments to the fabric and it folds up by thirds to hold your hanging clothes neatly inside the “lid.” I love it because it takes real hangers and you can just grab your hanging clothes and stick them in your closet when you arrive.