Luggage and suitcase buyer's guide

How do you go about deciding which type of luggage to buy?

We hope that our luggage buyer's guide will help answer:

Cabin Luggage

The current IATA maximum size for carry-on luggage is 56cmx25cmx45cm

overall.  Some airlines impose lower limits, and all cabin luggage is taken

on board at the discretion of the cabin crew.  Many luggage manufacturers

now produce a choice of trolley cases that meet both the IATA regulation

and in some cases the more stringent requirements of the budget airlines.

Many luggage ranges also offer shoulder bags and totes that also meet

the regulations.


Soft Sided Bags

Soft sided bags are normally lighter that the hard sided and also by their

very nature allow some extra capacity through the material being able

to bulge.  Many ranges also offer expansion gussets that may offer up

to 10% more capacity once released – do however, remember that with

cabin luggage that expanding the bag may take you over the airline’s limit

for hand luggage.  Soft sided bags offer less protection to crushing

compared to hard sided bags, and are more susceptible to being torn by

sharp objects in the baggage handling areas.


Hard Sided Bags

Hard sided bags offer greater protection than soft sided, but being of a

rigid construction do not allow for expansion.


Trolleys and Spinners

Trolley cases (or roller cases) have two wheels and a telescopic handle.

They are easy to move once loaded.  Spinners have 4 wheels, and whilst

they also have extending handles they may easily be pushed along a

smooth surface.

TSA Locks
When travelling to the USA it is essential that your bag is fitted with TSA locks.  All luggage is opened on arrival in the states, and if your bag is fitted with a TSA lock the agent is able to open it with his special key, inspect the contents and re-lock afterwards.  If non-TSA locks are fitted they will be broken by the agent to allow inspection.

Guarantees

All the bags that we sell are covered by manufacturers’ guarantees against

defects in manufacture.  The guarantees

DO NOT COVER damage suffered as a result of the baggage handlers.

Always inspect you bags when they are returned to you, and in the unfortunate

event that damage has occurred please immediately make your carrier aware

– they have well established procedures in place to make good the loss suffered.



Sizes
In accordance with accepted convention, all dimensions shown on the site are overall sizes including handles, wheels, locks etc. It is these dimensions that are used by the airlines in measuring your luggage.

Any questions?  Please call us on 01444 417111 or email us at any time.