Pilots and flight attendants travel more frequently than any other traveler. They used to stay on flights with their travel bags almost all the time. They know much better, what is the best size luggage for international travel and which is the perfect luggage for frequent traveling. The lightest, durable, and long-lasting suitcases with a lifetime warranty and great features are the ultimate choice for pilots and flight attendants.
What luggage do pilots use? What is the best suitcase for the most frequent travelers? Here, we discuss the various luggage types and brands recommended for pilots and cabin crew.
Pilots usually have two bags: a medium or large checked bag, and the other is a handbag, duffle bag, or cabin bag. Pilots and crew often use a soft-side checked bag with a soft-side cabin bag or duffle bag. Let’s have a look at what is their ultimate choice of luggage for traveling.
Pilots and Cabin Crew use rollaboard or spinner luggage with a lifetime replacement and repair warranty, excellent durability, lightweight, extensive storage with expandability, and no side pockets that can be easily fit into the cockpit or overhead compartments.
Consider the Size, Weight, and Durability of the Luggage
Pilots buying luggage for a new trip must consider the size, weight, and durability depending on their preferences. The size is according to their trip duration. If they are heading on a long trip, they may need medium checked luggage, or if going on a weekend trip, they may need a duffel bag or a cabin bag. However, the size and weight should be appropriately checked and confirmed, and the pilots can do better. The pilots must consider the reliability, durability, and lifetime warranty. Cabin crew and pilots often stay on the flights and use the lightest luggage with more expandable capacity and exclusive quality with durability for lifetime usage.
The luggage durability is the most crucial aspect for the pilots on constant travel. They roll on the luggage at several airports, put it into overhead bins daily, and keep it in limited spaces routinely. They can’t compromise on the luggage quality, durability, and reliability; they require the most durable luggage as a top priority.
What Pilots like it? 2 Wheels Rollaboard vs 4 Wheels Spinner Luggage
Pilots and Cabin Crew often use rollaboard luggage, but it depends on personal preferences. The four-wheel spinners are incredibly convenient and give you fast and smooth maneuverability; they can easily rotate instantly in all directions. You don’t need to take stress and luggage weight pressure on your shoulders and arms. These spinners will glide your luggage smoothly without any pressure and stress. It will give you effortless navigation throughout the journey. However, these spinners are stuck to the trolley and externally mounted on the luggage frame, and sometimes detachable easily from the luggage.
The rollaboard luggage can only be dragged forward and backward with little pressure on the shoulders, typically when luggage is fully packed and heavyweight. This 2-wheeled luggage has more extensive and heavy wheels attached to the luggage frame at the bottom, which are undetachable, extremely durable, and unbreakable. These inline-skate wheels are more protective than spinner wheels and can break off or be removed during movement. However, the rollaboard luggage wheels never roll away the luggage while parked or at a slope like spinners. So, what do they like to prefer depends on their requirements. Whether they need movability or durability is their own choice.
What Should Pilots and Cabin Crew know about Luggage?
When buying luggage, pilots and cabin crew must consider size, weight, and durability. However, they need to know more aspects for lifetime usage, exclusive quality, and warranty.
Lightweight Luggage for Pilots
Pilots and cabin crew require the lightest luggage as they tend to move constantly in countless airports, and It’s challenging to handle heavyweight luggage while moving in crowds and busy airports. Excess weight can be a massive burden while moving to multiple destinations, long flight schedules, and several airports. Ultra-light or lightest
Luggage will give you quick and smooth maneuverability and remove stress and weight pressure. They tend to stay alert and active, and heavy luggage can provide them with stress and physical pressure that may lead to potential risks and pain.
Lifetime Warranty and Premium Quality
The luggage brand quality and lifetime warranty are essential for pilots and cabin crew. They used to travel all the time and sometimes for several months without a break. Handling luggage items issues like breakoffs or damages during the travel is crucial. They choose premium luggage with a lifetime warranty for all manufacturing defects, traveling damages, and repairs to avoid any inconvenience during the journey and busy schedules. The lifetime warranty is essential for the brand’s confidence, durability, and quality assurance.
Telescopic Handles for Easy Maneuverability
The Telescopic or retractable handles are essential to move the luggage trolley quickly and control the luggage easily. Whether it's rollaboard or spinner luggage, the telescopic handles can adjust to multiple levels according to different heights, easily pulled out through a push button, and an interlocking system can help to lock the luggage wheels to prevent it from auto-rolling the luggage when parked anywhere.
Pilots and cabin crew need to move quickly in several airports, traveling on different aircraft types, moving on stairs, or maybe on uneven surfaces. They required a sturdy, adjustable, and retractable handle to avoid weight pressure and stress while traveling.
Expandable Capacity and Storage
Pilots and cabin crew usually prefer the expandable capacity and vast storage. The hard-shell luggage is available with expansion but often does not have front compartments and extra pockets. However, soft-side luggage has several pockets, front compartments, and vast expandable storage. They prefer soft-side luggage for luggage capacity and lightweight materials, but hard-shell luggage is the most reliable option with expansion and compression features for exclusive, sturdy, and durable luggage.
List of the Top 8 Perfect Luggage for Pilots and Flight Attendants
Pilots and Cabin Crew used to travel for a living and often on the flight, so they choose specific travel bags according to their airline instructions. Here’s the list of the best lightweight luggage for pilots and flight attendants that can be easily fit into their flight cabins and flexible to handle on travel.
1. Briggs and Riley Baseline Bags
Briggs and Riley Baseline Checked Travel Bags have durable spinner wheels, expandible capacity with zippered mesh dividers, and a lifetime warranty with all damage and repairs.
Features:
- It has wide and roomy space, a wide front compartment for extra accessories, and interior mesh zipper pockets to organize all essentials safely and cleanly.
- It has one-touch expansion and compression with buttons.
- It has strong corner guards to prevent damage through mishandling on the flight.
- It has shock-absorbing, durable, eight-spinner wheels for noiseless and effortless moveability.
- It has a multi-stage telescopic handle for easy handling and modifying luggage with the spinner wheel trolley.
- It has a lifetime warranty for all damage and repairs while traveling.
Product Specifications:
| Suitcase Type: | Large Checked Travel Bag |
| Suitcase Dimensions: | 20.0 x 12.0 x 29.0 inches |
| Suitcase Capacity: | 122 liters |
| Suitcase Weight: | 14 pounds |
| Suitcase Colors: | Black, Dark Olive Green, Dark Navy Blue, and Dark Plum |
Our Verdict
It’s a costly soft-shell baggage according to its material and design. It has no advanced protection features like interlocking handles and a TSA lock, but still, it has an expandable capacity with extra pockets and a front compartment. It is as durable as long-life-span luggage with a lifetime complete warranty. It has a simple design and limited color variety. However, its premium quality makes it stand out among the luggage brands. It’s the right choice for cabin crew and pilots, and it can be a stable and comfortable suitcase for other travelers on several trips. It’s the best luggage for flight attendants and cabin crew.
Reason to Buy
- It has an exclusive, durable, soft shell and lightweight material.
- It has massive storage, zipper mesh dividers, and a front compartment for extra packing items.
- It has a lifetime warranty for all defects and damage repairs.
- It’s a trustworthy luggage brand with extensive capacity and quality for a lifespan.
Reason to Avoid
- It has no more color variations.
- It has no enhanced protection with a TSA combination lock.
- It has no advanced features like USB charging during travel.
- It’s a highly pricey luggage.
2. Briggs and Riley ZDX Bags
Briggs and Riley ZDX checked travel bags have eight durable spinner wheels and a high-end material soft shell. It’s the ultimate lightweight luggage with extended storage capacity and for lifetime travel.
Features:
- It has extensive, wide compartments with 2.5 inches of zipper expansion capacity and a front compartment for other packing items.
- It has eight strong spinner wheels for smooth and fast luggage rolling.
- It has a retractable handle for the spinner trolley to handle the luggage smoothly.
- It has a lifetime warranty for all defects, damage, and repairs.
- It has an ID tag on the backside of the luggage for personal information.
Product Specifications:
| Suitcase Type: | Checked Medium Travel Bag |
| Suitcase Dimensions: | 18.0 x 12.0 x 26.0 inches |
| Suitcase Weight: | 15 pounds |
| Suitcase Colors: | Black, Hunter Green, and Ocean Blue |
Our Verdict
Briggs and Riley luggage brand offers the best pilots carry-on bag. It’s a high-quality soft surface luggage made with water-resistant material. However, it has no extra innovative features and enhanced protection with a TSA-approved lock and interlocking telescopic handles. Still, it has massive roomy storage with mesh divider pockets and a vast front pocket with a zipper expansion of up to 2.5 inches for additional items. It’s a lifetime quality luggage with no advanced features and seems more costly than other brands.
Reason to Buy
- It is a durable and lightweight material with a soft surface.
- It’s a trustworthy brand of luggage for a lifetime of travel.
- It gives you a lifetime warranty for all damage repairs.
Reason to Avoid
- It has no extended protection with a TSA combination lock system.
- It has no innovative features like USB charging during travel.
- It has a simple design and no color variations.
- It’s a high-priced soft-shell bag.
3. Briggs and Riley Duffle Bag
Briggs and Riley expandable Duffle Bag is an ideal option for pilots and flight attendants. It has mesh zipper dividers, zipper expansion up to 4 inches with extended capacity, and a front-wide pocket. It’s the best under-seater or personal item travel bag.
Features:
- It has extended capacity with zippered mesh divider pockets and two exterior compartments.
- It has extra packing cubes and a compression panel to organize essentials perfectly in the luggage.
- It has double-spinner wheels for easy and quick rolling on the luggage without pressure.
- The one-level adjustable handle for the spinner wheels trolley to handle it easily.
Product Specifications:
| Suitcase Type: | Under-seater Duffle Bag |
| Suitcase Dimensions: | height 11.0 |
| Suitcase Capacity: | 25 liters |
| Suitcase Weight: | 3 pounds |
| Suitcase Colors: | Black, Navy Blue, and Olive Green. |
Our Verdict
It’s a long-lasting premium quality duffle bag, best for pilot’s crew luggage, and an ideal option for personal items or under-seater luggage with extensive storage, a front compartment, and mesh pockets to arrange essentials clean and separate. However, it has no TSA lock security option. You can lock it manually, and it has no advanced features. It can exceed luggage weight due to its capacity and expansion. After packing items, you must confirm the accurate size and weight, which can expand from your airline weight and size instructions before leaving for check-in. It’s one of the best lightweight luggage for seniors and elders.
Reason to Buy
- It has zipper expansion with vast capacity, zipper mesh pockets, and a front-wide compartment.
- It’s easy to fit in any small space or under a seat.
- It’s durable and a lifetime luggage.
Reason to Avoid
- It has no enhanced protection with a TSA lock.
- It has no USB charging port.
- It’s an expensive duffle bag.
- It has no color variations.
4. Travel Pro Maxlite 5 Bags
Travel Pro Maxlite Five is a soft-shell, lightweight, checked 2-wheel luggage with expandable storage, durability, and long-lasting material. It’s the best-priced luggage with high-quality features.
Features:
- It has a 2-inch expandable capacity, a zippered mesh divider to organize items neatly, and a wide exterior compartment.
- It has a retractable handle to drag smoothly the wheels of a luggage trolley.
- It has durable wheels at the bottom of the luggage for easy and fast-rolling the travel bag.
- It has a vast color variation.
Product Specifications:
| Suitcase Type: | Medium Checked Luggage |
| Suitcase Dimensions: | 11.0 x 19.0 x 28.0 inches |
| Suitcase Capacity: | 100 liters |
| Suitcase Weight: | 7 pounds |
| Suitcase Colors: | Dark Blue, Black, Dusty Pink, Deep Blue, Orchid Purple, Slate Dark Green, Burgundy, Light Grey, Purple, Light Violet, and Dark Grey. |
Our Verdict
These are high-quality soft-side, best bags for pilots with vast storage and wide compartments, mesh zippered pockets to pack accessories smartly. However, it has no enhanced protection with a TSA lock. You can lock it manually, and it has no innovative features. It can exceed the weight limits due to its expandability. You must be careful about the luggage size and weight after packing items before check-in for the flight.
Reason to Buy
- It has 2-inch expandability, vast capacity, inner mesh pockets, a zippered divider, and a vast front-wide compartment.
- It has two wheels at the bottom to smoothly drag the luggage.
- It has a lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects and a one-year warranty for transportation and accidental damage repairs.
- It has a vast color variety.
Reason to Avoid
- It has no TSA-approved lock security.
- It has a limited warranty.
- It has no innovative features.
5. Travel Pro Crew Bags
Travel Pro Crew Versapack Checked Travel Bags are often recommended for cabin crew and pilots. It’s the best lighter luggage for frequent traveling with durable, water-resistant material, expanded capacity, and incredible prices.
Features:
- It has a two-inch expandable capacity with zippered mesh pockets and a wide exterior pocket.
- It has extended protection with a TSA-approved locking system.
- It has eight durable spinner wheels for fast and smooth rolling on luggage at the airport.
- It has a multi-stage retractable handle for the spinner trolley.
Product Specifications:
| Suitcase Type: | Medium Checked Travel Bag |
| Suitcase Dimensions: | 11 x 18 x 27 inches |
| Suitcase Weight: | 9 pounds |
| Luggage Colors: | Grey. |
Our Verdict
It’s premium soft-shell luggage with a water-resistant fabricated layer, a two-inch expandable storage capacity, a wide front compartment, and mesh pockets to organize packing items smartly. It has the latest security feature with a TSA lock. It can be a heavy bag after packing for its expandability. Before check-in, you must be careful and confirm the exact size and weight your airline allows for luggage weight and size.
Reason to Buy
- It’s a reliable and trustworthy luggage brand with good quality, expandable capacity, and the best price.
- It’s the best lightweight option for frequent travelers.
- It has extra security with a TSA lock.
Reason to Avoid
- It has a limited warranty.
- It has no USB charging port.
- It has no color variations.
6. Travel Pro Crew Versapack Bags
Travel Pro Crew Verspack Delux Under-seater soft-side luggage. It’s a small under-seater or cabin bag for personal items with enough roomy compartments, a front compartment, the best quality, and a great price.
Features:
- It has roomy compartments, extra pockets, and enough space in the front compartment.
- It can easily fit into a small space and under a seat.
- It has flexible and adjustable straps to carry the bag.
- It has water and stain-resistant, high-quality material.
- It has a lifetime and a one-year damage repair warranty from transportation and mishandling.
Product Specifications:
| Suitcase Type: | Cabin Bag Under-seater |
| Suitcase Dimensions: | |
| Suitcase Weight: | 2 pounds |
| Suitcase Colors: | Grey, Black, Plum, and Dark Blue. |
Our Verdict
It’s a high-quality, water-resistant material cabin bag. It has a limited warranty for damage and repairs. It has roomy space with zippered mesh pockets to arrange packing items separately. All over, it has the best price and trustworthy brand of luggage.
Reason to Buy
- It has enough space, mesh pockets, and a front compartment.
- It’s the best cabin bag or under-seater for personal items.
- It has a durable material surface.
- It has the best price with a high-quality and trustworthy brand.
Reason to Avoid
- It has no innovative features.
- It has a limited warranty for damage repairs.
- It has no protection with a TSA lock.
7. Travel Pro Platinum Bags
Travel Pro Platinum Elite checked travel bags are soft shell spinner luggage with vast storage, durable material, and great price. It’s a reliable brand often recommended for pilots and cabin crew for lifelong and peaceful travel.
Features:
- It has a vast capacity for essentials and accessories with a two-inch expandability, mesh divider pockets, and an outer vast compartment.
- It has eight-spinner wheels for speedy and smooth moveability in all directions.
- It has a retractable handle for smooth control over the spinner trolley and the luggage.
- It has extended protection with a TSA combination lock.
- It has various colors.
- It has a lifetime warranty for built-in defects and a limited warranty for other damage repairs.
Product Specifications:
| Suitcase Type: | Checked Medium Travel bag |
| Suitcase Dimensions: | 11 x 18 x 25.0 inches |
| Suitcase Capacity: | 97 liters |
| Suitcase Weight: | 10 pounds |
| Suitcase Colors: | Grey, Black, Red, Navy Blue, and Espresso Coffee Brown. |
Our Verdict
It’s a high-quality, water-resistant material with expandable storage. It has an advanced protective feature TSA lock system. It’s the most recommended luggage for flight attendants and the most suitable for frequent travelers. As compared to Travel Pro vs. Samsonite, Travel Pro is the most popular luggage for pilots and flight attendants.
Reason to Buy
- It has vast space with roomy compartments, mesh divider pockets, and a vast front compartment with two-inch expandability.
- It has easy and quick maneuverability with eight-spinner wheels.
- It has a complete protective TSA locking system.
- It’s a high-quality and trustworthy luggage brand for cabin crew and pilots.
Reason to Avoid
- It has no USB charging during travel.
- It has a limited warranty.
8. Travel Pro Maxlite Five Roller Bags
Travel Pro Maxlite Five Roller Comapct under-seater cabin bag. It’s a water and stain-resistant layered high-quality soft-shell cabin bag with enough roomy space and strong grip handles.
Features:
- It has an irresistible, stain and water-resistant fabricated layered surface.
- It has enough roomy space, extra pockets, and a vast front compartment.
- It has a two-wheel trolley for smooth and quick maneuvering.
- It has a telescopic handle to roll the luggage easily.
- It has a lifetime warranty for built-in defects and a one-year warranty for other damage repairs.
- It has vibrant color variation.
Product Specifications:
| Suitcase Type: | Compact Under-seater Travel bag |
| Suitcase Dimensions: | 8 x 14 x 17 inches |
| Suitcase Capacity: | 26 liters |
| Suitcase Weight: | 5 pounds |
| Suitcase Colors: | Black, Light Grey, Burgundy, Rose Pink, Orchid Pink, Dark Blue, Deep Blue, Slate Dark Green, and Dark Grey. |
Our Verdict
It has smashing color variations for a prominent look, expandable capacity, extra pockets, a durable fabricated soft shell, It’s luggage with the best warranty for lifetime coverage with limited damage and repairs, a compact size, and easily fits under the seat or any limited space. It’s a perfect option for flight attendants, pilots, and frequent travelers and the best Luggage for European Travel.
Reason to Buy
- It has a high-quality and irresistible fabricated layered surface.
- It’s recommended for long-term travel.
- It has a vast color collection for an appealing presence.
- It has expandable roomy space, extra pockets, and an outer pocket for easy packing items.
Reason to Avoid
- It has no USB charging port.
- It has no TSA combination lock.
- It has a limited damage and repair warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is aviation baggage?
Traveler’s Baggage is the luggage they use to carry their belongings on the flight according to their requirements and permissions of their airlines to the final destination.
What is the most common type of luggage?
The most common types of luggage are carry-ons and checked baggage. However, duffel bags, cabin bags, handbags, and backpacks are also common types of luggage.
What luggage brand do airline crews use?
Pilots and cabin crew often use Briggs and Riley brand and Travel Pro brand luggage.
What do pilots carry in their travel bags?
Pilots must carry their pilot certificate, government-issued ID card, and medical certificate along with their essentials in their luggage to exercise their privileges as a pilot or a flight crew on flights.
What do flight attendants prefer to be called?
The flight attendants are cabin crew members on business, commercial, and government flights, as well as domestic and international travel. They prefer to be called stewards, air hosts, or air hostesses.
