I am buying luggage for my fiancee (or rather, putting it on the wedding registry) and am I trying to decide what size carry-on to get her. It's her first luggage! Most of our flying is on United/Continental (I am plat), but I don't know how this will change going forward after our "union".

For the price range we are looking at, Victorinox carry-on seems to fit the bill best. However, I'm not sure what size to get her:

22" Werks Traveler [version 4.0] 22x15x10
20" Werks Traveler [version 4.0] 20x15x9
20" Werks Traveler "Extra Capacity" [version 4.0] 20x17x9

I'm sure the 20" is not a problem for a carry on. BUT more size would be great. I wish I had a 22" vs. a 20". Do any of you folks use a 22", or even better, use the Werks Traveler 3.o or 4.o versions? Any thoughts on the wide version? It looks squarish, and thus I wonder if it will end up being flagged at the gate etc. repeatedly to be checked in?

Years ago I had a 22" Victorinox Werks Traveler (version 2.o) and loved it. However, I noticed it increasingly was not fitting into overhead bins without putting it lengthwise. Wheels were the main problem. So I gave my 22" away and bought a 20" Hartmann Piece which I love, although I wish it was bigger. An expensive swap but I hate people who always put their bags in lengthwise.

FYI, Continental's official policy is 22x14x9x (which amazingly none of the bags match on width). However this 22x is for a bag in entirety and victorinox (like the other MFG) only give you interior dimensions (i.e., ex-wheels etc.)


Many thanks