Never leave straps or long handles or anything that can get caught hanging off a bag. That doesn't play well in baggage sorters.

I've never understood the aluminum bag look. After the first time you use it, it will have scratches and dents.

As a former baggage service agent, I remind peeps all the time, the bag is designed to protect it's contents. Unless the bag is significantly damaged (i.e. a tear or a hole, or ripped in half) by handling, airlines will not pay for the damage. However some bag companies will repair bags for free (I think Tumi might be one of those).

We used to get a lot of folks with knock-off Fouis Vuitton bags that enviably fall apart quickly (not surprising since quality isn't in the mission statement of forgers). There were cases where I agreed it was our (the airline's) fault and offered to send it out to the manf for repair (at our cost). I had to always remind peeps that if they send a forgery into the manf, they will destroy it and they'll get nothing. In many cases, this was the point where they left the office.