Originally Posted by
kbins
Had the same issue early this year with my FlightCrew4 20". Inside plastic bits broke so I couldn't retract/extend the handle. Contacted TravelPro and asked to purchase a new handle. I submitted the request in late December, in early January they replied that the replacement part was being sent to me, but by end of January it still had not shipped and I wasn't getting responses at all. At end of January (5 days before a 2-week international trip) I emailed their CEO. They replied that the handle was not, in fact, available. As a courtesy, they did completely replace the bag at no charge, unfortunately shipped me a heavier and larger FlightCrew 5 21" Rollaboard. It would not have been my first choice, it had a ton of padding in places I didn't need that adds weight. I used it only for that trip, and when I got home, my 17 year old son had 3D printed me a replacement part to fix the handle. I gave him my new bag and happily accepted my old one. If the handle breaks again, I have a B&R on my wish list. A shame, I had a Crew bag before this one last over 10 years.
This is so disheartening. I've been right on the edge of buying a FlightCrew 5 or Pilot series model from TP, but these recent repots of parts being unavailable are just too much. How is this possible!? How do you have any sort of warranty and not have parts ready to repair anything? I did so much research and TP fit my budget and desire for durability and reputation, but lack of parts means as soon as my bag has an issue, it's rendered useless, particularly if I'm out of warranty and/or they don't feel like replacing my bag like they did yours.
On second though, do you know when your CrewFlight4 went out of production or was last sold? I have read that TP stops making parts available once a model is 5 to 10 years out from being sold. I don't like the policy, but it would at least make sense and give me 5 or so years without worry if I went with one of their currently-sold models. If you bought your CF4 two years ago, though, that opposes what they've been saying regarding the 5-10 years parts deal post-production, and I'll know I cannot ely on them. Thanks for any insight and for sharing your story!