Why do luggage manufacturers keep making the same mistakes?
Jul 10, 2017, 10:10 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
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Posts: 85
Why do luggage manufacturers keep making the same mistakes?
I travel frequently. I am in and out of airports 4-6 times a month. When it comes to luggage, I don't have the time or patience for warrentee repair. What I look for in a bag is simple. I need a bag that meets airline standard carry-on requirements without question (yes I realize this changes from airline to airline), is functional, and can take a reasonable amount of abuse. For me and millions of other travelers these are the three must haves:
1. It needs to be able to get down the isle of the plane easily.
2. It needs to be able to stow in the overhead bin easily.
3. It needs to make my walk from the curb to airplane seat a simple thing.
So, then why is it that even the best of luggage manufacturers cannot get number 1 right, let alone 2 and 3.
For example: If you are a frequent traveler then you most likely have noticed that an overlapping large lip between the handle and the retractable arms is a major problem. Not having your handle taper into the retractable arms will cause any personal item bag that you slide onto the handle of your wheeled bag to snag up when trying to remove it. And yet, every luggage manufacturer has a wheeled line of bags that suffer from this deficiency. I've frequently see this deficiency on very expensive bags. I cannot help but sit there and shake my head as to the stupidity of the company for overlooking this flaw, while I sit there looking down the isle of the plane watching people struggle to get their personal item off their wheeled bag!
What other things do you HATE about luggage and you will not buy one that has that problem?
1. It needs to be able to get down the isle of the plane easily.
2. It needs to be able to stow in the overhead bin easily.
3. It needs to make my walk from the curb to airplane seat a simple thing.
So, then why is it that even the best of luggage manufacturers cannot get number 1 right, let alone 2 and 3.
For example: If you are a frequent traveler then you most likely have noticed that an overlapping large lip between the handle and the retractable arms is a major problem. Not having your handle taper into the retractable arms will cause any personal item bag that you slide onto the handle of your wheeled bag to snag up when trying to remove it. And yet, every luggage manufacturer has a wheeled line of bags that suffer from this deficiency. I've frequently see this deficiency on very expensive bags. I cannot help but sit there and shake my head as to the stupidity of the company for overlooking this flaw, while I sit there looking down the isle of the plane watching people struggle to get their personal item off their wheeled bag!
What other things do you HATE about luggage and you will not buy one that has that problem?
Jul 10, 2017, 11:52 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
I travel frequently. I am in and out of airports 4-6 times a month. When it comes to luggage, I don't have the time or patience for warrentee repair. What I look for in a bag is simple. I need a bag that meets airline standard carry-on requirements without question (yes I realize this changes from airline to airline), is functional, and can take a reasonable amount of abuse. For me and millions of other travelers these are the three must haves:
1. It needs to be able to get down the isle of the plane easily.
2. It needs to be able to stow in the overhead bin easily.
3. It needs to make my walk from the curb to airplane seat a simple thing.
So, then why is it that even the best of luggage manufacturers cannot get number 1 right, let alone 2 and 3.
For example: If you are a frequent traveler then you most likely have noticed that an overlapping large lip between the handle and the retractable arms is a major problem. Not having your handle taper into the retractable arms will cause any personal item bag that you slide onto the handle of your wheeled bag to snag up when trying to remove it. And yet, every luggage manufacturer has a wheeled line of bags that suffer from this deficiency. I've frequently see this deficiency on very expensive bags. I cannot help but sit there and shake my head as to the stupidity of the company for overlooking this flaw, while I sit there looking down the isle of the plane watching people struggle to get their personal item off their wheeled bag!
What other things do you HATE about luggage and you will not buy one that has that problem?
1. It needs to be able to get down the isle of the plane easily.
2. It needs to be able to stow in the overhead bin easily.
3. It needs to make my walk from the curb to airplane seat a simple thing.
So, then why is it that even the best of luggage manufacturers cannot get number 1 right, let alone 2 and 3.
For example: If you are a frequent traveler then you most likely have noticed that an overlapping large lip between the handle and the retractable arms is a major problem. Not having your handle taper into the retractable arms will cause any personal item bag that you slide onto the handle of your wheeled bag to snag up when trying to remove it. And yet, every luggage manufacturer has a wheeled line of bags that suffer from this deficiency. I've frequently see this deficiency on very expensive bags. I cannot help but sit there and shake my head as to the stupidity of the company for overlooking this flaw, while I sit there looking down the isle of the plane watching people struggle to get their personal item off their wheeled bag!
What other things do you HATE about luggage and you will not buy one that has that problem?
There is an unending stream of "new" luggage designs coming out of Asian manufacturing plants. Adding all kinds of doodads of questionable utility - Cup holders. Built in batteries for charging your electronics. Bluetooth proximity sensors. Even one which claims to operate semi-autonomously, following you around like a loyal trip hazard. But none of these improve on the basic necessity.
I would argue that the only real improvements to the technology which have appeared since my first flight in 1974 would be Ballistic nylon (weight savings & strength) and wheels. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that one of my arms is slightly longer than the other, after lugging my mom's blue plastic Samsonite bag through BWI when I was 9 years old....
There are a lot of things in life that are irritating. Not all of them have a business case for remedying.
Jul 10, 2017, 5:40 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: LAX / SNA
Programs: AA Life PLT 3MM/ NZ Gold
Posts: 158
The issue is not the bag with the handle and wheels but the other bag. The carry handle needs to be of sufficient width that it will go over the bag handle easily. Backpack bags are the biggest problem. The carry handles are not wide enough to fit over the bag handle.
Jul 11, 2017, 7:17 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 13,573
I use Delsey bags (on case # 3 in 15 years, last time I upgraded was to get a smaller bag in line with European carry on rules, not because I didn't like bag #2 ), both for the wheeled bag, and the bag that slides over the handle, and I don't experience snag - I agree with the poster who said it is more about the width of the sleeve part on the second bag, than the handle of the first.
Jul 13, 2017, 11:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 431
Jul 14, 2017, 4:24 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: LAX
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Posts: 4,783
Jul 14, 2017, 5:30 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
If you are a frequent traveler then you most likely have noticed that an overlapping large lip between the handle and the retractable arms is a major problem. Not having your handle taper into the retractable arms will cause any personal item bag that you slide onto the handle of your wheeled bag to snag up when trying to remove it. And yet, every luggage manufacturer has a wheeled line of bags that suffer from this deficiency. I've frequently see this deficiency on very expensive bags. I cannot help but sit there and shake my head as to the stupidity of the company for overlooking this flaw, while I sit there looking down the isle of the plane watching people struggle to get their personal item off their wheeled bag!
Jul 17, 2017, 3:02 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2014
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Posts: 1,086
There is no "perfect" bag as each travel has a few pete peeves.
Some probably want outer zippered pockets, other not.
Some want spinner others not
Some want ... put your favorite thing missing on your current luggage
Jul 17, 2017, 9:34 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: New York
Posts: 96
Yes, "perfect" if you prefer to travel with a rigid case with wheels that weighs in excess of 9 lbs empty.