<p>
jym I was told the same thing last week by a luggage store employee. He also recommends Briggs and Riley for folks (like me) who need a little extra space. The handle mechanism is on the outside of the luggage versus being imbedded in the body of the suitcase taking up much needed space.</p>
<p>ooh-- wish I’d known that about the handle, tutu. Might have bought one of those .</p>
<p>*** Edit** then again, maybe not-- those are expensive!!</p>
<p>I’m not that impressed with the B&R outside handle construction. I got DH such a suitcase at Nordstrom Rack, and I will be surprised if it makes it to Europe with the handle intact. The only reason I got it was because I do not DH to take our good luggage on that trip (H indicated that he might leave the suitcase behind when he comes back).</p>
<p>I really like my Tumi bag. One compartment, one big zipper. 21 inches, packs a ton of stuff and still fits in the overhead compartments. I do not think Tumi makes these bags anymore.</p>
<p>^^^ BB - It is good to know about the B&R handles. I wondered why all the luggage companies didn’t place the handles on the outside in order to save space inside. I guess I now know why :(</p>
<p>TutuTaxi, I will report how the bag handled the trip when DH lands in Stockholm. The handle looked really flimsy, but I could not find a lighter bag for the $$.</p>
<p>So does a 21" carry on size seem to fit all airline rules? Including Europe trips? (not sure if I care… for Europe we will probably each have a checked bag and a tote-bag carryon).</p>
<p>Actually, DH reminded me that we used to have one with the handle/track on the outside. Things kept getting caught on it, the track bent and the handle wouldnt go up and down. Got donated to good will :(</p>
<p>Not sure about international, but I found this nifty link when I was shopping on line for a carry on yesterday [Airplane</a> Carry On Rules by Luggage Online](<a href=“http://www.luggageonline.com/about_airlines.cfm#airlines]Airplane”>http://www.luggageonline.com/about_airlines.cfm#airlines)</p>
<p>Flights that originates in the US have different limitations for carry on for a Europe connection, than the connection flight from an EU country to another EU country.
For example, what was acceptable carry on to fly on United from NYC to Zurich is not acceptable carry on from Zurich to Rome on Lufthansa.
You need to carefully check each airline’s size and weight limits.</p>
<p>I have some luggage that have handles on the outside and some that have handles on the inside. Have broken both kinds of luggage. At the airport during a long layover, saw some cute luggage with matching cute wheeled cart that come off entirely. Can’t see it being too practical for me, but they were cute!</p>
<p>For anyone interested in it, there are some pretty decent prices on the Eagle Creek Pack-It folders & clones at REI and several other websites now. Just bought 4 of these types with two zipped mesh bags for $91. Am hoping they are helpful for me & S in organizing. Will have to see how it goes. Spoke with a friend who travels frequently who prefers ziplock bags and another who swears by them. We’re all so different in our packing preferences.</p>
<p>No matter how carefully you pack the suitcase at home… all the stuff (and sometimes more) needs to fit on the way back. So I don’t try too hard for compact packing at home. My travel is for fun, so business travelers needed unwrinkled work clothes have a bigger challenge.</p>
<p>Someday if we do make it to Europe, I am considering taking some of my “maybe giveaway” clothes. And perhaps some $2 tops from the thrift shop. After wearing a few times, I can discard at hotel.</p>
<p>OK, just bought a Tumi Tech from Costco. It looks slightly wider than our existing suitcases & I’m hoping it won’t be too wide to squeeze through the narrow airline aisles. </p>
<p>I have a friend who likes to buy thrift shop clothing before he travels & give them away as he goes. I only try to keep the things I don’t want to have wrinkle carefully & roll the rest of my garments up so they fit pretty compactly.</p>
<p>Anyone know the official width of airline aisles? They seem narrower & narrower, every trip I take!</p>
<p>Dang–more research has revealed that this Tumi is wider than allowed by United & Continental–they only allow 14" and it’s 15.75! Oh well, back it goes to Costco!</p>
<p>Not sure what I’ll try next. Would like something that can make it down the airplane aisles without getting stuck en route!</p>
<p>OK, very excited, just purchased Rick Steves bag–free shipping & 20% off purchases made by tomorrow! I think it will be perfect–it even has straps in case I want to lug it on my back. If I pack light enough, I should be able to fit a small briefcase in it for meetings. It’s the classic back door bag, copper colored, so it shouldn’t blend in with the other bags–blues and blacks.</p>
<p>Is this what you got? [Rick</a> Steves Luggage - Classic Collection 2010 21in Roll-Aboard RSK050 - Luggage Online](<a href=“http://www.luggageonline.com/product.cfm?product_ID=15283]Rick”>http://www.luggageonline.com/product.cfm?product_ID=15283)</p>
<p>No, got this, in orange, the color for COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (which includes emphysema & chronic bronchitis), </p>
<p>[Travel</a> Store : Classic Back Door Bag](<a href=“Rick Steves Europe: Site error”>http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=8&id=346)</p>
<p>I have to have a cart with wheels for medical equipment I need to travel with anyway & this bag can rest on top of my medical equipment, perhaps with a bungee cord or something to keep it in place.</p>
<p>OK–from REI got the Eagle Creek & other brand packing envelopes and a few pouches, including a set that are waterproof. They look like they will work nicely, for me & for S (bought two for each of us); they were just ordered 12/11 & got here today (free postage)! Neither D nor H are interested in these packing accessories, as they don’t have to worry about wrinkles–neither travel with dressy clothing. Am hoping S & I like these new tools–will have to wait & see. Have a trip coming up in February for which I will need at least one dressy outfit; will try the folder and suitcase out then. S will be flying a lot more, a lot sooner!</p>
<p>Just got the Rick Steves bag. It came with a free DVD, money belt & 2 lightweight mesh drawstring bags! It looks like it will work perfectly as intended. I need to try packing it & seeing if it will hold all the gear I will need, but it looks like it should with room to spare! It’s not nearly as orange as I had thought form the picture–more of a brown, but I like that it’s distinctive and NOT black like so many other bags. This one is distinctive without being LOUD. Won’t actually be flying with it until February.</p>
<p>Postage was included in the price–to HI, it cost them $12.14 USPS!</p>
<p>I travel a ton and go through luggage quickly. Mostly I pass it on when I am tired of looking at it or it is not quite as functional as I thought it would be. </p>
<p>I am looking at my Briggs and Riley bag right now… the handle seems fine. It is a wheeled duffel shape. It is great for packing. I also have a backpack which is super to use. My Goyard medium sized duffel is too stiff for me to use regularly which is a shame since it cost a bomb. I love my ‘hobo’ bag from them- but I use it everyday and so it has softened. </p>
<p>I have had Eagle Creek 22 inch carryons (they fit for International and B. Class travel) for a while now. While I love them (I can travel for a week in one of them), after a period of time the wheels deteriorate and then the next time you use them you end up with black sticky plastic all over the place- very disconcerting.</p>