Baggage

[Pondlife]

Just check the bag in

Advantages being:
Don't have to lug a suitcase round the airport (and if your flight ends up delayed by 3 hours that can make a difference)
Don't have to try and fit the suitace into the overhead lockers
Don't have to worry about liquids
You don't take up an unfairly large portion of the overhead bin

Disadvantages
a small wait whilst someone else brings your baggage to you after the flight
a very small chance of the baggage ending up lost/in the wrong airport.

WHS most definitely!

[chef]

If its new and shiny and for some reason doesn't make it on as carry luggage

no chance of that happening,

-i always take the same stuff and know its under weight
- the bag i'll buy will fit with airline cabin regs i.e 50x40x20
-if i go away for a proper holiday and not business i'll take a larger checked in case

[chef]

WCS.

I use the Eagle Creek Overland, Eagle Creek Overland

The Lightweight luggage selection is excellent though
Eagle Creek Lightweight Carry-Ons

I have the Samsonite Spinner with Hardside.
You can zip your stuff into the top and bottom, leave the Laptop in the middle for easy access for security checks.


Like this model

Samsonite Winfield 20" Carry On Hardside Spinner Luggage : Winfield

Cheers ladies, sensible suggestions to the original Q

[Incognito]

I've got a Tumi garment bag for when I'm travelling with suits. Expensive, but I bought it in the states where it was a bit cheaper and it does have a lifetime guarantee. Fits into overhead luggage bins (wheels first), I've never had a problem getting it onboard, but I normally check it in when flying out of City because the bins are smaller on the BA Citiflyer flights.

When travelling without suits I've got a Tripp rolling backpack it's great, get a couple of days of clothes, wash kit and gym kit in it. Trundles along quite happily and is sturdy enough. Got it at Debenhams.

[norrahe]

Luggage, Wheeled Luggage, Carry On Luggage, Carry On Spinner Luggage, Laptop Briefcases at Briggs & Riley

Lifetime guarantee and will replace fix it for free if it gets damaged. Good suit capacity and can be taken on board on sleazyjet and vermin air.

[Arturo Bassick]

I looked at one of these a couple of weeks ago. Way to heavy, but posted anyway.

[TimberWolf]

Why be lumbered with rigid and expensive awkwardness, unless you need rigid protection, when you can just sling a sports bag over your shoulder.

[TimberWolf]

I looked at one of these a couple of weeks ago. Way to heavy, but posted anyway.

Why is that chap hovering an inch off the floor in the second photo?

[chef]

Why be lumbered with rigid and expensive awkwardness, unless you need rigid protection, when you can just sling a sports bag over your shoulder.

1) Non Pikey Factor: While wearing a suit & tie and arriving onsite with the customer (my distance from home to client site usually means arriving onsite direct from the plane with luggage in tow as I dont want to lose a day of my weekend and arrive the night before). I don't believe it sets a good image arriving with a Addidas Gym bag slung over your shoulder, unless you work on a builders yard my impression would be of a pikey with a court date rather than a professional business consultant arriving onsite worth every penny of the sum they are charging. Obviosuly if you have the luxury of arriving early enough to go via hotel then thats not an issue but that rarely happens given the distance to client site from home on Mondays/Fridays in my line of work.

2) Weight to carry: Personal & Client Co laptops, 2 power supplies, project documentation, casual footwear for evenings, jeans, jumper, 4 shirts, underwear, toiletries & ebook weigh far too much for me to "sling" over my shoulder (WTF? who ever wears a suit with a sports bag over their shoulder??) and sweat my way through airports and the underground before arriving on client site.

3) Ease of Use/Practicality: I don't want a rigid hard shell carry on case, i want a strong soft shell one, the sort of recommendation I'm looking for has easy access pockets for flights docs and protection for laptops from late boarding idjuts that cram there stuff on top of mine in overhead lockers. Other practical features such as anti crease shirt holders inside, a shoe bag to make sure clothes dont get dirt on them etc. are also useful and required. Nothing protection related, more ease of use and fit for purpose.

4) Built for Purpose: I don't mind if it's expensive, I will have it with me at all times during transit (if I am going on holdiay for longer I'll take larger check baggage). I believe you get what you pay for, a "buy cheap buy twice" sort of belief, a quality product built and used for it's intended purpose goes a long way than a "make do" product made for another purpose. A sports bag is ideal for taking to the gym, it's not ideal IMO for walking into a business environment and setting the right impression, getting easy quick access to required items (without rummaging around a huge bag), reducing effort/stress when travelling long distances through airports/underground/home to client site.

However, these items all fit perfectly in a 50cm/20" carry on case (which is allowed by all airlines even the crappy ones), weigh circa 7.5kg (therefore underweight for carry on) and are no problem whatsoever when gliding through the airport and also look professional/business enough to take directly to client site monday upon arrival and friday morning before leaving, thus, allowing me to save time not going via the hotel on arrival beforehand and crucially, not have to wait 20-30 mins at Copenhagen/Dusseldorf airports and therefore catch the earlier express train saving 2hrs total travel time. Money well spent for time saved I believe simply by buying a bag fit for purpose.

[doodab]

Why is that chap hovering an inch off the floor in the second photo?

He's standing on the deck of the scooter.