Checked Luggage

Checked luggage covers the larger cases that travel below the cabin, usually 25 to 30 inches tall. Airlines size them by adding length plus width plus height, and the common ceiling for that sum is 62 linear inches, above which an oversize fee often costs more than the bag did. Weight limits usually sit at 50 pounds, about 23 kg, on an economy ticket.

Every construction choice answers one fact: you will not see the bag between the desk and the belt. Corners take the abuse, so molded corner guards on hardside cases and reinforced piping on softside ones are what to check. Zips matter more here than anywhere else, since a coil zip can be forced open with a pen and closed again invisibly. A chain zip with individual metal teeth resists that. A frame with latches costs more than a zip closure and is the only build that will not split under a heavy drop. Expect a 28 inch case to weigh 8 to 12 pounds empty, and every one of those pounds comes off your 50.

A carry-on stays with you and never gets lost, but no cabin case holds two weeks of clothing. A duffle at the same volume is lighter and squashes into a trunk, yet offers no protection when a loader throws it. Luggage sets normally include one checked piece. It is the one item in a set where compromise hurts least, because you use it a handful of times a year. Garment bags replace this only when a trip is mostly tailoring.

Trips over a week, family travel where one big case beats three small ones, and anyone moving equipment should check a bag. It is also correct for gifts, ski gear and anything that will not pass security. Two night trips do not justify one, since the wait at the belt costs more than the extra space is worth. Consider the 26 to 27 inch middle size rather than the largest, because a 30 inch case reaches 50 pounds before it is full and you end up carrying volume you can never legally use.

Lift the empty case in the store and remember the number, because that weight is subtracted from your allowance on every single trip. Squeeze the shell at the center of a large panel: polycarbonate flexes and returns, while cheap ABS cracks white along the stress line. Weigh the packed bag at home on a luggage scale before you leave, since overweight fees are charged per bag and are steep. Store it with the lid propped open and something absorbent inside, as a sealed case put away damp smells by the next trip.