For infrequent flyers (like me)

[bratmomma]

I say infrequent because others who fly more often probably already know this but I haven't flown since early 2001. I just wanted to give a tip that I learned the hard way after returning home Saturday night....

OPEN your checked luggage before leaving the airport. I have a material sided suitcase with a plastic lining for durability. The outside of the suitcase appeared fine. We grabbed it off the carousel and went on our way. I got home and opened it and the plastic lining was in shards all over the place. I took pictures immediately and went on the airline's website (Continental) only to find out you must report any damages BEFORE LEAVING THE AIRPORT.

I am out of a suitcase, but I wanted to pass along my experience so that no one else loses their chance to get the situation corrected because of not knowing the procedure.

 

[crashbb]

How did the inside lining get shredded??

Admittedly, I have never checked the inside of my luggage before leaving the airport (and I'm not an infrequent flyer), but it is probably something I *should* do.

It makes sense that the airline won't accept claims once you leave the airport. They have no way of knowing what you did to the suitcase once you left the airport.

Which brings up the interesting question of what happens with DME if your luggage is damaged by the airline?

 

[dudspizza]

I am guessing OP is talking about the thin plastic lining that makes the suitcase more rigid. The plastic is is inside the suitcase and in my case it was inside a zippered lining.

I had this exact same thing happen to one of my suitcases, but I didn't even notice it until the next trip.

In my opinion, it is not something that the airline should cover. The plastic is thin and could be considered normal wear and tear. I didn't even consider making a claim, but that is just me.

For what it is worth, I still use that same suitcase, it just isn't as rigid any more.

Duds

 

[crashbb]

I am guessing OP is talking about the thin plastic lining that makes the suitcase more rigid. The plastic is is inside the suitcase and in my case it was inside a zippered lining.

I had this exact same thing happen to one of my suitcases, but I didn't even notice it until the next trip.

In my opinion, it is not something that the airline should cover. The plastic is thin and could be considered normal wear and tear. I didn't even consider making a claim, but that is just me.

For what it is worth, I still use that same suitcase, it just isn't as rigid any more.

Duds

Okay, talk to me like I'm a three year old.

How does the INSIDE lining get damage when the outside is perfectly fine? I'm honestly not doubting you, just not getting it.

 

[bratmomma]

OP here... I am guessing the inside plastic broke into pieces from rough handling, being dropped, having other baggage dropped onto it, etc. Who knows, it may have even happened during flight when baggage shifted in the cargo area of the plane.

I just wanted to share because I had never thought to look INSIDE my suitcase when getting it off the carousel, so I thought I could remind others, in case they hadn't thought of it either.

I agree, the policy makes sense, I was just bummed because this was a new suitcase for this trip and to have the plastic lining cracked, broken and most of it missing (due to the pieces breaking off into shards) after one trip, stinks.

 

[bavaria]

At the risk of sounding offensive, and I don't mean to be, I am even more confused than crashbb. That sounds like cheap luggage because I can't even imagine the plastic liner. Duds, feel free to email me since I know that we don't offend each other when we 'talk' offline.

And I highly doubt that any airline would cover it as normal wear and tear doesn't get covered. Most infrequent flyers buy cheap luggage - even that $200 stuff can be poorly made, and only lasts 1-2 trips. Even reputable companies make lesser lines of luggage which isn't durable. Most of the department store or discount store stuff just won't last, and that is why some of us warn so often about that cheap Disney stuff. What brand was it?

I have very expensive and durable luggage, and even that wears out, but that is after 200,000 miles or so around the world.

I do see people all the time freaking out at the airline baggage staff because their cheap luggage broke, and the airline won't do anything. Cheap handles, pull handles, wheels, etc all break easily.

A good luggage company will repair or even replace luggage under warranty, which is why I haven't paid for a suitcase in years.

 

[Lewisc]

Read the luggage reviews from places like Consumer Reports. Many of the inexpensive bags sold at places like WalMart and Target don't even last one flight. A complete 4 piece set of luggage for under $50. What do you expect? Not specifically referring to the OP, I don't know what kind of luggage he has.

A 26-28" roller bag, that has a shot of lasting for more then one flight, will cost over $100 with a good sale. The COSTCO Kirkland brand bag holds up well.

 

[bavaria]

Again, I don't mean to be offensive.

The mass produced luggage is made to last just a few trips, which is what the 'average' person does in a few years.

But that kind of luggage has many drawbacks: it may not have a side and/or bottom lift handle, the pull handle is at the wrong height, or retracts too easily, or sticks; the wheels don't spin and/or get stuck too easily; the zippers get stuck or snag too easily.

There are really two types of luggage - the mass produced stuff at Target, Marshalls, Macy's etc and the type intended for more frequent travel. That includes the high end brands.

I subscribe to the German philosophy of buying a few good quality pieces whether it be shoes or luggage or handbags or clothes, and supplementing with cheaper accessories. That is very different from the American shopping options (although we are getting more of those too)

So that means that I tend to favour brands like Jump, Longchamp, Rimowa. They are expensive but are well made, last a very long time, and have excellent warranty.

Since I am not that dripping in money I did opt this time for a more international brand, and researched for months before buying a high end Samsonite line. The first set wore out after six months and the entire set was replaced at no charge to me. Now I have a few things going a little worn and again they are being replaced at no charge to me. I paid for the intial set several years ago.

I love to 'shop' for luggage even when just window shopping, and test drive all sorts just for fun when out shopping.

There is a huge difference between the mass market stuff and the high end stuff for a reason. I need my travel items to last more than 1-3 trips.

For those who fly once a year or less, or drive, then the luggage at the discount and department stores is fine, bearing in mind that it won't have much of a warranty and that it won't last that long.

 

[Lewisc]

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11037988

Luggage in this price range is unlikely to last even one flight (based on reviews).

You can spend hundreds of dollars for luggage that will last a lifetime of travel around the world.

Delsey brand luggage is carried at department stores. It's made well enough to last under "regular" use. Some of the models have a lifetime warranty. It's not made as well as the brands used buy the previous poster but it's made well enough for most of us.

Buy the one or two pieces you need. Don't waste money on a set.

 

[bavaria]

And OP, it IS a good reminder that you posted. Always check your luggage (although I don't open it) and always confirm that it is yours, again as the mass produced things are so common now. (A good reason to get a different colour, although they don't wear as well as black)

 

[dudspizza]

That is it, German lady, you just offended me....... Whew, now that I have that off my chest, I can breath again..... ok..... not offended, but dang it felt good to say that.

I have VERY CHEAP luggage. I am cheap... do you know any school teachers who aren't cheap?

I have the Disney Store luggage similar to THIS.

I actually opened the inner lining of the suitcase because I was repairing the pull handle... yep, REALLY CHEAP LUGGAGE! I found the thin, plastic lining in a thousand pieces. Like I said before, this was used to keep the bag more rigid. Did I mention it was cheap luggage? I would venture to guess that what OP said in their second response is what happened to mine.. it was simply hit a bit too hard and the plastic shattered.

I will say I kind of laughed when I saw it. I knew it could happen, did I mention it was cheap luggage? I just shrugged it off and moved on.........

In bowling they say, "Throw a crappy shot, you get a crappy result". Luggage is the same way.... buy crappy luggage, you get luggage that doesn't last......

Have a nice day! Now, I need to finish my 25 minute lunch break so I can teach 2 more hours of classes!

Duds

 

[bavaria]

Duds, duds, duds, duds, duds... I am so disappointed.

How often did your friends warn against that luggage? Don't you teach your kidlets that looks don't mean much in this world? It is the quality inside which counts.

I'm still confused but thank you for clarifying.

 

[Lewisc]

Take the luggage back to wherever you bought it. Ask for a refund. Your airline isn't going to pay for luggage that's defective or not designed to hold up under normal conditions.

I wouldn't even bother with the mfg warranty. Based on your description of the bag I doubt it has any and a store refund will give you quicker resolution.

OP here... I am guessing the inside plastic broke into pieces from rough handling, being dropped, having other baggage dropped onto it, etc. Who knows, it may have even happened during flight when baggage shifted in the cargo area of the plane.

I just wanted to share because I had never thought to look INSIDE my suitcase when getting it off the carousel, so I thought I could remind others, in case they hadn't thought of it either.

I agree, the policy makes sense, I was just bummed because this was a new suitcase for this trip and to have the plastic lining cracked, broken and most of it missing (due to the pieces breaking off into shards) after one trip, stinks.

 

[dudspizza]

Duds, duds, duds, duds, duds... I am so disappointed.

How often did your friends warn against that luggage? Don't you teach your kidlets that looks don't mean much in this world? It is the quality inside which counts.

I'm still confused but thank you for clarifying.

Did I mention I have had this luggage since about 2002?

 

[seashoreCM]

How long have you had the suitcase with the inner plastic liner? Various plastics biodegrade just with the passing of time and that particular kind of plastic might have become very brittle all by itself. (Some plastics could become brittle in the cold of the airplane baggage hold during flight.)

Problems with Magical Express' guests' baggage automagically delivered (or not delivered) to the room are handled at the resort front desk. DME will take it from there and will not send you back to the airport let alone on another DME bus.

(earning your Ph.D. in chemistry or physics) Do the plastic shards break into still smaller pieces if you bent them sharply? ... if you put them in the freezer for a few hours first?

 

[goofy4tink]

I say infrequent because others who fly more often probably already know this but I haven't flown since early 2001. I just wanted to give a tip that I learned the hard way after returning home Saturday night....

OPEN your checked luggage before leaving the airport. I have a material sided suitcase with a plastic lining for durability. The outside of the suitcase appeared fine. We grabbed it off the carousel and went on our way. I got home and opened it and the plastic lining was in shards all over the place. I took pictures immediately and went on the airline's website (Continental) only to find out you must report any damages BEFORE LEAVING THE AIRPORT.

I am out of a suitcase, but I wanted to pass along my experience so that no one else loses their chance to get the situation corrected because of not knowing the procedure.

Thanks for the reminder. Sorry about your luggage though. I know I've had some of those gorilla baggage handlers in the past.....just can't understand how my bags have gotten messed up the way they have. Ah well.
By the way...pay no attention to those having their own scintillating reparte here. That's standard for them.

And yes...you do get what you pay for. I know that almost every piece of Disney luggage I have is damaged or worn out in some way..in very little time after first use. My LLBean rolling duffles are faring much better...if only they were't so hard to pull. Those little wheels are really too close together.

 

[Tara]

How long have you had the suitcase with the inner plastic liner? Various plastics biodegrade just with the passing of time and that particular kind of plastic might have become very brittle all by itself. (Some plastics could become brittle in the cold of the airplane baggage hold during flight.)

Problems with Magical Express' guests' baggage automagically delivered (or not delivered) to the room are handled at the resort front desk. DME will take it from there and will not send you back to the airport let alone on another DME bus.

(earning your Ph.D. in chemistry or physics) Do the plastic shards break into still smaller pieces if you bent them sharply? ... if you put them in the freezer for a few hours first?

Since the OP said it was a new bag, I doubt it's a case of brittling. Could be a case of cheap materials, though.

 

[bavaria]

I know that almost every piece of Disney luggage I have is damaged or worn out in some way..in very little time after first use. .

Huh.

Another poster who doesn't listen to her friends.

 

[ironz]

Going off on a tangent...one thing to consider when buying luggage is how well the "front" is reinforced. It's so nice that many cases have some reinforcement strips on the "back"...the same side as the wheels. But baggage handlers will put the bags on the belts "front" side down (wheels up) so they don't roll around.

So when the front of your suitcase is dirty and scuffed up (and anything in the front pockets squished)....this is why.

Back to topic....I buy mid-level luggage and expect to replace it every few years.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a softside suitcase with a stiff plastic lining.

I buy name-brand luggage, but I don't pay a whole lot for it. I buy it at places like Tuesday Morning, TJMaxx and Marshall's. So far I've only had one really break; a wheel somehow separated into concentric rings, on a Ryanair flight between Dublin and Stansted. I was dealing with the baby and I didn't notice it b/c DH was wrangling the luggage to the car, and he didn't tell me the wheel was malfunctioning until we were well out of the airport. I got new wheels put on at a luggage repair shop for $20, and the bag is still going strong 6 years later.

I did have my Prince Lionheart carseat satchel get chewed up by bagroom equipment once -- that was on a FlyBE flight from Belfast to Leeds, and the airline insisted on giving me 50 pounds Sterling for the damage, even though the bag only cost $30 to begin with. I caught my connecting flight back to the US, bought a $5 vinyl repair kit at AutoZone, and I'm still using the satchel 10 years later.

I do make sure that the frame in my softside baggage is metal. It bends in, but it is easy to straighten back out if you put your foot on the inside and pull up.

I just replaced two of my pieces that had begun to really wear out, after I don't know how many flights. (Frayed fabric on the edges, zippers that were missing teeth, handles that tended to stick, etc.) We bought them both 19 years ago, the year we got married. One was a TravelPro, and the other was an Amelia Earhart.

So ... I'm here to tell you that it is possible to get a very long life out of luggage that didn't really cost a lot. I'm not in Bavaria's travel league, but I do fly rather a lot.