Luggage ~ help please

[annz53]

Please help with advice regarding luggage.
We have 2 15yr old hard case suitcases (Delsey) with keylocks which we think are OK. Our question to you all is are they OK as far as TSA are concerned? If not OK, what do you suggest we purchase, soft or hard suitcases and should they have zips with the TSA padlock or the combination locks?

Also, should we use the shrink wrap they have available at Melbourne Airport?

Many thanks

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Please help with advice regarding luggage. We have 2 15yr old hard case suitcases (Delsey) with keylocks which we think are OK. Our question to you all is are they OK as far as TSA are concerned? If not OK, what do you suggest we purchase, soft or hard suitcases and should they have zips with the TSA padlock or the combination locks? Also, should we use the shrink wrap they have available at Melbourne Airport? Many thanks

The locks on the suitcase need to be TSA approved and will have markings on them if they are. I'd imagine, being 15 years old, that they aren't TSA approved, in which case you could still use the suitcases only if you are comfortable leaving them unlocked.

As far as buying new ones, I would suggest buying the separate TSA combination locks that you can use with any suitcase. They usually work out considerably cheaper than the suitcases with a TSA lock built into them as you can buy from a wider range of suitcases.

In saying that, on our way into the states, baggage control went through one of my suitcases and forgot to put the lock back on. It was the suitcase with all our medication in, including some powdered antibiotics that we could make up if my son got an ear infection (as he often does). I'm guessing that is what they wanted to see?? Not only did they forget to put the lock back on ($20 down the drain), but they broke part of the zip in the process of taking it off, and they made a bit of a mess of my suitcase. I was so annoyed! Not that it's an excuse on their part, but perhaps part of these issues could have been avoided if my suitcase had had a built in lock.

As far as soft or hard goes, up to you. I generally prefer hard shell, but bought some soft ones for this trip because they were the lightest ones I could find. Being light weight is a big bonus. Another suggestion is to pick stand out colours as it's easier to spot your bags on the baggage carousel. Lastly, make sure you check out the dimension restrictions of your airline. Here in NZ they sell some really big suitcases which are bigger than what most airlines would accept. Technically, if they decided to measure the suitcase, you could end up with some horrendous excess luggage fees.

I hope this all helps.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Also, meant to say, I've never wrapped a suitcase. I'm not sure how that would work going into the States where customs are allowed access to the inside of your suitcase.

 

[Tashinwdw]

We brought all new suitcases for our last trip and after 9 flights 4 of them were really badly damaged they now have to be replaced before our next holiday, not sure if the bubble wrap would have saved them. I have a friend who swears by the suitcase covers but I am not sure how good they will work either.

 

[elphaba91]

I would suggest using tamper tags instead. They're kind of like a cable tie, but have a unique number on them so you can easily tell if your luggage has been opened. I would also use one of these (or if you need more length, a cable tie) to anchor the zips to something, like the handle of your suitcase, as a suitcase can easily be unzipped and rezipped using a pen!

Oh, and if you were interested in getting a new suitcase, Strandbags have lots in different colours on sale at the moment! Or Maxibags have a few really cute Disney ones (but they're quite pricey).

 

[PrincessInOz]

Just a reminder......luggage is a lot cheaper to buy in the US than in Australia. If you are planning shopping time there, you may want to consider using the existing suitcases as they are to get you to the US and then getting a brand new set whilst there. Especially if you're hitting a warehouse outlet. If not, even the departmental stores and/or Target or Walmart will have bag sets for a lot cheaper.

We have used gaffer tape around the handles of our bags; or even ribbon to make our bags stand out. We have soft shell bags because they are more lightweight.

I'm also in the camp of having never wrapped a suitcase before either.

 

[aussie shaz]

I have never locked a suitcase on any of my many, many trips. Have been to US, Asia, Pacific etc and never had a problem. If someone wants to get into your bag, they will. I have only ever had one suitcase damaged, and that was in Bangkok. The zip was just ripped right off.
For extra luggage, we also just put in those big, stripy bags into the bottom of our suitcases. We usually take 4 suitcases and bring back those full, with 2 huge stripy bags full. We put our old clothes into the stripy bags and our very precious new buys (clothes, shoes, Disney collectables!) into our suitcases. Our stripy bags have never broken or been damaged either.

Oh, and our favourite 'suitcase' is a big soft sided duffel bag. It fits into any nook or cranny. Very important when you have to get so much luggage home in the car!

 

[Sugarglider]

Just a reminder......luggage is a lot cheaper to buy in the US than in Australia. If you are planning shopping time there, you may want to consider using the existing suitcases as they are to get you to the US and then getting a brand new set whilst there. Especially if you're hitting a warehouse outlet. If not, even the departmental stores and/or Target or Walmart will have bag sets for a lot cheaper.

We have used gaffer tape around the handles of our bags; or even ribbon to make our bags stand out. We have soft shell bags because they are more lightweight.

I'm also in the camp of having never wrapped a suitcase before either.

I did this a couple of trips ago - took a $7 disney backpack and a $20 disney duffle bag - came home with new luggage from the Vera Bradley discount outlet at Prime Outlets and of course - it is bright and uniquely coloured. But enough about me let's talk about you.

I too have had US remove and not replace a padlock - so get the TSA padlocks so at least they don't break your zipper (mostly). It was only once I got the Vera Bradley luggage i used the VB supplied padlocks. Otherwise all my travel - never bothered locking the bag.

never shrink wrapped a bag - didn't even realise they were still offering this!

 

[gogo65]

Instead of using the locks that are on your suitcase why dont you leave them unlocked and add a TSA luggage strap? Just a thought!

 

[elphaba91]

If someone wants to get into your bag, they will.

Oh, I definitely agree about that! I figure that when you check something in, you have to accept that there is a chance that you will never see it again! I guess the issue for me is knowing that they've been in there, just in case you wind up with something in there that you shouldn't have!

 

[rachaeld]

We are going to buy Kathmandu duffel bags for our trip. Or we may use the two cases we have and use two duffels as well.

They are light weight, and they squish, so when we have our rental car, they will pack in a lot easier than large suitcases will.

 

[Caroline NZ]

We have just returned from the US yesterday. We have a combination of new and old suitcases. The old ones are about 12 years old, they are hardsided Samsonites with a central combination lock and 2 key locks on the side. I locked them and had no problems . We have used them on several trips to LAX and never had a problem, however at our check in the cases go through the x-ray in front of you so we tend to stay in case they need to be opened. However on the last trip we had to leave them in front of the machine and make a dash for the gate.Everything arrived home untampered and unmarked (maybe we have just been lucky?)

 

[Caroline NZ]

We are going to buy Kathmandu duffel bags for our trip. Or we may use the two cases we have and use two duffels as well.

They are light weight, and they squish, so when we have our rental car, they will pack in a lot easier than large suitcases will.

This is what we did as well on our recent trip. We did get a big car though, and it had room in the boot for 2 large hardsided cases, 4 large duffle bags, a chilly bin, and assorted other bags (daypacks etc)

 

[annz53]

Oh, I definitely agree about that! I figure that when you check something in, you have to accept that there is a chance that you will never see it again! I guess the issue for me is knowing that they've been in there, just in case you wind up with something in there that you shouldn't have!

Somebody putting something in our bags (read Shapelle Corby) is what DH and I are more concerned about as well

Thank you all for your input

 

[aussie shaz]

Somebody putting something in our bags (read Shapelle Corby) is what DH and I are more concerned about as well

Thank you all for your input

I'm just not sure that anything would stop someone putting something in your bags. It's easy to cut a lock or a strap. You would have no proof that you had ever had something locking your bag.

I guess it may be a deterrent, but I think if they're going to pick your bag for some reason, nothing will stop them.

Hopefully none of us will ever have to worry about proving anything

 

[coco392]

I agree with princess take over old bags buy new ones there- bought 5 piece set. $90 from Macy's.

 

[annz53]

Hi all ~ what size suitcases should I be looking at ~ it is DH and I that I need to buy for? I don't want to buy something and then find out it is too big. For example would you go bigger than 71cm? Thanks once again, your info and advice is much appreciated.

 

[Sugarglider]

Hi all ~ what size suitcases should I be looking at ~ it is DH and I that I need to buy for? I don't want to buy something and then find out it is too big. For example would you go bigger than 71cm? Thanks once again, your info and advice is much appreciated.

well - despite my advice to CULL as much as possible and travel as light as possible, one important early step is to check with your airline/s about if they have size restrictions on the bags - cause some do.

 

[annz53]

well - despite my advice to CULL as much as possible and travel as light as possible, one important early step is to check with your airline/s about if they have size restrictions on the bags - cause some do.

Thank you Sugarglider soooo I need to book our flights before purchasing them so I can check dimensions.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I would get the smallest possible size that you think you can manage by yourself. We made the mistake of buying a very large bag in the US once and aside from bringing it back home, we've never used it since.


That said....the size of the bag you buy depends on the airline and the amount of clothes you take over. The less you take, the less room you'll need. I've even gone over with carry on luggage only and then bought a bag to check-in on the way home.


Remember....you can always buy a bag when you're out in the US. If you need space, that means you're shopping. If you're shopping, you will find a place to buy a bag.