'So reliable': Flight attendant's number one tip when choosing luggage
If there's one person who knows all about suitcases and packing, it's a flight attendant.
Considering travel is literally their job, and they're used to living out of a suitcase for most of their year, it's safe to assume they have the best recommendations for all things luggage.
So when it came time for me to buy a new suitcase, I knew who to turn to.
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What is the best kind of suitcase? Getty
The first question to ask before buying luggage is: hard or soft?
Well, according to Air New Zealand flight attendant Mel Augustino, it's soft case all the way.
For the last 18 years on the job, she's used a black, soft-shell fabric case. "They're lighter - or so I like to tell myself," she tells 9Travel.
Mel says they last longer, too. "You don't have to worry about dents or cracks and they're so reliable and durable," she shares.
Another upside of a soft-shell case is that they're flexible, and can expand to cram more in - particularly helpful when you've done a bit of shopping on your trip.
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Mel (right) has been flying for 18 years. Supplied
It's not just Mel who swears by her reliable soft-shell case.
A flight attendant who has worked in the job for 16 years previously told retailer House of Fraser to opt for soft luggage if you're planning to check your bags.
"Passengers tend to think that hard-shell suitcases are more resistant than fabric ones, but it's actually the opposite," she said.
"Hardcovers can get easily broken by the pressure of the other bags once they're all packed together in the hold."
Soft suitcases tend to be more flexible. Getty
Meanwhile, for your carry-on bag, a soft duffel is a better choice than a wheelie suitcase.
"If you're flying budget, you'll often be asked to place your wheeled suitcase in the hold – whereas a duffle bag will make it through no matter how full the aircraft," a packing expert at travel firm Flash Pack previously shared.
"It's also more likely that you can stow it under your seat, within arm's reach of everything you need, rather than running the gauntlet of overhead lockers."
This especially applies to busy flights - particularly in the US - where staff may want you to check your case in at the gate as space gets tight.
Soft duffel bags fit better on board. Getty Images/iStockphoto
When it comes to packing her suitcase, Mel tells 9Travel she always has one good-quality white shirt, no matter where she's travelling to.
"A white shirt you can dress up or down, a pair of black pants, jeans, and a boyfriend blazer are my go-to," she says.
She also keeps her toiletries in a bag at the top of her luggage, so they're easy to grab once she arrives at her hotel. All her chargers go in her carry-on bag, just in case she needs them on the go.
