Why a bigger suitcase isn't always better, according to Qantas flight attendant
With baggage rules becoming stricter around the world, knowing what kind of suitcase to travel with can save you some stress at the check-in counter.
With the number of times flight attendants need to navigate through an airport, it's little surprise many of them have worked out exactly what kind of luggage suits air travel best.
Speaking with 9Travel, Qantas flight attendants have revealed their go-to choice for a suitcase and revealed that bigger isn't always better.
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Flight attendants are experts at wheeling suitcases through an airport. Getty
International flight attendant Minnie McCoy says she uses the same kind of suitcase style for both her checked and carry-on luggage.
"My favourite suitcase style would have to be American Tourister," she tells us.
"I feel like they're great. They're really durable. They can fit so much stuff in them. They roll really easily when I walk in through the terminal. I'm a huge fan."
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Durability is, of course, important. But as fellow international crew member Kip Dooley stresses, you also don't always need the biggest size.
"My favourite suitcase style is the Samsonite with the four wheels," he says.
"I like a medium-sized suitcase because I can pack for three days or a month and carry everything I need."
International crew member Kip Dooley says a medium-sized case is perfect. Nine
The hard-shell suitcase is definitely the top choice for plenty of other frequent travellers as well.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines flight attendant Katie Trebendis previously told Travel + Leisure she prefers a hard bag for a few reasons.
"Hard-shell bags retain their shape and help compress clothes, meaning you can fit more items without worrying about bulging luggage not fitting in the overhead bins," she told the publication.
"I recommend using hard-shell luggage to protect whatever you've packed and to make it easier to clean your bag."
Hard cases with four wheels are less likely to get damaged. Getty
A baggage handler also previously said four wheels are a must.
Sharing some advice on a lengthy Reddit thread, an American Airlines worker said it would likely save the bag from suffering any unnecessary damage.
"If your bag has four wheels, it can simply be rolled along the floor," he shared.
"If it does not, it will be thrown. We don't try to slam it into anything, but it's still going to drop about 2ft (6m) over the course of its 'flight'."
Nine
