Help, my luggage is running away!
January 19, 2025 6:52 AM Subscribe
Wheeled luggage has become the one true luggage and makes traveling so much easier, but when and where did they come from? And how did sexism affect their acceptance?
I remember traveling before wheeled luggage became common and carrying your suitcase around was exhausting. Today's post is to celebrate the wheeled luggage that we now take for granted!
Wikipedia's history of the suitcase
History of the rolling suitcase via patents
So according to what we've read, in the 1970's men patented a rolling suitcase and failed to sell it. Then in the 1980's a pilot made his own version with a telescoping handle that caught on and became popular with flight crews and then frequent travelers and that was the rollaboard Here's another story from conde nast traveler
Hey, women were putting wheels on suitcases way earlier than that! from book expert from the guardian. book Mother of Invention: How Good Ideas Get Ignored in an Economy Built for Men by Katrine Marçal
And here's another woman traveling earlier than that in the 1920's with a wheeled suitcase.
Now I think you would be hard pressed to find a suitcase without wheels.
What's next for suitcases? Well you might have seen kids siting and riding on their suitcases and apparently there is an adult version too electric ride on suitcases. when will the races start?
I remember traveling before wheeled luggage became common and carrying your suitcase around was exhausting. Today's post is to celebrate the wheeled luggage that we now take for granted!
Wikipedia's history of the suitcase
History of the rolling suitcase via patents
So according to what we've read, in the 1970's men patented a rolling suitcase and failed to sell it. Then in the 1980's a pilot made his own version with a telescoping handle that caught on and became popular with flight crews and then frequent travelers and that was the rollaboard Here's another story from conde nast traveler
Hey, women were putting wheels on suitcases way earlier than that! from book expert from the guardian. book Mother of Invention: How Good Ideas Get Ignored in an Economy Built for Men by Katrine Marçal
And here's another woman traveling earlier than that in the 1920's with a wheeled suitcase.
Now I think you would be hard pressed to find a suitcase without wheels.
What's next for suitcases? Well you might have seen kids siting and riding on their suitcases and apparently there is an adult version too electric ride on suitcases. when will the races start?
I recently brought my first wheeled suitcase, and deeply regretted it. I was taken in by big suitcase’s lies, but I’m here to tell you: backpacks are better. Duffel bags are better. Sure, you got to schlep it, but you get so much more space to use in your bag - no wheel clearances, no space for handles, just 100% space to put your things in. Free yourself from the tyranny of big suitcase!
posted by The River Ivel at 7:19 AM on January 19 [12 favorites]
posted by The River Ivel at 7:19 AM on January 19 [12 favorites]
Notably, those patents should never have been granted, given the existence of publicly used prior art, including prior art described in a printed publication (Anita Willets-Burnham's book, described in the "another woman traveling earlier than that in the 1920's with a wheeled suitcase" link).
The USPTO hasn't fully digitized the history of the Sadow and Plath patents, so it's not clear if the patent examiner was aware of Anita Willets-Burnham's invention. Given the difficulty of searching for such a thing prior to large scale book digitization, it wouldn't be surprising if the examiner wasn't aware, but still. Honestly, this kind of thing makes me think the law should allow for a process by which expired patents can be retroactively invalidated when previously unconsidered prior art comes to light.
posted by jedicus at 7:22 AM on January 19 [7 favorites]
The USPTO hasn't fully digitized the history of the Sadow and Plath patents, so it's not clear if the patent examiner was aware of Anita Willets-Burnham's invention. Given the difficulty of searching for such a thing prior to large scale book digitization, it wouldn't be surprising if the examiner wasn't aware, but still. Honestly, this kind of thing makes me think the law should allow for a process by which expired patents can be retroactively invalidated when previously unconsidered prior art comes to light.
posted by jedicus at 7:22 AM on January 19 [7 favorites]
Neat post.
I worked at a travel store and sold luggage for three years when I was in college in the 90s. We sold only two brands of suitcase, by and large, and one was Travelpro. Many people coming into the store had never seen luggage with good, in-frame axles for rubber wheels. When the benefits were explained to them, there was an immediate "click" in most customers' understanding of why you'd want them. That didn't always lead to a sale, because Travelpro was not cheap and I assume is still not today. Much of the competition at the time had inferior production quality on multiple counts, from frame strength to wheel location, and there were many years there where it was more common to see people dragging damaged bags through airports, depots, etc.
Forgive me for not going through all of the links, but a constant request at the store was also for collapsible luggage carts. I don't know where that fits in the "wheel delay was due to sexism" narrative, but I don't recall any particular leaning in terms of gender as to who wanted wheels for their luggage. Anyone who travels for work with the frequency of air crew, traveling sales folks, or similar jobs, understands the benefits of wheels. I'm glad we're past the point of widespread disinclination toward wheeled luggage.
The River Ivel, I appreciate your perspective, but of course wheels are a major benefit for folks without the strength, leverage, height, or ability to manipulate non-wheeled luggage easily. I don't know what percentage of the population that is, but I'm a pretty average height male with unremarkable strength, and I regularly provide assistance to people in all of those categories simply because I can. Too much U.S. infrastructure is built for people with my general physique and level of ability. Spending endless hours talking about travel woes with customers was an education in this regard.
posted by cupcakeninja at 8:15 AM on January 19 [23 favorites]
I worked at a travel store and sold luggage for three years when I was in college in the 90s. We sold only two brands of suitcase, by and large, and one was Travelpro. Many people coming into the store had never seen luggage with good, in-frame axles for rubber wheels. When the benefits were explained to them, there was an immediate "click" in most customers' understanding of why you'd want them. That didn't always lead to a sale, because Travelpro was not cheap and I assume is still not today. Much of the competition at the time had inferior production quality on multiple counts, from frame strength to wheel location, and there were many years there where it was more common to see people dragging damaged bags through airports, depots, etc.
Forgive me for not going through all of the links, but a constant request at the store was also for collapsible luggage carts. I don't know where that fits in the "wheel delay was due to sexism" narrative, but I don't recall any particular leaning in terms of gender as to who wanted wheels for their luggage. Anyone who travels for work with the frequency of air crew, traveling sales folks, or similar jobs, understands the benefits of wheels. I'm glad we're past the point of widespread disinclination toward wheeled luggage.
The River Ivel, I appreciate your perspective, but of course wheels are a major benefit for folks without the strength, leverage, height, or ability to manipulate non-wheeled luggage easily. I don't know what percentage of the population that is, but I'm a pretty average height male with unremarkable strength, and I regularly provide assistance to people in all of those categories simply because I can. Too much U.S. infrastructure is built for people with my general physique and level of ability. Spending endless hours talking about travel woes with customers was an education in this regard.
posted by cupcakeninja at 8:15 AM on January 19 [23 favorites]
Reportedly, Sir Terry Pratchett conceived of the Luggage when he was in an airport and saw a fellow traveler trying to steer a massive wheeled suitcase that seemed to have very strong opinions on which way it wanted to go.
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:26 AM on January 19 [20 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:26 AM on January 19 [20 favorites]
I'm glad we're past the point of widespread disinclination toward wheeled luggage
They’re definitely much better in the airport environment, but I’ve found that towns and cities (especially in the UK) are often extremely unfriendly to the tiny wheels of wheeled luggage to the point of uselessness. So for me, they’re often worse than a carryall - but I’m happy that they have improved things for others!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 8:29 AM on January 19 [6 favorites]
They’re definitely much better in the airport environment, but I’ve found that towns and cities (especially in the UK) are often extremely unfriendly to the tiny wheels of wheeled luggage to the point of uselessness. So for me, they’re often worse than a carryall - but I’m happy that they have improved things for others!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 8:29 AM on January 19 [6 favorites]
I appreciate the wheels - esp when traveling from airport > car > hotel. If there's any hoofing it along the way I'll opt for the Osprey Porter if I even need that much. Often I can travel for a few days out of a std Jansport size backpack, still pro-wheel / anti giga-carryon.
posted by djseafood at 8:39 AM on January 19 [1 favorite]
posted by djseafood at 8:39 AM on January 19 [1 favorite]
There is also a division (among hard core travel people) between luggage with two wheels and ones with four. The two wheels are usually bigger and are much easier to drag over rough ground. The four wheel "spinners" work better in the flat floors of the Airports. Not so good for cobblestone streets.
posted by aleph at 8:54 AM on January 19 [7 favorites]
posted by aleph at 8:54 AM on January 19 [7 favorites]
↩ cities . . . extremely unfriendly to the tiny wheels of wheeled luggage . . .
And don't even start to think of thedog-shit matter building up on the inaccessible wheel-arch.
posted by BobTheScientist at 8:54 AM on January 19 [3 favorites]
And don't even start to think of the
posted by BobTheScientist at 8:54 AM on January 19 [3 favorites]
I think we should bring back full-on trunks - the big ones that opened up sideways and were basically regular dressers (except made of dense cardboard instead of wood) on wheels. With modern materials, I’m sure we could make ones that are loft by also sturdy enough that you could use them as your regular dresser at home and take them on long trips, and just never have to re-pack your clothes. (For folks who don’t have an entire small room as their closet, at least. I have a large enough closet nowadays that I’d still need to do a little re-packing, but it would have been super helpful for most of my adult life once I got a real job and had to start bringing clothes for different professional and social contexts on trips with me. And would encourage me to pare down a bit now.)
I guess that wouldn’t fit in my car, which is my exclusive mode of travel lately. But it would be handy for train travel, which I think we should also bring back/expand in North America. I don’t want full steampunk everything, mind. Just some of the entirely reasonable long distance travel details.
posted by eviemath at 8:59 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
I guess that wouldn’t fit in my car, which is my exclusive mode of travel lately. But it would be handy for train travel, which I think we should also bring back/expand in North America. I don’t want full steampunk everything, mind. Just some of the entirely reasonable long distance travel details.
posted by eviemath at 8:59 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
I think we should bring back full-on trunks
Litters too. Bugger this walking around the airport myself nonsense. Porter!
posted by flabdablet at 9:17 AM on January 19 [14 favorites]
Litters too. Bugger this walking around the airport myself nonsense. Porter!
posted by flabdablet at 9:17 AM on January 19 [14 favorites]
These make traveling much easier, but on the other hand I live near a subway stop and the sheer awful noise of these goddamn things rolling on a rough sidewalk is enormous. They are louder than passing cars and twice as annoying. Please, when you're on a rough dogshit-peppered sidewalk, if you are able consider lifting your bag using one of the conveniently provided handles. It's more work, but your neighbors will thank you.
posted by phooky at 9:37 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
posted by phooky at 9:37 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
I wish the wheeled revolution had managed to be pushed luggage, not pulled, because too many people are terrible about letting their bag swing wide behind them and clip other pedestrians. Looks more like you’re working, to push something, so it would never fly.
posted by clew at 9:45 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
posted by clew at 9:45 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
I long for the days when travellers pasted stickers of the various cities they have visited. Like Cairo, Mozambique, Paris ...with those delicious illustrations on them. Of course it would be best on a steamer trunk, perhaps purchased from Harrods.
posted by Czjewel at 10:02 AM on January 19 [5 favorites]
posted by Czjewel at 10:02 AM on January 19 [5 favorites]
One advantage of non-wheeled carry ons is that for purposes of mandatory gate-check, flight attendants seem to ignore backpacks regardless of size.
I wish the wheeled revolution had managed to be pushed luggage, not pulled
Basically a non-starter, since telescopic handles and straps work much better when you’re pulling them.
posted by zamboni at 10:07 AM on January 19 [1 favorite]
I wish the wheeled revolution had managed to be pushed luggage, not pulled
Basically a non-starter, since telescopic handles and straps work much better when you’re pulling them.
posted by zamboni at 10:07 AM on January 19 [1 favorite]
I long for the days when travellers pasted stickers of the various cities they have visited.
Honestly, I just miss when immigration would actually stamp your passport. I have a couple of half-hearted poorly inked impressions from Schiphol and that's about it.
posted by phooky at 10:12 AM on January 19 [13 favorites]
Honestly, I just miss when immigration would actually stamp your passport. I have a couple of half-hearted poorly inked impressions from Schiphol and that's about it.
posted by phooky at 10:12 AM on January 19 [13 favorites]
Notably, those patents should never have been granted
I don't agree, at least not with Anita Willets-Burnham invalidating Plath's patent. While Willets-Burnham's trunk was suited to train, bus and ship travel it's large external wheels are a detriment to the volume maximizing carry on that is Plath's design for modernish air travel with it's small internal wheels and light weight overall. Ya it's details but a lot of enforceable patents are awarded on details.
Now Plath shouldn't be credited with the general invention of the wheeled suitcase but that is a separate thing over whether something is patentable.
Lot's of things like this in history where a specific implementation that is arguably a refinement on what came before gets credited as the first. EG: who invented the minivan, Chrysler or VW? VW sort of had all the pieces but Chrysler switched up the packaging and that made all the difference.
posted by Mitheral at 10:13 AM on January 19
I don't agree, at least not with Anita Willets-Burnham invalidating Plath's patent. While Willets-Burnham's trunk was suited to train, bus and ship travel it's large external wheels are a detriment to the volume maximizing carry on that is Plath's design for modernish air travel with it's small internal wheels and light weight overall. Ya it's details but a lot of enforceable patents are awarded on details.
Now Plath shouldn't be credited with the general invention of the wheeled suitcase but that is a separate thing over whether something is patentable.
Lot's of things like this in history where a specific implementation that is arguably a refinement on what came before gets credited as the first. EG: who invented the minivan, Chrysler or VW? VW sort of had all the pieces but Chrysler switched up the packaging and that made all the difference.
posted by Mitheral at 10:13 AM on January 19
clew, we're partway there! The current trend toward 4+ spinner/omnidirectional wheels on the bottom means that more people are pushing rolling luggage now than ever before, using vertical telescoping handles. There are models of wheeled suitcase built for pushing, but they are indeed rarer and raise other problems that pulled luggage do not. In particular, gait and ergonomic issues mean that they take up a little more floor space while in motion, and the suitcases themselves trend larger. That might be a chicken/egg thing, but I am personally much more comfortable pulling a small, lightweight rollaboard than I am pushing one, regardless of handle configuration.
posted by cupcakeninja at 10:29 AM on January 19 [1 favorite]
posted by cupcakeninja at 10:29 AM on January 19 [1 favorite]
I regularly provide assistance to people
Male and weightlifter here, and I frequently help people with their bags: lofting into overhead spaces or bringing them down, in particular.
posted by doctornemo at 10:55 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
Male and weightlifter here, and I frequently help people with their bags: lofting into overhead spaces or bringing them down, in particular.
posted by doctornemo at 10:55 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
For some trips, a trunk is really the only choice.
posted by Marky at 11:16 AM on January 19 [7 favorites]
posted by Marky at 11:16 AM on January 19 [7 favorites]
My two-wheeler carryon finally broke and I bought a newer four-wheeler Travelpro, which weighs about half as much and you can actually push it, at least on flat surfaces, which is surprisingly handy at the airport. I didn't expect to like it quite so much but it's actually great. dunno if it will last a decade like my old one though!
posted by BungaDunga at 11:19 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 11:19 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
I have a duffel with straps meant to hold a skateboard underneath (Poler, discontinued) I have not tried this bc I dont know how a skateboard would fare in cargo or overhead. I would and should try this next time I am on amtrak though.
I use wheelies and prefer two rollerblade wheels over four. I almost always pick them up outdoors though. I hate the noise but do like them in foyers and terminals. Someday I’ll find the perfect wheeled Osprey on ebay.
posted by drowsy at 11:24 AM on January 19
I use wheelies and prefer two rollerblade wheels over four. I almost always pick them up outdoors though. I hate the noise but do like them in foyers and terminals. Someday I’ll find the perfect wheeled Osprey on ebay.
posted by drowsy at 11:24 AM on January 19
2 wheels good, 4 wheels bad.
Personally I prefer our old luggage with two bigger wheels than newer very flimsy looking four wheeled ones. I expect we will use it until it completely falls apart.
posted by samastur at 11:29 AM on January 19
Personally I prefer our old luggage with two bigger wheels than newer very flimsy looking four wheeled ones. I expect we will use it until it completely falls apart.
posted by samastur at 11:29 AM on January 19
so far all the defenses of pulling are about convenience for the owner not safety of everyone else on the walkway. But I am glad to hear that pushable is developing anyway.
posted by clew at 11:32 AM on January 19 [1 favorite]
posted by clew at 11:32 AM on January 19 [1 favorite]
For some trips, a trunk is really the only choice.
I can’t tell you how happy I was I guessed right on that link. May you live to be a thousand years old, sir.
posted by leotrotsky at 11:38 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
I can’t tell you how happy I was I guessed right on that link. May you live to be a thousand years old, sir.
posted by leotrotsky at 11:38 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
I was completely unaware that there was ever controversy over adding wheels to luggage, as I've had the same Atlantic brand wheeled carry-on since 1999 and not one person has looked at me askance. It has the rollerblade type wheels that are more or less flush with the body and don't stick out, which helps maximize the storage area. I love it! And I pair it with my backpack, which has a sort of strap thing that I can use to mount it to the rolly bag when the handle is extended. The button to collapse the handle is also at the base and not in the handle itself, which confuses taxi and Lyft drivers who insist on handling the deposition and/or removal of my bag from the trunk and then inevitably find themselves struggling with the handle collapse mechanism.
Wheels FTW!
posted by grumpybear69 at 11:41 AM on January 19
Wheels FTW!
posted by grumpybear69 at 11:41 AM on January 19
My Mom has Parkinsons, so when my parents travel they now have suitcases that latch together and allow my Dad to wheel two or three bags at once. Makes it much easier for them.
posted by Higherfasterforwards at 11:56 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
posted by Higherfasterforwards at 11:56 AM on January 19 [4 favorites]
I had a bad experience with wheeled luggage. To be fair, I bought it at Walmart for as little as I calculated I could get away with...but man, was I bad at math.
Since then I've tried to travel light enough that I can get away with a backpack that fits in the overhead bin plus a carry-on with a shoulder strap.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:00 PM on January 19 [2 favorites]
Since then I've tried to travel light enough that I can get away with a backpack that fits in the overhead bin plus a carry-on with a shoulder strap.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:00 PM on January 19 [2 favorites]
I have to catch up with the comments here, but I brought this up in comments on Metafilter 7 years ago, in the context of answering why didn't ancient humans make the inventions we now think of as obvious.
My comment 1
My comment 2
A follow-up comment
posted by Schmucko at 12:19 PM on January 19 [4 favorites]
My comment 1
My comment 2
A follow-up comment
posted by Schmucko at 12:19 PM on January 19 [4 favorites]
I want to fix the rolling suitcase problem and make a million bucks. When holding/pushing a suitcase that's heavy and/or on any kind of incline, it always pulls to the side. But if I turn it about 25% inward, that sideward pull is eliminated. But after a few minutes this becomes uncomfortable, and it expends arm muscles in a weird way. So I want to invent a solution that somehow negates the sideways pull, but I'm not sure how that would work. A new type of handle? Different placement/angle of the handle? Off to the workshop!
posted by zardoz at 12:27 PM on January 19
posted by zardoz at 12:27 PM on January 19
This post explains a scene that confused me in a book I read recently. A macho character scoffed at someone using wheeled luggage. I had no clue it was gendered.
posted by tofu_crouton at 12:32 PM on January 19 [3 favorites]
posted by tofu_crouton at 12:32 PM on January 19 [3 favorites]
We just bought a new set of Travelpros for a three-week trip to Australia and New Zealand and found them pretty easy to get around with.
I have heard it suggested that the changes in the built environment occasioned by the ADA made the landscape much friendlier to getting around with wheeled luggage.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 2:31 PM on January 19 [2 favorites]
I have heard it suggested that the changes in the built environment occasioned by the ADA made the landscape much friendlier to getting around with wheeled luggage.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 2:31 PM on January 19 [2 favorites]
so far all the defenses of pulling are about convenience for the owner not safety of everyone else on the walkway. But I am glad to hear that pushable is developing anyway.
Tbf pushing isn't without hazards to others. A bag on two wheels, pulled from the handle is going to want to stay mostly upright unless you're whipping an extremely fast turn at high speed. The four wheel kind, when pushed ahead of you is more prone to fail via tipping over if a wheel catches on something. This is further exacerbated if the case is loaded top-heavy.
Given how small the wheels are on most of them it doesn't take a huge object/or surface transition to jam a wheel, send the thing tipping over and knock over multiple people in a crowded area.
posted by Ferreous at 2:41 PM on January 19
Tbf pushing isn't without hazards to others. A bag on two wheels, pulled from the handle is going to want to stay mostly upright unless you're whipping an extremely fast turn at high speed. The four wheel kind, when pushed ahead of you is more prone to fail via tipping over if a wheel catches on something. This is further exacerbated if the case is loaded top-heavy.
Given how small the wheels are on most of them it doesn't take a huge object/or surface transition to jam a wheel, send the thing tipping over and knock over multiple people in a crowded area.
posted by Ferreous at 2:41 PM on January 19
I spent too many years as a professional traveler, doing about 200k miles year in the air, and I stayed away from wheeled luggage. The space required to house and mount the wheels and handle eats into the luggage's storage volume, as does any kind of rigid frame. Efficiency is important when packing.
My go to was a soft carry-on that could be carried like a backpack or a duffel. I could do about 7 days out of a single bag that fit under the seat, or in the overhead.
posted by jordantwodelta at 3:15 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]
My go to was a soft carry-on that could be carried like a backpack or a duffel. I could do about 7 days out of a single bag that fit under the seat, or in the overhead.
posted by jordantwodelta at 3:15 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]
Just popping in to remark how, for years, anyway, (very much not-wheeled) Tom Bihn seemed like the official carry-on of AskMe. Mine still performs admirably, though I do experience moments of envy at my partner's wheeled situation.
posted by german_bight at 4:07 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]
posted by german_bight at 4:07 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]
4 wheels is best. The difference between dragging the weight behind you and ferrying it alongside you is huge. Especially if you have a backpack slipped over the handle. You also take up less space in the airplane aisle when boarding/deplaning. You can switch to dragging any time you want.
posted by pmbuko at 4:13 PM on January 19
posted by pmbuko at 4:13 PM on January 19
There is also a division (among hard core travel people) between luggage with two wheels and ones with four.
I'm a regular traveller and am firmly on the side of two-wheeled bags, because the tiny wheels on the four-wheelers are useless on anything but smooth, shiny airport floors. Plus, they want to roll away all the time on anything but laser-perfect level surfaces. Unfortunately, I've had to resort to the inferior four-wheeled cases for a while now because I just can't find a decent, lightweight two-wheeler at a reasonable price. I've recently purchased a new one because the zip failed on the previous bag that I had for about five years, which was also a four-wheeler - I replaced the two back wheels twice during that time because they wore out completely.
I'm actually not bothered by what kind of wheels people have on their suitcase, but I am very much bothered by airlines allowing people to bring large-heavy cases onboard planes and store them above my head where they will almost certainly injure someone if they fall out (I have seen locker doors fly open several times on hard landings or during turbulence). I check my own bag in 99% of the time based on principle, but end up helping at least one person lift their heavy bag up on every flight I take. I do think wheeled cases have contributed to people travelling with much heavier luggage, because they don't have to worry about whether or not they can carry it, which is a good thing for people with limited capacity to lift things, but makes it easy for people to chuck everything in a bag 'just in case'.
Maybe airlines should shift the measure of what is allowed to be carried on board. Make it the rule that you can carry as much as you want on board (as long as it fits in the overhead locker), but you must demonstrate that you can lift it above your head unassisted first.
posted by dg at 4:15 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]
I'm a regular traveller and am firmly on the side of two-wheeled bags, because the tiny wheels on the four-wheelers are useless on anything but smooth, shiny airport floors. Plus, they want to roll away all the time on anything but laser-perfect level surfaces. Unfortunately, I've had to resort to the inferior four-wheeled cases for a while now because I just can't find a decent, lightweight two-wheeler at a reasonable price. I've recently purchased a new one because the zip failed on the previous bag that I had for about five years, which was also a four-wheeler - I replaced the two back wheels twice during that time because they wore out completely.
I'm actually not bothered by what kind of wheels people have on their suitcase, but I am very much bothered by airlines allowing people to bring large-heavy cases onboard planes and store them above my head where they will almost certainly injure someone if they fall out (I have seen locker doors fly open several times on hard landings or during turbulence). I check my own bag in 99% of the time based on principle, but end up helping at least one person lift their heavy bag up on every flight I take. I do think wheeled cases have contributed to people travelling with much heavier luggage, because they don't have to worry about whether or not they can carry it, which is a good thing for people with limited capacity to lift things, but makes it easy for people to chuck everything in a bag 'just in case'.
Maybe airlines should shift the measure of what is allowed to be carried on board. Make it the rule that you can carry as much as you want on board (as long as it fits in the overhead locker), but you must demonstrate that you can lift it above your head unassisted first.
posted by dg at 4:15 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]
To those wonderful people here who mentioned that they occasionally help their fellow human beings 'oost up heavy or awkward bags, you have my undying gratitude.
At 71, I can still lift my bag into the overhead, but I kinda need to sling it up, and I'm always a bit worried I'll take out the poor soul crammed next to me trying to get their luggage slung up at the same time. I'm not so protective of my independence that I mind help.
I have given a hand to people who were short, skinny, pregnant, with arm casts or kids, and I am more than willing to verbally back off some big jerk who thinks he's in a hurry and going to crowd through and not let people have the space they need to do what they need to do.
Seriously fellow fliers, this plane isn't leaving till everybody is aboard and seated, and you getting your nickers in a twist doesn't make it happen any faster.
posted by BlueHorse at 4:16 PM on January 19 [8 favorites]
At 71, I can still lift my bag into the overhead, but I kinda need to sling it up, and I'm always a bit worried I'll take out the poor soul crammed next to me trying to get their luggage slung up at the same time. I'm not so protective of my independence that I mind help.
I have given a hand to people who were short, skinny, pregnant, with arm casts or kids, and I am more than willing to verbally back off some big jerk who thinks he's in a hurry and going to crowd through and not let people have the space they need to do what they need to do.
Seriously fellow fliers, this plane isn't leaving till everybody is aboard and seated, and you getting your nickers in a twist doesn't make it happen any faster.
posted by BlueHorse at 4:16 PM on January 19 [8 favorites]
Make it the rule that you can carry as much as you want on board (as long as it fits in the overhead locker), but you must demonstrate that you can lift it above your head unassisted first.
In the US, we have this thing called the Americans with Disabilities Act.
posted by hydropsyche at 4:26 PM on January 19 [16 favorites]
In the US, we have this thing called the Americans with Disabilities Act.
posted by hydropsyche at 4:26 PM on January 19 [16 favorites]
Besides the massive carry on bags are essentially a reaction of airlines not letting you check bags for free. Want to reduce cabin luggage? Lobby the government to force airlines to allow two checked bags for free.
posted by Mitheral at 5:08 PM on January 19 [7 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 5:08 PM on January 19 [7 favorites]
tl;dr but I judge you based on your luggage choice. Backpack only? Thumbs up. Wheeled luggage? Thumbs down.
That is all.
posted by Rash at 5:15 PM on January 19
That is all.
posted by Rash at 5:15 PM on January 19
May you never grow old.
posted by aleph at 5:28 PM on January 19 [11 favorites]
posted by aleph at 5:28 PM on January 19 [11 favorites]
the massive carry on bags are essentially a reaction of airlines not letting you check bags for free.
Not true, huge carry-ons were a result of a) too-long a wait at the baggage carousel and b) airlines mistreating checked luggage and misplacing bags such that they never appeared. Those trends predate the much more recent extra charges we see now, for checked luggage.
posted by Rash at 5:34 PM on January 19 [6 favorites]
Not true, huge carry-ons were a result of a) too-long a wait at the baggage carousel and b) airlines mistreating checked luggage and misplacing bags such that they never appeared. Those trends predate the much more recent extra charges we see now, for checked luggage.
posted by Rash at 5:34 PM on January 19 [6 favorites]
The jetway wasn't invented until 1959. If I were schlepping my own luggage in the 50's I'd be team backpack for sure.
posted by eraserbones at 7:03 PM on January 19
posted by eraserbones at 7:03 PM on January 19
Make it the rule that you can carry as much as you want on board (as long as it fits in the overhead locker), but you must demonstrate that you can lift it above your head unassisted first.
In the US, we have this thing called the Americans with Disabilities Act.
I thought it was obvious I wasn't serious, but I've thought that before and I guess I'm wrong again.
What I really want is for airlines to stop people placing dangerously heavy bags in insecure compartments above passengers' heads.
If I were schlepping my own luggage in the 50's I'd be team backpack for sure.
In the '50s, only Boy Scouts and hikers used backpacks.
posted by dg at 7:25 PM on January 19 [2 favorites]
In the US, we have this thing called the Americans with Disabilities Act.
I thought it was obvious I wasn't serious, but I've thought that before and I guess I'm wrong again.
What I really want is for airlines to stop people placing dangerously heavy bags in insecure compartments above passengers' heads.
If I were schlepping my own luggage in the 50's I'd be team backpack for sure.
In the '50s, only Boy Scouts and hikers used backpacks.
posted by dg at 7:25 PM on January 19 [2 favorites]
What I really want is for airlines to stop people placing dangerously heavy bags in insecure compartments above passengers' heads.
Yeah was boarding SFO->AKL (~13 hrs overnight) once when someone's really heavy bag came back down after they'd sat down and beaned me, in retrospect I should have got off and been checked for concussion, I was totally stunned so not thinking straight - later on I realised it could be an issue and didn't go to sleep just in case, was a mess the next day, my neck hurt for a month
posted by mbo at 8:19 PM on January 19 [3 favorites]
Yeah was boarding SFO->AKL (~13 hrs overnight) once when someone's really heavy bag came back down after they'd sat down and beaned me, in retrospect I should have got off and been checked for concussion, I was totally stunned so not thinking straight - later on I realised it could be an issue and didn't go to sleep just in case, was a mess the next day, my neck hurt for a month
posted by mbo at 8:19 PM on January 19 [3 favorites]
tl;dr but I judge you based on your luggage choice. Backpack only? Thumbs up. Wheeled luggage? Thumbs down.
Oh yeah? Well I judge you for judging me for my luggage choice. So take that!
posted by zardoz at 9:32 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah? Well I judge you for judging me for my luggage choice. So take that!
posted by zardoz at 9:32 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]
Wheels on luggage are definitely a game-changer! I'm actually shopping for a small one since I don't want to carry a backpack, even for a short 2-3 day trip.
posted by liza97 at 10:31 PM on January 19
posted by liza97 at 10:31 PM on January 19
I was taken in by big suitcase’s lies, but I’m here to tell you: backpacks are better. Duffel bags are better.
I'm here to tell you: if you need a hard shell bag for any reason, backpacks suck. Duffel bags are a non-starter.
I do think we should ban hard shell cases (and rigid framed bags) from carry-on altogether. I'd much rather take someone's seven kilos of backpack to the head than a seven kilo rigid weight.
posted by Dysk at 11:56 PM on January 19 [2 favorites]
I'm here to tell you: if you need a hard shell bag for any reason, backpacks suck. Duffel bags are a non-starter.
I do think we should ban hard shell cases (and rigid framed bags) from carry-on altogether. I'd much rather take someone's seven kilos of backpack to the head than a seven kilo rigid weight.
posted by Dysk at 11:56 PM on January 19 [2 favorites]
I think we should bring back full-on trunks - the big ones that opened up sideways and were basically regular dressers (except made of dense cardboard instead of wood) on wheels.
If you're willing to be flexible on looks and materials, you're basically describing a modern large-sized flight case. They even usually come with wheels!
posted by Dysk at 12:00 AM on January 20 [2 favorites]
If you're willing to be flexible on looks and materials, you're basically describing a modern large-sized flight case. They even usually come with wheels!
posted by Dysk at 12:00 AM on January 20 [2 favorites]
If you're willing to be flexible on looks and materials, you're basically describing a modern large-sized flight case. They even usually come with wheels!
They even make them in wardrobe configurations, but it's something you'll need roadies to schlep around.
posted by mikelieman at 5:23 AM on January 20
They even make them in wardrobe configurations, but it's something you'll need roadies to schlep around.
posted by mikelieman at 5:23 AM on January 20
If a roadie can schlep it, you might be able to as well - it's not like you'd need three other bags alongside something that size.
posted by Dysk at 5:50 AM on January 20
posted by Dysk at 5:50 AM on January 20
I recently read The Fortnight in September, and was surprised to find that in the thirties an ordinary British family would routinely hire a porter to take their luggage from their house to the station, not just put it on the train. No wheely cases required.
posted by Phanx at 7:28 AM on January 20
posted by Phanx at 7:28 AM on January 20
tl;dr but I judge you based on your luggage choice. Backpack only? Thumbs up. Wheeled luggage? Thumbs down.
That is all.
Care to extrapolate? Y u h8 wheels? My backpack goes under the seat in front of me. My rolly bag - standard size (circa 1999), no protruding wheels or handle - goes in the overhead compartment. I guess I'm not clear on what a "huge carry-on" is. Mine fits in the "check to see if your bag will fit" cages.
posted by grumpybear69 at 8:39 AM on January 20 [1 favorite]
That is all.
Care to extrapolate? Y u h8 wheels? My backpack goes under the seat in front of me. My rolly bag - standard size (circa 1999), no protruding wheels or handle - goes in the overhead compartment. I guess I'm not clear on what a "huge carry-on" is. Mine fits in the "check to see if your bag will fit" cages.
posted by grumpybear69 at 8:39 AM on January 20 [1 favorite]
Backpack only? Thumbs up. Wheeled luggage? Thumbs down.
I can get everything I need for an 8-day trip in an overhead wheelie, not so a backpack. Backpacks kill my lower back. A big bag I have to check is too big. And I'm 71--dragging a big bag 1/4 mile and shlepping it up and down elevators ain't gonna happen. People who use wheelies Have. Reasons.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:23 AM on January 20 [3 favorites]
I can get everything I need for an 8-day trip in an overhead wheelie, not so a backpack. Backpacks kill my lower back. A big bag I have to check is too big. And I'm 71--dragging a big bag 1/4 mile and shlepping it up and down elevators ain't gonna happen. People who use wheelies Have. Reasons.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:23 AM on January 20 [3 favorites]
Since a couple of people have brought this up, I just have to say that, if one of your objections to wheeled luggage involves the amount of dogshit on the sidewalk, maybe the wheels aren't the real problem there. (It has never, not once, been a problem for me.) I used to have a wheeled backpack from REI that was carry-on sized and had the best of both worlds, but someone stole it, so now I have one of those four-wheeled things which is not as nice (the REI one had rollerblade wheels) but is still generally suitable.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:38 AM on January 20 [1 favorite]
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:38 AM on January 20 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah? Well I judge you for judging me for my luggage choice. So take that!
I'm not with the luggage judgers but the luggage judgers' judges, and I'll be judging judgers til the judgers' luggage budges.
posted by flabdablet at 2:12 PM on January 20 [7 favorites]
I'm not with the luggage judgers but the luggage judgers' judges, and I'll be judging judgers til the judgers' luggage budges.
posted by flabdablet at 2:12 PM on January 20 [7 favorites]
I do think we should ban hard shell cases (and rigid framed bags) from carry-on altogether. I'd much rather take someone's seven kilos of backpack to the head than a seven kilo rigid weight.
This is actually a really good idea! Never going to happen, but still a great idea.
posted by dg at 2:45 PM on January 20 [2 favorites]
This is actually a really good idea! Never going to happen, but still a great idea.
posted by dg at 2:45 PM on January 20 [2 favorites]
I'm not with the luggage judgers but the luggage judgers' judges, and I'll be judging judgers til the judgers' luggage budges.
After that, will you be imagining an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie?
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:09 PM on January 20 [2 favorites]
After that, will you be imagining an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie?
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:09 PM on January 20 [2 favorites]
HOW DID YOU GET TO LOOK INSIDE MY LUGGAGE
posted by flabdablet at 10:04 PM on January 20
posted by flabdablet at 10:04 PM on January 20
Are you kidding? Stroll into the airport baggage handling area wearing coveralls, and nobody bats an eye.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:27 PM on January 21
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:27 PM on January 21
I had lost my imaginary ants
While imagining flying to France
This had left me quite peeved
But I've now been relieved
By imagining them in Greg's pants
posted by flabdablet at 4:05 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
While imagining flying to France
This had left me quite peeved
But I've now been relieved
By imagining them in Greg's pants
posted by flabdablet at 4:05 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
HOW DARE YOU
YOU KNOW I HAVE A THING ABOUT ANTS
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:58 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
YOU KNOW I HAVE A THING ABOUT ANTS
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:58 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]
If you don't like getting bitten by imaginary buggage, keep your grabby little paws off my imaginary luggage.
posted by flabdablet at 10:43 PM on January 21
posted by flabdablet at 10:43 PM on January 21
Not true, huge carry-ons were a result of a) too-long a wait at the baggage carousel and b) airlines mistreating checked luggage and misplacing bags such that they never appeared. Those trends predate the much more recent extra charges we see now, for checked luggage.
This feels right to me. My family made the switch to carry-on before the huge checked bags fees arrived, and I have kept using carry-on even though frequent flier programs mean I usually have a "free" checked bag available to me. I find air travel to be miserable and checking bags is a reliable way to add 30 min - 1hr onto the end of every trip, so I avoid it when possible. I think I've only checked a bag twice in the last 20 years. One of those was a massive suitcase that I basically lived out of for the following six months, and the other was when I checked 2 large crates of wine. Wheeled carry-ons are such a gift!
(Now wheeled large luggage...well, the wheels on that 6-month suitcase did not survive the return trip.)
posted by grandiloquiet at 5:24 PM on January 22 [1 favorite]
This feels right to me. My family made the switch to carry-on before the huge checked bags fees arrived, and I have kept using carry-on even though frequent flier programs mean I usually have a "free" checked bag available to me. I find air travel to be miserable and checking bags is a reliable way to add 30 min - 1hr onto the end of every trip, so I avoid it when possible. I think I've only checked a bag twice in the last 20 years. One of those was a massive suitcase that I basically lived out of for the following six months, and the other was when I checked 2 large crates of wine. Wheeled carry-ons are such a gift!
(Now wheeled large luggage...well, the wheels on that 6-month suitcase did not survive the return trip.)
posted by grandiloquiet at 5:24 PM on January 22 [1 favorite]
Now wheeled large luggage...well, the wheels on that 6-month suitcase did not survive the return trip.
I'm still using the grey wheeled Samsonite hardshell case my parents got when we moved to Hong Kong over thirty years ago. It's seen a lot of (ab)use and the wheels are still grand. You might've just got a lemon.
posted by Dysk at 11:47 PM on January 22
I'm still using the grey wheeled Samsonite hardshell case my parents got when we moved to Hong Kong over thirty years ago. It's seen a lot of (ab)use and the wheels are still grand. You might've just got a lemon.
posted by Dysk at 11:47 PM on January 22
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This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
It may revive if newer non-flammable battery tech shows up, but as airlines are generally not enthusiastic about carrying unexploded incendiary bombs manufactured by the cheapest available factory it's not likely to happen soon. (Never mind the "Hezbollah pager" problem.)
posted by cstross at 7:03 AM on January 19 [7 favorites]