Watch passenger's enthusiastic reunion with his missing luggage
Patrick Keane, who traveled to Chicago after two canceled flights, had an enthusiastic reunion with his luggage that he says had been missing for a week.
Traveling more is at the top of many people's 2023 New Year's resolutions. If you're planning a trip, check out these luggage and travel deals to get yourself takeoff-ready in the new year.
We scoured all the big retailers to find the best deals available.
We found deals on top-rated carry-ons and larger, checked bags. These soft-sided and hard-shell luggage options work just as well for airplane travel as they do for smaller weekend road trips to grandma's house.
If you need a new piece (or set) of luggage before the holidays or plan on gifting a suitcase to a loved one, now is a great time to buy.
The best New Years luggage deals
This Cyber Monday find the best deals on top-rated luggage by Samsonite, Monos, Delsey Paris, Monos and more. Most of the reviewer-loved bags can be in your hands in two days, and in some cases, even earlier.
Here are the best luggage deals you can get right now.
iFLY carry-on hardside luggage: $89
iFLY
Attention Walmart shoppers! Get this durable carry-on from iFLY, available in six great colors, for less than $90. The lightweight suitcase comes equipped with 360-degree wheels and a telescopic handle.
The polycarbonate Omni, a highly rated and popular piece from Samsonite, offers high quality at a reasonable price point. Features include TSA-approved, side-mounted locks and multidirectional spinner wheels, as well as an interior mesh divider and cross straps.
On Amazon, the Omni is available as a carry-on or checked bag and in medium and larger sizes. It can be purchased as part of a two- or three-piece set. Prices vary depending on which model or version you select. Many colors are on sale, but the best deal is for a single, 20-inch carry-on bag in silver.
Packing for a family trip can be tricky, but the Samsonite Freeform can make the chore a whole lot easier. The large, durable polycarbonate piece of check-in luggage is extra roomy and sports multiple pockets and compartments for organizing belongings. It also features four multidirectional, double-spinner wheels and a recessed TSA-approved combination lock. Prices vary by color.
This Samsonite Centric hardside expandable suitcase is an ideal checked bag for longer trips. It is made with scratch-resistant polycarbonate for durability and the suitcase comes with a 10-year warranty.
Rockland makes one of the bestselling sets on Amazon. Made out of ABS, a lightweight, durable plastic, the set includes a carry-on and checked suitcase. Both pieces feature multidirectional, double-spinner wheels with telescoping handles, along with interior zip and mesh pockets. The luggage set is on sale now at Amazon.
Find a great deal on the Delsey Paris Chatelet, which has faux-leather accents and rounded edges. It's constructed of polycarbonate, and the durable, but lightweight, suitcase boasts tons of great features. We're talking multidirectional, double-spinner wheels, a USB port for charging electronics, a recessed, TSA-approved lock and an ergonomic handle. The suitcase also comes equipped with laundry and shoe bags, as well as mesh-zippered pockets.
Score big savings on this three-piece luggage set from Coolife, which includes a 20-inch carry-on and 24- and 28-inch checked bags. The suitcases nest inside one another to save space and each comes equipped with multidirectional spinner wheels, TSA-approved locks and an aluminum telescoping handle. They're available in several color options at Amazon.
Now is the time to buy a piece or set of the American Tourister Moonlight collection, a beautiful, rainbow-speckled, polycarbonate design. Get up to 38 percent off most of the single suitcases and sets now. The price below is for a medium checked bag.
Much of Calpak's luggage is on sale right now, but you'll save the most when you order a three-piece set, such as the Calpak Ambeur. The polycarbonate bags feature interior dividers with pockets, dual 360 spinner wheels, an extending handle and TSA-approved lock.
Choose from four metallic colors, including the rose gold seen here.
Amazon isn't the only place to score a great deal on luggage this fall. The Monos Carry-On Plus is available in a bunch of great colors, and has features like an effortless, telescopic handle, plus lots of zippered pockets and compartments. It also has an easy-to-use lock. Monos boasts a 100-day trial period, and lifetime warranty. Choose from 10 carry-on color and print options (including two aluminum and polycarbonate hybrids). In addition to the impressive markdowns sitewide, take up to an additional 30 percent off with the code CYBERWEEK2022 now until December 4 and save even more by bundling with another piece of luggage.
This is the checked version of the Monos carry-on piece above. It comes in 10 colors and prints. Monos' smaller suitcases can nest inside it when you're not traveling. This check-in suitcase is on sale now on the Monos site. Save more if you bundle with another piece of luggage.
Available in three carry-on and two checked sizes, the Travelpro Platinum Elite spinner is for the traveler who wants a luxury-style look (and not a hard-shell suitcase). Constructed out of a stain-resistant fabric with stylish leather accents, the Platinum Elite features an internal tie-down system, integrated accessory products and a removable, TSA-compliant wet pocket for toiletries. Prices vary by size and color.
Perfect for young travelers, this wallet-friendly (but glitzy!) 20-inch carry-on from Kensie offers spinner wheels and a TSA-approved lock system. Currently, get the stylish rose gold travel bag for almost $30 off.
With faux leather accents and rounded edges, the Delsey Paris Chatelet, a lightweight polycarbonate carry-on, offers plenty of space for your belongings. Enjoy multidirectional double spinner wheels, an ergonomic handle, a USB port for charging electronics and a TSA-approved recessed lock. The suitcase also comes equipped with laundry and shoe bags, plus mesh-zippered pockets.
The Carry-On and The Bigger Carry-On from Away both feature a removable, TSA-approved USB charger. The lightweight polycarbonate bags also feature 360-degree spinner wheels, water-resistant garment bags and two interior compartments -- one designed for shoes and toiletries and the other clothes. If you don't like it, return it within 100 days for a full refund.
Want to travel like James Bond? Then you'll need his luggage. The sleek aluminum Rimowa Cabin carry-on suitcase features include 360-degree multiwheel spinners, TSA-approved locks and a telescopic handle that easily glides up and down.
This travel tote was at the top of many traveler's 2022 holiday wish lists. If you didn't get one under your tree, you can still treat yourself to a Weekender bag for $98.
The Carry-On roller is another popular option from Shay Mitchell's Beis luggage line. The 21-inch roller features 360-degree smooth-rolling wheels and a comfortable silicone-grip handle.
Check out these deals on other travel essentials including travel pillows, backpacks and more.
Apple AirTags: $99
Apple via Amazon
Losing your luggage puts a damper on your travels. An Apple AirTag comes in handy on the rare chance your suitcase fails to make it to baggage claim. The tiny GPS trackers make great stocking stuffers, so stock up now while they are on sale.
Wild One, a brand focused solely on furry friends, has constructed a streamlined and reasonably priced travel carrier that doubles as an on-the-go pet bed. Mesh walls offer breathability during travel, while the shoulder strap detaches to become a travel leash. The interior cushion also folds down completely, so the carrier doubles as a pet bed.
This carrier is airline-compliant and is recommended for use with dogs up to 16 pounds.
This Baggallini backpack is perfect for a busy student or working professional that wants a stylish way to take their laptop and supplies on the go. It also features a luggage handle to easily attach to rolling suitcases, making it a great option for anyone making it a goal to travel more in the new year.
This Baggallini crossbody bag is designed to protect your belongings and information when you travel. It is water-resistant and made with RFID-blocking technology. It provides a comfortable hands-free wearing experience that is perfect for day trips and exploring while on vacation.
This soft, machine-washable travel pillow wrap is designed to hold your head in a more comfortable ergonomic position while sleeping upright. This lightweight, easily packable pillow is available in four colors.
Stay cozy and warm during your next flight with this compact throw blanket. Travelers can use this Fold 'n Go as a blanket, a cozy pillow in a case, a seat cushion or lumbar support during flights and travels. It comes with a compact carrying case for easy transport.
This eye mask is designed to block light while sleeping on the plane. It features added padding and an adjustable nose bridge for maximum comfort. It also comes with memory foam earplugs to block out noise on a plane or in a noisy hotel.
Disruptions from winter storms have not only caused flight delays and cancellations, but have also separated many passengers from their luggage. Here are some ways to make reuniting easier.
As thousands have been stranded at airports through a winter storm that carved a frigid path across the United States, their bags have been on a journey of their own, creating another headache for weary travelers: Where is their stuff?
Frustrated passengers have dealt with travel disruptions and delays in airports across the country in the past week, from Los Angeles to Denver and Chicago to New York, where many waited alongside their bags or found themselves separated from their luggage.
It may be too late for those holiday travelers to improve their situation, but planning ahead can help make finding wayward bags less of an ordeal.
Similar luggage chaos came in full view at the start of the summer travel season, when a baggage system malfunction at London’s Heathrow Airport was blamed for a meltdown in their handling. Other pileups of bags have been attributed to staffing shortages, weather problems and technological failure.
While the number of mishandled bags had been decreasing over the past decade, partly because of new technology, the last few years have changed that trajectory. The number of delayed or lost bags rose to 6 out of 1,000 bags this February, from 5 out of 1,000 in February 2020, according to the most recent report from the Department of Transportation.
The system is now operating beyond its capacity, said William McGee, the senior fellow for aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project, a nonpartisan organization that promotes equal access to economic markets. The summer’s baggage mess was “the worst summer meltdown for airline customer service in the 37 years I’ve spent working in, writing about and advocating about the airlines,” he said.
The lost luggage problems have been exacerbated by a reduction in airline investment in baggage handling during the pandemic, said Danny Cox, the vice president of guest experience at Breeze Airways, a new airline that launched last year. “The airlines have been in survival mode,” he said. “There hasn’t been an overabundance of funds to improve baggage systems.” Current staffing deficiencies have a ripple effect, he added. “If you’re looking for a mechanic to fix something, you’re pulling from the same people who are servicing other ground operations.”
To better the odds that your luggage won’t get lost — and that you and your bag will be reunited if it does — follow these tips. Much of the trouble is beyond your control so a Zen mind-set of patience can help as well.
Identify your luggage.
The most important thing you can do to help the airline reunite you with lost luggage is to label its exterior with your initials and phone number, and put more complete contact information like a business card inside. Take photos of the luggage and note the brand name and dimensions. Keep your baggage claim check and know your ticket and flight number.
To reduce mishandling, tuck in loose straps that can get tangled with machinery or another bag and veer off course. Remove any bar code stickers or checked luggage tags from previous trips.
Luggage that may seem lost might have been taken accidentally by someone with a similar bag, especially if it’s a black, wheeled carry-on, the most common bag, said Kevin Larson, the Alaska Airlines manager of central baggage services. The luggage also may just be on another carousel. Mr. Larson advises passengers to put something unique, like a colorful ribbon, on the outside of their bag. A bright luggage tag, stickers or reflective tape also can make a suitcase stand out.
Act immediately.
If your luggage does not arrive when you do, notify the airline before you leave the airport. Getting in touch by phone has been challenging through other luggage crises.
Pack smart.
The Department of Transportation recommends passengers avoid packing items in their checked bags that are valuable, fragile, perishable or irreplaceable, and allows airlines to specify types of items they won’t cover if they are lost like cash, jewelry, computers, art objects, antiques and collectibles. Keep those with you or leave them at home. Put important medications in your carry-on.
Keep a virtual eye on it.
Placing a small tracking device like a Tile or Apple AirTag inside your luggage lets you monitor the bag’s whereabouts via a phone app. “It’s about the same cost as checking one bag,” said Mr. Cox at Breeze Airways. Trackers are especially useful for discovering if someone mistakenly took your bag off the carousel instead of their own.
Some airlines, including United, American and Delta Air Lines, offer baggage tracking capabilities for passengers via the carrier’s website or mobile app.
Know the rules for compensation.
The Department of Transportation lists the rules that airlines must follow when luggage is delayed or lost. The most that an airline can owe a passenger is $3,800 per bag. Flights with an international leg fall under different rules and the most a passenger will receive is about $1,800.
Each airline has its own policies within the government’s rules, so passengers need to check their carrier’s website for details. United Airlines passengers, for example, need to have receipts for lost items if they claim the contents of their luggage are worth more than $1,500. United will consider the bag “lost” after five days, but other airlines may specify a longer time before declaring a bag “lost.”
Restock while a bag is missing.
When luggage goes missing, airlines will reimburse passengers for toiletries, clothing and other incidental items that they buy to tide them over while the company tries to locate their bag. Airline websites can be vague about what will be covered and the United States government does not allow the airlines to impose a daily spending limit, so travelers may feel unsure about what’s allowed. Travelers should fill out a claim form available at the airline’s customer service desk or website and submit receipts for the items they buy. They should also have an explanation for anything unusual as to why the purchase was necessary.
Use protection. Premium credit cards may offer lost luggage coverage, but can make passengers jump through some hoops to get it. More than 25 types of Chase credit cards offer up to $3,000 in compensation for lost luggage to make up the difference between the reimbursement from the airline and the value of the luggage and items in their luggage, according to Pablo Rodriguez, a spokesman for J.P. Morgan Chase. Customers must furnish copies of receipts for each item valued at $25 or more that they are asking to replace, and the payout they receive could be lowered depending on the age of the items.
Travel insurance purchased separately can include compensation for lost or delayed luggage, but as always with travel insurance, read the fine print.
Don’t check the bag. The most obvious advice, but still the best way to make sure your bags aren’t lost by the airlines, is to travel with carry-on only. Pack ruthlessly — what do you really need? What can you buy at the destination? Can you wash out your socks in the sink? If you do check your luggage, try to book a nonstop flight. A transfer is one more chance for something to go wrong.
When it comes to travel, I consider myself an expert. This is not so much a flex as it is a fact: I fly about two times a month for both work and fun, and I took my first international flight at the ripe age of two. (And yes, I have Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, and I have my eye on adding CLEAR in the new year.) All that’s to say that I have generally high standards for my travel gear and have put many rolling suitcases through the ultimate feats of strength: Clomping through uneven cobblestone streets during a semester abroad in Paris, rumbling through the long tunnels of Tokyo’s metro system, and — the worst — checking a bag with Am*rican A*rlines. So naturally, when Béis, the lifestyle and travel brand founded by actor Shay Mitchell, launched, I clamored at the chance to try something. Judging purely by the website’s photos, the luggage, weekender bags, pet carriers, toiletry cases, and more are chic as can be. But, as we know, durability is everything when it comes to a good suitcase, so I set out to see how Béis stacked up.
Béis makes rolling luggage in three sizes: a 21" carry-on, a 26" medium check-in, and a 29" large check-in. The medium was just enough room for me to pack for a two-week trip — and that’s taking into account bulky winter items like puffer coats and sweaters. (If you’re a light packer, then you may be able to make the carry-on work.) At $278, it’s expensive, but not because Béis is another cool startup. Its origin story was born from Mitchell’s own frequent traveling, and it’s clear that the pieces are designed with intention and utility top of mind.
Since I’m already well-stocked with carry-ons (I have a ROAM and Away — more on that later), I decided to splurge on a larger suitcase for longer trips. The roller came just as I was gearing up for my first trip back to visit family in Tokyo since the pandemic, and I gleefully unboxed it immediately. There was minimal packaging — always a plus — and the bag arrived in flawless condition. The dove gray colorway I picked was honestly stunning, and I loved how lightweight it was given its ample size. (Béis also offers black, beige, navy, pink, and terracotta colorways.)
The Béis roller comes with all the standard features you would expect from a premium luggage brand: a TSA-approved locking mechanism, smooth AF wheels, and the option to expand it if sitting on your luggage isn’t enough to zip it shut.
Photo: Courtesy of Karina Hoshikawa
However, it wasn’t until I started filling up my suitcase (thanks in no small part to these absolutely game-changing vacuum-sealed bags I got on Amazon) that I realized the small but impeccably thought-out features that take it from good to great: a padded handle to keep your hand happy, built-in organizer pockets that worked well with my trusty Calpak packing cubes, and a weight-limit indicator to avoid having to sift through your bag at the counter to get it down to 50 pounds. (Definitely not speaking from personal experience here whatsoever.)
Anyone who knows me (and therefore is familiar with my trust issues) knows that I will avoid checking a bag whenever possible. When I see my bag glide on the conveyor belt away from me, a piece of my soul goes along with it and doesn’t return until I’m reunited with my belongings at the carousel. Anyway, I was cautiously optimistic about how my new Béis would handle her maiden voyage through the United checked-bag universe, and I was shocked and delighted to receive her on the other end with minimal scratches and scuffs. The wheels glided (glid?) through the airport like a knife cutting through butter, and they are definitely a step up from my first-generation Away Bigger Carry-On that’s served me well for over five years. (I will say, the wheels feel comparable to my ROAM suitcase, which is my most used.)
Photo: Courtesy of Karina Hoshikawa
The author (and luggage) at the airport.
One feature the Béis luggage deliberately does not have is a built-in battery to charge your phone. Given all the other numerous fine details, I can't help but feel like this is by design — and TBH, I never really used the smart battery enough to justify getting yelled at to remove it by a disgruntled gate attendant. With 2023 just around the corner, Béis is inspiring me to travel more. But if I'm being completely honest, it doesn’t hurt that I'll inspire luggage envy at baggage claim.
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