Luggage Buying Guide
Whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, your luggage needs to be both stylish and practical. Before you buy, you need to think about your method of travel and whether there will be any weight or size restrictions on your suitcase(s). You will also need to think about how much space you need and navigate how to keep your luggage lightweight whilst still taking everything you need. These handy tips aim help you decide which luggage will work best for you.
How to choose a suitcase
First off, you will need to think about what you need from your luggage; for example, do you need a suitcase that adheres to airline weight and capacity restrictions, or are you just looking for something that fits nicely in the boot of your car? If you’ve got a number of trips ahead, you may need a suitcase that is easily maneuverable, or one that has special security features to keep your mind at ease while you travel.
This guide includes some of the key features of popular luggage ranges to help you decide on the best luggage solution for you.
Best lightweight suitcase
If you’re travelling abroad, or for a long period of time, the weight of your case is likely to be a high priority for you - so it’s worth considered a speciality lightweight suitcase. The 'world's lightest' suitcases are available in three sizes, with the largest offering 103L capacity at only 2.5kg. Alternatively, if you're planning a shorter city break or business trip, and want something a little easier to carry the 'world's lightest' 4-wheel cabin bags offer the same capacity and come in three colours; red, blue and black
Best soft suitcases
Soft shell suitcases are one of the most widely used luggage solutions for holiday travel due to their flexibility when it comes to packing. The Megalite range of 4-wheel luggage, for example, is made from 600 denier polyester and has internal and external pockets, which come in handy if you like to take away everything but the kitchen sink! Soft shell luggage also gives you the option of expandable sides, which is a great way of squeezing in last minute buys, as well as giving your suitcase a bit more ‘give’, making any damage a little less noticeable. So, if your case falls from the airport baggage conveyor, the impact to your luggage is much less than that of a hard-sided suitcase.
Best hard suitcase
Though any damage to hard shell luggage might be a little bit more noticeable, the rigid shell is designed to up to knocks and bumps, keeping your possessions inside much more safe - so it's ideal if you're a frequent flyer or if you like to bring home fragile souvenirs from your trips abroad. The Pagoda High Gloss 8 Wheel ABS luggage, for example, is available in three sizes, with the largest offering 163L capacity at just 4.7kg.
Additionally, you may prefer the elegant appearance of designer hard-sided luggage such as the stunning Calvin Klein luggage range; especially on cruise holidays where 'dock appeal' is all part of the romance of the journey. Further to this, if you buy a full, family luggage Set they will often nestle snugly inside each other when not being used, which is ideal if you want to make the most of limited cabin space.
Before you decide on your luggage, you first need to know whether you need a larger suitcase to put in the hold, or hand luggage that has been specifically designed to fit snugly in an aircraft cabin. carousel.
Choosing both hand luggage and hold luggage can often be quite confusing, as many airlines have different rules and restrictions - see our chart below. However, if you're a frequent flyer, we would recommend choosing luggage that adheres to the requirements of your preferred airline, or if you want a little more flexibility, opts for luggage that meets the stricter airline requirements.
Shop TJ Hughes full range of suitcases, cabin bags and luggage solutions today!
|
Aer Lingus |
55 |
40 |
24 |
10 |
20 (short haul) |
|
Air Asia |
56 |
36 |
23 |
7 |
20 |
|
Air Canada |
55 |
40 |
23 |
10 |
23 |
|
Air France |
55 |
35 |
25 |
12 |
23 |
|
Air New Zealand |
Maximum 118 overall |
- |
- |
7 |
23 |
|
Alitalia |
55 |
35 |
25 |
8 |
20 (short haul) |
|
American Airlines |
56 |
36 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
|
BMI |
55 |
40 |
23 |
12 |
23 |
|
British Airways |
56 |
45 |
25 |
23 |
23 |
|
Brussels Airways |
55 |
40 |
23 |
12 |
32 |
|
Cathay Pacific |
56 |
36 |
23 |
7 |
30 |
|
City Jet |
47.5 |
35 |
20 |
12 |
32 |
|
Delta |
56 |
35 |
23 |
Varies |
23 |
|
Eastern Airways |
56 |
45 |
25 |
10 |
32 |
|
EasyJet |
56 |
45 |
25 |
Varies |
23 |
|
Emirates |
55 |
38 |
20 |
7 |
35 |
|
Ethiad |
Max 115 overall |
- |
- |
7 |
23 |
|
Finnair |
56 |
45 |
25 |
8 |
23 |
|
First Choice Holidays |
55 |
40 |
20 |
5 |
15 |
|
Flybe |
55 |
35 |
20 |
10 |
15 |
|
Jet2 |
56 |
45 |
25 |
10 |
22 |
|
KLM |
55 |
35 |
25 |
12 |
23 |
|
Luxair |
55 |
40 |
20 |
7 |
23 |
|
Monarch |
56 |
40 |
25 |
10 |
20 |
|
Qantas |
50 |
37 |
25 |
7 |
30 |
|
Qatar |
50 |
37 |
25 |
7 |
32 |
|
Ryan Air |
55 |
40 |
20 |
10 |
15 |
|
SAS |
55 |
40 |
23 |
8 |
23 |
|
Singapore Airlines |
Max 115 overall |
- |
- |
7 |
30 |
|
Swiss Airlines |
55 |
40 |
23 |
8 |
23 |
|
Thai Airways |
56 |
45 |
25 |
7 |
32 |
|
Thomas Cook |
55 |
40 |
20 |
6 |
15 |
|
Thomson Fly |
55 |
40 |
20 |
5 |
20 |
|
United Airlines |
56 |
35 |
22 |
n/a |
50 |
|
Virgin Airlines |
56 |
36 |
23 |
10 |
23 |