A Flight Attendant’s Favorite Travelpro Luggage

Choosing the right carry-on is important to ensure you have enough space for your travel clothes and accessories—especially if you’re a carry-on only traveler. Flight attendants are professional travelers who regularly travel back-to-back domestically and internationally. This means that their suitcases are a a lot of use, and they shall not use only carry-on equipment.

To make sure your 2025 travels get off to a smooth start, we spoke to Karen Young, a flight attendant who’s been in the business for 47 years, to get her expertise on the perfect carry-on. You can pick it up at Amazon’s luggage and travel gear store for less than a round-trip domestic flight.

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry On

After trying eight different types of carry-ons over the years, Young names the Travelpro’s design as his absolute favorite. She appreciates how the equipment “rolls really nicely” and is “lighter” than high-end brands that have been heavy and, in her experience, use four-wheel designs that don’t stay on track and are difficult to wheel. She also notes that Travelpro bags “last forever,” so you won’t have to worry about replacing them anytime soon.

When you think of a heavy-duty carry-on, your first thought might be a hard-sided piece of luggage, but the Young must have a soft-sided shell full of pockets. In addition to the main compartment, it has a front pocket and a small side pocket to store your toiletry bag or tablet.

Travelpro’s carry-on also checks off all of Young’s requirements for a quality bag: it’s expandable, has strong and durable zippers, and to top it all off, it’s made with a waterproof material and lining that’ll keep your stuff dry during snowy winters and sudden downpours from the airport to the hotel.

More than 1,000 buyers have purchased the Carry-On this month, with reviewers praising its spacious construction. A traveler was able to pack two weeks’ worth of clothes and accessories for a summer trip to Mexico and Europe without using the expandable carry-on feature—and still have room for their sandals, umbrella, and camera.

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry On

According to Young, this bag can really take a beating—even after heavy use he’s had for 10 years. As a flight attendant, she uses it daily, and on heavy lift trips where she’s been for six months, and during international flights. If you travel less than a flight attendant, you might want to have your Travelpro carry-on with you even more.

Curious about other Travelpro suitcases? Check out more suitcases and travel bag options from the brand below.

Travelpro Platinum Elite luggage

Travelpro Rollaboard upright carry-on

Travel Pro Max Light Air Checked Bag

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Weekender Bag

Travel Pro Max Light Underseat Tote

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