flight crew luggage advice
01-16-2011, 11:05 AM
#21
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Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
- Strong Bag 22"
- PNS/LW 22"
- several "cheaper" alternatives
I will offer one of these used bags to you for a very cheap (compared to new) price. Each is USED, and that means almost every day I went to work, one of these bags went with me.
How much do you want to spend?
01-16-2011, 12:13 PM
#22
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Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: DD->DH->RU/XE soon to be EV
Posts: 3,732
Well, on the surface, that might make sense. I would argue that if you plan to spend more than a year or two in the airline biz, you might want to invest first in the highest VALUE bag.
I would argue that the Costco bag is very high value. About $120, and when it breaks, you go get another.
But, for operations that might not be next to a Costco, the wise alternative is a bag that is less likely to break.
Paying less money for a poor bag just because it's cheap has never been the way I've operated, even when I was a $19.25/hr regional FO. I've also had the "high priced" airline bag completely disintegrate, and I had to carry my stuff for a 4 day trip. I can tell you that ANY bag that fails like that is not worth taking for FREE.
So, value. What percentage of the cost of the salary is of no bearing. How much did flight training cost in relation to the salary? There are investments to be made in any endeavor, and this happens to be one.
I don't ride motorcycles with cheap safety gear because the cost of injury (financial and otherwise) is far, far greater than the cost of the equipment (hint; I don't get paid anything to ride a bike). There are not that many "tools" that we pilots bring to the job. A headset, a bag, a uniform, jacket, flight case, sun glasses, cough drops. I prefer that each be the highest value to me.
I would argue that the Costco bag is very high value. About $120, and when it breaks, you go get another.
But, for operations that might not be next to a Costco, the wise alternative is a bag that is less likely to break.
Paying less money for a poor bag just because it's cheap has never been the way I've operated, even when I was a $19.25/hr regional FO. I've also had the "high priced" airline bag completely disintegrate, and I had to carry my stuff for a 4 day trip. I can tell you that ANY bag that fails like that is not worth taking for FREE.
So, value. What percentage of the cost of the salary is of no bearing. How much did flight training cost in relation to the salary? There are investments to be made in any endeavor, and this happens to be one.
I don't ride motorcycles with cheap safety gear because the cost of injury (financial and otherwise) is far, far greater than the cost of the equipment (hint; I don't get paid anything to ride a bike). There are not that many "tools" that we pilots bring to the job. A headset, a bag, a uniform, jacket, flight case, sun glasses, cough drops. I prefer that each be the highest value to me.
Going on 11 years with the bag now, and I'm just about to the point where it's time for a new one, sad to say.
So If I average a new bag every 10 years (not likely), I'll probably spend LESS than $1200 (counting inflations, etc) on luggage over the course of my career on a roller bag.
As far as the COSTCO bags go, I thought I read on here in one of the other usual "which bag to get threads) that they were changing the policy on them as so many people were returning them for new ones on frequent cycles.
To each their own. But unless it was company provided, there's no way I'd spend $2750 on one of those Haliburton's.
01-16-2011, 12:51 PM
#23
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Position: forever fo
Posts: 2,413
Well they are about $100 new, so maybe $15 with shipping......lol, I mind as well get it new for $120.
Listen, I'm in a giving mood today. I've got one of EACH of the popular bags.
- Strong Bag 22"
- PNS/LW 22"
- several "cheaper" alternatives
I will offer one of these used bags to you for a very cheap (compared to new) price. Each is USED, and that means almost every day I went to work, one of these bags went with me.
How much do you want to spend?
- Strong Bag 22"
- PNS/LW 22"
- several "cheaper" alternatives
I will offer one of these used bags to you for a very cheap (compared to new) price. Each is USED, and that means almost every day I went to work, one of these bags went with me.
How much do you want to spend?
01-16-2011, 05:40 PM
#25
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Position: forever fo
Posts: 2,413
01-16-2011, 05:47 PM
#26
The NeverEnding Story
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,609
The "PNT" bag everybody talks about is the STEALTH bag - heavy, expensive, built like a frigging tank and made in Missouri (unlike most other bags including StrongBags which are made in China, this may not matter to you but it mattered to me).
I know a few who have the The Executive 22 with ABS frame, and while its less expensive & lighter its not going to be quite as tough as a Stealth with a metal frame.
If you can afford it, spring for the metal frame Stealth.
I know a few who have the The Executive 22 with ABS frame, and while its less expensive & lighter its not going to be quite as tough as a Stealth with a metal frame.
If you can afford it, spring for the metal frame Stealth.
01-16-2011, 06:33 PM
#28
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Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
I don't want you to think that this is anything but a used bag. One of the 8 total zippers is AFU (technical airline jargon). Several have the little "handle" missing, but the zipper works. The main zipper is good. Wheels / bearings good. Handle good.
22", will fit in the overhead of a CRJ-200 (very tight, but it does). Of course, fits in all the other usual places. The case is made of .090" aluminum. Rollerblade wheels.
The zipper in the middle (that I never used anyway) is not working:
You get the all important hook for a flight case, and another snap together thingie for other stuff:
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