thrustsetrj200

I agree 100%. Costco Kirkland Sig is the best bag. I've had mine 2 years...thrown in and out of the RJ and it's still in perfect condition. It's definitey lighter than the steel framed bags.

Seatownflyer

How about because they WANT to. Stupid thread. Tomorrow on APC forums, "Why do some pilots like the color orange!? I don't get it!"

AmericanEagleFO

I got the nice bags myself. If I had been in a worse position I prolly wouldn't have bought them. If you have to buy them out of your first year salary, it may not be the best idea. I would definitely advise you to get the pnt bags, but only if you can afford it. Just cause you can pay doesn't mean you can afford it. If you are like the thousands of first and second year fo's out there it might be wise to go to costco now, and come back in a few years to get the bag you keep. All I can say is don't kid yourself, there is a big difference in quality. I've seen captain after captain with the cheap bags have their handle break right in front of me. Must be five or six in one year. If you do get the costco one nobody in their right mind could critisize you. We know what it's like. Don't go into debt to get the nicer bag.

By the way, it's Bren awhile since this thread started. Did you end up buying a bag from this thread or were you just venting? Has anybody made a desision based on the content of this thread?

jaded

What a blast from the past. I might as well tell my story. Last year, I bought the luggage works (top grain) Flight case for $200, which I thought was expensive at the time (I wanted to go for quality), instead of the $50 OfficeMax one. A year later, the bottom is falling out, the flight case itself is deformed, there's a hole on the side, mind you I used to commute with it and carry it back to the crashpad since leaving it in the Trans State crew room sucked if you had a United trip. Needless to say, I was afraid the bottom was going to eventually fall through at the worst possible moment, over deice liquid and snow or something... I replaced that with the Coyote Works this year.

So lesson learned, with any flight case or bag, you can make it last longer than some people if you baby it, really take care of it and stow it in the crew room to use only when you have to fly. I'm not that type of guy, I don't want to have to worry about it and carry it up a curb or a couple of concrete stair steps going to a hotel. I want it to be able to take abuse, especially for you Saab drivers, plane siding your bag in the cargo every flight will take its toll eventually on any bag, expensive or not. The Saab cockpit is made of sharp metal edges and other stuff that even I will get cuts after flying it. But, to each their own...

rickair7777

I started with cheap luggage. The rollaboard lasted two years (mostly reserve, not working) but I had to take it for repairs on a regular basis. Especially the wheels, which were special luggage wheels, not readily swappable skate wheels.

I then went with PNT, and of course it has not had any problems.

The vinyl flight bag lasted almost five (but two years reserve). I sprung for a leather replacement...which is heavier BTW. I probably could have gone with vinyl again, but those are $70, so assuming they last 3 years it's about break even after ten and the leather will probably last much longer than that.

If you commute, definitely go with the good stuff. Cheaper in the long run, and less of a PITA.

jedinein

Going three years now on the ABS plastic PNT. Two years on the leather flight kit from Anil (bomcrewmall).

They're not just bags, they're furniture. I've used the roller bag as a table, chair, nightstand, stepstool, ottoman, holiday decoration, wedge, flight case (short, short trips but with lots of Jepps), legal case, ballast, and, oh yeah, luggage. The flight case has served in all of those roles except as a stepstool, and has the added benefit of being a moving advertisement.

The only thing that's killed the PNT bag was NWA sticking a forklift through it. The clothes were ruined, my toiletries and chargers were still contained within and fine.

One trip around the country is all it takes for your bags to look well-used. One toss from the top of the jetway to the bag card by a lazy ramper is all it takes to destroy most bags. Not the PNT. Other than a few scuffs on the fabric, the thing is holding up great and I expect several more years of use out of it.

For the flight kit, it's just now starting to look slightly broken in. The new leather smell has yet to depart.

Costco gets irritated once you've returned the same item four times.

I'd rather spend $250 once than $100 + tax + time to replace + no loaner available.

GrUpGrDn

I dont care if the flight case is plastic or leather, as long as it holds my Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. An episode of "Wings", had one of the guys loading it in his flight case. Great laugh.

The Juice

Thats funny!!!!!!!

aviatorpr

coyote works makes skid plates for those worried about the bottom getting wet and contaminated with de-ice fluid. the plates fit scott leather flight cases as well

jaded

Yeah I would've got one for it but it was too late... I figure I'd just get a new one.