Cabin Luggage: A Buyers Guide
Cabin or hand luggage as it is also know, is an increasingly beloved form of suitcase designed, unsurprisingly, to be taken in the cabin of an aeroplane. Airlines give passengers the chance to take these bags on to their flights for free, so long as they fit within obvious weight and size guidelines. These are then stored in overhead compartments on the plane during flight.
Why pick cabin luggage?
There are many advantages to using cabin sized suitcases, firstly, convenience. Being able to take your luggage with you means that you don't have to wait for it to arrive on conveyor belts upon reaching your destination. This brings us to another advantage, avoiding those pesky conveyors and the baggage handlers mean that your suitcase is not only less likely to go missing; it is also less likely to reserve damage or be stolen.
Finally, a properly sized cabin size suitcase will avoid any fees, unlike their bigger brothers who often pick up hefty added fines.
Due to their petite size, cabin suitcases are also great choices for short-breaks.
Materials
Generally speaking, cabin cases are mini replicas of their larger counterparts, contribution the same features and functionality. Sometimes any way manufacturers will remove obvious features to keep the size and weight low sufficient to fit within airline restrictions, for example replacing 4-wheels with 2, or replacing the locking system.
It is also not uncommon for cabin cases to have added features that compliment their size, for example some come with a back mounted strap for using the case as a backpack.
Be true to check the sizes of your cabin case as there are two types, small cabin size which is accepted as hand luggage on 90% of airlines and cabin size, sometimes also referred to as large cabin, which are accepted on 70% of airlines.
If you are unsure which size is accepted as cabin size on your airline, check out this great baggage reduction checker comparing all the major airlines.
Example products
Two great examples of cabin luggage are the Litestream Ii cabin case, which was recently awarded a Which? Magazine best buy award and the Flyweight cabin case.
The Litestream Ii is an Antler soft luggage suitcase that comes in two sizes to meet whether 70% or 90% of carry on requirements; it features potential 900 denier polyester materials, expanding lid compartment and a 10 year guarantee.
The Flyweight on the other hand is a hard case with a unique diamond embossed front panel and high-density Abs material building making it both lightweight and durable. It features a central locking trolley principles and a Tsa fixed mixture lock
