Considerations when selecting luggage for air travel

Choosing luggage for air travel can be a challenge, especially with airlines constantly changing their carry-on and security policies. These helpful tips make choosing the right luggage and shopping for it stress-free so you can focus on more important trip preparations.

What to Look For

Strength, durability and weight are top considerations when purchasing new luggage. You want to be sure that your bags stand up to the rigors of airport conveyor systems as well as constant man-handling by airline ground crews.

Ballistic nylon, plus 'airline strength' zippers and straps are essential for soft-sided bags.

Check out your carrying options as well. You want to be able to roll your luggage when possible and carry it when needed, so multiple handles of varying capabilities is a must.

If you are looking at wheeled bags that use multi-directional wheels, make sure they stand up to the airline test. These bags use wheels on casters instead of in-line wheels, which can protrude and be a potential area for snags or jamming. You don't want to discover a wheel is missing.

Something that is often overlooked is luggage weight. We all know that lugging a heavy bag around an airport isn't much fun, but more importantly, airlines enforce strict weight restrictions and charge passengers for overages. A heavy bag isn't a great option.

There are a number of lightweight bag manufacturers on the market, so you have lots of options. Chances are you'll find just what you need.

That's my bag

Waiting carousel-side for your bags, you've probably noticed that everyone has a black wheeled suitcase. Or that there are 20 red bags that look identical to yours. Trying to pick your luggage out from the sea of sameness quickly before it passes by can be next to impossible.

Help your luggage stand out from the rest by selecting a bright color, a wild and wonderful pattern, or various accessories you can attach to help you identify your suitcase quickly. If you prefer to stick with basic black, add extra straps, colorful locks or ID pouches, or even a simple sticker. It can help you quickly identify your bag.

Make sure luggage is secure

Security of personal belongings and tampering with luggage while traveling has always been a sensitive area. While airlines maintain that ground crews and luggage handlers don't rifle through people's bags, people often report arriving at their destination with a few things missing.

To prevent anyone from messing with your packed items, make sure you have an "air travel approved" lock that keeps your bag secure and that'll give you peace of mind.

Depending on the airport and security measures in place at the time you're traveling, you may find security personnel ask you to remove your locks prior to scanning your bags. Once through the scanners, you'll be free to replace your locks or use something else like a zip tie to secure your bags if your locks aren't travel-approved.

Some locks on the market today are made so that security personnel can open them with a special key if they need to do so for additional screening.

Lost and found

With the number of bags handled by airlines daily, it's essential that you tag your bag with your contact information. Like it or not, bags do get lost or end up at other destinations. In order for you and the airline to successfully locate your waylaid luggage, be sure your name, address and telephone number are clearly visible on your bags.

Airlines generally have tags and/or stickers to help with this, but a sturdier ID tag help make sure it doesn't accidentally get torn off.