Flight Attendants Love These Top-rated Carry-ons, Checked Bags, and Weekenders — and They’re Up to 68% Off

It’s two days after Christmas, which means — well, yes, in addition to eating hoards of leftover peppermint candies and chocolates (at least for me) — that Amazon has gone ahead and discounted thousands of items as part of its after-Christmas sale. I always love taking advantage of these shopping opportunities to stock up on travel essentials and must-haves — and what’s more essential than a great suitcase? We’re all in luck because the mega retailer has massive discounts on some of its best-selling and top-rated carry-ons, weekenders, and checked bags. 

With so many sales, brands, and features to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out which bag is best for you. Here’s what I do: I look to flight attendants for recommendations on all things travel. By constantly flying and in and out of airports, they truly know the ins and outs of the best luggage for travelers. And if you don’t personally know a flight attendant to pick their brain on the top luggage deals out there, no problem. I’ve taken it upon myself to curate a list of the best deals on flight attendants’ adored-and-approved luggage and bags during this post-holiday sale so you can get back to relaxing. 

Keep reading for the best 10 deals on brands like Samsonite and Travelpro with discounts as large as 68 percent off. 

Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside 20-Inch Carry-on

One of the most important items in anyone’s travel gear should be the perfect carry-on. And this suitcase is not only the suitcase of choice for T+L editors, it’s also the suitcase of choice for many flight attendants, including one that gushes how “smooth it rolls and holds up during [their] daily travels.” And right now, it’s on special sale for $55 off — shop it for your next winter getaway. 

Level8 Grace EXT Expandable Carry-on 20-inch Suitcase

With how much traveling flight attendants do each month, one flight attendant that works four flights a month shared that this bag is “nice and sturdy” especially when drivers throw it around, and it “carries all the things [they] need and puts less stress and tension on [their] back thanks to its seamless wheels.”

Plus, if you’re looking to replace your other bags with a sturdy, reliable suitcase, this one has a spacious interior, a luggage lock, and four multi-directional spinning wheels.

TPRC Smart Underseat Carry-on Suitcase

I’m a huge fan of underseat carry-ons for their spacious-yet-compact build and seamless transportability, and I’m in good company because flight attendants agree. One fan of this particular carry-on shared that although they’ve only recently became a flight attendant, they love it so much that they keep introducing it to others. They’ve boasted that they are able “to fit sneakers, my service shoes, extra uniform, jeans, two shirts, and yoga pants just in the main compartment. With the pockets, there's still plenty of room for some toiletries, makeup, and some other essentials.” 

And even more, that same flight attendant also mentioned that “while [they’ve] been using this as a carry-on, [they] have tested it on two airlines already as a personal item, and it fits perfectly underneath the seat. 

Ibfun Weekender Bag

Not every trip needs to be a full-on suitcase trip, and that’s where weekender bags excel. And while there are plenty of great duffel bags on the market, flight attendants especially love this one, sharing that “this is perfection for frequent travelers!” That same reviewer explained that as a flight attendant, [they] can easily fit two to three pairs of shoes in the bottom compartment, and enough things to be comfortable on a two-day trip.” And even better, this set comes with two extra bags — a crossbody and a toiletry bag — that are great for fitting your extra belongings. Get three bags for the price of one today. 

Rockland Softside 4-piece Luggage Set

As much as I love travel, the costs of gear, hotels, and transportation can quickly add up. And speaking of, luggage can be costly, especially if you’re looking to build a versatile set for various types of trips from long-term to quick weekend trips. Fortunately, Rockland has this set that comes with four different pieces of luggage — a large checked bag, a mid-size bag, a carry-on, and an underseat carry-on — for the discounted price of just $78. And while this deal may seem too good to be true, it’s also flight-attendant-approved with one shopper sharing that it’s an “overall great bag,” with the smallest carry-on easily fitting in overhead bins, and the checked bags “fit everything [they] need for a week or more.”

U.S. Traveler Store Expandable Carry-on and Duffel Set

When I read one flight attendant share that they “absolutely love this luggage set” and are shocked at how durable and dependable this set is,” I knew that it was a real winner. In fact, they went on gushing that they “have received multiple compliments on this luggage from other flight attendants, and that’s very telling in itself… The expandable feature on the suitcase is superb and [they] still have so much room in it even when [they] overpack.” We’ll take one last piece of advice from this particular flight attendant: “Buy it today.”

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Carry-on 21-inch Suitcase

When looking for a great suitcase, in addition to functionality and spaciousness, if you’re going to be making an investment like that, you also want it to be durable, too. And this suitcase is just that. One flight attendant shared that after flying all around the world, an older model of this suitcase lasted them six years and now after buying this new model, they find it “even better than the last… The handle is more comfortable, [it has] updated and sturdy zippers, and there are extra pockets,” 

Swissgear Sion Softside Expandable Checked Suitcase

This is the only checked suitcase that a married flight attendant and pilot have, and gush that it was a “great purchase” for a cruise, and they “were able to fit a life jacket, all of [their] clothes, all of [their] daughters’ clothes (and shoes) and some of [their] husband’s clothes in here, too.” They say that it's a “great purchase,” so if you’re looking for an excellent mid-size checked bag, consider shopping this one while it’s on sale for $109. 

Amazon Basics Hardside Spinner 20-inch Carry-on Suitcase 

One flight attendant eventually found the ideal bag in this one from AmazonBasics after a long quest for a stylish, roomy, and simple-to-roll hardside carry-on. They shared that it “rolls with complete ease and is sturdy, too. My arms and back feel absolutely zero stress… It feels like it's floating!” And as part of Amazon’s post-holiday deals, it’s also on sale for $70 right now. 

Hanke Lightweight Carry-on 20-inch Suitcase

Between rushing through TSA and lifting luggage up and down overhead bins, the last thing you want is a suitcase that’s too heavy on its own. Luckily, this flight attendant-loved suitcase is just under seven pounds, and features spacious, smart compartments and even a TSA luggage lock. In fact, one flight attendant shared that after “searching for the perfect work bag for years, [they’ve] finally found it.” They also said that this bag “exceeded [their] expectations” and their “coworkers are now asking where to find this little suitcase.” Get it for $108 on sale as a post-Christmas treat.

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