After my last couple of day trips, it is very clear to me that I need a rolling briefcase. I just carry too much stuff in my purse for it to be comfortable, especially for huge airports like DFW. Even though I’ve been talking about getting one for almost a year, it just hasn’t been high on my priority list (like, say, shoes). But I promise you, here and now, I will have a rolling briefcase, that I love, before the end of May. Part of this is spurred on by the fact that I have three conferences over the next three months—my poor shoulders can’t handle the weight of my purse. Of course, one of the reasons I haven’t gotten one yet (and I know this will shock those of you who have read my blog for a while) is that I’m just too darn picky! I want all the features I need, I want it to be cute, and I want it for a good price. Is that too much to ask??

Here are the features I want:

• Lots of space inside. Of course it will need to have room for my computer, files, and purse stuff. But it would also be great if it had room for me to stick a change of clothes in for overnight trips. I often feel silly bringing my normal suitcase on a trip when it’s only half full.
• Outside pockets. Internal space is important, but I need to have a pocket on the outside where I can stick things I need immediate access to—my keys, phone, boarding pass, and lipstick.
• Sturdy construction. While I love my existing purse and my suitcase, I am rough on them. They get stuffed to the brim, shoved in tight spaces, rained on, dragged, and dropped on occasion. I need something that will hold up to serious wear and tear. Also, because I will likely set stuff on top of it, I need something that is pretty square—not just a purse on wheels, like so many of the rolling briefcases marketed to women.

Here are two of the ones I’m considering:

This houndstooth rolling briefcase by JKM and Company  (pictured above) is really, really cute. It looks to have plenty of pockets for clothes, files, a computer, and purse stuff. It’s also nice and square, and has good reviews. Plus it’s under $100!

I also love this McKlein USA Willowbrook Detachable Wheeled Briefcase. It comes in six different colors, is leather, has two main pockets, and it’s detachable if you don’t need the wheels! It’s a little smaller than the houndstooth one, but I do love the turquoise… It’s available from eBags for $206 and Amazon for $158.

Readers, do you have a rolling briefcase? What brand? Do you love it?

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Here’s a weird thing about traveling that I have only recently noticed.

In 2012, I didn’t fly for about five months due to pregnancy and maternity leave. That’s a long time for a road warrior to be grounded! It’s also a long time to not pull a heavy suitcase all over the country. And apparently it’s also just long enough for a certain road warriorette’s hands to get all nice and soft from not lugging around said suitcase.

As soon as I had my first trip, I noticed that my hands hurt every time I pulled my suitcase. And as I had more trips, I realized that I was developing calluses on my hands in the exact spots where they rubbed the most against my suitcase handle. They’re not fully developed—apparently it takes a while to build them up enough that my hands don’t hurt at all. It just seems so strange! (Pictured: the offending handle)

Has anyone else noticed something like this? Any other strange things happen to your hands because of travel?

Several questions have come in recently about what type of luggage a new business traveler should get. I’ve written a post about what to look for in a rollaboard, but wanted to give some specifics. These are my opinions, a different person may come up with an entirely different list.

Ogio. I have had the same Ogio suitcase for almost seven years. It’s been on the road with me hundreds of times, and still works like it’s brand new. My only complaint is that the handle isn’t as easy to push in or pull out anymore, although I’m pretty sure some WD40 would take care of that….

Briggs & Riley. Briggs & Riley bags are true workhorses, ready for regular and hard use. One of the best things about them IMO is their fabric—reviews say it is very water repellant. Very helpful if you travel a lot during winter.

Tumi. Most everyone knows about Tumi—sleek, stylish, with consistently great reviews. Also expensive. Lovely, but expensive.

Travelpro. I see flight attendants using Travelpro bags more than anything else. I think that right there says it all.

Victorinox. Made my Swiss Army, Victorinox bags are meant to last. They make some incredibly lightweight bags, which can be handy if you are traveling in Europe (with stricter weight restrictions than the US).

Honorable Mention: Swiss Gear. I have one of their backpacks (similar to this one) and it is incredible. It will expand so much that I can fit almost everything from my rollaboard inside it, and it is still comfortable to wear.

Readers, what is your favorite brand of carry-on?

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Technically it’s winter. Even though here in Texas lately it’s been in the high 70s and even 80 some days (sigh) the typical winter colors are everywhere—dark and somber grays, blacks, and other neutrals. I woke up needing a shot of something bright and happy, and not much makes me happier than looking at purses! Looking around, I found a bunch of amazing bags in cheerful colors and prints. I seem to be in a “pink” mood, as many of the ones that popped out are in the hot pink family. Here are my favorites!

LOVE this Mobile Edge pink and brown TSA checkpoint-friendly laptop bag. It’s great because of its cheery striped lining and multiple pockets, it will fit larger sized computers, and you don’t have to take your laptop out at security! Win. (On sale right now too!)

This Kailo Chic Pleated Laptop Tote is available in multiple colors, but I love this brown and turquoise version. It has a specific pocket for the laptop, plus additional pockets for all of your items. The lining is adorable, and it has gotten great reviews.

With spacious pockets, sturdy straps, many color options, and at 50% off for a few more hours, the McKlein USA W Series Briefcase has a lot going for it. The turquoise is my favorite, but the other colors are lovely.

The most interesting bag that caught my eye was this Maggie Bags seatbelt laptop bag. I can’t decide if I like it or not, but it sure is different!

Readers, have you seen any great bags lately?

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From Reader M:

On Lufthansa economy out of London Heathrow, I can take one checked suitcase and one carry-on. The rules shown on Lufthansa’s web site mention only the carry-on–nothing about additional item such as a purse or lap top bag. They must, surely, allow such things, but the website doesn’t say, and I can’t get a straight answer out of the customer service agents. What’s your experience?

I have never actually flown Lufthansa, so I did a little research. Here is what I found: for coach passengers, Luftansa only allows one carry-on. It can weigh up to 18 lbs and have the following dimensions: 22in x 16in x 8in/55cm x 40cm x 20cm (length x width x height). I would be prepared to stuff my purse into my carry-on just in case, or travel with a carry-on/notebook case like this one by Kensington.

Readers, what has your experience been with Lufthansa? Did they allow both a carry-on and a personal item, or just one item?

Have a question about travel? Send it to RoadWarriorette@gmail.com

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During the many conferences I attended this year, there was one important lesson that I should have learned but didn’t. It started at the super long two-week conference. Between the laptop, iPad, notebook, knitting, snacks, water, pashmina, conference freebies, and other miscellaneous items, my purse was full. Like, super packed and really heavy full. It was so heavy, in fact, that several people I was traveling with wouldn’t let me carry it, as I was six months pregnant at the time. A woman in my group carried around as much stuff as me, but in her fabulous houndstooth print rolling briefcase, as opposed to a purse that went over her shoulder (similar to this one from Overstock). Needless to say she had a much more comfortable conference than I did. I noticed her bag, and thought, How clever and lovely! Yet it didn’t even occur to me to get a rolling briefcase of my own before the next two conferences I had to attend, where I was seven and eight months pregnant. Whoops.

The moral of this story, friends, is that if you are going to a conference, or any trip where you will need to be carting around a lot of stuff, get a rolling briefcase. Otherwise you will carry too many things in your shoulder bag and end up being uncomfortable and possibly hurting yourself. If you only use it a few times a year, there are plenty of inexpensive options, and it is so worth it!

Readers, have you been to an event where you wished you had a rolling briefcase?

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Business Travel 101 is a series from a couple of years ago about making that first business trip as easy and successful as possible. I’ve re-tooled the series, and now it’s more comprehensive than ever! It covers everything a new business traveler needs to know for that initial trip, including essential tips for packing, security, safety, etiquette, and comfort.

One of the most important items to have for that first business trip is the carry-on. I don’t mean your rollaboard, although that’s certainly critical. Today I’m talking about your personal item. It holds everything you need for your flight, and acts as a purse, briefcase, laptop bag, and entertainment center all in one.

What exactly do I mean by personal item? The guidelines for American Airlines state that the personal bag is anything that can fit under the seat in front of you. It can be a purse, laptop bag, backpack, tote, or a smaller suitcase.  I have traveled with everything from a backpack to a tiny purse to an Eagle Creek packing cube holding my giant tablecloth that I use for events. As long as it fits under that seat, it counts, but technically it should not exceed 36 inches when you add length, width, and height.

For the ladies: In addition to acting as a necessary travel tool, your purse should make you happy when you look at it. Just because we are professional women who travel for business does not mean we need a boring purse or briefcase with no style. There are so many fabulous possibilities out there! You can, and should, love your bag.

What To Look For in a Great Travel Bag

There are several things I look for in my travel bag. Not all of my bags have all of them, but my general guidelines are:

• Size. Has to fit my laptop, and hold all of my carry-on travel items.
• Multiple interior pockets. I think the best interior is divided into two sections, one for a laptop and one for the rest of your stuff. It also needs to have a pocket inside for keys, cell phone, and small items like chapstick.
• Exterior pockets. An exterior pocket on the side of your bag is so helpful for things you don’t want in your hands, but need easy access to, such as your boarding pass.
• Easy to carry. You have to be able to carry your bag on your shoulder or strapped to your suitcase. It would be very difficult to travel with a bag that you had to carry in your hands. I like two straps that are at least an inch wide, which will minimize cutting into your shoulder.
• Sturdy construction. There shouldn’t be any obvious weak spots, or stitching coming loose. Leather is great for travel bags because it is so durable, but fabric bags can work as long as they are strong enough (and easy to clean).
• Rolling or not? Another thing to consider: do you need a rolling briefcase? If your bag gets really heavy or you have back or shoulder issues, this might be the way to go. There are plenty of high quality, attractive options in a variety of price points.

Some great travel bags I have found are this Kenneth Cole Reaction Show Business in Tan, this rolling Samsonite Xenon 2 Spinner Mobile Office, and of course the O.G. from Lo and Sons (pictured above in Royal Blue). I also really like this fun laptop purse from Knomo for a seasonal, less expensive option.

Options for Purses: Read more of this article »

Here is a recent email from a reader:

I have my first day trip coming up in a few weeks. Since I’m not spending the night anywhere, I’ll only be bringing my laptop bag. Where should I put it while I’m on the plane? It’s technically a personal item, so does that mean it should go under the seat in front of me?

Great question! There are two schools of thought on that. One, since you’re not bringing a larger rollaboard bag, you can put it in the overhead bin if you want. Just make sure to put it on the smaller side of the plane if there is one. The other thought is that since it fits under the seat in front of you, it should go under the seat in front of you, freeing up space in the overhead bins for the larger bags. (Pictured: My beloved Lo & Sons O.G. is now available in Raspberry, aka hot pink! I want one so bad I can hardly stand it.)

I typically will always put my personal item under the seat in front of me, because it’s considerate to leave space for the larger bags (plus could help the plane take off sooner!), it doesn’t really change my comfort level, and it’s easier to access when I’m sitting by the window. However, as my pregnancy progressed and bending became more difficult (and finally impossible!), I moved to sitting in aisle seats and putting my purse in the overhead bins so I could access it if needed.

So honestly, it could go either place—under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. The one place it should never go? Behind your legs or under your seat. This just takes room away from the person behind you.

Readers, where do you put your personal item when it’s your only bag?

Your carryon luggage is the foundation of packing for a business trip. It’s not a place where you want to skimp—I recommend getting the highest quality piece you can afford. Consider it an investment, as you will use it for years. I’ve had the same carryon for six years, and it is still is really good shape after using it several times a month. There are several factors to consider when choosing a suitcase, so take time making your decision. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Quality construction. This one may seem obvious, but make sure the bag is well made. Tug at the handle and zip and unzip the pockets. Read reviews to see how well it has held up for users. Good Housekeeping also has an extensive collection of suitcase reviews.
• Travel area. If you are going to be primarily in the U.S., you have a lot more consistency with carryon bags than in Europe. The major US airlines allow rollaboards to be 14in x 9in x 22in, with a maximum weight of 40 pounds. In Europe, the size allowances seem to be similar, but the weight allowances vary widely—from 11 to 51 pounds.
• Weight. According to Good Housekeeping, in 2006 the average carryon they tested weighed in at a whopping 11 pounds. When you consider that on some European airlines the maximum carryon weight for your rollaboard is 13 pounds, well, that doesn’t leave a lot of weight for clothes! In 2010, the average weight was 8 pounds—much better! The lighter your luggage is without sacrificing the features you need, the better.
• Size. Make sure the bag fits the carryon dimensions allowed for most airlines—14in x 9in x 22in in the US.
• Roominess. Once you know the bag is of an allowable size, look to see how much room is inside the main compartment. The more, the better!
• Handle length. Depending on how tall you are, the handle may hit you in an awkward place. Walk around the store with the bag for a while to see how comfortable it is.
• Wheels. My current bag does not have spinner wheels, and I don’t want to buy a new bag just because of the wheels. However, on the few occasions I’ve used suitcases with spinner wheels, they have been so, so easy to maneuver. The next bag I purchase will definitely have these!!
• Pockets/Dividers. If you are a person that likes lots of pockets or internal dividers, look for a suitcase that has them. If you prefer fewer, that’s okay too. I like two inside pockets (one for my undergarments, one for my toiletries) and two outside pockets (one for chargers, one for other miscellaneous items).

So there you have it! My extensive list of things to consider when buying a new suitcase. Obviously quality and size are the most important features. However, since a road warrior will use their suitcase all the time, and because there are so many available on the market at such varied price points, I don’t think there is any reason to settle.

Readers, what do you look for in a carryon suitcase?

(For a great resource, check out Flying With Fish’s Carryon and Weight Baggage Limit Chart from a few years ago. )

On our recent trip to Cancun, I decided to switch up my personal item. Instead of using my usual work purse on the plane and packing my vacation purse and beach bag, I chose to use the beach bag and fun purse during the actual travel. Makes sense, right? I’m bringing less stuff, which is always the goal, right? Uh, yeah, unless neither of those bags actually close. That’s right, I brought two bags into the airport that didn’t zip, snap, or close in any fashion. (Pictured: my adorable oilcloth beach bag–great for the pool, bad for the plane!)

Before I talk about the issues, let me defend my thinking. Besides the lighter packing, having an easy access bag is very convenient on a plane. Normally you have to lean over (which you may or may not be able to do in a cramped airplane), mess with zippers, and fight with your stuff before you finally find that one item you need. With an open bag, you just eyeball your belongings, stick your hand in, and grab the thing you need. However, I’ve decided that the problems that arise are just not worth the convenience.

How often did this create a problem? Well, first, while going through security, a couple of small things fell out of my purse into the bin. No big deal, I just grabbed the bin and moved out of the way like normal. Then on the plane, I (or Home Warrior) had to constantly monitor the bags to make sure they were reasonably upright so nothing fell out, especially during takeoff and landing (because no one wants their stuff sliding down the plane…..). Then once we arrived in Mexico and were waiting in the customs line, again, we had to constantly monitor the bags to make sure they didn’t fall over. And then going through the final customs line (where they scan all of your luggage), a few small things fell out of my purse again. And this time there wasn’t a bin. Oops. At this point I was worried Home Warrior would never travel with me again! Sorry, Honey!! (And other people in line……)

So the moral of the story is: make sure your bags close in some way before using them for travel. Zipping is the most secure, but snapping is better than nothing. And if your bag has multiple zippers, for example a large compartment and then a smaller side pocket, make sure both are zipped before sending it through the X-ray machines. Not only is this ideal for keeping your items contained during transit, but it’s also more security against thieves.

So next time we travel for vacation, whether it’s flying or in the car, I will make sure my bags close. Or Home Warrior may decide not to come with me…..

Readers, have you ever made a silly travel mistake on vacation?

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