When it comes to travel, expenses add up quickly.
In addition to the actual costs of the trip, such as lodging, transportation, and food, there are many other costs that must be considered.
Before embarking on any trip, it’s essential to have commodities such as luggage, hygiene products, clothes, and more.
Out of those items, luggage is the one that typically costs the most.
Why Is Luggage So Expensive? (10 Reasons)
1. Luxury Brands Give Elite Status
Luggage is often seen as an accessory, and some travelers care about how their luggage is perceived by other travelers.
Like with expensive brand-name clothing or jewelry, some people believe their luggage is an extension of their own worth.
Many people who choose to pay a lot for their luggage are paying for the brand name.
Unfortunately, brand doesn’t always equal quality, and those pieces often turn out to be a waste of money.
Like with other luxury products, luggage is often reviewed and advertised by top fashion magazines like Vogue and GQ.
This turns luggage into highly desirable products for those who can afford it.
The more expensive something this, the more it will be envied by others.
Luxury luggage brands like Rimowa, Louis Vuitton, Bric, Gucci, and Dior will run you thousands of dollars.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean their products are better quality or will last longer.
Customers are essentially paying for the ability to say they own the product and to sport the logo during their travels.
Some luxury brands are quality crafted but still cost thousands of dollars purely because of their elite status.
For example, Gucci’s Savoy medium carry-on trolly, measuring 17.7″ x 25.2″ x 11.8”, costs $3,790, while Rimowa’s Original Cabin S trolly carry-on, measuring 21.7” x 15.7” x 7.9”, costs $1,325.
Both are extraordinarily pricey considering they are pieces of carry-on luggage but they are backed by prestige.
2. Cost Of Materials
Luggage types are typically divided by hard or soft shell.
Generally, hard-shell luggage is cheaper than soft-shell luggage, mostly due to the expense of manufacturing materials.
Additionally, soft materials require more handcrafting, which takes more time and labor.
Hard-shell luggage is usually made from either aluminum or polycarbonate.
Aluminum is used more by luxury and expensive luggage companies but is also more durable.
It is, however, heavier than some other materials. In this case, you’ll need to sacrifice weight for durability.
Suitcases with a lighter hard shell are usually made with high-tech plastics such as ABS and polycarbonate.
These materials are lightweight and still durable, though not as sturdy as aluminum.
Most hard-shell luggage made out of plastic is more affordable than luggage made out of metal.
Hard-shell luggage also won’t scuff or damage as easily as soft shell.
As an example of the price difference between polycarbonate and aluminum, an Away polycarbonate hard-shell suitcase, measuring 22.7” x 14.7” x 9.6”, costs $295, while the Away’s aluminum version in the same size costs $645.
Soft-shell luggage can be made out of a variety of materials including woven nylons like Cordura, ballistic, or ripstop.
Some designer luggage brands make soft-shell luggage using a stronger canvas, jacquard, or leather.
Depending on the material, the soft shell might be waterproof and less prone to scuffing.
The advantages of soft-shell luggage are that it is lighter weight and moldable with more give than hard-shell luggage pieces have.
However, you’ll probably end up paying more for a soft-shell piece than the same size hard-shell piece.
3. Pricier Bags May Have More Features
Some luggage pieces are priced higher because of the number of added features.
Although suitcase spinner wheels, TSA-approved locks, and roller handles are now the norm, luggage with these features cost more when they were first introduced.
Some new luggage features include laundry compression technology, engineered organizational panels, expandability, removable wheels that allow for full mobility, an integrated packing checklist, interior divider panels, and removable battery packs.
There are also a number of smart features now available on luggage, like smart locks with security features using face ID and Touch ID, Morse code capability, built-in weight sensors, distance alerts, and GPS tracking.
Though all of these added features make traveling that much more convenient and easier, they start to add up when it comes to final costs.
Many pieces of luggage with these features are still not as expensive as designer luggage but are not cheap either.
For example, Plevo’s “The Infinite” Smart Expandable Luggage, which includes many of these handy new features, costs $559 and measures 17.9” x 28.3” x 11.5”.
4. Some Luggage Is Handcrafted
Believe it or not, it’s still possible to find luggage crafted by hand and made in the USA.
Though it’s great to support local businesses, you’ll end up paying more for it.
There are great advantages to spending the extra money on handcrafted luggage besides supporting local business—you’ll get a better-quality product, better materials, and you’ll often have the opportunity to customize your piece.
Brands like Roam create handcrafted luggage in the state of Georgia and customize your product based on your specifications.
At Roam, every piece is built to order and customers can choose from thousands of color combinations.
They also only use eco-friendly recycled materials to build their pieces.
Their luggage bags start at around $550 for a basic carry-on and go up to around $650 for an expandable check-in.
Other handcrafted luggage pieces can be found on sites like Esty, and many are able to be customized.
Prices depend on the service provided or company policies.
5. Exclusivity
Sometimes luggage cost is based on the exclusivity of the piece and how many of the products were made.
As with most products in the world, the fewer that are made, the more expensive the item will be, especially if bidding wars ensue.
Vintage luggage is sold to collectors on sites like eBay for thousands of dollars due to its rarity.
Similarly, occasionally brands will release limited edition colors or prints, making them highly desirable by collectors or those serious about their luggage.
For instance, the popular luggage brand Away will typically release a limited-edition color series annually.
Recently, they released their Technicolor collection.
They also recently introduced the “In Their World” collection which features limited-edition suitcases and bags by designers Ashish, Vaquera, and Palomo Spain and is inspired by their home countries.
Their prints are inspired by places like New York City, Spain, and London, and their carry-on suitcases start at $295.
The more exclusive, the higher the price. Rare suitcases like the Rimowa x Porsche Hand-Carry Case Pepita, which was created by Rimowa and inspired by the Porsche 911, can now only be found on auction websites and are sold at around $3,500.
It was originally so exclusive that it was only sold in Singapore.
6. Celebrity Endorsements
Like with makeup, perfume, and clothing, celebrities often collaborate with luggage brands and become official spokespeople to help market the products.
Of course, the hope of the luggage company is that they will sell more luggage and gain an A-lister’s approval and promotion.
Recent celebrity-luggage collaborations include Rashida Jones and Serena Williams with Away.
Sometimes, as in the case of Serena Williams, luggage designers will start a limited edition series inspired by the celebrity in the hopes of drumming up attention and selling more bags.
Alexander Skarsgard is an official collaborator with Tumi luggage.
Whether they mean to or not, many celebrities become brand endorsers just by being seen in public using a product.
It’s like free marketing for the luggage company, as the celebrity then becomes associated with that brand and draws more people to it.
Since celebrities are often photographed by paparazzi outside of airports, luggage is one of the first things seen by the camera.
In this way, celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Cara Delevingne have been associated with Rimowa luggage.
Julianne Hough, Gisele Bundchen, and Nikki Reed have been spotted with Tumi pieces.
Karli Kloss, Margot Robbie, and Ashley Graham are often seen with Away luggage, and Amal Clooney, Blake Lively, and Pippa Middleton use Bric luggage.
Of course, Gucci and Louis Vuitton are the celebrity luggage standards.
The Kardashians, Gigi Hadid, Kate Hudson, and Sarah Jessica Parker all love Louis Vuitton, while Chrissy Teigen goes for Gucci.
7. Different Size Pieces Cost Different Amounts Of Money
The price of a piece of luggage will depend on its size.
Though the exact measurements may differ from collection to collection, luggage typically follows a standard size order.
Collections usually start with toiletry bags, then move up to tote bags; duffle bags; or backpacks, followed by carry-ons (which are small enough to fit into overhead bins on an airplane), and check-ins.
You can usually save money if you buy a luggage set.
There are also various sizes within these categories.
Generally speaking, the price will go up along with the size of the bag or suitcase.
For instance, a large toiletry bag from Away starts at $75, and their largest size offering, aptly named “The Large,” which measures 29”x20.5”x12.5” costs $375.
Typically, airlines will only let you check a piece of luggage if it’s under 50 lbs., although some let you pay extra for heavier bags.
8. Expensive Luggage Can Save You Time And Energy
Though it can be hard to drop a fair amount of money on a good piece of luggage, you don’t need to spend an exorbitant amount to find luggage that will save you money in convenience costs.
No one has the time or energy to carry a 45 lb. suitcase, making it worth investing in something with functional 360-degree spinning wheels and roller handles.
There’s no need to throw your back out lugging a giant suitcase through an airport when some simple added features can potentially save you from paying medical and chiropractor fees down the line.
It’s much easier to get through any airport when your suitcase is on wheels and can be easily guided through the many obstacles leading to your boarding gate.
Luggage companies know this, making it easier for them to charge more money for these features.
You can still find extremely cheap luggage with no added features, but you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons.
Is it worth arriving at your destination with a sore back and frustration?
9. Price Of Baggage Fees Must Be Factored In
Some travelers are outraged that the price of a good, quality carry-on can be almost as much as a huge check-in luggage piece.
However, most people fail to factor in the added costs of that large check-in suitcase.
Though it may only cost a hundred more dollars off the shelf, it’ll cost you much more to actually get it someplace.
Almost all airlines charge baggage check-in fees now, and if your check-in bag weighs over 50 lbs., you’ll most likely have to pay additional costs.
Plus, you might need to rent a hand trolly to get it to the check-in counter or have to tip an airline helper to get it where it needs to go.
All of these things add up.
With a carry-on bag, you won’t need to worry about any added baggage fees.
They’re also small and manageable enough to easily maneuver around the airport on your own.
It’s also extremely convenient having your items with you at all times, knowing you’ll have your bag when you arrive at your destination and not having to wait at baggage arrival for your bag to get back into your hands.
Luggage companies understand all of these added benefits to having a carry-on, and since more people are opting for carry-ons these days, they know they can charge more for their smaller carry-on luggage pieces.
10. Specialized Companies Charge More Than Those That Manufacture Multiple Products
For some companies, luggage is all they do.
Therefore, they put all of their money and effort into creating the best product possible and, in turn, must charge more for that product.
Companies that are able to mass produce items can do so for cheaper since buying materials is always cheaper in bulk.
Luggage companies that only specialize in luggage or bags, such as Away or Roam, must spend more on their basic manufacturing materials, driving the cost of the final product up.
This is an unfortunate case of the manufacturing industry, but there are benefits to it for the consumer.
Most likely, specialized companies will create a better final product because they are using quality materials and giving more attention to detail and craftsmanship.
When companies put all of their focus on one type of product, consumers can likely avoid the manufacturing mistakes that are found in many mass-produced products.
Specialized companies are also likely to offer better customer service and warranties on their products since they are more invested in their reputation.
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