The Best Carry-On Luggage for International Travel

Originally published on July 8, 2017, this post may have been edited for clarity and updated with current information.

Before I left for Paris, I was in serious need of good, quality luggage.

The Search

I found a matching set of large and medium luggage by Delsey, but I wanted something special for my carry-on. It only made sense to have a carry-on that would accommodate most, if not all, international restrictions. The carry-on would also have to complement the urban style of the graphite Delsey luggage.

The Discovery

I read plenty of luggage reviews on Samsonite, Tumi, American Tourister, etc., and still wasn’t impressed with the value, style and inconsistent ratings.

One day I saw a sponsored Facebook ad for a startup called Away. It initially felt a little hokey and stereotypically Millennial to follow a social media ad, but as someone who works in digital marketing, it was cool to experience the buyer’s journey through targeted marketing.

I checked the website and read the features for their Carry-On:

• The compartments
• The durable, stratch-resistant exterior shell
• The compression pad to help pack and divide contents
• TSA approved lock
• 4-wheels with 360 degree movement for smooth rolling

But the key feature that won me over? The USB charger built into the carry-on. 

The features and options looked too good to be true, so I thought about it. A lot. Read more reviews. Then went back to Away. Then thought some more. By the time I decided to go with the small carry-on, it was less than a week until I left for Paris and I needed to buy the luggage at the Away shop in SoHo. There’s an option to have a custom monogram, but since I decided to buy the carry-on very, very last-minute before my trip (typical) I didn’t have the time to wait.

*Honestly, the only reason why it took me so long to take the plunge was that I was taking care of a lot of expenses before leaving for Paris.

The Result

My carry-on made its first international journey from JFK to Charles de Gaulle and recently braved a week in Valencia, Spain. With taxi cabs, airports, brick sidewalks and overhead bins, I’m thrilled with how my carry-on has held up.

It’s lighter than I anticipated, which helps relieve the stress of packing and souvenir shopping. And the attached laundry bag came in handy when I ran out of time to let my denim shorts dry and my boyfriend and I needed to check out of our Airbnb…

Lastly, it’s no surprise that the USB charger has been an absolute save. It’s amazing to no longer have the paralyzing fear of seeing the low battery warning pop-up and frantically searching for a working outlet at the terminal.

My only regret about this carry-on was that I didn’t buy it sooner. I definitely could have used it for the random layovers I had while traveling to Madison, Wisconsin last fall…

I would highly recommend the Away Carry-On!

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Review Update (2026)

How has the Away Carry-On suitcase held up since you purchased it nearly a decade ago?

I bought the 1st-generation Away Carry-On in 2017, and it is still in great shape.

The suitcase has made several trips between the United States and Western Europe—it has survived cobblestones, puddles, muddy gravel, and countless airport luggage conveyor belts.

It has some marks and scratches, but most of them could probably be buffed out if I took the time to clean them up.

Would you choose a different Away Carry-On suitcase?

Away recently launched the Series 3 collection, which features new upgrades like StopLock Brakes and hideaway hooks in the handle, so maybe I would upgrade to the Carry-On 3 in Jet Black.

Even though Away has come out with several different colors and styles, I think I would stick to Jet Black, but add the custom monogram.

The Bigger Carry-On suitcase was an option when I first shopped at Away, but I didn’t choose it because its dimensions do not comply with international travel carry-on guidelines.

I really like the idea of the Carry-On Flex suitcase. However, I know myself, and I’m sure that I would overpack the suitcase and get charged the overweight baggage fee.

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